Classic Italian Switchblades

 Follow me and we’ll jump down the rabbit hole of Italian switchblades, specifically Frank Beltrame.

Of interest is the oval locking hole

First, the disclaimer.  Knife companies change names and tang stamps like crazy.    It can be fun for active collectors trying to get all the variations, but it's hell for someone with a single knife wondering who, what, when, and the big F.  Yeah, is it a fake?

I'm trying to just give you a family rundown of who is involved with Beltrame switchblades.    The best source I've found is http://stiletto-italiano.com/eng/beltramefamily.htm.    In fact, everyone seems to be copying from this.

I prefer the term switchblade for the classic Italian automatic knife.  Other people may make autos, but for me, switchblades come from Italy, probably Maniago, Italy.

It starts following World War II.  Vittorio Beltrame starts a knife company called Beltrame Vittorio & Figli Company.  Vittorio has four boys and three daughters.  The boys are Carlo, Danilo, Luciano and Ivano and they come to work for Vittori.  The daughters, I assume, are married off.  They used several different tang stamps, but only the switchblades were stamped BV&F.

Ivano is blessed with the birth of a son, Francesco (Frank) in 1941 and later with a second son, Armando in 1947.

All I could find out about other cousins was Danilo's son Renzo started a knife company in 1970 and went bankrupt in 1990.  But we are ahead of ourselves.

BV&F starts making switchblades in 1958.  In 1961, Armando Beltrame started his knifemaking job under his father Ivano’s direction at Beltrame Vittorio & Figli Company.

In 1969, Ivano dies.  I can't find out anything about the founder, Vittorio at this time.  The death of Ivano seems to trigger a crisis in BV&F.  They go out of business.  In 1970, Frank forms a new company making knives.  He names it F.lli Beltrame F&A and used the tang stamp ‘b Rostrie’.    The family insist that knives marked B Rostrie are fakes. 

Frank brings in new machinery and improves quality and production.  This forces the rest of the Maniago cutlery community to address quality issues.  Later, when the market is flooded with cheap knockoffs and phony tang stamps, quality becomes the touchstone buyers use to identify genuine Italian switchblades.

Starting in 1975 Armando comes to work for his brother, Frank.  This continues until 1996.

The world market is expanding and opportunities are ripe for the taking.    Frank develops the Atlas Kit, which is a switchblade without the spring.  The kit also includes a spring so the user can install it themselves.  This gets them around US import laws.  1990 finds Frank starting to import small switchblades to Germany to comply with their knife laws.

My newest Frank Beltrame found at the Lehigh Show

While all this is happening, two of Frank’s children, Ivano (named for his grandfather) and Sara become part of the company in 1994.

You’re wondering why I thought it was complicated?    Well, it's about to. 

In 1996, Frank divides the company into two separate companies.    One is mABer Coltellerie (sounds familiar?  See Frank’s brother Armando).    They use, it's reported several tang stamps, ‘AB ITALY’, ‘AB ITALY INOX’, ‘AB STILETTO ITALY’.  Armando is in control of this company.

The other company is Fratelli Beltrame F&C.  Fratelli can be translated as Brothers.    They use the tang stamp, ‘Frank b Italy’.  Ivano and sister Sara still work for Frank at Fratelli Beltrame F&C. 

So, here's one plot complication.  Both mABer Coltellerie and Fratelli Beltrame F&C work in the same building.  One must wonder how separate the knife lines are.  Do they share machinery?  Parts?  Workers?  How different are the knives?    Could a stamped blade end up on the wrong handle?

Found at the WRCA MAPS Museum Show

I have no idea.

And what happened to Frank’s cousin, Renzo whose knife company went bankrupt in 1990?  I couldn't find evidence of a tang stamp, but it is out there.    I have found images of what people report to be Renzo Switchblades, but the tang stamp simply says 'Made in Italy.'  I don't know how valid that claim is.

Uncles Luciano, Danilo and Carlo also worked for their father and founder, Vittorio, but they seem to have disappeared into the mist. 

