Self-assisted stiletto

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Feb 8, 2020
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Good evening, can somebody steer me in a correct direction. I've been looking for a self-assisted Italian style stiletto. The only ones I see look like a very low quality and mostly made in China. Can somebody advise me on where I can purchase a high quality self-assisted stiletto knife, so far I'm in belief that they do not exist. I've searched high and low for one. They're all cheaply made as far as I can tell. Thank you for your advice and opinions
 
BladeHQ gets some well-made Italian traditional ones in sometimes. Like, 70 bucks for the largest. Best I have found. They're no Microtechs, but they're functional knives, and made in Italy. I'd start there if you're really after the classic style; maybe someone else will give a better rec. It has to be someone out there making traditionals.
 
BladeHQ gets some well-made Italian traditional ones in sometimes. Like, 70 bucks for the largest. Best I have found. They're no Microtechs, but they're functional knives, and made in Italy. I'd start there if you're really after the classic style; maybe someone else will give a better rec. It has to be someone out there making traditionals.
See the problem I have is I have traditional automatic stilettos. But I do not want to run afoul of the law. I checked bladehq they have automatic stilettos which I already have. I'll keep looking but I do see a market for such an item. So far the nicest one I seen is the Smith & Wesson out the front self assisted knife. And I don't want it. They're cheap knives.
 
I've never seen a high quality one either. Over the years, people have tried to get any of the better quality makers interested, but so far, no luck.
 
Like tltt above, I've never seen a quality assisted-opening stiletto, and I'm all about folding stilettos.

But if you're looking for a large, manual-opening, heavy-duty stiletto, one with a strong reliable lock, one that can be easily opened with just a flick of the wrist, then I would recommend the Cold Steel Ti-lite 6 with Zy-Ex handles. I own a few. The Ti-lite 6 is my all-time favorite stiletto, and also my all-time favorite knife.

I specifically recommend the Zy-Ex handle version over the aluminum or G10 handle versions because from my experience those models don't open nearly as easily. The aluminum handle version has a bead-blasted blade, and the bead-blasted surface causes greater friction in the pivot than the satin bladed Zy-Ex version. And the G10 handle version has a black coated blade, and the black coating creates increased friction as well.

Here is the Cold Steel video that convinced me to buy my first Ti-Lite 6 with Zy-Ex handles. In particular, I was impressed by the demonstration of Lynn Thompson repeatedly stabbing the steel table (starting around the 6:22 mark), without any failure of the knife. It didn't break, the lock didn't disengage, and the knife was still functional afterwards. Naturally no one is ever going to need to stab a steel table, but it demonstrates how strong the knife is. There's no way I believe any Italian stiletto, or ANY other stiletto for that matter, from any maker, could ever survive such abuse.

 
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Like tltt above, I've never seen a quality assisted-opening stiletto, and I'm all about folding stilettos.

But if you're looking for a large, manual-opening, heavy-duty stiletto, one with a strong reliable lock, one that can be easily opened with just a flick of the wrist, then I would recommend the Cold Steel Ti-lite 6 with Zy-Ex handles. I own a few. The Ti-lite 6 is my all-time favorite stiletto, and also my all-time favorite knife.

I specifically recommend the Zy-Ex handle version over the aluminum or G10 handle versions because from my experience those models don't open nearly as easily. The aluminum handle version has a bead-blasted blade, and the bead-blasted surface causes greater friction in the pivot than the satin bladed Zy-Ex version. And the G10 handle version has a black coated blade, and the black coating creates increased friction as well.

Here is the Cold Steel video that convinced me to buy my first Ti-Lite 6 with Zy-Ex handles. In particular, I was impressed by the demonstration of Lynn Thompson repeatedly stabbing the steel table (starting around the 6:22 mark), without any failure of the knife. It didn't break, the lock didn't disengage, and the knife was still functional afterwards. Naturally no one is ever going to need to stab a steel table, but it demonstrates how strong the knife is. There's no way I believe any Italian stiletto, or ANY other stiletto for that matter, from any maker, could ever survive such abuse.

Got one already. It's a nice blade.
 
See the problem I have is I have traditional automatic stilettos. But I do not want to run afoul of the law. I checked bladehq they have automatic stilettos which I already have. I'll keep looking but I do see a market for such an item. So far the nicest one I seen is the Smith & Wesson out the front self assisted knife. And I don't want it. They're cheap knives.
Oh! The term "self-assisted" confused me, I thought you meant automatic. I would have understood "assisted" haha.

A GOOD one? Dang, man, I'll be sure to tell you when I find out.
 
Based on the OP "self-assisted Italian style stiletto" (specifically not mentioned traditional), I too would recommend a Ti-Lite (specifically the Titanium handled version, took me a few years to locate this version though ;-).
I understand Vlade "Got one already", to which I would reply do you have both the 4" AND 6" versions ... (if not you're missing out ..., LOL).
The less-than-lethal options with this model are numerous, and a less-than-lethal quillion-rake on subject matter can turn into a rake/open/penetrate single-combined-action on subject matter (not many knives I have owned that are capable of this :-0
There is a whole host of fun and learning for the ambitious with this model ;-)
 
Based on the OP "self-assisted Italian style stiletto" (specifically not mentioned traditional), I too would recommend a Ti-Lite (specifically the Titanium handled version, took me a few years to locate this version though ;-).
I understand Vlade "Got one already", to which I would reply do you have both the 4" AND 6" versions ... (if not you're missing out ..., LOL).
The less-than-lethal options with this model are numerous, and a less-than-lethal quillion-rake on subject matter can turn into a rake/open/penetrate single-combined-action on subject matter (not many knives I have owned that are capable of this :-0
There is a whole host of fun and learning for the ambitious with this model ;-)
Making me reconsider the Ti-Lite.

Please stay in the same factory, CS.
 
There is a rabbit-hole on info and use and application on this model ... (re: my previous comments). Those quillions are a LOT more than they appear ;-)
One more Ti-Lite lurking somewhere outside this box too (I now know I need to find :-(
Pic evidence there was actually a Ti version.
Blue core thumbstud and pivot were markers to delineate mine v my son's when we both daily carried these.

To anyone that owns an 'aluminum' scaled version, curious if you could check to see if the lock-bar is magnetic like the Zytel (older versions by Dupont) or the newer Zy-Ex scales.

Ti-Lite s.jpg
 
I thought I'd mention that out of the 9 Ti-lite 6's I have purchased, 3 were GSM/Cold Steel Ti-lites, and they are just as good as the older Cold Steel Ti-lites. The only difference is the company logo.

In fact, out of the 9, I received one bad one (late lock-up), and that was an older Cold Steel version made before GSM bought them out. So I can attest that at least as far as the Ti-lite 6 with Zy-Ex handles are concerned, GSM has maintained quality. I'm very happy with the GSM/Cold Steel T-lite 6's, at least so far. I'll see what happens with #10.
 
I too had this problem with a legal version and ended up with the Cold steel as well.

Aside from that, I don't think they are super in demand so not too many quality ones to be found.
 
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