The 80's!! Anyone remember knives from the 80's??

I don't know if this has been covered yet, or if it was a 'thing' in the USA. I first read about this in a book called 'Survival' - a well illustrated 1980s book that was essentially a compendium of abbreviated military TTP's and training.
The Wilkinson Sword survival knife. Looked like a beast, supposedly partly designed or designed by Ray Mears. The more I look at it, the more I think 'Puma White Hunter'...

Not mine, picture from the web, I do not own one of these...
H20253-L103302412.jpg
 
Win Heger said:
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Wish I hadn't seen this!

I've only got one of this trio -- the small one. Didn't know they made the others, and now that I know, I've got to add them to my find/buy list.

It never ends. LOL! ;)

BTW, cool presentation case. I assume it was custom made. Very nice! :)

Wish I had such skills. If I did, I could do something w/the knives in my collection instead of just stuffing them in nylon cases and cardboard boxes.

Double LOL! ;) ;)
 
sgt1372 said:
Wish I hadn't seen this!

I've only got one of this trio -- the small one. Didn't know they made the others, and now that I know, I've got to add them to my find/buy list.

It never ends. LOL! ;)

BTW, cool presentation case. I assume it was custom made. Very nice! :)

Wish I had such skills. If I did, I could do something w/the knives in my collection instead of just stuffing them in nylon cases and cardboard boxes.

Double LOL! ;) ;)
Click to expand...
I actually think that case came with that limited 3 knife set 👍
 
sgt1372 said:
Wish I hadn't seen this!

I've only got one of this trio -- the small one. Didn't know they made the others, and now that I know, I've got to add them to my find/buy list.

It never ends. LOL! ;)

BTW, cool presentation case. I assume it was custom made. Very nice! :)

Wish I had such skills. If I did, I could do something w/the knives in my collection instead of just stuffing them in nylon cases and cardboard boxes.

Double LOL! ;) ;)
Click to expand...

PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I actually think that case came with that limited 3 knife set 👍
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You're correct, they came in a wooden case made by Gerber. Here's another photo.

 
Here are a couple of pics of my only Guardian.

lXKiOcZ.jpg


QTpiqaX.jpg


It's an older model w/the leather sheath and metal retainer/belt clip. The newer models come w/nylon sheaths and plastic clips.

I'll definitely be on the look out for older versions of the 2 larger Guardians to add to my collection now as well.
 
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I just rediscovered a seldom-carried Puma 644 work knife in my stash yesterday. I probably got it in the early 80's. Simple carbon steel slipjoint with nice wood. Steel liners. Prices now are insane. I probably didn't pay more than $20. new.

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Cross posting this from the Latest Acquistions thread:

Just received this matched trio of Kershaws lockback folders -- 1305, 1310 & 1320 -- referred to as the "Maniago Series" and, based on the model #'s, seems likely to have been made in the 80's. I got them as a set for what I consider a bargain.

Each is marked made in Italy w/brass bolsters/liners and wood scales w/an inlaid brass Kershaw medallion.

Don't know what kind of wood the scales are made of but the grain pattern is so similiar that it looks like they were cut some the same piece of wood, which might mean it's not really wood at all but they still look good. LOL! ;)

QGZpTrg.jpg



Arrived a little dirty but a little Brasso and Rennisance wax and they look "like new." Not much info that I could find about them on the Net. So, if anyone knows anything about them, please post up what you know here and/or PM the info to me.

A great addition to my collection of "vintage" Kershaw knives. :)
 
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Charlie Fox said:
The Holy Grail of 80's Gerbers😍
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The first guardian set that I got was a birthday present from my wife. It was at a nearby gun store in New Jersey in about 1993. I had been oggling it for months but I thought it was too expensive and my wife knew the whole scenario. Then when I finally decided to buy it anyway she went the day before and purchased it and hid it. I came home bitterly defeated, but when my Birthday rolled around a few weeks later she gave it to me and it was probably the most desired present I have ever received. I have had a couple of others since then including one with camohandled guardians in it but they were not matching serial numbers like the one shown. It is a very nice set.
 
Some more 1980's Gerber stuff.
Gerber Silver Knights - the first Japanese venture for Gerber was a great success.
Silver Knight.jpg

Gerber LST's with FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) handles. These were the most popular, but prior to these the handles of the LST series were Micarta (coming up next). A couple of these are very rare - it's the two in the middle. The inset medallion black handle is the only one like this that I have seen. The blue handled Dupont 50th Anniversary of Nylon is also very rare.

LST Zytel.jpg

These LST's have Micarta handles and are the classic shape. There was also a FS (Folding Sportsman) shape which I do not have any more of. I believe that the one with wood onlays is a one of a kind made for the owner of the House of Blades.

LST Classic Micarta.jpg

Later around 2010 I picked up these LST's with handles made from G10 for the blade show. I don't think these were a regular production model.

LST G10.jpg

More later.
 
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Here are a couple of other 1980's pieces. Gerber and Benchmark were favorites of mine back then.

Gerber Mark II's were what got me interested in knives in the first place. Here is a 20th Anniversary Model that came out in 1986.

MarkII01.jpg

MarkII02.jpg

Benchmark made three different sizes of the ROLOX lock mechanism knife. This is the last one I have and it is the smallest model called the Sidewinder.

Benchmark Sidewinder2.jpg

Benchmark Sidewinder.jpg
 
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