838. James Dean's switchblade from Rebel Without a Cause. (Warner Bros., 1955) Black-handled switchblade manufactured in Italy by Astor. Engraved with the studio production number "WBM 28730" (Warner Bros. Movies). The spring mechanism is currently not working, but is easily repaired. This knife is used by Dean in the thrilling fight scene at Griffith Observatory, where "Jim" is confronted by Natalie Wood's leather-clad boyfriend "Buzz" (played by Corey Allen), who is armed with a similar white-handled knife. Given this black-handled weapon by one of the other teenagers, "Jim" and "Buzz" exchange numerous slashes (with James Dean getting the worst of it!), until "Jim" disarms his assailant and presses this switchblade to his neck. Since the actors were using actual knives, they were both fitted with chain mail tunics, worn underneath their shirts, to protect them during the filming of this dangerous scene. The knife is fully 13 in. long when opened, and exhibits some abrasions to one side of the handle, incurred when it was kicked on the ground towards James Dean in the scene. It is accompanied with a letter of provenance from a previous owner, stating that the knife was originally acquired from Red Turner, the property master on Rebel Without a Cause. It is hard to imagine a better James Dean piece from any of his films. Not only an important prop from a key scene, this switchblade virtually defines Dean's character in the film, and indeed, is a symbol of the rebellious youth culture embodied by Dean himself.