Rizzuto picklock

[Panzerfaust]

I found this Rizzuto nine-inch Japanese picklock at a gun show.

[Mario]

Were these made before the swinguards? They seem to be a lot more rare. I’ve seen similar Japanese picklock stilettos without the Rizzuto markings.

[Jackalope]

I had one just like it. They are made very well and are pretty rare.
Anyone notice the blade stamp?

[galvanic1882]

Man that is a nice one!!! If you ever what to move it let me know!!!

[rock-n-roll$$$$$$]

good find Matt, looks to be in great shape.

[Tom19176]

Nice one !!

[Jackalope]

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Here is the one like yours along with a step bolster that I found on ebay night time.

[Panzerfaust]

This one is well made and has a really tight back spring. I've noticed JPLs often have week back springs and I also bought an 11 incher that is almost mint except for the weak back spring. I'm guessing the Rizzuto picklocks were made late 50s or early 60s?

[Bill DeShivs]

The backsprings on Japanese autos are nickel plated. Unless the extra step of stress relieving is done (it never is!) the plating causes hydrogen embrittlement at the thin part of the spring. This causes micro cracking-thus weakening the backsprings..

[john]

Hi Matt,
Cool addition to your collection.
John

[Mario]

Have you guys ever seen a manual humpback Rizzuto? This guy has one.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd1jAKsVazw

Wow! Never knew that existed. Those two guardless step bolsters are nice too! Especially the red one!

[Bill DeShivs]

I would call that a lock back, rather than a hump back. Hump backs have the lock release in the middle of the nandle.

[Mario]

I would call that a lock back, rather than a hump back. Hump backs have the lock release in the middle of the nandle.

I stand corrected. It’s stamped simply “Rizzuto Estileto” instead of “Rizzuto Estileto Milano” and the guy said he thinks it came along before the automatics. However, didn’t the original Rizzuto autos come out in the 1950s? I was under the impression that the manual Lockback Italian stilettos didn’t come along until the 1960s after the Switchblade Act was passed in 1958. So it’s possible the Japanese made this manual Rizzuto at the same time the Italian knife makers started making them.

[Bill DeShivs]

The Rizzutos debuted in the late 1950s. Be aware that what you hear about dates is only general information.
As a rule, manual versions of stilettos were concurrent with automatics-for areas where autos were already illegal.

[gravknife]

Thats a lovely looking knife Panzerfaust.

Looks well built ,really nice blade shape,great condition and has that iconic switchblade look of the Black beauty .
.Jackalope
Same goes for the ones you posted .
The smaller example is really nice aswell ,dont think i have seen that type before.Are both these types rare ?

Great knives, thanks to both of you for posting them.

Ian