9" La Vespa Picklock

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JulesVane
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9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JulesVane »

I don't know much about the La Vespa stamp. Things I have learned is "La Vespa" means "The Wasp", which I HAD thought all La Vespa pieces had the wasp body style but obviously do not as seen here. I understand (have read), it's a Zoppis knife and Zoppis is/was from Milan. I can see no "D" stamp in the liner on this piece. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
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JayAK80
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JayAK80 »

That’s a nice knife. I’m interested to hear more as well.
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sprink
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by sprink »

Can't tell you anything about it except it a cool looking knife, what's going on with the backspring between the ears ?
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JulesVane
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JulesVane »

sprink wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:13 pm Can't tell you anything about it except it a cool looking knife, what's going on with the backspring between the ears ?
Thanks. Just a hard to reach area. No issues other than dirty.

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"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
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thom
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by thom »

JV, really nice. Love the horn. Or is it wood? Whatever it's pretty. What is length?
That would look really nice in my display case as well! lol
Thom
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JulesVane
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JulesVane »

:lol:
thom wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:55 pm JV, really nice. Love the horn. Or is it wood? Whatever it's pretty. What is length?
That would look really nice in my display case as well! lol
Thom
:lol: Thanks Thom, it's 9" and horn. Geez, now that you're into vintage stuff, they'll be none left for the rest of us! lol
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"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
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Corvus
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by Corvus »

Nice knife, Chris. My understanding is that Zoppis was a trading company that purchased knives from Maniago and added their own stamp for export. I've seen several photos of Latama-style two-piece flatguards (I assume from the early '50s) bearing their name, but FWIW, your knife looks like a Mauro Mario-made piece to me.
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JulesVane
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JulesVane »

Thank you Rick! But, in my opinion, EVERY vintage picklock "looks" like a Mauro Mario!
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"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
Maltese flatguard
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by Maltese flatguard »

JulesVane wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:48 am Thank you Rick! But, in my opinion, EVERY vintage picklock "looks" like a Mauro Mario!
There were over 60 different families of makers and shops making switchblades in Maniago. Everyone says “Mauro Mario” when I fact it could be 1 of 60 or more different makers.
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JulesVane
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by JulesVane »

Maltese flatguard wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:58 am
JulesVane wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:48 am Thank you Rick! But, in my opinion, EVERY vintage picklock "looks" like a Mauro Mario!
There were over 60 different families of makers and shops making switchblades in Maniago. Everyone says “Mauro Mario” when I fact it could be 1 of 60 or more different makers.
I think Rick's MM comment might have been a bit of an inside joke as we are always saying this same thing! How everything's a "Mauro Mario". He knows how that drives me nuts! lol
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"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
Maltese flatguard
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by Maltese flatguard »

JulesVane wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:15 am
Maltese flatguard wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:58 am
JulesVane wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:48 am Thank you Rick! But, in my opinion, EVERY vintage picklock "looks" like a Mauro Mario!
There were over 60 different families of makers and shops making switchblades in Maniago. Everyone says “Mauro Mario” when I fact it could be 1 of 60 or more different makers.
I think Rick's MM comment might have been a bit of an inside joke as we are always saying this same thing! How everything's a "Mauro Mario". He knows how that drives me nuts! lol
Good one! :)

Some people say Mauro Mario made most everything- because the don’t have the knowledge about all the other makers out there!

What Corvus said is pretty close to what how Zoppis operated.
METALGOD
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Re: 9" La Vespa Picklock

Post by METALGOD »

very cool knife i always wanted one of the wasp shaped La Vespa flatguard picklocks didnt know they made regualr shape picklocks too very cool my friend :)
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