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QGofLake wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:18 am
The zinc rockers sure seem deficient. I had a white rizzy as a youth that was taken by cops and wanted one since. Last year came across one that was stuck shut and the scales were cracked all over. Liam Clark fixed it up for me and it sure is a beaut now! Pic below. He does phenomenal work. For the rocker and sear, he custom made out of steel. The new scales are made out of kirinite. Now it will last.
I've noticed that the Korean made Rizzutos tend to have square sears and sear holes.
Looks good.
Zinc was a ridiculous choice for the rocker. It just goes to further demonstrate that they didn't make them to last (at least not the ones with zinc rockers).
From what I've read some Rizzuto blades actually have decent hardness, but some are really soft. Here's a pic of a Rizzuto blade that shows just how soft some are. You can see how the catch hole has been pushed out by the sear when the knife was closed (red arrow), and the deformation of the lock notch (blue arrow). No doubt the softness of the blades and deformation of the catch holes resulted in a lot of blade-peek.
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Killgar wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 7:20 pm
From what I've read some Rizzuto blades actually have decent hardness, but some are really soft. Here's a pic of a Rizzuto blade that shows just how soft some are. You can see how the catch hole has been pushed out by the sear when the knife was closed (red arrow), and the deformation of the lock notch (blue arrow). No doubt the softness of the blades and deformation of the catch holes resulted in a lot of blade-peek.
Yeow! That sure is some soft metal used for that Rizzy! It makes sense that the metal quality of the blades varies. I've come across some rizzy's that fire hard, lock up tight and feel pretty solid. Have seen others that have a lighter feel and make a lighter sound when fired.
As a theory, maybe as time has gone by, there has been something of a Darwin effect. The rizzy's of lower build quality such as a zinc rockers tended to fall apart early as we ran around snapping them back in the day. They got stuck shut, peeked enormously, etc and were either discarded or got thrown in a drawer. Of course we still see rizzy's in bad shape and lesser quality, such as the lickely zinc rocker of the OP's knife. It looks good overall, like it failed early and got put away.
It would be quite interesting to know the production numbers for rizzutos and with build characteristics, etc. Of course the world will never know
That is one good looking frizzy. I have 8 rizzies and none look that good. I am particularly fond of them because my first switchblade when I was a teenager was a rizzy.
I'm surprised no one has ever compiled some kind of comprehensive guide to Rizzutos, particularly considering their popularity. Like the history, all the different models, different makers, different distinguishing characteristics, etc, etc.
Although I've never had any interest in Rizzutos, as I was researching information for this thread I did find the variety and difference in quality and characteristics of different models somewhat interesting. And junk or not, the Rizzuto is rather iconic considering how many movies and tv shows they have appeared in. Jimbrown257/Jeremy Kries appears to know a lot about them, but unfortunately I don't imagine he will be creating such a guide, or be available for consultation.
The Rizzy was the first switch I ever had. Still have it. The Korean ones from the 1990s were so cheaply made it amazed me they are collectible today....
My first switchblade was a Rizzy that my grandmother gave back in the 80’s. She found it stuffed inside a cushion at an Italian restaurant. When I graduated HS she gave it me. It has way more sentimental value than cash value.
sammy the blade wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 3:07 am
People are attracted to them for some reason but those were some of the junkiest knives I've ever come across. Each to their own I guess.
That’s the thing, Sammy. Junk that’s often survived 60 years. That’s the amazing part. They had to make them by the tens of thousands, there are still so many around and available. Old pot metal, tin and plastic.
"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
I had one once that someone mangled and it was a nice knife, couldn't believe that someone put that much effort in it. Sold it to someone here but it's been a couple years and I don't remember who.
Killgar wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 11:56 pm
I'm surprised no one has ever compiled some kind of comprehensive guide to Rizzutos, particularly considering their popularity. Like the history, all the different models, different makers, different distinguishing characteristics, etc, etc.
Although I've never had any interest in Rizzutos, as I was researching information for this thread I did find the variety and difference in quality and characteristics of different models somewhat interesting. And junk or not, the Rizzuto is rather iconic considering how many movies and tv shows they have appeared in. Jimbrown257/Jeremy Kries appears to know a lot about them, but unfortunately I don't imagine he will be creating such a guide, or be available for consultation.
While I am not the ultimate authority on Rizzuto's and have more to learn about them, I've come across enough rizzy's to have a decent foundation. I started to make a guide using what I know. Maybe its time to pick it back up. With input from others, it could be good. I learned new things right here in this thread. I know some pretty well versed rizzy collectors on Facebook too.
No doubt what is attractive about Rizzuto's is the nostalgia associated with them. Its one of the knives we could get back in the day. People snuck them in from Tijuana, ordered from Black Belt Magazine and traded bags of various illicit substances (I did). Its fun to revisit them in these digital times when packages come right to your door.
Last edited by QGofLake on Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
To the post and the knife the OP has, I might have been rather light. That sure is a nice 11" batwing. With a new steel rocker put in and given the nice condition of that knife, it could be worth $250 to $300.
