How far back do switchblades go?

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Genghis Khan
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How far back do switchblades go?

Post by Genghis Khan »

I was watching a western (I don't remember which) and one of the guys had an Italian stiletto. How far back does the design go?
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Late 1800s, at the earliest. The stiletto as we know it today first appeared in the early 1900s.
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Tom19176
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by Tom19176 »

I have seen stilettos in a few westerns....The Rifleman, Magnificent Seven, and at least two others I don't remember....
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ILikeStilettos
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by ILikeStilettos »

That's Hollywood for you.
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john
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by john »

There are many historical and linguistic inaccuracies in movies.
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by orangeboy »

john wrote:There are many historical and linguistic inaccuracies in movies.
And on forums....the classic looking Italian stiletto can be documented going to the 1880s.

The Frosolone style models go back even further - mid to late 1800s.
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Genghis Khan
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by Genghis Khan »

Bill DeShivs wrote:Late 1800s, at the earliest. The stiletto as we know it today first appeared in the early 1900s.
I would love to see a pic of one of those early Stilettos.
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Ask Orangboy. He's the expert.
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by natcherly »

Tom19176 wrote:I have seen stilettos in a few westerns....The Rifleman, Magnificent Seven, and at least two others I don't remember....
The one I remember and which help peaked my interest in these things was "Gunfight at the OK Corral". Doc Holliday played by Kirk Douglas threw 9" picklocks with deadly effect. James Coburn in the Mag 7 also threw them. These babies are not throwing knives being totally out of balance for such work. It is also unlikely that such knives were even available in the era and location that these movies took place. As noted by ILS, that's Hollywood for you.
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Re: How far back do switchblades go?

Post by orangeboy »

Bill DeShivs wrote:Ask Orangboy. He's the expert.
Thanks for the compliment! I’m flattered!

If you have the book Art Of The Switchblade you can see a variety of the earliest Maniago style stilettos. The new book from Italy has some great early pieces in there as well.

A cooperative called “Societa Cooperativa” formed in 1887 and began producing what is now the classic design.
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