Switchblades of Italy [Hardcover]

Tim Zinser (Author), Dan Fuller (Author), Neal Punchard (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Turner; Limited ed. edition (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563119331
• ISBN-13: 978-1563119330
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Switchblades Of Italy: a Collector's Christmas List, July 28, 2004

By 

S. Cassels "gnome2525" (Mundania, Urthland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Switchblades of Italy (Hardcover)

The serious collector as well as the curious automatic knife buyer will find this author's work to be extensive on the subject of Italian Automatic Knives. With 128 pages, including high resolution photography of "tang stamps," this title covers topics ranging from the evolution of the automatic knife in Italian production to the ignoble standing this type of cutlery has been labeled with by the media over the years. Detailed information on specific manufacturers and the history of these companies give the reader specific information that is not easily found elsewhere, proving this book to be an invaluable source of information for the collector seeking to authenticate rare Italian Stilettos. A must for the knife collector or dealer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Switchblades Of Italy: Almost Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, July 28, 2008

By 

John E. Dennis (New York City) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Switchblades of Italy (Hardcover)

Switchblades Of Italy Forbidden things have a degree of attraction for many of us and the information available on these has been concealed or hidden just as the knives themselves were removed from common experience. That is just as well but these originally utilitarian and sometimes decorative novelties were also clever inventions. Many may remember seeing one in their youth and being fascinated and mystified as to its mechanics.

This book explains how a relatively small comunity in Italy exploited and were exploited to produce the world's supply of the Italian variety of these infamous knives. How a few post-WWII American entrepreneurs imported the fruits of that comunity's labors and helped sponsor the switchblade boom in America until the ban.

The ban increased the desireability of these forbidden implements and made some of the more exceptional examples into rare collectables. This book traces the history and details various Italian manufacturers of switchblades with time spent looking at some of the mechanics and the innovations within the industry. Many questions about who made what and what they looked like are answered in this nicely prepared book dealing with rare collectables rarely seen.

5.0 out of 5 stars Blades, January 21, 2010

By 

mach54 (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Switchblades of Italy (Hardcover)

Book is getting hard to get now. Mine was used but in great shape. IMO a must if you collect switches from Italy.