Among the many rizzuto variations is the blade stamped picklock, which are uncommon. There is also a school of thought which holds these were the first rizzuto knives given the Italians were largely making picklocks in the 1950s and then came the transitional and finally modern knives. It is also clear the Japanese were following the Italians, with some referring to rizzutos as copies.
A few things challenge this theory. Japanese rizzutos were d-stamped throughout their production in spite of Italian makers ceasing to maintain them. The Japanese also made picklocks through the 1960s. A one to one time correspondence does not seem fully observed. The rizzuto picklocks are also blade stamped while signs point to the frst rizzuto knives having either no stamp or tang stamped. There is also early variation of the stamp used and stamp variation on later knives. Just the same the picklocks appear to be somewhere among the early rizzuto knives.
Chronology is grey and no matter what, the rizzuto picklocks are a rare find.
Images courtesy of Jules Vane