RPK 20cm Russian Prison Knife Brown Seahorse automatic knife

Vintage RPK 20cm Russian Prison Knife Brown Seahorse automatic knife. It is believed that these knives were made by inmates of Russian prisons back in the 1950s through the 1970s to be sold to raise capital for the prisons and given by prison personnel as bribes and gifts. They are all hand made and very unique and beautiful pieces of Russian cutlery Folk Art.  This knife measures 20cm (8 inches) open with a steel frame. The long clip saber grind carbon steel blade is mostly full and has some scratches and patina and some nice engraving. The synthetic brown scales are in very good condition and the shape reminds me of a seahorse. The knife works well with the blade tip seating even with the end of the knife when closed, smooth snap and decent lockup when open with a little up an down at the tip. The blade is activated by pressing the button which also releases the blade to close. EX- condition