All About Pocket Knives

Do any of you folks here have an avenue for me to have a copy of the catalog page /add for this knife for it historical evidence? some say it never existed , others say it did ? if AAPK doesnt come up with it ,,,,who can ? Hopefully someone will help out Enjoy the pics folks because its a rarely seen knife .

wiseguy,

I would try Mark Erickson at shursnap@mwt.net

He authored the book Antique American Switchblades.

Hope this helps
Keith

What a beaut wiseguy! Thanks for showing it.

Wiseguy that's one sweet knife....

I never would have guessed a Presto with a BSA etch....

If that knife is authentic (and by the photos, I feel it is), you have a very rare vintage piece.

Paul

You might try Rich Langston. AAPK member lt632ret He also wrote a book on switchblades.
.

Thanks , i was hoping he would "chime in" i didnt wanna bother him

I would say it is 100% authentic

knife-nut wrote:You might try Rich Langston. AAPK member lt632ret He also wrote a book on switchblades.
.

i have sent a messege to him and awaiting his professional opinion isint this fun

wiseguy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:44 am Do any of you folks here have an avenue for me to have a copy of the catalog page /add for this knife for it historical evidence? some say it never existed , others say it did ? if AAPK doesnt come up with it ,,,,who can ? Hopefully someone will help out Enjoy the pics folks because its a rarely seen knife .

just checking in to see if you’ve ever located any historical evidence on the knife in question. I’m researching this knife for a story I’m writing and I’m looking for the same smoking gun that you were 13 years ago. Thanks in advance

Hard to believe it’s been 13 years friend, i did come across something like a requisition form or something that had a vague mention of it but can’t really remember where… i have not found anything official on it and have still to this day been searching on occasion for it.
Good luck and keep me updated on your progress please. Best;
JJ
Ps,,, I still have the BS & GS set

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:32 am….I still have the BS & GS set

can you please post pictures?

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:52 am

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:32 am….I still have the BS & GS set

can you please post pictures?

The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 am The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

thank you JJ - if I locate a smoking gun I’ll let you know. Seeing that order requisition form would be gold but it doesn’t sound like it’s currently available the hunt continues!

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 am

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:52 am

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:32 am….I still have the BS & GS set

can you please post pictures?

The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

I have that same large bone Presto, except in hawkbill with bone scales. It wasn’t Boy Scout, but it was military in WW2. It was a gift from a good friend.

CarMan wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:34 am

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 am

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:52 am can you please post pictures?

The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

I have that same large bone Presto, except in hawkbill with bone scales. It wasn’t Boy Scout, but it was military in WW2. It was a gift from a good friend.

A hawk blade with bone handles is scarce, I’ve only seen one other… can you show a picture please?

wiseguy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:28 pm

knife-nut wrote:You might try Rich Langston. AAPK member lt632ret He also wrote a book on switchblades.
.

i have sent a messege to him and awaiting his professional opinion isint this fun

I know that this particular post is almost 13 years old.
But in case you didn't know, lt632ret (Richard Langston) is deceased.

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 4:07 am

CarMan wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:34 am

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 am

The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

I have that same large bone Presto, except in hawkbill with bone scales. It wasn’t Boy Scout, but it was military in WW2. It was a gift from a good friend.

A hawk blade with bone handles is scarce, I’ve only seen one other… can you show a picture please?

I’d be glad to. I love this knife.

Wow! Some nice knives in this thread. Thanks for sharing them.

Hard to picture a time when Boy Scouts encouraged switch blades. Just shows how perceptions can change over the years.

I hope you find your documentation.

Beautiful and rare knives .

Mike

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 am

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:52 am

wiseguy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:32 am….I still have the BS & GS set

can you please post pictures?

The Boys knife still has a faint etch, the girls knife etch is long gone but if you know knives it’s authenticity is unmistakably obvious .

Stick my nose in here. Beautiful Hawk! I don't think any of those old switchblades were nearly as fast as the modern spring assisted knives of today, I never got why the way a knife opened had anything to do with it's legality. I agree it's all perception. When Vic Morrow's character in BLACKBOARD JUNGLE pulled the switchblade on Glenn Ford's character that sent the lawmakers into a panic, JMHO, J.O'.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:07 pmI agree it's all perception. When Vic Morrow's character in BLACKBOARD JUNGLE pulled the switchblade on Glenn Ford's character that sent the lawmakers into a panic.

I 100% agree John, just like in 1936 the movie Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness) revolved around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana. The only mayhem I ever witnessed was on a bag of Doritos or a whole box of Thin Mint cookies

I spent a good amount of time this week combing through BSA Annual Reports to Congress, Scouting and Boy’s Life magazines and still have zero evidence about the “official” BSA Presto knife. I do have original etched examples of knives with both the pre and post patent tang stamps thereby refuting claims that this was a prototype.

If anyone has images or text from an official BSA source about this knife, please post them here, I’m running out of sources to look and would like to solve the mystery once and for all. Thanks

bestgear wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 2:29 pm I.....

I found this, don't know if it will help.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 2:50 pmI found this, don't know if it will help?

thanks Skip, I’m looking for the official BSA evidence to backup the chain of custody claim. I have a 1995 Lone Scout newsletter that basically says the same thing that Kerr does but no reference is made to a BSA policy, practice or guidance. Without that, it’s all speculation and hypothesis.

I’ve been told by Mark Erickson that he has seen some evidence from 1943 but I can’t duplicate that find. The search continues