Mexican marked switchblade

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RobbP
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:49 am

Mexican marked switchblade

Post by RobbP »

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
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XBMX
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:13 pm

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by XBMX »

WOW---the stories that it could tell. I'd have one of the guys rehab it.
RobbP
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:49 am

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by RobbP »

Oh yeah, if this thing could talk, I m sure it would have some great stories!!!
Fishtail Picklock
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Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
Location: Forest Grove, OR

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by Fishtail Picklock »

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.
Fishtail Picklock
button_man
Posts: 632
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:08 pm

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by button_man »

.

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
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Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
Location: Forest Grove, OR

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by Fishtail Picklock »

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.....?

.
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).
Fishtail Picklock
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JimBrown257
Posts: 2053
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:50 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by JimBrown257 »

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.
Fishtail Picklock
Posts: 2207
Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
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Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by Fishtail Picklock »

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.
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.

I like them.
Fishtail Picklock
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shursnap
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:43 am
Location: Midwest

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by shursnap »

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! ) ;-)
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Bill DeShivs
Yes.
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Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Possibly even just some paint remover on the handles.
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RobbP
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:49 am

Re: Mexican marked switchblade

Post by RobbP »

I will try some but It appears to be epoxy, gonna order some new horn for it.
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