Les Robertson would be proud. . . . .

[Nostimos]

Here's an old 35mm pic I had scanned recently,
of my handmade bead blasted titanium bolstered / G10 handled "gray turd" customs.
From the hay day of the 90's tactical knife boom.

-2 Carson M4's,

-Crawford combat folder in chisel ground tanto,

-Terzuola ATCF,

-Elishewitz Omega?

Of course I no longer own them.
Sold them LOOONG ago to pay off grad school sometime around 2000.

I now have a better non serrated Carson M4 and a later "bolster lock" ATCF (pictured in my avatar).
Wish I still had that early plain Elishewitz though.

 

[Jon Brand]

The Crawford chisel combat knife is the knife that got me into this. That particular one you have shown is my favorite of them, as I had the lightweight model. Cool knife!

 

[Nostimos]

Glad you like it.
Crawford has been in the game for a long time.
That particular knife was heavy as hell due to the thick blade stock with not much hollow grind cut out. Big bolsters too.
I also had the lighter plain skeletonized titanium folder, with a high hollow drop point utility blade.
THAT WAS A GREAT KNIFE.
I regret selling that one more.
A friend of mine had the smaller skeleton Ti Combat Tanto, with the double ground (non chisel) blade.
I'd LOVE to find one of those.

Here it is in another pic, between a Crawford Shark and a Sebenza.

As far as Crawfords, I now have to be content with my old Leopard (in my avatar) and a huge "Crawford Lock" one piece handled folder.

 

[SharpByCoop]

"Les Robertson would be proud. . . . ." Yes, he would with those great knives. :thumbup:

"Jim Cooper would be crying. . . . ." Yes he would with that absolutely lovely background for the tacticals. LOL! :barf:



Coop

 

[Lorien]

'Zero Dark Turdy'

 

[Nostimos]

"Les Robertson would be proud. . . . ." Yes, he would with those great knives. :thumbup:

"Jim Cooper would be crying. . . . ." Yes he would with that absolutely lovely background for the tacticals. LOL! :barf:



Coop

Point taken I just wish I had the insight to take a better pic at the time.
Like, I don't know, maybe IN FOCUS!
But it was just a quick pick to show to a friend, AFTER I immediately took off to get a few rolls developed. . . . .
I don't even think I had heard of digital cameras at the time, let alone posting pics on the "intraweb".

Are you saying you don't like my vintage high thread count flower sheets?!?!?!?!
You dont appreciate the artistic contrast of beauty and weapons? . . . . . I was making a statement!

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

From the hay day of the 90's tactical knife boom.

Nice collection. :thumbup:

I don't think tactical knives have ever been more popular than they are now. It is nice to see tactical and fancy tactical knives selling for four and five figures.

 

[Kohai999]

Nice collection. :thumbup:

I don't think tactical knives have ever been more popular than they are now. It is nice to see tactical and fancy tactical knives selling for four and five figures.

I don't know about it being a good thing. It runs COMPLETELY counter to what the knives were designed for. The bead blasting and synthetic handle materials were designed originally to sell for about 1/2 what a polished knife with ivory, stag or pearl cost, and be an entry level piece.

Now, it's just getting silly in some cases. HOW is a Todd Rexford knife worth five figures? It's just a couple people with more money than sense skewing the market in bid-ups. That is not sustainable and it isn't good for knives in general....IMO.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

^an astute observation.
I wander around the internet, looking at dealer's sites, and the prices that a relatively simple and unadorned ti handled, s30v bladed knife is going for is simply ludicrous. Sure, they might have been made by a currently renowned maker, but it's anyone's guess as to whether or not that value will be there in the future.

 

[Joss]

I don't know about it being a good thing. It runs COMPLETELY counter to what the knives were designed for. The bead blasting and synthetic handle materials were designed originally to sell for about 1/2 what a polished knife with ivory, stag or pearl cost, and be an entry level piece.

Now, it's just getting silly in some cases. (...) It's just a couple people with more money than sense skewing the market in bid-ups. That is not sustainable and it isn't good for knives in general....IMO.

It's funny how the tactical knives are subject to that. Quite a few makers have been through the cycle.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Well, just to provide a counterpoint: Michael Walker's knives are at the highest levels of knife collecting and consistently command five figures. They are as close (closer?) to a Dress Tactical as they are to an Art Knife.

Now, Todd didn't invent the Liner Lock™ I know, yet his styling/builds are very accepted and clean. 'Dress' Tacticals are not unlike ANY high end collectible (watches, guns, jewelery, etc.); there are many usable choices at a lower price point, but the mystique drives the top markets. And.... not all high end collectibles have to be innovators, as is MW.

STeven: is what you are alluding to akin to the collapse of the engraved interframe market in the early nineties?

Coop

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

The bead blasting and synthetic handle materials were designed originally to sell for about 1/2 what a polished knife with ivory, stag or pearl cost....

The market has shifted. Stag, pearl and ivory are not selling like they used to. Now the hot materials are stainless damascus, Timascus, zirconium, textured materials, fancy carbon fiber, ultra precision, high tech designs, pivot bearings, integral folders, non traditional engraving, etc.

Now, it's just getting silly in some cases. HOW is a Todd Rexford knife worth five figures? It's just a couple people with more money than sense skewing the market in bid-ups. That is not sustainable and it isn't good for knives in general....IMO.

The knives are selling for high prices because collectors are willing to pay the price. I'm very happy for Todd, and he is not the only knife maker getting high prices. I don't think a few collectors are driving up the prices. Look at the number of collectors attending lotteries at knife shows. The demand for the knives is driving up the prices. Just like demand drove up prices for Loveless knives.

I've noticed a change in new collectors in the last few years. The new collectors are mostly young men with lots of disposable cash. They were born after the introduction of compact discs. A smart phone is a necessity, not a luxury. These guys want high tech knife designs with the latest materials. The majority of them are not interested in forged carbon steel.

The market has shifted.

Chuck