Switchblades

[pawngal]

Horrid picture but.....
Top knife.... $10 Made in China
Middle........ Pro-Tech Auto Runt, Limted Edition 1 of 35
Bottom....... Top of the line custom auto by Matthew Lerch,
Twisted Ladder Damacus with gold lip pearl inlay.
Value $2K+

In the realm of knife collecting, the push button ones like these are usually called autos rather than switchblades.

I carry the cheapo in my purse. Have a Benchmade also but seems to be in hiding at the present time.

 

[6518John]

^^^^^That custom is magnificent!

A few of my Piranah's. I carry the small green one in the front frequently in dress clothes—it is very easy to carry.

 

[crazyphil]

Horrid picture but.....
Top knife.... $10 Made in China
Middle........ Pro-Tech Auto Runt, Limted Edition 1 of 35
Bottom....... Top of the line custom auto by Matthew Lerch,
Twisted Ladder Damacus with gold lip pearl inlay.
Value $2K+

In the realm of knife collecting, the push button ones like these are usually called autos rather than switchblades.

I carry the cheapo in my purse. Have a Benchmade also but seems to be in hiding at the present time.

You know about a rose by any other name is still a rose?
A switchblade by any other name is still a switchblade.
They thought calling them automatics would clean up the
reputation a bit.

In the 1950s the switchblades had earned a kinda bad reputation.
So in 1958 the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 became law. It
made it illegal to import or engage in the interstate commerce of
switchblade knives.

State laws regulate whether or not you can own or carry
switchblade knives. In my state, for example, I can own any
knife I want to, and I can carry any way I want.

 

[les.b]

Found another of my old switchblades, this one came to me in a swap about 30 years ago. Looks similar to the one I brought back from Russia, but the quality is much higher, and the blade seems to be more robust and more finely finished:

Typical marking on the blade:

Best Regards, Les

 

[pawngal]

Some better pictures of the custom auto because it deserved better.

 

[Marshwheeling]

"When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way,
From your first cigarette to you last dying day."

 

[Leatherhead23]

Ignore the "Frankengun" photo bombin' the picture

He does that all the time

Enjoy.

Ned

What the heck IS that gun? A rim fire 357mag???

 

[Leatherhead23]

 

[CZU]

Mikov Leverlock and CZ75 Compact.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

"It is a Frank Beltrame swing guard 11" open with horn handles."

My, that's a big one!

Hey, you sound just like Scorpio talking to Dirty Harry there. In the 80s an outfit called "The Edge Co." sold switchblades. But they would first send the handle and then ship the blade separately. They came with instructions to assemble and then a warning NOT to assemble it. Just to cover themselves legally, of course.

 

[les.b]

Well, I dug up some more of my "switchblades", and here are two larger Benchmades, along with the already pictured Benchmade mini-reflex:

Best Regards, Les

 

[ditrina]

"When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way,
From your first cigarette to you last dying day."

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exGJsv6ZNlo[/ame]

 

[turnerriver]

I like a good switchblade too.
Here's a Microtech I carry.

Three Boker Damascus blade leverlocks.

An Italian AB brand Damascus blade.

I brought several back from Germany years ago as well and still have an Italian stiletto that my best friend pulled on a guy when we were 15-older, wiser tougher heads intervened and saved us from a painful lesson.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[A10]

Finally got a chance to take a picture...all auto or auto like knives, with the exception of the old gravity knife on the left.

 

[Nedroe]

Leatherhead23,

Yeah, kinda'. It is a 17/19 Frankengun. I had a couple of hours one day, so I round butted a 17 & turned down a 6 inch 17 barrel to sleeve a 19, 2.5 inch barrel. One of these days, I'm gonna re-do it with a 3" barrel, just 'cause I can.

But then again, I have this Model 53 with a 22LR cylinder, if I want to go that route.



Ned

 

[OLDSTER]

"SWITCHBLADE"

I like those out-the-front autos, but have steered away from them--afraid I may become a soprano in a careless moment

 

[6518John]

^^^^I think I am going to have nightmares for a month now! I just took the simple folder out of my pocket after reading this.

 

[A10]

I like those out-the-front autos, but have steered away from them--afraid I may become a soprano in a careless moment

It takes some pretty good pressure to activate a double action OTF, even the cheap ones. And the spring tension on them isn't really all that much. A single action might be a different story!

 

[old tanker]

The only one I got to keep came from my "uncle,"

NSN: 1095-01-446-4348

 

[kthom]

Some Auto Knives

I finally got around to digging out some of these auto knives and thought I'd post them up here, FWIW. I'm proud to say that the State of Texas does not prohibit carry or possession of these knives. Not so in the Land of Enchantment where I lived for many years.

The first of these is a regular carry knife for me and I like it very much. I have carried the second a good bit prior to owning the first one. The third is one of several of these I purchased on a close out deal from Knives Ship Free some time ago. At $25 per each, why not? I gave one each to my sons and a couple to two good friends. I have a couple left here, one of which resides beside my chair on the lamp table and primarily is used to open mail. The other is on my work bench in the garage where it performs whatever need I have for a knife. The fourth is kind of special, I think. It was given to me by a very good friend and my understanding is that it was an issued military knife to paratroopers. The Clip blade is automatic with a lock. The U shaped blade is flat on one side and that side also containes the sharpened edge. It is or can be used to reach up in the dark and catch para cord and cut it easily to allow one to get to the ground in the event the chute is caught up in a tree or some other roadblock to the ground during a jump. Each is listed with pertinent information.

#1. Benchmade Cabash series with S30V steel and grivory scales. Push button release with sliding lock. Has a pocket clip for tip up carry. Made in USA. Blade length = 3.40", OAL = 7.30". Nice size knife!
#2. Brous Blades Bionic Auto with D2 Steel and aluminum handle. Push button release, no lock. Blade length = 3.0", OAL = 7.0". Pocket clip for tip up carry. Nice knife but not as hand filling as #1. Made in USA.
#3. Shrade Smedy with 440 Stainless Steel blade and aluminum handle. Push button release and no lock. Blade length = 2.5". OAL = 6.0". Pretty good quality for a knife made in China.
#4. Shrade-Walden Military Issue knife with Stainless Steel blades. Synthetic scales in Orange. Clip blade is auto deployed with a button and has a lock. Blade is 3.0" long. Handle is 4.25". Second blade is "U" shaped and is 1.75" long and is opened with a nail nick. This is not a really high quality knife but it is well made for it's purpose. It's a neat knife and I'm glad to have it.

I have two or three other cheaply made switchblades that were variously confiscated many years ago when found in the possession of miscreants involved in other activities also prohibited by law. After judicial procedings were complete, the judge allowed me to retain possession of these as momentos. They have the same appearance as others pictured above, although probably not of the same quality. The good autos are pictured below: