An older Italian Knife, with some American History!

waynorth

waynorth

Dealer / Materials Provider
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Back in 1871, the Italian Government enacted a law preventing folding knives from locking open, to prevent the deadly effects of knife fighting. A rather stupid law, but that is what most governments are famous for!!
Thus the Sfilato was born, and slipjoint knives returned to predominate. I don't know when the law was changed because locking and push-button knives are now common.
Knowing that Italians in general scoff at, and ignore, stupid laws, maybe it is still on the books!
Around the turn of the last century, brothers Felix and Michael Mirando left Frosolone, Italy for the U.S.A. First working for Empire Knife Co. in Winsted, CT, they eventually went out on their own making skeleton knives, and wound up forming the Imperial Knife Co. just before WW1.
The brothers learned forging and knife making from their father, Cosimo in Frosolone. A small town, known for the the Sfilato style of knife, among others, the skills learned there eventually translated into one of the most innovative and productive knife companies in New England. And the good fortune spilled over into Frosolone, where you will see the name Mirando on streets and buildings!
And who here has not owned an Imperial knife at one time or another??

This knife came from the Imperial collection, when Schrade USA, once named Imperial Schrade, went bankrupt and was sold off.

Papa Cosimo came to America to help out the boys, and was once listed as a knife repairer in the public directory. The C. Mirando stamped on the blade, and the knife's location in the collection, provide pretty good provenance, and I believe that Papa built it! A good surmise, would be that it was built before the 1st World War, but that is not currently known for sure.
The Horn handles, slim spear/dagger type blade with a false edge on one side are apparently indications of a true Sfilato, and I suspect the very stiff springing would be a requirement also, helping to mitigate the lack of the desired lock.
Enjoy!
Sfilato Mirando 1.jpgSfilato Mirando 2.jpgSfilato Mirando 3.jpgSfilato Mirando.jpg

I would like to thank Alfredo (Martineden) for valuable information contained herein!!
 
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Very interesting Charlie.
Im sure with the American connection this would be a most sought after knife..especially if it came from the Imperial Collection.
I couldnt imagine the difficulty in having to walk away from such a prized collection ( which Im sure it was) when the company went bankrupt..only for the collection to be disbanded.
 
That's a neat piece of history along with a very unique knife. I find the history fascinating.
Thanks for sharing both.
 
Charlie, there is a unique piece, in very very good conditions also. Congrats, the history behind this knife is fascinating. Bravo!
 
Charlie, thanks for sharing the knife along with its story.
It's nice to hear about people from my country moving to the US and bringing their knife culture there. Frosolone is actually still known for its production in blades and scissors, and many people from that area moved to the US between the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century.
As for knife laws here, I'm not sure how much they've influenced Italian patterns (also, those laws have changed many times), but surely they had a role.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Details of this history, that has spawned so many great American knives, are trickling in.
The patriarch of the American branch of the family, Cosimo, was around 7 years old when the law was passed banning locking bladed folders. So he probably grew up learning to make the Sfilato.
Royal (British) Marines, based in Napoli's Harbor, had their English knives sharpened by the local cutlers, and the influence of the English Jack can be seen in the Sfilato, in its long, straight form.
I am expecting some family history from a younger member of this cutlery family, so stay tuned!
 
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Me too. I'm really curious to learn the rest of the story. It might push me to go to Frosolone and get a knife there too... :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
Very interesting! Thanks!
There are still knifemakers in Frosolone making the Sfilato style.
Here you can find more information about Frosolone and its history.
 
Great stuff and cool looking knife there, Charlie. That's a wicked looking swedge, kind of makes the blade look shark-like!
 
Thank you for bumping this Charlie- I remember clearly when you first posted this Knife - what a Knife with its background.
A knife with perhaps not so much of fascinating history is a knife that Paul Hilborn and I came across at the 2016 Rendezvous- Wade and Butcher Sheffield- but clearly an American influence in the frame etc.
I am sure you viewed that knife and discussed perhaps the assembling of the knife in America from Sheffield.
Such History I find intriguing.

Looking back at these posts- I saw Fausto’s comments- where is our good friend lately?
 
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