Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

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button_man
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Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:08 pm

Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by button_man »

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This listing on SD purports to show a "sterile Benchmade" and states that it was Military Issue during the Gulf War: https://www.sharperdeals.net/listing/st ... 29#history

A few years ago, I picked up a knife that seems identical -- I might have posted a photo of it here; don't remember for sure.
I think I got it at the flea, but can't find the records on it right now. I doubt if I paid more than $50 for it, if that.
I've never been able to find out anything about it. Does anyone know if the "sterile Benchmade G.I. switchblade" story is true?

Does anyone else have "sterile" switches that present an identification problem? Not vintage.... tons of those are unmarked...
I'm talking about fairly modern stuff that you would expect to be marked, but for murky reasons is resisting identification.

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sammy the blade
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by sammy the blade »

Looks like a Benchmade AFO I had a ways back.
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Tom19176
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by Tom19176 »

That is one of the first unmarked ones from Benchmade. They ran for $100to 150
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Panzerfaust
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by Panzerfaust »

I have one I bought for $150 at a gun show in 1992. I don't think they were ever military issue and the only marking on mine is U.S.A. It is an authentic American-made switchblade, but other than that, I don't know much about it. There was another similar knife with a different shaped handle that was around during the same time frame.
button_man
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by button_man »

.

Thanks for the info guys!

Sammy ~ What does 'AFO' stand for....? Not familiar with the term.

Tom ~ Do you know when these first appeared? Panzer mentions the year 1992;
did Benchmade start making them around then, or was it earlier -- maybe 1980s?
Tom19176
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by Tom19176 »

Barry Adams of Adams Intl. Knife works sold the sterile ( USA Marked and serial numbered) model along with the Spike model ( which was totally unmarked). I agree this was the early 90s. It was a few years after that BM made them with their name on it. These came out shortly after the Black Knife made its appearance
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Panzerfaust
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by Panzerfaust »

Tom19176 wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 1:16 pm Barry Adams of Adams Intl. Knife works sold the sterile ( USA Marked and serial numbered) model along with the Spike model ( which was totally unmarked). I agree this was the early 90s. It was a few years after that BM made them with their name on it. These came out shortly after the Black Knife made its appearance
I could have bought one of the black knives but could not afford both at the time and liked the looks of the Benchmade better. These were all over the gun shows for a year or two in the 1990s and then dried up. As far as I know, these were the first American-made autos, excluding the paratrooper knives, since 1958. The plunge lock was new and unique and this was the first time I saw one which is why I bought one even though it was expensive. $150 is equal to approximately $283 today! Makes me wonder if I could get my money back out of it if I tried to sell it.
sammy the blade
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by sammy the blade »

button_man wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 12:50 pm .

Thanks for the info guys!

Sammy ~ What does 'AFO' stand for....? Not familiar with the term.

Tom ~ Do you know when these first appeared? Panzer mentions the year 1992;
did Benchmade start making them around then, or was it earlier -- maybe 1980s?
Armed forces only, I could be wrong but that's my understanding.
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Fishtail Picklock
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Re: Authenticating "sterile" switchblades

Post by Fishtail Picklock »

sammy the blade wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 2:43 pm
button_man wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 12:50 pm .

Thanks for the info guys!

Sammy ~ What does 'AFO' stand for....? Not familiar with the term.

Tom ~ Do you know when these first appeared? Panzer mentions the year 1992;
did Benchmade start making them around then, or was it earlier -- maybe 1980s?
Armed forces only, I could be wrong but that's my understanding.
You are correct, Sammy. 8)
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