Yep, it's a real knife. In the '80s and early '90s it was advertised as "The knife that shoots". It was widely advertised in American Survival Guide, Soldier of Fortune, & countless gun & knife magazines. It was sold in "legal kit form" without the spring (available at any hardware store <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) There was a baton & a grappling hook available as options to the blade. About a month before publication ceased I had sent an email to Self Reliance Journal (formerly ASG) to see if they had any information on whether anyone still sold the knife. I never heard back from them & haven't been able to find any source. It's not really a very practical knife but it's neat enough that I'd probably buy one just to say that I had it.

Ed