Oldest Auto

[David]

An here is a Chatellerault switchblade that is talked about as an early example in a couple of the articles i linked to, though i have no specific age on this example.

[Chris Evans]

Hi David,

Fascinating examples. How were they dated? Were they mass produced?


Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

Hell David,

I completely ignored that facet of your knowledge
... which compelles me to ask you: are there folding kerises ?

BTW, Chris is right; the examples you posted are rather appealing !

[David]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi David,
Fascinating examples. How were they dated? Were they mass produced

Well Chris, as Fernando points out, my thing is keris (no Nando, no folders there AFAIK ) and i don't really no much about these knives i've post. But i do have some serious Google skills.
According to what i have read from my research the Korn Patent knives were the first production auto-knives made in America, but it seems that in Europe they may have been in production as early as 1840.

[Rick]

Thank you David; you have made the thread !

[David]

Originally Posted by Rick

Thank you David; you have made the thread !

Glad i could bring my googling skills to the plate for ya...

[Berkley]

Originally Posted by David

it seems that in Europe they may have been in production as early as 1840.

I found one reference which suggests that by that time they were already known on both sides of the Atlantic:

William Beaver
This cutler appeared in a list in a Sheffield directory (1839) as a maker of lock and fly-open knives. The latter were automatic (or switch-blade) knives that were probably intended for the American market.

-Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2010

[Chris Evans]

David,

Great contribution to this thread and that Wikipedia article is very informative and a good one (IMHO).

I here reproduce snippets from Switch Blades Of Italy by Zinse, Fuller and Punchard:

The first automatics of the late 1700s-early 1800s, including those made in Italy...... While twentieth century switchblades are still assembled by hand, all their parts are to some extent mass produced. By contrast, all late eighteenth and early nineteenth century knives were hand made, one at a time...... from about 1830-1900 there are no known examples of an automatic knife having been made in Italy..... This lack of automatic knives obviously doesn't apply to England and France which were producing excellent automatics throughout the century..... and about 1920 in the cutlery capital of Maniago - Italy began once again to produce multiple variations of the classic stiletto switchblade.....Even Latama, the purveyor of perhaps the finest quality knives advertised switchblades as "novelties". And even the Italian craftsmen who made the knives didn't take them seriously........ nor were they intended to be working knives or used for anything - except perhaps stabbing. Perhaps part of the enduring charm of the Italian stilettos is their essential uselessness.... it would not be a serious knife fighters choice. Any decent fixed-blade military or hunting knife would be a much better choice....

Cheers
Chris