Italian style Stilleto advice/recommendation on what to get

[SPN]

Hey guys, so I've been thinking of picking up a Stilleto side opener. I've wanted one for a long time but I know nothing about them as far as which ones are considered to be of good quality. I'm looking for the classic Italian Stilleto style like you'd see in "A Westside Story" or what not. Of course the cheapo smokeshop Stilettos are everywhere but I'm looking for a good quality one that I could possibly carry & use. Any recommendations from the experts would be greatly appreciated & eventually any for sale offers would be awesome too.

PS. Sorry if there's a thread in existence already for this topic. I didn't see any at a glance.

[fastr19]

Take a look at Due Buoi. They have the classic style but they're solid as a rock with a useable safety. However they are quite pricey.
http://www.duebuoi.it/bin/x.cgi/uk_u...5-205188117143

[ratstuph]

Speaking of spendy..., Burn knives http://www.burnknives.com/

[Clydetz]

Check your checkbook... see how much you can spend... visit here to check out one to your liking... http://www.myswitchblade.com/

[AMERICAN]

If your looking for some nice stilletos at a very low cost you might want to look at the link I posted below,I picked up a 13" around $150.00 and a 11" for around $100.00 both have real nice horn handles and there both excellent knifes for the price....the site that Clydetz
put up is also a great site...


http://sharperdeal.biz/sales/index.p...=index&cPath=1

[purpledc]

send them USPS with no insurance or delivery confirmation in a clear lexan container. Oh shit this isnt helping.

[fastr19]

I'll second the SharperDeal site. They are great people to deal with.

[SPN]

Take a look at Due Buoi. They have the classic style but they're solid as a rock with a useable safety. However they are quite pricey.
http://www.duebuoi.it/bin/x.cgi/uk_u...5-205188117143

I actually saw one of those on Craigslist here in Phoenix recently. The guy was asking like $700 for it! I thought that was outrageous, especially now that I checked their website out & found they can be bought for 200-300.

Thanks for all the recommendations guys, it helps a lot. Stilletos are the one knife style I don't know jack shit about. The cheap ones are everywhere though it seems.

[variant_1776]

I've wanted one for a long time but I know nothing about them as far as which ones are considered to be of good quality.

I'd never seen a real Italian switchblade until the 90's. Always thought my Rizzuto Estilletos were that, they weren't, they're Japanese. Those are built about as well, maybe a bit better than the recent smoke shop ones you mention. The real Italian ones are beefy and feel like quality when you pick them up. You are likely to find 3 main brands, AB (Armando Beltrame), AKC, and Frank Beltrame. They may even make them for each other under. They all come out of the same place in Italy, Maniago. I think the West Side Story on was a 9" but there are lengths on both sides of that too not to mention blade styles like bayonet, dagger, spear, & clip. The 3 above seem to be about the same in terms of quality (very high) and differ in minor details only. They all share the same issues too, how the blade is fitted is the biggie.

You want one where the blade locks straight in relation to the handle, held straight up, blade tip at 12 o'clock. Sometimes they lock a little to the left (fix by filing tang slightly) or to the right (fixed w/ $$$). The blade is also supposed to fit deep into the liners and the tip should not peek out. That can be fixed too but requires a switchblade mechanic to take it apart. They also need to lock tightly open and closed.

Call the vendors up that have them and ask what your recourse is if you get one with issues or if they will check before shipping. Or, consider buying one used where all those conditions are called out and shown not to be present. Like anything, there are good ones and bad ones. Some bad ones can be fixed simply and others likely should not have shipped out of Italy to begin with.

Caveat Emptor!

That said, I think the classic West Side Story switchblades are some of the coolest knives out there. The variety of handle materials, lengths, blade styles, and so on means you could collect 100 and never have a repeat -

[SPN]

I'd never seen a real Italian switchblade until the 90's. Always thought my Rizzuto Estilletos were that, they weren't, they're Japanese. Those are built about as well, maybe a bit better than the recent smoke shop ones you mention. The real Italian ones are beefy and feel like quality when you pick them up. You are likely to find 3 main brands, AB (Armando Beltrame), AKC, and Frank Beltrame. They may even make them for each other under. They all come out of the same place in Italy, Maniago. I think the West Side Story on was a 9" but there are lengths on both sides of that too not to mention blade styles like bayonet, dagger, spear, & clip. The 3 above seem to be about the same in terms of quality (very high) and differ in minor details only. They all share the same issues too, how the blade is fitted is the biggie.

You want one where the blade locks straight in relation to the handle, held straight up, blade tip at 12 o'clock. Sometimes they lock a little to the left (fix by filing tang slightly) or to the right (fixed w/ $$$). The blade is also supposed to fit deep into the liners and the tip should not peek out. That can be fixed too but requires a switchblade mechanic to take it apart. They also need to lock tightly open and closed.

Call the vendors up that have them and ask what your recourse is if you get one with issues or if they will check before shipping. Or, consider buying one used where all those conditions are called out and shown not to be present. Like anything, there are good ones and bad ones. Some bad ones can be fixed simply and others likely should not have shipped out of Italy to begin with.

Caveat Emptor!

That said, I think the classic West Side Story switchblades are some of the coolest knives out there. The variety of handle materials, lengths, blade styles, and so on means you could collect 100 and never have a repeat -

Well damn... Now I'm really gonna have the bug to buy one lol. I refer to all of the cheapest knives, weapons or just trinkets in general as "smoke shop" items. I always come across cool LOOKING balisongs & other knives in smoke shops around AZ that always peak my interest but are too shitty to ever buy. I'm gonna start researching online for a good place to pick up a good stiletto based on all the recommendations. Hopefully soon I'll have a sweet blade to post pics of here.

[solidsoldier]

AGA Campolin are higher quality than the "big 3".