Help Me Remember a Knife from >20 Years Ago

Archie

Archie

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Oct 4, 1998
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I was pretty into knives in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and I need help remembering a folder I owned in that time frame. There was a small company doing a stout utility folder, not too long but pretty chunky. G10 handles and I think they had multiple blade profiles In the same handle. It had a unique lock mechanism…I was about to type that it a button slider sticking out of the scales, but as I‘m writing, I remember that’s not right. The lock release was a button or lever sticking out of the front of the scale next to the blade where a right-hander would use the thumb to release. Lock was touted as extra strong. Thumbstud for deployment. Knife came in a cardboard tube, and I think the company name included some variation of Pioneer, Valley, and/or River. Probably nothing I would buy now if it was new because I remember the both the blade and overall knife was pretty thick and chunky, but nostalgia is strong and I’d like to know what it was so I can track one down.
 
REKAT Pioneer. The early models had the lock sticking out the front of the scale. I had one with the slider on the side of the scale.

They made some great knives. Really off the wall designs. Wish they were still around.
 
That was quick. I tried some Google searches before posting and got “REKAT” results that didn’t jog my memory at all. After searching “REKAT Pioneer” that’s absolutely it, but it’s more familiar spelled out as Round Eye Knife and Tool…that’s what I was struggling to remember. Now to track down a reasonably priced example or decide how much nostalgia is actually worth.
 
I traded mine for my much beloved Sere 2K. Wish I still had the pioneer, but that Sere gave me a lifetime of memories.

Good luck tracking one down that’s not too outrageous.
 
Just to bring this short thread full circle, I found one pretty quickly. Actually had an offer of a really nice one in the WTB section, but went with a cheaper "user grade" option for this impulse purchase since I'm not a collector. Plus, this scratched another itch since I was just thinking a couple of weeks ago that I had never owned a tanto blade. G10 is worn smooth in spots, no pocket clip, blade looks good but needs sharpening work. Solid chunk of a knife like I remember, but I had forgotten how ergonomic the handle is.

IMG-4223.jpg
 
I still own mine:

Blast from the Past: REKAT Pioneer II

My latest find, a Round Eye Knife and Tool (REKAT) Pioneer II from around the year 2000. Specs: Length open: 18,7 cm Length closed: 11,5 cm Blade length: 7,7 cm Blade thickness: 3,09 mm Steel: ATS34 stainless Handle material: G10 on hardened steel liners Locktype: Rolling Lock...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
I like odd knives. Read this thread then searched used ones. They sure ain’t cheap! Cool looking knife though. I enjoy odd, out of production knives.
 
The Pioneer II came in multiple blade formats: tanto, drop point, clip point, and upswept. These also came in fine edge or combo edge. The serrations on those REKAT's were really similar in style to what Vallotton Knives and Emerson used as well.

The Pioneer models are easier to come across than the other models by REKAT such as the Savant, Carnivore, Carnivore Cub (both designed by Pat Crawford) , Escalator (designed by Bram Frank), Pocket Hobbit, and Sifu. Also the Hobbit Fang and Pikuni neck knife (The Pikuni was designed by by Rob Simonich).
 
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I had a bunch but they’re long gone. I always wanted a hobbit fang and a pocket hobbit. Kept thinking I had plenty of time to get both, then they went under and all the knives dried up.

That’s one company that if anybody resurrected the designs they’d have a goldmine on their hands these days.
 
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