The Infamous Black Beauty
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- Flicknifer
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:56 pm
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
I think it's really interesting that even the non-autos had picklock releases. When did the back spring releases come into popularity with manual knives?
I remember, as a kid in the mid 60's buying a fake switch (non functioning button) from the Westbury sales company in the back of Popular Mechanics magazine. That knife (stolen by a bully) had a back spring release (like modern swing guards).
I remember, as a kid in the mid 60's buying a fake switch (non functioning button) from the Westbury sales company in the back of Popular Mechanics magazine. That knife (stolen by a bully) had a back spring release (like modern swing guards).
"Down in town the circuit's full with switchblade lovers so fast so shiny so sharp.." -Bruce Springsteen ("4th of July")
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
I have lots of Westbury Sales stuff.....The lock back release stilettos were mostly from the 60s on...Never remember Westbury Sales having the fake button ones....Valor was a big importer of those...
An old ads:
http://books.google.com/books?id=B-IDAA ... &q&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=9uu89x ... &q&f=false
An old ads:
http://books.google.com/books?id=B-IDAA ... &q&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=9uu89x ... &q&f=false
- Flicknifer
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:56 pm
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Man does THAT bring back memories. I think I ordered all of those manual stilettos when I was kids just so I could pull the knife out half way and flick it open the rest of the way.Tom19176 wrote:I have lots of Westbury Sales stuff.....The lock back release stilettos were mostly from the 60s on...Never remember Westbury Sales having the fake button ones....Valor was a big importer of those...
An old ads:
http://books.google.com/books?id=B-IDAA ... &q&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=9uu89x ... &q&f=false
"Down in town the circuit's full with switchblade lovers so fast so shiny so sharp.." -Bruce Springsteen ("4th of July")
- switchman1
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:04 am
- Location: in the cobwebs of my mind
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
@ Bill DeShivs, a friend of my fathers responded to a black beauty ad and got an 8 or 9 inch Mauro Mario, He's long past away but I'm going to try to contact his son and see if he still has it. Jim
Switchman1 Alcohol,Tobacco,and Firearms....... who's got the chips?
- hollowdweller
- Posts: 871
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 2:36 am
- Location: appalachia
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Redeye,
Thanks for posting those pics. Especially thanks for taking them in the first place.
Thanks for posting those pics. Especially thanks for taking them in the first place.
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7362
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Jim- that's good info!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
- Belmont800
- Posts: 563
- Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:59 am
- Location: VA
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Sure. I will post a pic of mine this evening...Flicknifer wrote:So you actually have one? Can you post a pic? I would love to see it.Belmont800 wrote:You can also pick-up a few copies of "Argosy" and a few other "men's" magazines and find the original add if you are so inclined -- you should be able to find a copy for 15 bucks or so. My stamped Black Beauty isn't even really 'Black" the handles have aged to be lighter with the years.
Dan
Belmont800
- switchman1
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:04 am
- Location: in the cobwebs of my mind
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Bill, I contacted my friend about the Black Beauty/Mauro Mario and he told me it was stolen a few years ago, he thinks one of his sons' friends took it. Jim
Switchman1 Alcohol,Tobacco,and Firearms....... who's got the chips?
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7362
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Figures.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
To think some punk kid that has no idea what he has is out there carelessly "flicking" a treasure like that really burns me up!switchman1 wrote:Bill, I contacted my friend about the Black Beauty/Mauro Mario and he told me it was stolen a few years ago, he thinks one of his sons' friends took it. Jim
- switchman1
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:04 am
- Location: in the cobwebs of my mind
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Or even worse throwing it at a tree trying to make it stick in!Viking45 wrote:To think some punk kid that has no idea what he has is out there carelessly "flicking" a treasure like that really burns me up!switchman1 wrote:Bill, I contacted my friend about the Black Beauty/Mauro Mario and he told me it was stolen a few years ago, he thinks one of his sons' friends took it. Jim
Switchman1 Alcohol,Tobacco,and Firearms....... who's got the chips?
- Panzerfaust
- Posts: 1343
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Sickening, but unfortunately, many collectibles get trashed by people who don't know, or don't care, what they have.
- redeye
- Posts: 1876
- Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:10 pm
- Location: STARKE FL. REDNECK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
Panzerfaust wrote:Sickening, but unfortunately, many collectibles get trashed by people who don't know, or don't care, what they have.
my last ex wife hated my knives {or maybe it was me she hated } that she said if I died she was gonna take all my knives to the dump she wouldnt even sell them just so nobdy else would get them and enjoy them whatta bitch huh?
I am the KING of LATAMA collectors HAHAHAHAHAHAHA {EVIL LAUGH}
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
I`m takin mine rite through the Pearly Gates .
Re: The Infamous Black Beauty
There is zero evidence that these were made by Mauro Mario. It’s like one person said that and then it got repeated over and over.
There were several companies selling stilettos via mail order in the old men’s magazines. If someone got a Mairo Mario in the mail- it’s certainlly possible they didn’t order their knife from Florida Imports. They could have ordered from any of these companies.
I have some old paperwork that could show the Black Beautys were not made by Mauro Mario but another maker.
People who don’t have a lot of knowledge in this hobby just say Mario Mario when they dont really know who made a certain knife.
There were several companies selling stilettos via mail order in the old men’s magazines. If someone got a Mairo Mario in the mail- it’s certainlly possible they didn’t order their knife from Florida Imports. They could have ordered from any of these companies.
I have some old paperwork that could show the Black Beautys were not made by Mauro Mario but another maker.
People who don’t have a lot of knowledge in this hobby just say Mario Mario when they dont really know who made a certain knife.
Last edited by orangeboy on Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Italian and USA Doctorate in Cutlery Research, PHD
Italian and USA Masters in Cutlery Research, PHD
Italian and USA Masters in Cutlery Research, PHD