My childhood dream came true this weekend!

SpySmasher said:
Absolutely awesome haul!

If you like that Bolt lock, you might enjoy this anecdote:

The Bolt lock was designed by the late, great Blackie Collins. He was a truly prolific inventor and back in the 80s did several knives with Gerber. A couple of them featured Bolt locks. As you know from your new knife, the action on the Gerber Bolt locks are smooth but stiff. They absolutely don't "flip out" or "fall shut." I just assumed this was inherent in the design or something.

Decades later Spyderco produces a Bolt lock as part of their Sage series (Sage 3). I finally decide to buy one just as they go out of production last year. Much to my surprise the thing flips just as easily as any Axis or Ball Bearing lock. I post my surprise about this in the Spyderco forums and Sal replies explaining how back in the day, Peter Gerber was concerned about being able to flip the knife open so Gerber deliberately designed it to be stiff.

How times have changed. :) Blackie was definitely ahead of his time.
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Thank you so much, I love learning little bits of unusual knife history like this. For some reason I really like this knife as it just fits in my hand so nicely. Plus for a 30+ year old knife I think it still looks cool and contemporary. It's got me wanting to look at more of Blackie Collins work. Is there any particular brands or models of Blackie's that are a step above the others?
 
cbrstar said:
Thank you so much, I love learning little bits of unusual knife history like this. For some reason I really like this knife as it just fits in my hand so nicely. Plus for a 30+ year old knife I think it still looks cool and contemporary. It's got me wanting to look at more of Blackie Collins work. Is there any particular brands or models of Blackie's that are a step above the others?
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Me too.

Blackie was, of course, a custom knifemaker, but my impression is those are pretty hard to find. I never even bothered to search them up, to be honest.

I mostly associate him with 1980s Gerber which was when I grew up. These were all high quality knives. He also did some stuff for AG Russell.

Blackie is famous for inventing the first assisted opening knife in the 90s but by this time he was designing for Meyerco and these are all pretty crap quality (build and materials) in my experience. Stay away unless you decide to become a Blackie Collins collector.

I wish I knew more.
 
SpySmasher said:
Me too.

Blackie was, of course, a custom knifemaker, but my impression is those are pretty hard to find. I never even bothered to search them up, to be honest.

I mostly associate him with 1980s Gerber which was when I grew up. These were all high quality knives. He also did some stuff for AG Russell.

Blackie is famous for inventing the first assisted opening knife in the 90s but by this time he was designing for Meyerco and these are all pretty crap quality (build and materials) in my experience. Stay away unless you decide to become a Blackie Collins collector.

I wish I knew more.
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I just learned that he also designed the TAC II so I guess I almost have a Blackie Collins collection lol. I also found it interesting that Spyderco gave him credit for the bolt action lock on the Sage 3. I had read that about the Sage 3 before but it didn't have any meaning or context because I didn't know who he was. IMHO it's a real shame that Spyderco dropped the lock. I had seen a Blade HQ test and the bolt lock came out on top for strength. I read a post by Sal that it was dropped because it didn't sell well, but I don't think it got a fair chance as it was only on one model.
 
cbrstar said:
The Tac II wasn't the only Gerber they had. I was also able to pick up this cool bolt action. I hear constantly how Spyderco ripped off Benchmade with the bolt action lock lol..No they didn't Gerber had bolt actions way back in the 80's! Really Gerber missed the boat with these, they should have updated them with a clip and a thumb stud as it's a great little EDC.
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It's funny that you should say that about Gerber's Bolt Action, as apparently the knife's designer felt the same way. When Meyerco released its version of Blackie's Bolt Action, the only significant difference was the addition of those two features.

IMG-5044.jpg


IMG-5045.jpg



Amazing score on all of those knives, but I particularly like that TAC II! I always thought it was a great-looking knife with an extremely well-designed sheath. Yours looks pristine! You found a real gem there, and I'm glad that you were able to fulfill a treasure hunt from childhood. I know exactly how that consuming quest feels!


SpySmasher said:
Blackie is famous for inventing the first assisted opening knife in the 90s but by this time he was designing for Meyerco and these are all pretty crap quality (build and materials) in my experience. Stay away unless you decide to become a Blackie Collins collector.
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For the most part, I agree about Meyerco. But there were brief periods when it built--or, probably more accurately, contracted--some U.S.-made models that were pretty decent quality. The Bolt Action is one example. Another is its version of the Terzuola CQB.

IMG-5046.jpg



-Steve
 
The Whip said:
It's funny that you should say that about Gerber's Bolt Action, as apparently the knife's designer felt the same way. When Meyerco released its version of Blackie's Bolt Action, the only significant difference was the addition of those two features.

IMG-5044.jpg


IMG-5045.jpg



Amazing score on all of those knives, but I particularly like that TAC II! I always thought it was a great-looking knife with an extremely well-designed sheath. Yours looks pristine! You found a real gem there, and I'm glad that you were able to fulfill a treasure hunt from childhood. I know exactly how that consuming quest feels!




For the most part, I agree about Meyerco. But there were brief periods when it built--or, probably more accurately, contracted--some U.S.-made models that were pretty decent quality. The Bolt Action is one example. Another is its version of the Terzuola CQB.

