Could use some help with info on this Pig Sticker

[regularjoe2]

I'm not too versed in finding info about this old knife ... (& I am too cheap to buy the book on them)
It's 13" + 1mm long & is 3/16" thick (blade) .
I know that it's a 'picklock' bayonet blade & is horn-handled .

The original stamping on the blade looks like it had been ground down a bit and is way , way hard to read ...it starts with a "C" and after that letter could be an "O" .
An owner of this knife "engraved" (looks like it was done with a 'prick-punch') the word "FINN" on both sides of the blade .
There is the number '69' stamped inside of the knife 'slot' in the handle .

And yes , it's an 'automatic' knife .

My Gramps said he'd won it in a poker game , on the waterfront in Seattle .
I don't recall if he won it prior to , or after WW2 .

Thank you !

[railman44]

It's in the style of a push-button switchblade.  When they became illegal they were made in the same style without the push-button in all different blade lengths.  The better grades came from Italy.

[regularjoe2]

Yes , it is a switchblade ( 'automatic' knife ) and quite heavy and still tight .

I don't know it's age though ... alot of the newer blades are .125" thick ( or thinner ) , while this blade is .190" .

I had it passed on to me in 1971 .
It's seen some use , by the wear on it ( not too much by me , only flipped it open >20 times since I got it ) .

[railman44]

I remember a friend brought a few back from Europe in the very early '60's.  One had a blade about 10" long and was quite heavy.  I believe the longer the blade the thicker it was.

[regularjoe2]

Thanks for taking time to post info here , railman44 .

[regularjoe2]

Texasbadger ...
Here's a thing in the "Guy stuff" catagory ...

Any hints about it ?

[Texasbadger]

Looks like a nice export blade early 60's on, Italian or as written Finland exports good steel blades. In Texas they are only legal as curios or paperweights, cant carry them under any circumstance unless Law Enforcement and I think there is a military clause,,,some of them are very nicely made with a very strong band spring that jumps in your hand when you push the button

[regularjoe2]

Thanks for that input , Texasbadger , especially since I'm not versed in dating knives of this type !

This puppy does have a strong spring that lets you feel alot of 'recoil' when you press the release .

Same story on the laws here , also is 'mostly' illegal to sell here ...
I would never 'carry' this thing !!!