Collection

[gravknife]

I started talkblade last December as i had fallen for switchblades after a chance viewing of the outsiders and an amazing you tube video showing shellpuller knives with a cool soundtrack from the film afforementioned.
I got my hubie shellpuller but it just wasnt like the film example so i carried on hunting for what i know now is the 50s german shellpuller ,i just love that knife in every respect.

Anyway after joining and being amazed at the old and new knife posts i thought id stick to my leverlocks and keep searching for that elusive knife.

This is where TB gets dangerous as whilst bidding on a group of knives( seeing a leverlock amongst them)i won and got a small pearlex import knife and posted here.I was stunned at the beauty and quality of this knife and it fired hard and fast.I then began looking for knives similar to it but with natural scales but whilst looking kept bumping into interesting knives ,many pulled from ebay and i had to do private deals in french or German ,and trust in human nature.

I was loving the hobby and this place so much i almost forgot that these knives werent allowed in certain places especially in a land where a feather duster wielded wrong can become an offensive weapon.I was reminded when losing a beautiful transitional knife ,then a leverlock then a Russian ,its soul destroying when you want to collect but are worried you will lose something possibly unique or never to be made again.

I just couldnt stop though and carried on at a slightly slower pace.I have accumulated nearly 40 knives in my short time and love them all.
I found myself as a regular morning thing with 2 addictions ,caffeine and TB as the people here have been excellent and ive made some good freinds and found it to be an unbeatable source of switchblade knowledge and breathtaking knives ,i thank you all for that and making a brit feel welcome .
I love the fact that i can get advice on buying and repairs from 3000 plus miles away almost instantly ,a fact i learned when my Flash jammed and i could pm Bill (sweating and worried) a few minutes later it was unjammed and i was relieved as its become a favourite of mine.

Sorry for droning on but its a great place with great moderators and people and id just like to say thanks for help and freindship given this last 9 month.
Apologies for pictures but these are the best i can do for now out of 50 shots it allowed 3 but ill keep adding pics to this thread if people are interested.
All the best

Ian

[gravknife]

Some more shots.

[gravknife]

Few more.

[gravknife]

These are the best i could upload .Apologoes for multi posts to Moderators .
Last couple of shots including my only mini ,would love a set of these i think they are lovely little switches.
Thanks for looking in advance.

Ian

[sammy the blade]

Quite impressive, especially for your short time collecting! Kinda hard to get out of your blood once you start. I'm always thinking I'm going to stop buying knives but then I see one I just have to have. I'd sell 90% of my collection but then I'd just buy more and regret selling them!

[ILikeStilettos]

Sammy said it quite well. There's always another desirable knife. I keep promising I will stop, my collection is "almost" complete, but then here comes another.

Great pictures, Ian. Never doubt how well you have done under the circumstances. Forget the stumbles and delight in the successes.

[niceguy2]

Very nice collection , thanks for sharing it ..... Not one American automatic in the bunch ?

[DonC]

Good looking collection. Looks like you're solidly hooked. Welcome to the madness.
DonC

[gravknife]

Thanks Sammy Dave niceguy2 and Don
I know its nothing special as a collection but its hard manouevering around customs and never being able to return a knife if not as described(usually in French)
In hindsight i maybe should have risked a few high grade moderns and a Pat Havlin ,plus a coveted Bill D shellpuller conversion, but its always a gamble and a crime imho to lose these knives this way.
Niceguy i love many American autos they just dont pop up here as often as italians and leverlocks.I missed a presto paratrooper as i couldnt bid that went for around 150 euros .Im still learning regarding the American knives and will definitely get an example sometime.
Its also a pain not having a good mangler here or i would have bid on knives needing repair more often .
Im happy with my collection so far ,havnt found a common area yet as i like them all otfs ,italians leverlocks and oddballs especially but if pushed i like the older stamped picklocks and transitionals ,just cant buy the larger sizes i covet ,or a name stamped example .
Thanks for looking and the comments it means a lot .

All the best
Ian

[blademan]

My collection started when the internet gave me the opportunity to search for a knife i had as a young boy,
it was a red faux pearlex 11" stiletto non automatic.
I soon learned that you could order these knifes by mail, and i even find one with a button, thus automatic i was thilled
that was my entrance to start collecting these Italian stiletto knifes, you can imagine how happy i was when the knife
indeed arrived after 3 weeks ordered from Stu at Fortune Sales, packed well so it passed customs.
Since then my collection grew, and i even came in contact with the people who make the best, who could ever think of that.
When you search the forum you can see my collection how it is right now.
I see you have quite a nice collection knifes with character, i like that, there is no Rizzuto in my collection yet, hope i can add it some day.

[natcherly]

Ian, I'm seriously impressed by the quality and variety of your collection! You have many eye popping examples and several knives that don't show up very often around here. You must be, and should be, most proud of what you have accomplished in a relatively short time. Add to that the nanny state road blocks that have been placed in you way, you have done well, son!

[gravknife]

natcherly
It means an awful lot coming from you sir ,thanks for such encouraging words my freind.
Wish i could move to the US and really get to grips with the killer custom pieces like your recent Pat Havlin venture ,now thats an eye tonic .
Ive collected most types of knives in the past but none so visually and mechanically stunning as these here.
Theres always something new and with the fine manglers and designers producing new wonders and the excellent quality production knives ,i believe these knives will be awed at for years to come.

All the best to you and yours
Ian

[gravknife]

blademan thankyou for looking
Ill take a look through your older posts for your collection if thats okay with you ,id love to see your knives .
The rizzutto is a FES rostfrei and not very good quality unfortunately ,but it was very cheap indeed for 10 euros (3 knives for 30 euro)and i love its unique sound.
Id love a japanese rizzutto estilano in black ,an iconic knife for sure and i hope yours finds you soon.
If ever buying one speak to Jeremy(Jim Brown) hes a good bloke and has a fine collection of rizzies.Also a great fixer of these blades.
Thanks for posting and encouragement.
Regards
Ian

[barshoo]

Hi, Ian!

It is so nice to have a collector from across the pond! I was taking an early morning cruise through Talkblade when I stumbled upon your handsome collection. These knives are beautiful...although I have never seen an ugly knife. WAIT A MINUTE!! I am wrong!!! Years ago I came across this hideous knife on our favorite auction site. I can now safely say that I own the ugliest knife on the planet! (I will post a picture soon)

[sammy the blade]

I gotta see that one Barb.