The knife wrld has been waiting a long time for a proper resource on these intriguing knives. Wait no longer, folks: this is it!

BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Knife World Staff

There is probably nothing in the world of knives to arouse boyish enthusiasm in the hearts of grown men like the way a classic Italian stiletto switchblade tickles the senses. They look a little wicked just sitting there on the table, and they feel a little wicked held gently in the hand; but when you push the button on the front scale that swift click is a sound that cannot be effectively described in the English language — and probably not in Italian, either. It travels through the ear to whatever part of the body makes a collectors heart beat a little faster.

Of course there are legality issues here, but they havent curbed interest in these little beauties. And no wonder, the knives were cool when cool was hip, the first time around. The generation who longed for one in the years before the 1958 ban have since come of age, and entered the era of disposable income. Now, these knives are hot collectibles. This new book by three dedicated collectors is at once a detailed history of the knives and the firms that manufactured and imported them, a well thought out assemblage of other material for collectors, and a full-color, beautifully illustrated guide to the knives themselves. The research seems extremely well done, and the writing is crisp, clear, and well organized; belying the dedication that its authors have for the subject.

The reader will discover 23 chapters and shorter sections in these pages, many of them dedicated to the most important brands of the type such as Latama, Coricama, and Edwin Jay. The chapters on Italys knife producing centers in Milano and Frosolone are enlightening, and the Glossary is a welcome addition to the mix, as are the many photographs of knife-related items and the short bibliography.

If you have the slightest interest in Italian-made automatic knives, I can fathom no excuse for not owning this book — its that good, and the under-$45 price tag is plenty fair enough in these days of ever-increasing publishing costs.

Hardcover, 128 pp.

Availability: Usually ships in 5-7 business days.

$44.95