I have to admit a lie :(

[Frotier76]

Remember this crazy dude, he started the AO craze, yep, before Ken Onion did IIRC and held a ton of patents on new locking systems and other knife related patents. His name was Blackie Collins and he worked in the industry as a designer durin' the 80s. He was part of the Gerber Super Team of designers backed in the 80s and during Gerber International's heyday. Him and Pete Kershaw along with Al Mar were all working around that time for Gerber International or on their own endeavors at the time. During those days, the days before Bench Mark was bought by Gerber International, it was a test bed for many new ideas that Blackie and some others had back then.

It was quickly absorbed by Gerber and after the design team left, the company was just a name that eventually became associated with cheap offshore knives but there was a day when. IIRC, they were a new and upcoming knife manufacturing group working outta Oregon and made up of some of the great news designers of the day.

I'd swear to 95% of that. The value like YM,MV but there are a lot of older collectors and users who remember how the designers like Al Mar, Kershaw and Collins got started and still look for the knives that showed their influence when they worked for gerber, knives that showed their unmistakable influence. A great example is to look at the Gerber Silver Knight series in the late 70s to the early 80s and tell me you don't see the unmistakeable influence of Al Mar's hand in the design of that knife. Then, if you can find one from the 70s-80s and hold it, maybe even use it with the opportunity to sharpen it you would fall in love with the jewel like quality you felt in the Silver Knight. I never had one that was loose or wobbly. The F&F were like something you'd find in a handmade knife. If you ever get the chance to pick up one from the time period bow not the 90s or later 2nd Gen blades but the originals.

That's what gives them value in my eyes, the fact that these guys were just becomin' known in the industry, just beginin' to be noticed and for me that's a part of the history and that's invaluable, priceless so to speak sir but as in all things especially knives, YMMV.

Didn't SOG buy the rights to his Bolt Action Lock and rename it the Piston Lock and then rename through an ambidextrous design called the Toothlock?SOG's design does seem to possess a rather identical function mechanically.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Ted....interesting action on that thing...don't recall having seen it before...
We all figured you have an entire nest of never-carried goodies like that.
That one's the tip of the iceberg...I suspect.

I have to say that there have been times that my safe had a whole bunch of
"never-carried" folders. I have a habit of carrying one knife for two to three yrs before I switch off. I am loosening up a bit lately...running a bit short on time.

 

[jc57]

I've got one of those old Gerber Bolt-Action folders I bought new in the early 80s. Other than the fact that the Gerber shield fell out of the handle some years ago and got lost, it's still a great knife. Good design, good ergonomics. Light, nice blade shape, sturdy without being overbuilt. No pocket clip (came with a nylon sheath) and not a one-handed opener unless you do a rather severe wrist flick timed right with pulling back on the bolt lock. But certainly compares favorably to other modern knives along the lines of the Griptilian and Delica.

 

[Old Biker]

I've said before that I carry and use any knife in my collection and I may have added the caveat that there were a couple or even maybe a few. Well I found one, the Bench Mark (before Gerber got their hands on the company) Rolox, a Viper Lightweight.

I bought this NIB and have never carried it or used it other than for a pic. I got it for a reasonable price and decided to buy it, hang on to it and sell it on some future date in the far future,

This is not for sale, I just found it and thought I'd share, the Rolox was a unique knife and certainly attractive.

Please don't message me or contact me in regards to selling this knife as it is not for sale. (Sorry)

You should have kept your little lie a secret. I never new a knife like that existed. Now I had to go buy one.

O.B.

 

[palonej]

A pillar of our community a liar??
The little only way to be forgiven for your transgression??? Send me that knife Ted!!
And go to confession, you sinner!!

Joe

 

[JPD1998]

I remember lusting after the Rolox when it first came out. I think they were about $75 back then, and that was a lot of cash for a knife.
The other one I wanted was the original Paul knife , and that too was expensive.
I have a later version, the Rolox 2, it is made entirely of Zytel and was much cheaper. But it looks nothing like the original.

 

[22-rimfire]

With few exceptions now, I buy all of my knives to use. The kicker is that probably only about 25% get used. I'm okay with that. I won't buy most querky designs just because I know I have little use for them.

 

[19-3ben]

Very interesting. I guess that's one way of resolving some of the arguments of tip-up vs. tip-down carry.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Pictures make the thread, now these aren't mine but I did wanna show you folks some of what was used to handle these, They were easy to make your own scales for these and I've seen in their hey day some nice Ivory, pearl, ebony, Stag and horn, ram's and bull too aiong with many exotic woods. There were a lot of Gerbers made of this knife so it's probably a a good chance to find one and own a unique piece of evolutionary cutlery.

A salesman sample with see through scales so you could see how it worked.

CRKT took that idea to the next level and made a whole series of clear to translucent colors like Victorinox did with their translucent Ruby and other colors.

Now the CRKTs were half the size but we're reasonable in price when they came out. appealed to some as a fashion accessory because of the colors. They still show up on the auction sites and always at the gun shows. Plus there were some premium ones made makin' them rare and to some valuable. Me? I just like to play with them. I had a bunch and I gave my last Ruby red see through to my buddy's son when he broke the cheap knife he picked up at the Tuck Stop.