IMG-5046.jpg



-Steve
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For sure, both of those pictured look really nice.
 
The Whip said:
It's funny that you should say that about Gerber's Bolt Action, as apparently the knife's designer felt the same way. When Meyerco released its version of Blackie's Bolt Action, the only significant difference was the addition of those two features.

IMG-5044.jpg


IMG-5045.jpg



Amazing score on all of those knives, but I particularly like that TAC II! I always thought it was a great-looking knife with an extremely well-designed sheath. Yours looks pristine! You found a real gem there, and I'm glad that you were able to fulfill a treasure hunt from childhood. I know exactly how that consuming quest feels!




For the most part, I agree about Meyerco. But there were brief periods when it built--or, probably more accurately, contracted--some U.S.-made models that were pretty decent quality. The Bolt Action is one example. Another is its version of the Terzuola CQB.

IMG-5046.jpg



-Steve
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I don't know how to feel about it lol. On one hand I kinda feel like they ripped Gerber off as it looks identical, but on the other hand it's endorsed by the original designer and has the improvements I want.
I read a post from this forum, from 2000 and I guess the Meyerco was only $15! The Gerber IMHO despite the plastic still feels like an expensive well made knife kinda like a Spyderco. So I'm wondering if you still get that feeling with the Meyerco or does it feel like a $15 knife?
 
some nice knife finds there.

that's warm winter?..snow on ground is warm?:) no thanks. it's been too cold here. 5c and 10c in the mornings. I hate the cold. dont know how you folks suffer through it.
 
Really awesome finds! I've always wanted a Tac II myself because of that movie. In fact, just last night I was channel surfing and came across Big Trouble in Little China. I watched it for a few minute and mentioned to my wife that it's one of my all-time favorite movies. But as cool as the Tac II is, you can tell it wasn't the seller's father's favorite knife in the group......
 
cbrstar said:
Here in Alberta Canada....
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Great find! I went to Alberta once 25 years ago or so. Delivering some equipment to Alberta Power. It was delightful. Not a whole lot of snow on the ground. Our host had us over for a backyard barbecue and we saw a huge owl in his back yard. Bunch of nice folks up there.

Back then, a U.S driver's license was good enough to enter the country. At the immigration point, I gave them mine. But it was paper and ancient. I handed the agent about 6 pieces smaller than a postage stamp. I was sent to a back room. The guy there looked at me and the pieces and just shook his head, as in what an idiot. I got in.
 
jbmonkey said:
some nice knife finds there.

that's warm winter?..snow on ground is warm?:) no thanks. it's been too cold here. 5c and 10c in the mornings. I hate the cold. dont know how you folks suffer through it.
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Well usually it's i'd say around -18c (-0.4F) avg but I have seen it go to -45c a few times. When I was a kid the US military supposedly used to do a lot of testing here because the landscape and temps are a lot like Siberia lol.

riversidedep said:
Really awesome finds! I've always wanted a Tac II myself because of that movie. In fact, just last night I was channel surfing and came across Big Trouble in Little China. I watched it for a few minute and mentioned to my wife that it's one of my all-time favorite movies. But as cool as the Tac II is, you can tell it wasn't the seller's father's favorite knife in the group......
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You're right, I'm pretty sure it still has the factory edge on it.

USMCPOP said:
Great find! I went to Alberta once 25 years ago or so. Delivering some equipment to Alberta Power. It was delightful. Not a whole lot of snow on the ground. Our host had us over for a backyard barbecue and we saw a huge owl in his back yard. Bunch of nice folks up there.

Back then, a U.S driver's license was good enough to enter the country. At the immigration point, I gave them mine. But it was paper and ancient. I handed the agent about 6 pieces smaller than a postage stamp. I was sent to a back room. The guy there looked at me and the pieces and just shook his head, as in what an idiot. I got in.
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I remember the good old days and being a kid. I could waltz across the border and the guards wouldn't even blink at me. Heck you used to be able to catch a ferry from Vancouver to Seattle, do a little shopping then ride the ferry back!
 
Score! Here in kali we wearing T-shirts and grillin, drinkin brews. Soakin in the rays.
 
cbrstar said:
I don't know how to feel about it lol. On one hand I kinda feel like they ripped Gerber off as it looks identical, but on the other hand it's endorsed by the original designer and has the improvements I want.

I read a post from this forum, from 2000 and I guess the Meyerco was only $15! The Gerber IMHO despite the plastic still feels like an expensive well made knife kinda like a Spyderco. So I'm wondering if you still get that feeling with the Meyerco or does it feel like a $15 knife?
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I own the Meyerco and I've handled the Gerber. In my opinion, Gerber was at the top of its game in the 1980s, particularly with folders, and the Gerber Bolt Action reflects that. But the Meyerco isn't very far off. It certainly doesn't feel like a $15 knife! (It wasn't expensive when I bought it, but I don't remember it being any $15, either!) If I had to compare the "feel" of its construction, I would say it's pretty close to early synthetic-handled Spyderco, Moki, or SOG--slightly rougher handle texturing than the Gerber, but as smooth and secure in its lockup.

-Steve
 
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