Latama, Real or Fake.
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Latama, Real or Fake.
Hi, I have a latama, Switch blade, not surer if its real or a reproduction, Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you Don
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
I don,'t remember ever seeing a stamp like that.
- Panzerfaust
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
I don't recall ever seeing a crooked Latama stamp, but the knife is original.
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
Looks genuine to me.
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John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
Strange stamp.....
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
It's difficult for me to tell just from a photo, but the bolsters look like chrome-plate to me.... weren't all Latimas made with nickel-plated bolsters?
Also, this piece is incredibly clean -- if it's real, somebody would have had to purchase it 60+ years ago, wrap it up carefully, store it in their sock drawer, and never touch it. I guess there ARE some Lats out there in such condition; but the percentage must be pretty darn small. What do you know of the history of this particular knife?
Also, this piece is incredibly clean -- if it's real, somebody would have had to purchase it 60+ years ago, wrap it up carefully, store it in their sock drawer, and never touch it. I guess there ARE some Lats out there in such condition; but the percentage must be pretty darn small. What do you know of the history of this particular knife?
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
RE: photo #2
I just noticed something else.... the 'break' where the false edge begins is closer to the deployment button than the safety slide.
On my Lat the 'break' is closer to the safety, creating a much shorter false edge than you see on this knife.
I don't know if this is a universal "tell" but it seemed worth mentioning.
I just noticed something else.... the 'break' where the false edge begins is closer to the deployment button than the safety slide.
On my Lat the 'break' is closer to the safety, creating a much shorter false edge than you see on this knife.
I don't know if this is a universal "tell" but it seemed worth mentioning.
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
Looks authentic to me. Latama stamps have had variations over the many years since the first one was produced. The Latama stamp on this knife is the same as one pictured in "Switchblades of Italy" on page 22. You have a very nice knife.
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
The "L" looks different to me.
- Bill DeShivs
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
No Latama stiletto bolsters were plated with anything.
The bolsters were/are made of nickel silver.
The bolsters were/are made of nickel silver.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
That's for all the replays and info.
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
Thanks Bill..... I stand corrected..... so, the question remains: What is the composition of the bolsters on this knife?
Perhaps the owner could weigh in here, and tell us whether the bolsters look like chrome or nickel.....
Perhaps the owner could weigh in here, and tell us whether the bolsters look like chrome or nickel.....
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7342
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
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Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
The bolsters are nickel silver. That's what they were made of.
Nickel silver looks different from both chrome or nickel-though when polished it looks closer to nickel.
The knife is original.
Nickel silver looks different from both chrome or nickel-though when polished it looks closer to nickel.
The knife is original.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Latama, Real or Fake.
Yes The bolsters are nickel silver, chrome has a different look. Also this knife was very clean..no pitting on blade. No shrinkage to the horn...must have been stored right. Thanks again for all the replays.