Rostfrei (slant) PATENT 20cm Italian Rare Vintage Side cocker OTF Red automatic knife SA

Here's one that you seldom see. It's a vintage 1960s/70s Italian Side Cocker OTF switchblade with red plastic scales. These knives were made in small numbers in Italy in the 1960s/70s and are very cool switchblades. The knife measures just under 20cm open (7 7/8") and has a brass frame with nickel silver bolsters, button and safety cap. The flat grind swedge blade is full and retains all of the factory finish and is marked Rostfrei diagonally (slant) on the front and PATENT on the back of the ricasso (tang). The red plastic scales are in great condition with no flaws. The knife works Great with the blade opening fully when the button is pressed and locks. This knife is a single action, which means it only opens automatically when the button is pressed. To close the blade you need to lift the cocking lever a bit, press the button and then push the tip against something with a little pressure to get the blade to close most of the way, then you lift the lever/cocker all the way up, which draws the blade inside and cocks it so it's ready to be fired again. It doesn't take much to push it part way back in to the point where the lever catches the bottom of the blade as long as you remember to lift the lever a bit before you press the button to close. I don't think this knife has been opened many times over the years. I suspect that the mechanism was too confusing for many customers which probably led to returns and that's why they didn't make them for very long. They are very unique and VERY cool knives! Safety works. Near Mint condition.