Thanks to the Internet, I can find numerous postings assuring me that the Italian switchblade they bought is authentic with a wide and wooly range of tang stamps.  While there are a few grainy photos of stamps, most are unsupported claims that ‘Frank B Rostrie’, ‘b’, ‘B’ and ‘Beltrame’ are all legit tang stamps.  Perhaps, in one sense they are.  They are stamps and they are on tangs.

Clearly the market popularity is driving fakes, clones and frauds into the market.    Buyer beware!

Horn Handled 11 inch switchblade from Frank Beltrame

All of this leads me to my new Italian switchblade with an almost translucent blond horn handle made by Fratelli Beltrame F&C.  The tang stamp reads ‘Frank B Italy’, which is reported to be the current tang stamp for Fratelli Beltrame F&C.  It's a quality knife and I really enjoy it. 

This entire rabbit hole expedition was the result of several conversations I had with my friend Bob about Italian switchblades.  As I like to say, it's a dull boy who can't learn something new!

Switchblade or Automatic

Do you say ‘switchblade’ or ‘automatic knife’?

Sounds like a George Carlin question.  Switchblade is warm and fuzzy.  Automatic is hard and cold.

To me, this is what I consider a switchblade.  It’s a classic Italian stiletto.  It clicks open with a menacing double click.

A classic switchblade what would be carried by the Jets or the Sharks.

This is not an expensive one; I couldn’t find a maker’s mark.  The blade is stamped “rust free” so I assume it’s stainless steel and is too dull to even cleanly open envelopes.  I remember when knives came relatively dull and you put the kind of edge you wanted.  But I don’t want to sharpen it and alter the ‘factory edge’.  It has the classic release button which allows a leaf spring to fire the knife open, a slide safety and a horn handle.  I got it as part of an estate I purchased and kept it because the knife was unlocked by depressing a tab on the knife’s butt. 

But say automatic to me and I got to go with Pro-Tech knives. 

Pro-Tech Knives, LLC is a family knife company owned and founded by Dave Wattenberg.  They have been building high quality American Made knives since 1998.

Pro-Tech produces about 12,000 knives per year and its most famous models are the Godfather, Godson, and the Runt J4.  You’ll see Pro-Techs in the hands of the U.S. Military and law enforcement including the Secret Service and US Marshall's Service.  You’ll also see them in the hands of collectors and anyone demanding high performance from an automatic knife.

(Hint:  Get yourself a collaboration between Pro-Tech and Boker.  It’s a sweet little auto. You will not be disappointed!)

I’ve always wanted a Godfather.  Not any of the variations.  I wanted the Tuxedo.  For years I watched the one with an actual Ivory insert.  But then, when we were still relatively ivory friendly, it was out of my price range.  But the ivory micarta, that was just too powerful of a call.  I went with the black blade to compliment the black and white motif.  I can’t help but think of Dino, Sammy, Frankie and the rest of the Las Vegas rat pack when I see it open.

Pro Tech 's Godfather It's pissy eligant!

It’s a big knife.  Take it down a step and you’ll see the Godson and I found one I liked. Same good lines but I went with Bruce Shaw’s Steampunk copper insert. 

Steampunk?  It is a visited reality in which Jules Verne’s world still exists.  It just matured a little and discovered sexy.

If you needed to cut the mooring line a dirigible and escape in your velociped, this is the knife you need 

Shaw received his art training at Cal-State University at Los Angeles and graduated as a mechanical engineer, and what could be a better background for Steampunk?  He started engraving in 1978 and has been engraving full time since 1984.  The copper plate features engravings of gears and mechanisms of a mechanical watch some of which drive one of his classic skulls.  It was a limited edition and I was just lucky enough to be in the right place.

If you think of the Godfather and Godson as part of a family of knives, then the limited production of their Rockeye Auto PK custom has to be the hippy uncle from the LSD 70s.

Dude, it's time for the Airplane on next!  They follow Cream.

The Rockeye line was designed by Les George.  Les started making knives in 1992 and found a kindred soul in master builder Stan Fujisaka of Kaneohe, Hawaii to show him the ropes.  Sadly, Stan passed away on New Year’s Eve just a few hours before the arrival of the new 2014.  One has to wonder what kind of knife shows they must have in the afterlife. 

