This is an early rizzuto and it appears not many were produced. Characteristics of this knife point to it being a first generation knife. It also has features which are counter to rizzuto build fundamentals. First, Rizzuto Estileto Milano is stamped on the tang, just above STAINLESS STEEL. It measures just under 11 inches not including the bale. The top bolsters are rectangular consistent with first generation rizzutos. Its kick spring is also not exactly rod shaped, a tendency seen in other early rizzys. The scales are the lighter acrylic instead of the earlier bakelite. Its sear hole is squared which is anomalous for any Japanese rizzuto. Similarly anomalous is the bale. This model has a mostly smooth bale with just two grooves on each side by the pin, and not usual for any rizzuto model. This model is also single pin. Taken together, an early tang stamped single pin acrylic scale with a smooth bale brings a set of unusual characteristics that do not fit neatly. It stands to reason this knife was designed when the rizzuto makers were trying to figure out what works for mass production and transitioning towards that.
