EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
I couldn't find the fishtail knife that I was thinking of but did come across quite a few photo's of knives made in Scarperia that showed a fairly similar blade grind. Not saying your knife was made there just think it may be a good place to start your search. There is a cutlery museum in Scarperia, they might be some help if you reached out to them.
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Thanks for your time and effort in looking up this photo! I agree, the blade shape does show a similarity. I enlarged your picture on my computer, but it became badly distorted. Does the knife in your picture have a flat grind or something else? I could not tell by enlarging the picture. I will start doing more research tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Do you mind if I share your picture ? Are you in a position to be able to reveal the name of the book your knife is pictured in ? Thanks, Waynerithvich wrote: ↑Mon Dec 28, 2020 4:05 am I couldn't find the fishtail knife that I was thinking of but did come across quite a few photo's of knives made in Scarperia that showed a fairly similar blade grind. Not saying your knife was made there just think it may be a good place to start your search. There is a cutlery museum in Scarperia, they might be some help if you reached out to them.
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Wayne, I was thinking about a conversation we had a couple of years ago and I remembered that you wanted to take your collecting to another level meaning knives from the 19th century. Well it looks like you’ve certainly went in the right direction, what an outstanding piece of spring steel history. When I first looked at it I thought it might be a Sicilian fighting knife, I think it’s because of that blade that I thought that. I’ll let smarter people than I debate where they think it was made but that’s what popped into my head when I saw it. And wherever it was made congratulations Wayne I think it’s an incredible piece.
Salvatore
USMC
Salvatore
USMC
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
I have heard the blade type described as a "leaf" style but I have no idea if this was a descriptive
term coined by one person, or whether it is widespread throughout the cutlery world.....
term coined by one person, or whether it is widespread throughout the cutlery world.....
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Wayne, the book is called 'Coltelli d'Italia' and the pics are all pretty low res. There are two really fun parts to knives like this, finding them and then researching their story, you have a knife here that will be bringing you joy for a long time)
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
That is really cool, great find.
Thom
Thom
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Sal, thanks for your comments and thoughts about the knife. Right now, I tend to think a skilled cutler combined a blade style and a handle style from two different locales in Italy and at the same time uniquely modified the locking and firing mechanics. I can find no examples of the blade style and the handle style together anywhere in my searches so far. It will be interesting to see what might turn up later on !! I hope to see you at the Gator Show in late January !!boombotz111 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:50 am Wayne, I was thinking about a conversation we had a couple of years ago and I remembered that you wanted to take your collecting to another level meaning knives from the 19th century. Well it looks like you’ve certainly went in the right direction, what an outstanding piece of spring steel history. When I first looked at it I thought it might be a Sicilian fighting knife, I think it’s because of that blade that I thought that. I’ll let smarter people than I debate where they think it was made but that’s what popped into my head when I saw it. And wherever it was made congratulations Wayne I think it’s an incredible piece.
Salvatore
USMC
Wayne
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
button_man, thom and rithvich, I appreciate your comments, reference information and insights !! Thanks !!
Wayne
Wayne
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
With a knife like that, you no longer have a collection.
You have a museum.
Thanks for sharing it.
You have a museum.
Thanks for sharing it.
Herb
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Simply stunning Wayne. I’m in awe.
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Thanks for posting. I’m at the beginning stages of learning Italian switchblade history and this has been inspiring.
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
This is a great collection addition. Congrats! What I find really interesting is the use of screws instead of pins that long ago. We're seeing more and more screws these days. Whatever was old is new again.
Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
Wayne,
Very special knife you have.
By the way, I am loving your book!
Thanks, Jeff
Very special knife you have.
By the way, I am loving your book!
Thanks, Jeff
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Re: EARLY MANIAGO SWITCHBLADE
What a wonderfully historic piece. That's a "safe queen" of course, and should be in a museum.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Fishtail Picklock