Switchblades Past and Present

A home for those who love the springblade knives, including American, Italian, German, English and others.

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  • Clint Thompson

    Gus....

    At this writing Colonial Cutlery Int., Inc. of 61A Dewey Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886 is making the M-724 Military Auto Knife.  You can view this company and knife at;http://www.colonialknifecorp.com/  I know this company is selling this knife to the military....in what quantities I do not know.

  • Jan Carter

    Ok, so I am trying to do a little research on some automatics.  A friend allowed me to view them (yahoo) take some pics and write down some info on them.  He is looking for any info on them and possibly a value. Can someone help with this? I just downloaded some pics here

    http://www.iknifecollector.com/photo/albums/awesome-automatics

    1) Tang says:
    Geo Schrade
    Knife Co Inc
    BPT Conn
    otherside of blade says:
    PAT JAN 30-40
    MADE IN USA

    2)Tang says:
    Press Button
    Knife CO
    Walden NY
    Other side is blank

    3)Tang Stamp Says:
    Schrade
    Cut Co
    Waden NY
    other side says:
    US Pat Dec21. 09 Sept 13, 10 June 6, 16

    4)Tang stamp says:
    Challange Cut Co
    BPort Conn
    reverse side says:
    Fly-lock
    US Pat

    5)Tang Reads:
    A.C.MFG CO
    Marinette WIS
    Pat Oct 23, 1916

     

    What we have is five knives

    Awesome Automatics

  • Clint Thompson

    Nice knives guys.  I love the old ones.  I have several of the new knives from Pro-Tech and some German as well.  I sold my American Collection some years ago when the family came first.  On a cops salary that happened a lot. Looking to start over on collecting these. Nice pictures.

  • Larry Slate

    I would recommend buying Mark Erickson's "Antique American Switchblades".  He can find it on Amazon.com for about $25.  All those knives are addressed there.  Let me know if he wants to sell them, preferably before he reads the book :) 

  • Jan Carter

    Larry,

    ROFL, I will and Thanks for the advise

  • Gus Marsh

    This is the George Schrade Auto, 7 inches over all with a 3 inch clip blade, fishtail, brown bone handles, The tang is marked Presto, Pat Jan 30-40, Made in USA and on the other side of the tang it says Geo Schrade Knife Co. Inc. Bgdt, Conn.

  • Clint Thompson

    Gus....

    This Schrade Presto is in great shape.  What a knife to have.  The bone handle really makes this knife.  Thanks for sharing and thanks for this clear picture.

  • Clint Thompson

    Here is my not so Antique Hubertus auto knives.  The small stag handle one is about 30 years old.

  • Alex K.

    Nice group of Hubies you have there Clint! I especially like the guardian.
  • Clint Thompson

    Alex...

    Thanks Alex.  The folding cross-guard is a favorite one too.  I carried the smaller stag handled one for a couple of years.  Their keepers.

  • Lee Saunders

    A couple of switchblades in the mail today!

    The first is not an antique, but it's a real nice Schrade.

    It has pretty kind of copper Abalone handles.  On the bolster (which is also the auto-open button) it says 'Schrade'.

    On the tang it says:

    Schrade Cut.

        Walden

    Made in U.S.A.

    Nothing on the other side.

    On the box it says 'Fire and Ice Tempered' and the knife is wrapped in a brown was-paper.  I don't buy too many new switches but I like this one and Schrades are nice no matter how old they are.

    I took some other pics of the Schrade but the didn't come out well.  I will take some more when I have time.

    The 2nd knife is Italian and at least 50 years old tho it looks like a NOS.

    On the handles it has a Litho Italian scene.  One side has a canal and bridge.  The other side has a Gondola with a Gondolier!  That side says 'Ricordo di Venezia'.  I don't know what that means but I would guess something about a scene in Venice...maybe.

    The tang says 'INOX' on one side, nothing on the other.

    It opens with a small button after pushing the unlock slide, and it opens with quite a pop!!

  • Clint Thompson

    Lee...

    Great looking knives.

