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How about the Stiletto as a traditional knife?
- Thread starter Ed T
- Start date
Sure, I believe they are very traditional. Back in the 50s/60s in México there were two common kinds of automatics, the lever system, usually very cheap and low quality (though I still have one from Boker early 70´s that is very nice), and the stilletos which were simply known as "Italianas".
Most of these were made in Italy but I believe there were some Mexican copies as well, they weren´t too good in quality either, with simple plastic scales and allways blade somewhat loose. my father would never buy me one of those but I bought one when I was in senior High, the type with folding guards, I also had a tiny working key chain version which, if I remember correctly, I even took to the U.S. in the 70s when in college at UCLA, by this time I believe they were allready illegal in the U.S. and gradually dissapearing in Mexico, I haven´t seen one in a long time.
Most of these were made in Italy but I believe there were some Mexican copies as well, they weren´t too good in quality either, with simple plastic scales and allways blade somewhat loose. my father would never buy me one of those but I bought one when I was in senior High, the type with folding guards, I also had a tiny working key chain version which, if I remember correctly, I even took to the U.S. in the 70s when in college at UCLA, by this time I believe they were allready illegal in the U.S. and gradually dissapearing in Mexico, I haven´t seen one in a long time.
Sure, They've been made here for a longtime. The first mainstream ones were sold under the name FlyLock, etc.... Many were sold to hunters that needed a hand free, or ladies that did'nt want to break a nail
.
Many of the companies made, or contracted vwrsions. George Schrade was probably the largest American maker, but Case, Ka-Bar, Colonial, Remington, Colonial, (maybe Camillus, excluding military model), and Imperial all marketed versions.
There were many manual versions that were called fishTails or Bow-tie jacks. (Large hanters, Pen knives, and Toothpicks were also a popular basis for switchblade mech's.)
There were cool tradenames for them too. Schrade called some "Presto", Case had the "Zipper's", and Colonial, the "Shur-snap".
I don't collect auto's because of the legal stuff, but do like the pattern. Ed T how is the quality on the Kissing Crane ?
Here's to hoping the auto ban somehow end's, and somebody markets a repo Ka-Bar Grizzly(It's a big Bulldog style clasp auto knife
).
. Many of the companies made, or contracted vwrsions. George Schrade was probably the largest American maker, but Case, Ka-Bar, Colonial, Remington, Colonial, (maybe Camillus, excluding military model), and Imperial all marketed versions.
There were many manual versions that were called fishTails or Bow-tie jacks. (Large hanters, Pen knives, and Toothpicks were also a popular basis for switchblade mech's.)
There were cool tradenames for them too
. Schrade called some "Presto", Case had the "Zipper's", and Colonial, the "Shur-snap". I don't collect auto's because of the legal stuff, but do like the pattern. Ed T how is the quality on the Kissing Crane ?
Here's to hoping the auto ban somehow end's, and somebody markets a repo Ka-Bar Grizzly(It's a big Bulldog style clasp auto knife
).
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,818
I did not realize there were so many American versions. I will have to start looking around.
I have had two of the Kissing Crane knives. The first had a stag handle that was a bit thick, but felt very nice. It held an edge well and had a firm action.
This last one has a wood handle and depite looking very nice, is a bit disappointing. It was very dull. And it was a bit difficult to get a decent edge on with the sharpmaker. It is marked KC 47 Rostfrie (stainless). I have not heard of this before, but I am a bit skeptical about it. The brass also reacts very quickly to oil/ sweat from my hands.
A great looking design, suited for light use.
I can not complain, however. I only paid $19 for it.
Don Luis,
How did the lever version look/ work. I don't think I have seen one before.
I have had two of the Kissing Crane knives. The first had a stag handle that was a bit thick, but felt very nice. It held an edge well and had a firm action.
This last one has a wood handle and depite looking very nice, is a bit disappointing. It was very dull. And it was a bit difficult to get a decent edge on with the sharpmaker. It is marked KC 47 Rostfrie (stainless). I have not heard of this before, but I am a bit skeptical about it. The brass also reacts very quickly to oil/ sweat from my hands.
A great looking design, suited for light use.
I can not complain, however. I only paid $19 for it.
Don Luis,
How did the lever version look/ work. I don't think I have seen one before.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 534
HI Ed, I've got a couple of the large Kissing Crane Stilletos for fun knives. The designation KC 47 is just the model number , mine are marked KC 49. Yeah the Grizzly was a cool knife, if not the best made ( lockup wore out quick cuz you had a small diameter pin hitting a brass or nickel silver bolster - cant remember now ). A friend of mine has one in prob 90% condition, great knife. -- Charles