After visiting this great forum I decided to join! This is my first knife forum and first post on this forum.
Since I was a child I have always been fascinated with automatic knives. As a little boy (about 10 years old) my grandfather gave me a small white pearlex side opening auto (not a classic stiletto style). I thought it was the coolest thing. I don't know the manufacturer or the year the knife was made, but it was an older knife as I was given this in the late 60s and it had seen heavy use before I got it. For the next few years I used the knife a bit, and I remember the spring had gotten week. Sadly, my first auto was lost in later teenage years.
I guess my desire for collecting auto knives was always there but I managed to suppress it?
In 1979 I was in Tijuana Mexico and picked up an R Zafrilla INOX side opening auto made in Spain with a 3" blade and 8" total length. It had sat closed for over 30 years until I stumbled upon it earlier this year. I pushed the button and, bam, it snapped right open just like the day I bought it!
I guess the rediscovery of the Zafrilla kindled my interest in collecting because I decided to get into auto knife collecting this year (2012). My first two purchases were at a flea market. I got a little burned on 2 cheap autos because I didn't know what I was doing.
I have been absorbing information online for a while this year and have learned a bit more about automatic knives but so many of you are very knowledgeable and I would appreciate any info or tips you could share with me. I have found some reputable websites for automatic purchases. I am on a budget so I have bought a few nicer knives but nothing expensive like a Microtech. I think some knives (Benchmades, for example in particular) are a bit overpriced for me. Although I hope to one day own a Microtech auto.
I have a Piranha P1 in blue, an 11" white pearlex A Beltrame by SKM, an AKC Concord OTF and a number of cheaper OTFs and side openers. I know, generally, you get what you pay for.
Some of the Youtube videos I have seen on switchblade collections have blown me away. I have enjoyed some great Youtube reviews too.
I am particularly fond of Italian Stilettos and hope to increase my collection a little at a time. Please share your stories with me.
It's funny how as a child I was so interested in auto knives, then pushed the collecting bug out of my head for decades, only for the desire to be rekindled in my fifth decade in life! A desire never to be suppressed again!
Hope to hear from you all soon!
AM (AutoMania)
Welcome abord! You've joined a great forum.