Having served in the Marines with a wide variety of jobs, Les has developed well-defined ideas about what how knives and tools should be made for use.  You can see this in the strong blade and handle of the Rockeye line.

The handle was anodized by Peter Kellett, who may be best known for his unique, one of a kind art of amazing designs of metal guitars and Pro-Tech knives.  I was told, but can’t confirm, that only four, maybe eight of these knives were made and again I was at the right place.

If you had a cousin knife from the Deep South, maybe New Orleans or the swamps of Florida, it would be the TR-3 Alligator.  The Tactical Response 3 is a favorite with law enforcement and military.  They are hardworking knives with a 3.5 inch blade, an automatic knife that is slender and fits nicely in the pocket.  But I can almost guarantee none of them are carrying the TR-3 purple alligator.  Artist Peter Kellett returns to marry a purple alligator and a mother of pearl release button to a tactical knife. 

I hear to tell chicken taste like gator.  Where can I get me some?  

I like the style of Pro-Tech knives.  I especially like their custom or ‘arty knives’.  You can go to their website (http://www.protechknives.com/product-category/automatic/) and find some amazing knives.  How about a left-handled Godson in basic black?

Boker Mini Kalashnikov Auto

Boker knives are some of the hidden gems in the knife market.  Mostly because they don’t have the advertisement clout others do.  But smart thinkers and cagey knife users should be thinking about the Boker brand.

Boker traces its roots to tool manufacturing the 1800s in Germany.  Swords were the name of the game, but they diversified into other edged products.  The family owned company sent representatives to America and opened up manufacturing in America.  They both shared the “Tree Brand“ logo.

During the Second World War the Solingen plant was destroyed and Boker USA took control of the trademark.  In the 1950s the German factory was rebuilt.  Over the years the American company closed.  The German company changed hands but in 1986 Boker reacquired the rights to the American brand and established facilities in Denver, Colorado.

Boker has manufacturing  in Germany (of course!), Argentina, Taiwan and China and now in the USA.  They produce three basic levels depending on the price point: Boker, Magnum and Boker Plus.

I once did a special order of a special knife to commemorate the customer’s son-in-law’s military promotion.  It was a beautiful Damascus bladed folder.  The blade was carved from 300-fold forged Damascus steel from the barrel of a German Leopard 1 tank.

The knife came in a nice wood presentation box with the instruction and history in German.  The buyer was very happy, as his son-in-law spoke German for the Army.  I have a friend who spoke German for the Army; he was a spy.  I didn’t ask any more questions.

So if your introduction and thoughts about Boker are from the Magnum $7 knife pile, think again.

Boker's switchblade

I just got my hands on the Boker Mini Kalashnikov auto.  I’m very impressed.  Here’s the stats:

Blade:       drop point

Steel:        AUS8

Blade Length:    2.5 inches

Handle length:  3.5 inches

Weight:    2.1 ounces

Handle:   reinforced nylon

Country of origin: Taiwan

The Boker website claims the handle is aluminum but they also claim the blade is wood.  Hummm, someone’s website has been hacked.

Clip side

The blade shows the same powerful spring action I’ve seen in Benchmade autos.  Block the blade from completely opening and when the obstacle is removed, the spring still has enough force to finish the opening and lock the blade in place.  The pocket clip is reversible and the handle sports a lanyard hole. 

The finger grooves really provide a grip so you can concentrate on using the knife and not holding the knife

The finger scallops fit my hand pretty good for a small knife.  And between the scallops and the jimping on the blades spine and handle you get a very good grip.  The blade release is a basic plunge lock system.  This system has been used for many years and is very dependable if you keep it clean.  But isn’t that true of all machinery?

The open back allows for easy cleanup and makes oiling the spring much simpler.

I suspect it uses a coil spring and the knife has Torx screws so you can replace the spring if necessary.

I have come to like auto more and more.  I don’t suspect they open any significantly faster than the assisted or many of the tactical knives.  But I do think pushing a button is a gross motor skill and doesn’t require the fine motor skills which are lost under the influence of fight/freeze/flee conditions.

I wish I could take it for a drive, but it isn’t mine.  I have no doubt it would serve me well.

It retails for about $55 but you can get it for less if you shop around.  I’ve got two for sale, but that’s another story.