 

[marcus52AR]

CRKT made a version called the Rollock, these are usually available on the auction site for about $30 last I looked. Certainly more affordable than the $200-$500 for the Bench Marks.

Here's a quick video of it opening and closing.

Dayum! That's pretty slick!

I'd buy one of those

 

[RayseM]

That is a pretty cool knife action. Is this one for sale?
I would be happy to own one but I'm happy for you and I won't be bugging you .

Enjoy. Ray

 

[Uncle Timbo]

I've said before that I carry and use any knife in my collection and I may have added the caveat that there were a couple or even maybe a few. Well I found one, the Bench Mark (before Gerber got their hands on the company) Rolox, a Viper Lightweight.

I bought this NIB and have never carried it or used it other than for a pic. I got it for a reasonable price and decided to buy it, hang on to it and sell it on some future date in the far future,

This is not for sale, I just found it and thought I'd share, the Rolox was a unique knife and certainly attractive.

Please don't message me or contact me in regards to selling this knife as it is not for sale. (Sorry)

Teddy, Ted, Ted. My man. I think we should start a Pass-a-Round with this knife. I promise not to flip it or cut anything, I just want to see what she looks like in my safe?
The list starts Here...
1. Koot
2.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Ever see one of these? Barry Wood Swinglock MK1

Some of these pieces were works of art almost. There were some collaborations but the MK1so seemed to be the most available. In the end I think the Viper Lightweight was an attempt to cash in on the plastic craze of the 80s and reduced manufacturing costs in the end when a company was just lookin' to cash out and move on to the next best thing As far as I know the Lightweight was one of the last runs before they sold the company and IP if I'm not mistaken

Colt had a version that was reasonably priced at the outset but since has gone up a little but still affordable.

Barry Wood and Mike Irie(sp?) designed a lot of these together and seemed like they sold the design to a few companies because a few people were makin' them at one point.

PCC (Pacific Coast Cutlery) Wood/Irie Swinglock

This was mass produced in the same frame but with many different blade configurations. This is another nice collectible that's affordable and has a variety that makes the hunt interesting.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

The 80s were a fun time when it came to knives, the first USA made Titanium production knife, the Buck Ti 186 also the first USA made knife with a pocket/belt clip, the 186, IIRC also the first USA made knife meant to be taken apart and serviced in the field. (Granted it only lasted for a year before Buck went from socket head machine screws and I believe that they were before the Sebenza.

The Axis lock, toggle lock, bolt locks, seemed like every month a new locking systems or steel was bein' reviewed. Yep the 80s were fun, the custom guys were so accessible, new material in handles, steel and Damascus was makin' a comeback in a big way with powder and picture Damascus. EDI cut our cans and forged into flags, skulls and even Wile E Coyote in a blade thanks to the likes of the The Montana Mafia, these guys brought the art of Damascus to a new plateau.

The 80s changed the knife industry and how we made knives. The 80s was the beginning of the end for some companies and some men built a knife empire on the Dead bones of defunct companies that never renewed their names so their names and trademarks were bought for a song and then the knives, made off shore started shoin' u at the shows and secondary markets represented as NOS which it clearly never did. Still I loved the knives of the 80s..

 

[Mossyhorn]

Damn Ted, I love that non traditional beast.

 

[Lapedog]

Ever see one of these? Barry Wood Swinglock MK1

Some of these pieces were works of art almost. There were some collaborations but the MK1so seemed to be the most available. In the end I think the Viper Lightweight was an attempt to cash in on the plastic craze of the 80s and reduced manufacturing costs in the end when a company was just lookin' to cash out and move on to the next best thing As far as I know the Lightweight was one of the last runs before they sold the company and IP if I'm not mistaken

Colt had a version that was reasonably priced at the outset but since has gone up a little but still affordable.

Barry Wood and Mike Irie(sp?) designed a lot of these together and seemed like they sold the design to a few companies because a few people were makin' them at one point.

PCC (Pacific Coast Cutlery) Wood/Irie Swinglock

This was mass produced in the same frame but with many different blade configurations. This is another nice collectible that's affordable and has a variety that makes the hunt interesting.

Browning has one of these out right now. It is called the “Even Money”

I love to see unique opening mechanisms. The Paul knives like the Lone Wolf defender have an awesome action. (Terrible for defending)

You pinch the pivot then swing the handle down. The blade stays up.

From here you would swing the butt down.

The Paragon Warlock is one of the coolest mechanisms on the market. I don’t know what you would call it other than a gravity knife.

Pinching the pivot causes the scales to separate which lets the blade swing out. Releasing the pivot causes the scales to close together.

Still GG Hawk are the mechanism masters.

 

[Lapedog]

Fox Dobolock

 

[sabre cat]

Interesting knife. Thank you for sharing.

Hey Ted, I have to give you credit for the way you wrote the title. You did not use the PC term and claimed you "misspoke."

 

[Armadew]

Is it for sale?

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Is it for sale?
Take a number.