Italian Switchblade Stilettos….Know the History Behind

Switchblade knives are becoming increasingly popular with more and more states removing the legal limitations on buying those items. As we very well know laws do vary by states and sometimes country, some states like Florida or Arizona allow them to be carried while others states limit them to being collectibles or curios only.

The switchblades have been around for over a hundred years and are there to stay. The usage of these knives has become very popular with emergency medical technicians, military personnel, law enforcement, and many other professions.

Italian Stilettos

And having an Italian stiletto in hand can elevate your status from ordinary to classy in an instant. Without any doubt, stilettos are respected and well-known type of knives and are also extremely iconic. However, this status of the Italian Stilettos didn’t simply crop up overnight. They have been around for quite some time, but do you know much the history of switchblade knives, especially stilettos? If not, it’s high time to learn about them. Here in this post, you’ll get a quick glance about the history of the Italian stiletto and how it gained popularity.

MySwitchblade.com

There are many variations that one will find in lever lock switchblades and Italian stiletto. There are also multiple blade styles such as flat grind, kriss, dagger, and bayonet just to name a few. At myswitchblade.com we stock more than just Italian switchblades. We carry switchblades from many places around the globe including Czechoslovakia, Russia, the US, as well as Asian imports. We also carry custom high-end knife art switchblades from makers such as Anthony Marfione, Bill Saindon, Jim and Joyce Minnick, Reese Weiland, Paul (Burn) Panak, and Jeff Harkins. You will also find custom fixed blades and folders from makers like D’ Holder. The sizes of our switchblades vary from 5’’ OAL to 18’’ OAL (Overall Length) generally. But you will also find the larger ones too.

The Birth of the Italian Stiletto

The Italian stilettos date back to the late 1400s. However, the only difference one can find is that the knives used then are a little different than the knives that probably come to our mind when we think of a stiletto. They are typically automatic knives; however, they were not automatic several hundred years ago.

The Italian stiletto switchblade knives became immensely popular in the U.S. after the U.S. army brought them home after the World War 2 from Italy and other European countries. The word “stiletto” has been derived from the Latin word “stilus,” as in a pencil, stylus, or iron pen. These writing tools were sharp, pointy, and thin, just like the blade shape one find on stiletto knives.

Their Popularity….

The Italian stilettos became popular in the middle ages when knights used them as weapons. Due to their unsharpened edges and pointy tips, stilettos were typically used for stabbing, and not for slashing or cutting.

A little help from the big screen….

It is also suspected that movies have also somewhat helped with the recognition and popularity that Italian stilettos have reached today. I bet that most of you must have watched these movies:

West Side Story

Most of you probably have read the West Side Story at some point in your scholastic career. The movie came out in 1961, shortly after the Italian stiletto started gaining momentum in the United States. The knife used in the movie was actually a Lever Lock.

Gladiator

If you have not watched West Side Story, then I have got an intuition that you must have seen Gladiator. The movie has a stiletto in it.

Conclusion

Stilettos are just like the tuxedo of the knife world. They have got a lot of history behind them, and probably many more to come.

What is your favorite stiletto or switchblade knife till date? Do let us know in the comments below. And if you are in the market for a new Italian stiletto, be sure to head on over to myswitchblade.com to check out the amazing selection at your fingertips!