  • Lee Saunders

    Comment by Lee Saunders1 second ago           Delete Comment

    Ah ha!  Ricordo di Venezia (the name of my Italian switchblade) is Italian for Memories of Venice.  Here is a classical guitar song with the same name and some real nice Venice canal scenes.

    Made me flick my blade!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83mdRC8Kyww

  • Lee Saunders

    Trying to work my way thru I book I got last week.  Some of you guys probably have it.  Called Switchblades of Italy by Tim Zinser and a few others.  Nice book but a hard read. lots of history in the thing.  But that's a good thing to learn when you're talking about antiques.  It's nice to like what you like.  But it's hella good to know the "why".  Now I have to find me a couple of those old Cadillacs---the original Latama's.  Man those things are sweet.

  • Clint Thompson

    I am always looking for a good quality auto knife of the Italian and German flavor.  I have several new USA made.  Good info on the book.  Thanks.

  • Lee Saunders

    Wow that knife I posted a few days ago....the Ricordo di Venezia ??  It's on page 102 of the book I am reading, Switchblades of Italy.  It's a sweet surprise to see your knife in a book.

    It was made for the Venice tourist trade,

    not one of the top-rank Latama's.  I sure would like to grab one of those at this site---http://latama.net/VintageKnives.html

    Anybody got one they wanna trade??  They are so beautiful I may have to stretch my budget and bbuy a cheap one.

     

    http://latama.net/VintageKnives.html

  • Lee Saunders

    My New Books and Knife!!

    I talked about the fact I had bought a book from the author called Antique American Switchblades, plus a knife that he had for sale at a good price since I was buying a copy of the book.

    I jumped with no net!  But I did read reviews on the book first.

    So today I am updating you on the purchase and posting a few photos for you.

    First the book cover with the knife, a Shur-Snap Colonial NOS closed.  Then a pic with the knife open, then a close-up of the open knife on top of the partial book autograph the author included.

    The last pic is a book the author was nice enough to throw in about George Schrade switchblades called George Schrade 1860-1940.  He says he got a few of these books from Schrade's son and says they are NOS as well.  My copy certainly looks it.

    It's rare to find me  recommend the author of a book, but Mark is a hecka nice guy and I recommend his book to those of you that collect or just like American switchblades.

    He has some more knives for sale including more Colonial NOS so if you are interested in talking to him about knives and/or hiss book, get with me and I will give you the info.

    Heck I will probably buy another one my ownself an will post some future photos

     

  • Lee Saunders

    I have to correct something from the post about the Mark Erickson book and the Schrade book he sent me.  He got it from a Great Grandson of George Schrade and the ook had been published in the 1980s.

    That is all.  I'm out!

  • Lee Saunders

    Got some new switchblades to add to my growing collection last week.

    Bought these 2 from Mark Erickson, author of Antique American Switchblades, Identification and Value Guide.

    I think I got good buys for the knives.

    The top knife is a brown swirl that some call Root Beer color.  It is a Shur-Snap knive and is identified on the tang as SHUR SNAP over Colonial over U.S.A.  There are no other markings, the spring works well open and closing.  It is 7 inches open with a 3.25 inch blade.

    The second is a goldish jigged handles of some kind.  Seems bone but I am not sure.  This knife is identified on the tang as PRESS BUTTON over Knife Co. overWalden, N.Y.  It measures 6 3/8ths open with a 2.75 inch blade.  It's a fat knife.  The handle is 7/8ths inch wide compared to the Shur Snap which is like 3/8ths.

  • wayne schmertzler

  • wayne schmertzler

  • wayne schmertzler

  • Lee Saunders

    Nice blade Wayne.  I thought at first it was Press Button, but is it Italian??

  • wayne schmertzler

    yes it is!!

  • Lee Saunders

    do you know the maker and the age Wayne?

  • Jan Carter

    Lee,

    Impressive - the book and the knives.  Amazing pieces and a great story 

  • Lee Saunders

    Picked up two great switchblades plus i put a deposit on another (expensive) switchblade.  A few months and i'll have it paid off so that i can post pics.

