Superior Italy
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- MarkT93Cobra
- Posts: 97
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Superior Italy
I just got a nice 9 inch dark buffalo horn with red dot safety marked superior Italy! Any info on value and maker?
Re: Superior Italy
These were just being discussed over on one of the FaceBook knife pages-
They were made by Andrea Santini in Maniago. Nobody seems to know what became of him, or so that discussion goes.
They were made by Andrea Santini in Maniago. Nobody seems to know what became of him, or so that discussion goes.
Re: Superior Italy
You are exactly right Omega. For a short period of time he was a prolific poster here and shared a good bit of information about his knifemaking. Then for whatever reason, he totally disappeared.
Jim
Jim
- ILikeStilettos
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Re: Superior Italy
As nearly as I can determine, he was impatient to make knives in a big way. He's working for an arms company that supplies the Italian police. He didn't disappear as much as he lost interest in the subject area.jim d, wrote:You are exactly right Omega. For a short period of time he was a prolific poster here and shared a good bit of information about his knifemaking. Then for whatever reason, he totally disappeared.
Jim
Dave Sause
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
Re: Superior Italy
Too bad, as the Maniago crews seem to be disappearing in our modern times. Perhaps ALS/Dave Sause needs to send some of his fancy CAD designs to breathe new life into things!
- ILikeStilettos
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Re: Superior Italy
There are other folks who can produce from the designs as well. This is why I post them. All it takes is the desire and a customer.omega wrote:Too bad, as the Maniago crews seem to be disappearing in our modern times. Perhaps ALS/Dave Sause needs to send some of his fancy CAD designs to breathe new life into things!
Dave Sause
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
- arthas
- Cutlery Town Warrior
- Posts: 1580
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2002 6:11 pm
- Location: The downtown of the cutlery town
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Re: Superior Italy
Hello!
Mr. Santini created Superior-Italy brand a few years ago and manufactured the knives in cooperation with some Maniago knifemakers. Even though he lived around Rome, so a bit far for Maniago, with time he became a usual presence of the town. He also did a Blade Show, in 2013 if I recall correctly.
Then, all of a sudden, he vanished. It seems he lost interested in the thing.
M.
Mr. Santini created Superior-Italy brand a few years ago and manufactured the knives in cooperation with some Maniago knifemakers. Even though he lived around Rome, so a bit far for Maniago, with time he became a usual presence of the town. He also did a Blade Show, in 2013 if I recall correctly.
Then, all of a sudden, he vanished. It seems he lost interested in the thing.
M.
-
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- Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
Re: Superior Italy
Ah, a "unicorn".
In the swaying vagaries of the automatic knife world, that's how these things seem to take place.
Strange.
In the swaying vagaries of the automatic knife world, that's how these things seem to take place.
Strange.
Fishtail Picklock
- ILikeStilettos
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:36 pm
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Re: Superior Italy
Back in April of 2014 I bought a 9" Superior dagger from a well known person in our community and posted a review. I still own the knife, but it was easier to find the pictures than the piece, so this is what I am posting.
The thing was that the seller apologized for what he had to charge me to recoup his investment, and in his words, "Superior ain't!" I was new in the community and thought that I was being objective. If you are going to call yourself, Superior, and charge top dollar, then your knife should be beyond reproach, even under magnification (which is what close up photography is.) I was probably too hard on the guy and other collectors took extreme offense about the review and a battle ensued. I'm pretty sure that the entire post got deleted as it was a war of words and no longer about the product. Like many 'Hatfield vs. McCoy' feuds, the hurt feelings linger long after the players are deceased or otherwise moved on. Other things happened with Superior (that I am NOT going to comment on) and they are no longer in the knife business.
So here's the knife, light to transparent scales. Some collectors love transparent scales that show the pins going all the way through, I don't. No foul, just not my cup of tea. It's a tight little knife and has a great snap, but that's only par for the course on a 9". It's a pivot bolster; for the money I would have expected a picklock. Considering that this costed me more than a 10" Campolin 5 mm picklock (as my flaky memory recalls), it was considerably over-priced and this may, in part, account for Superior's demise.
To the best of my knowledge, Antonio Santini was apprenticing under Armando Beltrame, and all the knives were built in the AB shop in Maniago. So that accounts for the ricasso stamp. Note that the scale is a bit narrow at the pommel and the liner is showing.
I was unhappy with the gap between the liner and the backspring.
Down at the pommel on the other side the scales were too wide and some unusual profiling was required.
This is a sexy little knife, and if the flaws hadn't been there, Superior might still be around. Either way, these knives would be in demand by collectors. (They may still be, I haven't a clue. I just don't think anyone will be foaming at the mouth to pay what I would charge.)
The finish work here is rather glaring. Also, those are solid NS bolsters, but they are not fully lined. Again, should have been a picklock and fully lined.
Lots of dings and scratches on the pommel.
Etching a blade along the front top was a big controversy at the time. Raimondo's did it and they're liked. Other moderns with this take a bunch of negative criticisms. I think it's pretty great, love the font and the sharp etch. Again, Santini was drawing attention to himself and I only wish he had been able to live up to his own hype.
That's the story and I am sticking to it. I hope I haven't offended anyone or revealed any secrets. I was just trying to respond to the inquiry and tell what history I remember.
