hmmmm.....since no one has responded to my previous posting it leads me wonder whether anyone bothered to follow to my Wiki link. I do realize that not all Wiki articles are worth reading, but this one seems pretty well researched. It continues as follows:
Examples of steel automatic folding knives from Sheffield England have crown markings that date to 1840.[1] Tang stamps such as Tillotson, A.Davey, Beever, Hobson, Ibbotson and others produced automatics that have either simple iron bolsters and stag handles or ornate embossed silver alloy bolsters.[1] Some English knives have what is referred to as a "pen release" instead of a central handle button, whereby the main spring activated larger blade is released by pressing down on the closed smaller pen blade. Also in the 19th century, folding French personal defense knives marked Châtellerault were available in both automatic and manually opened versions in several sizes/lengths. Châtelleraults have recognizable features such as "S" shaped cross guards, picklock type mechanisms and engraved decorative pearl and ivory handles. About the same time in Spain, Admiral D'Estaing is attributed with a type of folding naval dirk that doubled as an eating utensil.[1] When folded closed, the blade tip would extend beyond the handle to be used at the dining table. It could be spring activated to full length if needed as a side arm, by pressing a lever instead of a handle button,.[1] but this kind of knife is very hard to find now.
After the American Civil War (1865), knife production became industrialized.[1] The oldest American made production automatic knife is the Korn Patent knife, with a rocking bolster release.[1] With the advent of mass production, which enabled folding knives to be produced at lower cost, manufacturers introduced new and much more affordable switchblade designs for the general public. In Europe as well as the United States, automatic knife sales were never more than a fraction of sales generated by conventional folding knives, yet the type enjoyed consistent if modest sales from year to year.
By 1890, U.S. knife sales of all types were on the increase, buoyed by catalog mail order sales as well as mass marketing campaigns utilizing advertisements in periodicals and newspapers. In 1892, George Schrade, a toolmaker and machinist from New York developed and patented the first of several practical automatic knife designs.[2][3] The following year, Schrade founded the New York Press Button Knife Co. to manufacture his switchblade knife pattern, which had a unique release button mounted in the knife bolster.[4] Working out of a small shop in New York City, Schrade employed about a dozen workmen.[5][4] In order to expand his company, Schrade sold a portion of his business to the Walden Knife Co., and moved operations to Walden, New York.[5][4] There Schrade became the company's production superintendent, establishing a production factory to manufacture several patterns of Schrade-designed switchblade knives, ranging from a large folding hunter to a small pocket knife.[5]
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