Mexican marked switchblade
Moderator: The Motley Crew
Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
Mexican marked switchblade
Hi all,
I bought this knife knowing it was a project. It has been ridden hard and put away wet several times!!
It seems to have good bones and it seems to only need scales and a LOT of cleaning up at this point....
Kick spring is there, blade has a lot of loss, like I said shes rough, but I will do my best to bring it back to life.
Any info would be appreciated. I know these do not have much value, but were they really made in mexico? about what era/year were these made?
Thanks
Robb
I bought this knife knowing it was a project. It has been ridden hard and put away wet several times!!
It seems to have good bones and it seems to only need scales and a LOT of cleaning up at this point....
Kick spring is there, blade has a lot of loss, like I said shes rough, but I will do my best to bring it back to life.
Any info would be appreciated. I know these do not have much value, but were they really made in mexico? about what era/year were these made?
Thanks
Robb
- Attachments
-
- 263733796_232686972336517_1829153734253125091_n.jpg (248.12 KiB) Viewed 2151 times
-
- 263563599_4515207421927346_2636796856220499283_n.jpg (423.87 KiB) Viewed 2151 times
-
- 261801436_881599595882110_1150514393392855324_n.jpg (258.42 KiB) Viewed 2151 times
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
WOW---the stories that it could tell. I'd have one of the guys rehab it.
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
Oh yeah, if this thing could talk, I m sure it would have some great stories!!!
-
- Posts: 2214
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
Yep, these old Picklocks were definitely made in The Republic of Mexico as late as 1975. Carbon steel blades and light cow horns. The last one I saw in Mexico (Nogales, Sonora) was in 1978 as I passed through hitchhiking to Puerto Vallarta. (What a trip). I even wrote a paper in college about my "Mexican Odessy" that year.
If you contact Jeremy T Kreis, he may be able to help you refurbish it.
If you contact Jeremy T Kreis, he may be able to help you refurbish it.
Fishtail Picklock
-
- Posts: 632
- Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:08 pm
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
.
Is it possible to assign a rough date of manufacture to this knife?
I suspect Mexican switches were probably made the same for an
extended period of time.....?
.
Is it possible to assign a rough date of manufacture to this knife?
I suspect Mexican switches were probably made the same for an
extended period of time.....?
.
-
- Posts: 2214
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
They were made for the Mexican tourist trade. Were I to hazard a guess, I would venture to say that they were manufactured between 1955 to 1977 at the latest. (Mind you, that's just a guess). IF you want to see one in better condition, go to the "store" section of All About Pocket Knives. There's one for sale. (The man wants $380.00 (USD) +$10.00 shipping).button_man wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:42 am .
Is it possible to assign a rough date of manufacture to this knife?
I suspect Mexican switches were probably made the same for an
extended period of time.....?
.
Fishtail Picklock
- JimBrown257
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:50 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
Those are interesting knives. I don't know if there are any other autos made in Mexico. A lot of sold in Mexico ones but not made there. The bolsters are aluminum on steel liners so they are pinned on. Most of the ones I have seen must have peeked when they were made because the blade can't fit any further in the handle. There is a big gap above the locking pin so the locking pin is all that secures it. The horn ages like no other horn I have seen (must be from the curing process). And they look like a switchblade from a cartoon like Family Guy where the artist didn't have any actual stilettos to copy so they just drew what they thought one might look like. But they aren't bad knives. They are much more solid than you'd expect from a Mexican switchblade. Because they are solid they aren't hard to fix or restore.
-
- Posts: 2214
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
Amen, sir. These sport a plain, carbon steel blade and can hold a decent edge. I believe that they were made to compete with the Italian Picklocks and Asian "Rizzuto" knives being imported from Korea. They weren't bad knives and, in good nick, should command a decent price on the used market.JimBrown257 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:55 pm Those are interesting knives. I don't know if there are any other autos made in Mexico. A lot of sold in Mexico ones but not made there. The bolsters are aluminum on steel liners so they are pinned on. Most of the ones I have seen must have peeked when they were made because the blade can't fit any further in the handle. There is a big gap above the locking pin so the locking pin is all that secures it. The horn ages like no other horn I have seen (must be from the curing process). And they look like a switchblade from a cartoon like Family Guy where the artist didn't have any actual stilettos to copy so they just drew what they thought one might look like. But they aren't bad knives. They are much more solid than you'd expect from a Mexican switchblade. Because they are solid they aren't hard to fix or restore.
I like them.
Fishtail Picklock
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
I suspect that some light sanding on the horn would make it look nice again. The rest of the knife looks just as it should after all these years with some use. It has great character, and would be a shame to do too much cleaning on it.
Life is not a destination.... but a journey. Don't forget to stop and smell the Roses as you go!
(Couldn't hurt to pick up a few switchblades along the way too! )
(Couldn't hurt to pick up a few switchblades along the way too! )
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7362
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: Mexican marked switchblade
Possibly even just some paint remover on the handles.
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: Mexican marked switchblade
I will try some but It appears to be epoxy, gonna order some new horn for it.