Best regards,
The thing was that the seller apologized for what he had to charge me to recoup his investment, and in his words, "Superior ain't!" I was new in the community and thought that I was being objective. If you are going to call yourself, Superior, and charge top dollar, then your knife should be beyond reproach, even under magnification (which is what close up photography is.) I was probably too hard on the guy and other collectors took extreme offense about the review and a battle ensued. I'm pretty sure that the entire post got deleted as it was a war of words and no longer about the product. Like many 'Hatfield vs. McCoy' feuds, the hurt feelings linger long after the players are deceased or otherwise moved on. Other things happened with Superior (that I am NOT going to comment on) and they are no longer in the knife business.
So here's the knife, light to transparent scales. Some collectors love transparent scales that show the pins going all the way through, I don't. No foul, just not my cup of tea. It's a tight little knife and has a great snap, but that's only par for the course on a 9". It's a pivot bolster; for the money I would have expected a picklock. Considering that this costed me more than a 10" Campolin 5 mm picklock (as my flaky memory recalls), it was considerably over-priced and this may, in part, account for Superior's demise.
To the best of my knowledge, Antonio Santini was apprenticing under Armando Beltrame, and all the knives were built in the AB shop in Maniago. So that accounts for the ricasso stamp. Note that the scale is a bit narrow at the pommel and the liner is showing.
I was unhappy with the gap between the liner and the backspring.
Down at the pommel on the other side the scales were too wide and some unusual profiling was required.
This is a sexy little knife, and if the flaws hadn't been there, Superior might still be around. Either way, these knives would be in demand by collectors. (They may still be, I haven't a clue. I just don't think anyone will be foaming at the mouth to pay what I would charge.)
The finish work here is rather glaring. Also, those are solid NS bolsters, but they are not fully lined. Again, should have been a picklock and fully lined.
Lots of dings and scratches on the pommel.
Etching a blade along the front top was a big controversy at the time. Raimondo's did it and they're liked. Other moderns with this take a bunch of negative criticisms. I think it's pretty great, love the font and the sharp etch. Again, Santini was drawing attention to himself and I only wish he had been able to live up to his own hype.
That's the story and I am sticking to it. I hope I haven't offended anyone or revealed any secrets. I was just trying to respond to the inquiry and tell what history I remember.
Best regards,
Dave Sause
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
Re: Superior Italy
Hi Dave,
I believe your review is spot on for that particular knife. I feel comfortable saying that the same or similar issues appear on other knives. I can’t imagine your knife is the only one with issues. I agree in general that they were a bit pricey, picklock, and lined bolsters and D stamped lined would have made it “Superior”.
Here are a few photos of my “Santini “
John
I believe your review is spot on for that particular knife. I feel comfortable saying that the same or similar issues appear on other knives. I can’t imagine your knife is the only one with issues. I agree in general that they were a bit pricey, picklock, and lined bolsters and D stamped lined would have made it “Superior”.
Here are a few photos of my “Santini “
John
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Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
- ILikeStilettos
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Contact:
Re: Superior Italy
Thanks for the backup, John. I owe you responses to a couple of emails, it's been moderately crazy around here.john wrote:Hi Dave,
I believe your review is spot on for that particular knife. I feel comfortable saying that the same or similar issues appear on other knives. I can’t imagine your knife is the only one with issues. I agree in general that they were a bit pricey, picklock, and lined bolsters and D stamped lined would have made it “Superior”.
Here are a few photos of my “Santini “
John
Dave Sause
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
Re: Superior Italy
You’re welcome.ILikeStilettos wrote: Thanks for the backup, John. I owe you responses to a couple of emails, it's been moderately crazy around here.
I know all about crazy. All is good.
A presto,
John
Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
- natcherly
- Connoisseur dei Coltelli
- Posts: 6340
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:59 pm
- Location: Baghdad by the Bay
Re: Superior Italy
That is a very fair review, Dave. When these first showed up, my first thought was, "'Superior' implies relativity, so it is supposed to be superior to what?" I never got a satisfactory answer to that so I ignored them.
Perhaps if he had just named them "ACME". Could have sold tons to Wile...
Perhaps if he had just named them "ACME". Could have sold tons to Wile...
- arthas
- Cutlery Town Warrior
- Posts: 1580
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2002 6:11 pm
- Location: The downtown of the cutlery town
- Contact:
Re: Superior Italy
Hello!
For the rest, you are absolutely correct: he was mainly an apprentice under Armando Beltrame, even though the thing didn't last more than a few months.
M.
The correct name is Andrea.ILikeStilettos wrote: To the best of my knowledge, Antonio Santini was apprenticing under Armando Beltrame, and all the knives were built in the AB shop in Maniago. So that accounts for the ricasso stamp. Note that the scale is a bit narrow at the pommel and the liner is showing.
For the rest, you are absolutely correct: he was mainly an apprentice under Armando Beltrame, even though the thing didn't last more than a few months.
M.
Re: Superior Italy
In defense of Andrea I recall him asking for feedback on blade types, scale material, and the logo Superior Italy went through several changes. I don’t remember if he used any suggestions. I can only guess he may have used a suggestion or two. In any event AB had something to say since he was under his guidance.
I got mine from a collector who sold a lot of his collection. I don’t recall what I paid for it, but recall it was a fair deal.
Anyone remember what these originally sold for?
Does anyone know how many were made?
I got mine from a collector who sold a lot of his collection. I don’t recall what I paid for it, but recall it was a fair deal.
Anyone remember what these originally sold for?
Does anyone know how many were made?
Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed