Frank Beltrame 13-inch Italian stiletto switchblade ~ Vintage late 1960s - 1970s

Frank Beltrame 13-inch Italian stiletto switchblade ~ Vintage late 1960s - 1970s

$279.99

Current stock: 1

Frank Beltrame 13-inch Italian stiletto switchblade ~ Vintage late 1960s - 1970s

This knife is a vintage 13-inch Italian stiletto switchblade manufactured by the legendary artisan Frank Beltrame in Maniago, Italy. It was made during the late 1960s to the 1970s, a period frequently called the "transitional era" for Italian automatic cutlery.

Below is a detailed breakdown of knife's components, mechanisms, and historical dating.

Knife Specifications & Breakdown

Feature	Description
The "B" Stamp	The "B" on the blade tang stands for Beltrame. Frank Beltrame (and earlier, Giovanni Beltrame) utilized this stamp for knives exported to various global markets, including Germany and the US.
"Rostfrei"	This is the German word for "rust-free" or stainless steel. It indicates the knife was originally produced for the German market or distributed via European channels before arriving in private collections.
13" Frame	Measuring 13 inches total length when open, this is a highly desirable, imposing size for collectors. It is significantly less common than the standard 9-inch models.
Flat Grind	A flat grind means the blade face slopes smoothly and flatly from the spine down to the cutting edge, rather than having a bayonet ridge line down the middle. Flat grinds are deeply appreciated for their classic, sleek look.
Swivel Bolster / Release	To close the knife, you do not pull a metal tab. Instead, you pivot or tilt the top metal bolster forward with your thumb. This shifts the internal mechanism to lift the back spring lock off the blade so it can fold closed.
Wood Scales	The handle scales are crafted from natural wood. While horn and stag are common on classic Italian stilettos, vintage wood scales offer a distinct, rugged, and traditional appearance favored by collectors.

How It Opens and Closes

Firing: You push a firing button on the handle, causing a leaf spring inside the knife to snap the blade open horizontally from the side.
Locking: The blade locks into place solidly.
Closing: You press against the top bolster. The bolster swivels slightly, unlocking the blade so you can manually push it back down into the handle until it clicks shut.

Determining the Date (Late 1960s to 1970s)

The introduction of the swivel bolster is the key piece of evidence used to date this knife.

The Transition (Late 1950s - 1960s): Prior to this era, Italian switchblades were "picklocks," meaning you had to manually lift a raw metal tab on the back of the handle to close the blade. The swivel bolster mechanism was engineered in the late 1950s and became the manufacturing standard by the mid-1960s.
The "B Rostfrei" Era (1970s): This specific stamp styling matched with a flat grind and a swivel bolster points directly to the booming export era of the late 1960s through the 1970s. During this time, Maniago makers mass-produced high-quality automatics for international adventure catalogs and European tourist markets.

Condition is near mint, vintage patina intact , not cleaned.

NKCA Grading system

MINT: A factory fresh knife, absolutely original as it came from the manufacturer, not carried or sharpened, a perfect knife.

NEAR MINT: A new knife that has seen sometimes, show some slight carry or shop wear, blades snap perfectly, handles show no cracks.

EXCELLENT: Shows no more than 10% blade wear, handles are sound, no cracks, blades snap good.

VERY GOOD: About 25% blade wear, slight cracks in handles, may have one lazy blade, stamping clearly visible to the naked eye, no blades changed or repaired.

FAIR: 50% blade wear, blades lazy, cracks and chips in handles, handles replaced with same type, blades repaired, stampings faint but readable with a glass.

POOR: Blades very worn, handles bad or missing, blades have been replaced with the same type, reading of the stamp is almost impossible, even with a glass, good mostly only for parts.