Black Beauty Stiletto

[Vanagas]

Very cool knives. Very cool story.

[JerrBear]

When the auto "Opens with the speed of sound," does it create a 'sonic boom?' Wouldn't THAT piss-off the neighbors iff'n you were engaging in some serious 'click therapy?'

[Vagrant]

When the auto "Opens with the speed of sound," does it create a 'sonic boom?' Wouldn't THAT piss-off the neighbors iff'n you were engaging in some serious 'click therapy?'

Just a bit of "poetic license" or advertising exageration

[Cryptomecanic]

do you guys remember the little 3" stiletto's that advertised 1.98 for 1 and get 2'nd one for 1 cent

[leighdog]

I really like seeing these old advertisements for knives.Anyone who has more like these please post them for everyone to see.It sure would make for great conversation""Just a thought"""

[krakenten]

Anybody remember the similar "Wolf Killer" ads that ran in the same magazines?

And take note how scarce these knives are, even though thousands must have been sold to justify the expense of the monthly ad?

I would not be afraid to speculate that there are more automatic stilettos in America today than in the '50's-I never saw any for sale when I was a child, even though the nearby York Cutlery Co. was an importer.

In fact, I don't think I saw one in the flesh until I was seventeen-they were very rare items, indeed.

I used to see them on TV, though, and in the movies, where villains could throw them with unerring accuracy (in'Macao', a Jane Russel vehicle, one highbinder carried several 11'' stilettos in his sash, ready to fling them as needed!).

Dear, dead, innocent days!

[jarvis]

And take note how scarce these knives are, even though thousands must have been sold to justify the expense of the monthly ad?

There were probably only a very limited number that actually had the Black Beauty stamp. They probably sold a whole bunch of them that had other stamps.

[Bill DeShivs]

As I said above-hence the plethora of "M.Italy" knives. It's my theory, anyway.

[jim d,]

Yes Bill, you jogged my memory. I seem to remember a post on one of the forums from at least a few years ago. Either the poster purchased a knife from the ad, or bought a knife from someone who did, and it had the M. Italy stamp.

Jim

[ragtime red]

Yes Bill, you jogged my memory. I seem to remember a post on one of the forums from at least a few years ago. Either the poster purchased a knife from the ad, or bought a knife from someone who did, and it had the M. Italy stamp.

Jim

The Black Beauty phenomon is an interesting one. With the ads running for at least 4 years, there should be tons of them. I have talked to people that responded to the ads and received knives with many different markings. I think it is only possibly the last year that the importer (a guy in Florida) had them marked as such, and the manual picklocks and lock backs that followed after the 1958 ban were marked Black Beauty. M. Italy was a stamp used by the Mauro Mario company in the late 50's and early 60's according to the man that was the production manager for the company in the 50's. (Angelo Campolin senior) It is possible that the Mauro Mario company made the Black Beauty knives, I think it is very likely, but there is no specific relation between the M. Italy stamp and the Black Beauty importer. Knives were still marked M. Italy for several years after the 58 ban when the Black Beauties ceased to be switchblades.

[jim d,]

As always, thanks for the insight Tim.

Jim

[krakenten]

The manual knives were also banned in the early sixties.

A few would appear from time to time, with clip points, very rarely, with bayo blades.

I even had a fifteen inch manual folder, once.

[Bill DeShivs]

Manual knives may have been banned by some localities, but they were not banned from importation like the autos.

[switch67]

That's very odd, why would the manual stilettos be banned,and who banned them? I would like to hear more on this from Mr. Krakenten. As far as I know the main importer for stilettos between the 50's to 70's was G.C.Co(Guttman Cutlery Company) out of New york.They sure supplied us americans with alot of different italian stilettos,be it autos & manuals.

[Cryptomecanic]

what ever happend to "THE WESTBURY SALE's COMPANY"
Italian Stiletto's Swing guard Lock Blades, Survival Knives,the last thing advertised was a boot knife in Soldier of Fortune magazine mid 90's ?
(everything from wine skins to tear gas fireing starter pistol's)