    Both switchblades are above.  Both are Edgemaster blades.  The top knife actually has Tin handles.  There is another one out there that i want with Brass handles.  Haven't found one yet.  In this photo it looks brassy though huh??  The pics below whow the tin clearly.


  • In Memoriam

    D ale

  • Jemal Hamilton

    D ale

    amazing diagrams, thanks

    J

  • steve shugart

    I need some help on ident of this knife, I think it is from frosolone area, no other info on it as yet

  • Jan Carter

    Karl, Sorry I had not seen this before.  Maybe contact Muskrat man?

  • Scott R Gordon

    PVK has various size coil springs for sale and returns E-mails. Might be worth a try they may have leaf springs as well.Also knife kits dot com sells all kinds of parts.

  • Alex K.

    You can make a spring quite simply using fish tape which can be purchased at any hardware store buy much more cheaply at the dollar store. Thin if necessary on a belt sander or with a file, taking care to not overheat as to lose temper by frequently dipping in water. Gently bend to shape.
  • peter force

    this is the best i know of... he wontdo your cheapo switches...like your imperials and so forth...but he can do almost anything else... he can easily fit ya a spring... i just talked with kaleb about 2 days ago.he was one of the first restoration guys i ever trusted. i have known him for years now and would send him anything to restore!... also i dont know about pricing on switches with MM but honestly if you are trying to have a switch fixed in the USA...money cant really be a main concern...just getting the knife back to working should be... smetimes certain work just costs more simply out of demand... and no competition ..ya know.. here is link to his switch page and then you can go from their... if mentined before i am sorry. http://www.muskratmancustomknives.com/custom.html ~~ hope i helped~~

    READ KNIFE BOOKS!!! 

    NKCA!!!

  • Clint Thompson

    Peter...

    Good information Peter.  Thanks for sharing this with us.

    Clint

  • Guy Fleetwood

    I joined the Switchblades group because I have had many fine modern OTFs And OTFs. I have not had the pleasure of up close and personal with quality classic switchblades. I'm hoping to be introduced to the higher quality classics. Thanks for the opportunity. 

  • Jan Carter

    Donnies newest Love!

  • Guy Fleetwood

    Those are really nice and who makes these beauties? 

  • Jan Carter

    Well Guy, they are marked Schrade Walden but I know they are manufactured by GEC

  • Guy Fleetwood

    That would make them of fine quality. The only classic pocket knives I have used were buck and case. Since my adventure with IKC I have found a whole new world of fine pocket knives.

  • Clint Thompson

    While I was in Kosovo as a UN police officer a Captain from the Ukrainian Police Service who was also a UN police officer there, gave me an auto which was made in a Ukrainian prison by a prisoner.  This little knife works flawlessly.  (Same post will be posted elsewhere.)

  • Bob C.

    Thats a great looking knife Clint.

  • Ron Cooper

    Clint, that's a great story and a very interesting knife. I had to laugh, though. Most prison shanks are not engraved, much less automatics!

    Both of those badges are beautiful and interesting, as well.

    Cheers!

  • Clint Thompson

    Bob and Ron....

    Yes I have many stories about my two year + time in Kosovo.  The guards let them make the knives, then the prisoners trade them for cigarettes and the guards sell the knives.  I had three others I brought back for gifts to a few cop buddies of mine.  No two were alike but the one I kept was the coolest.

  • Gus Marsh

    Does anyone here have old copies of the "Automatic Knife Resource Guide & Newsletter" published by Sheldon Levy in San Francisco, CA from about 1995 to 2006. If so, I am looking for a few back issues.

  • joe spalding

    hello guys.... anyone ever done business on the site....sharperdeals.net..... they legit?

  • Alex K.

    Hi joe, Bob and Gloria at sharper deals are as legit as they come. Great people who have done much for this hobby.
  • Alex K.

    Hi joe, Bob and Gloria at sharper deals are as legit as they come. Great people who have done much for this hobby.
  • joe spalding

    thank you alex.... do they have paypal?

  • Alex K.

    Yer sir they do. They are very easy to deal with and very respected in the knife community. Check ut sharperdeal?com for links to their other websites and newsletter