Roy’s Italian Switchblades

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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks Sam,

Here are some closer pics of the 'skull' knife.

I will be sure to include some more detailed pics with future knife posts.

Cheerio,

Roy
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Samb
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Samb »

Post away, we love pictures.
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

Beautiful knife Roy! ::tu:: I checked out the other 2 at PVK, and you definitely bought the right one! Such gorgeous details! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks Marco,

I agree totally. This one had a little more 'character' I felt and I'm thoroughly pleased with it.

Cheers,
Roy
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Greetings Folks,

I thought I would share another knife from my small collection.

This time it's a Latama 'Swing-Guard', 28cm with stag horn. I confess, the swing guard is not my favorite design as I feel it lacks the aesthetic elegance of either the picklock or swivel-bolster but I wanted a nice example, so this caught my eye.

And as I'm posting this on the 24th I would like to wish all my fellow Americans a very happy Thanksgiving.

Cheerio,
Roy
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C-WADE7
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by C-WADE7 »

Nice one. Funny how people’s tastes are different, I think the swing guard is a classy look and is more attractive to me.
RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks for that mate,

I have to agree somewhat. I think the swinguard is a really clever design and has it's own beauty. I just keep going back and forth as the grip to blade ratio looks less pleasing to me than the other two designs. But it sure is a lovely designed knife and a really nice pairing with my stag picklock.

At the end of the day, they all have their own beauty... ::tu::

Cheerio,
Roy
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Samb
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Samb »

I be likin that swinger!!!
RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks Sam,

It's certainly got a 'style' to it.. :D

Cheers,
Roy
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

I'm with you Roy, never cared much for swingers! And for the same reasons, they take away from the clean straight lines of the knife. I also have never cared for thumb-studs or pocket-clips, for the same reasons again. I do own 3 knives that I left the guards on, an expensive Antonio Contini custom that has guards 1/4" thick and somehow look good on the knife, and 2 Russian knives, an auto and a manual that also look good with guards, but as a rule they go! There's no question that swingers are beautiful and plenty of enthusiasts love them, just a matter of to each his own! I read somewhere that swingers feel and sound different from other autos when they're fired, which if so puts them in a class of their own! Personally, I didn't notice a difference! ::shrug:: Nice Latama bud! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Marco,

Which I read with interest.

I find it endlessly fascinating that as knife enthusiasts it's the most infinitesimal detail that often becomes of interest to us. After all, these are little more than a point and sharp edge, but the never ending designs and details seem to continue to captivate us. Many years back when living in my home town in England I would at times take the train down to London to visit the British Museum in order to study knives/daggers from antiquity, seeing daggers made of antler, stone and bronze, I soon became aware that these 'tools' have never really changed and yet, almost everyone is unique.

If nothing else it keeps folks like us out of trouble ... or does it?.. ::paranoid::

Cheerio,
Roy
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

As I've been following your posts Roy, I've gained some insight into your knife collecting preferences, and I want to say kudos to you for doing it the right way! ::handshake:: You found a style of knife you like and then concentrated your choices on that style, in this case quality automatics. I did it the exact opposite of you, I started with cheap Chinese autos because at the time they were the only ones I could arrange for special shipping in order to get them by Customs, then as those became so-so, as well as being able to establish a solid relationship with a seller in the US who would accommodate the necessary type of shipping, I stepped-up to some better models. I'm at the stage now that my first preference is a quality auto, followed closely by a renewed interest in certain manuals. I would dearly love to own at least 1 Latama Picklock Custom, in fact, I'd trade 40 of my 53 autos for 1 such Latama! lol! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Hi Marco,

That's very kind of you to say so mate. Your thoughtful comments are greatly appreciated.

Although I'm new to switchblade collecting I am a lifelong knife enthusiast, so know what I like. I do recall 'acquiring' a lovely 'flick-knife' in my youth in England many moons ago but of course they were (and still are) totally illegal. But I have fond memories of that amazing knife. More recently a dear friend of mine gifted me an inexpensive example which I now have sharpened up and is my favorite 'letter-opener' but this gift reignited my passion, so with a little knowledge but much enthusiasm I thought 'why not'... ::ds::

I would dearly love a super clean vintage Latama but feel the cost of such may be prohibitive - but never say never... :lol:

Cheerio,
Roy
My website: www.fsknife.com
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

"why not" indeed, man, and that's my motto, "never say never!" ::tu:: 8) EDIT: Upon re-reading your post Roy I was reminded of a video I saw on YouTube, about a guy who could hold a humpback manual stiletto pinched with his 1st finger and thumb, then use the knuckle on his 4th finger to depress the humpback release, all the while jerking downward, thus causing the blade to deploy, a true "flick" knife specialist! If you search "How to open a manual stiletto with one hand" you can watch it! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks for that,

It's amazing what some folks work out and the skills they work on. Reminds me of the Butterfly knife craze back in the day - they got banned (in England) pretty quick too but we all had one.. :lol:

Cheerio,
Roy
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

It's odd you should mention butterfly knives just now Roy, out of the 350 or so knives I own, I JUST added an inexpensive b/f model from Amazon, but only so that style is represented in my collection, I have no intention of learning how to "flip"! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Greetings Gents,

Here is another Latama Walt's custom I have in my small collection, this time a picklock in black horn.

I 'really' like this one, hard to explain but there is something about the way it looks, feels and works that just 'feels' great, just one of those things that you can't get from a photo, I'm sure you chaps know what I mean. Anyway, here are a few pics.

Cheerio,
Roy
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Samb
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Samb »

Holy cow and WOW!
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

That's a beauty Roy! ::tu:: Are you buying your knives direct from the Latama website, because they look brand new, and a number of models dropped recently? ::shrug:: Thx! And I know only too well the feelings you describe when you have a knife you just love, priceless! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks Guys,

Appreciate your kind words. I have purchased direct from the Latama site but also other sources too.

Cheerio,
Roy
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Madmarco
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

Thanks Roy! ::handshake:: 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Hi Folks,

I thought I would share this latest addition.

It's a Latama 28 Walt's custom classic (swivel bolster) with 'pine-cone' resin grip scales. My preference if for natural materials but couldn't resist this as it's a Walt's Custom and now I have it, I'm pleased I was flexible, as it's a really lovely stiletto in perfect condition.

Cheerio,
Roy
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by Madmarco »

Beautiful Latama Roy! ::tu:: You are certainly putting together a rich and valuable assortment of quality automatics, bravo! ::handshake:: The covers on this one are stunning, congratulations on your new knife! 8)
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RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Thanks Marco,

Your generous and kind comments are always most appreciated.

Cheerio,
Roy
My website: www.fsknife.com
RoyS
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Re: Roy’s Italian Switchblades

Post by RoyS »

Okay Gents,

Something a little different and rather special today - well I think so.

This beauty is a recreation of a ‘Hidden Hole’ switchblade as shown in the book Antique Italian Switchblade Knives and was made by Lelle Floris. I’m a huge fan of his work and have a knife on order but this one came up and as I love history, I just couldn’t pass up a chance to own this fabulous ‘historic’ picklock.

The knife is 10 3/8” with a blade of 4 1/2” and weighs 5.52oz. Black horn scales. Love the blade profile and all works silky smooth.

Although the design is not what I would normally go for, I just love the historical context and as I’m unlikely to ever find an original, this modern faithful recreation is really splendid and now one of my favorites.

Cheerio,
Roy
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