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

[jaxxsun]

The only thing I remember from the 80s aside from the bad clothes is. I never carried a knife. Only a heavy magnum. I got smarter in the 90s and made the switch to knives.

 

[JTC]

Some Gerbers although the BMF I have could be from the 90's

Original Cold Steel Recon Tanto. I wanted this knife soooo bad. Got it out of a flyer Cutlery Shoppe sent out. Speaking of Cutlery Shoppe they used to have the coolest exclusives from Gerber.

 

[ohen cepel]

For me, it would be the Cold Steel tanto, Buck 110, original Leatherman, Swiss Army and an Aitor since my Brother was into them.

The Leatherman and Swiss Army were what I carried at the time and did till I lost them in OEF.

 

[JTC]

Bianchi Nighthawk II made by Eye brand. Hollow handled of course!

And of course the Buckmaster. I liked the message from Al Buck they always included.

 

[Blue Sky]

...Original Cold Steel Recon Tanto....

I remember those. I'm not a really a tanto fan but exceptions would be made for that one, nice knife.

 

[22-rimfire]

Speaking of Cutlery Shoppe they used to have the coolest exclusives from Gerber.

I used to visit their stores in malls. Prices were always too high. I believe they declared bankruptcy or were very stressed and Jim Parker bought them out, and then later closed the stores.

 

[Charlie Fox]

My favorite 80's knife was the Gerber Guardian! I had two with the original leather sheath and the " multi mounting system" or whatever they called it; you could carry it horizontally in the small of the back, on the leg, or my favorite - the shoulder rig! All the cool guys in my unit carried theirs this way under their BDU's. Good times...

 

[pvicenzi]

For some reason, I have one of those Buckmasters. Still don't know what those screw in studs are for.

And of course the Buckmaster. I liked the message from Al Buck they always included.

 

[Blue Sky]

^^The studs that screwed into the guard were to create a grappling hook I believe.

 

[Spyderinked]

Schrade Golden Spike, Lakota Lil'Hawk folder, and Schrade Kodiak. Actually the Lil"Hawk is from the late '70's. I bought it, at the Mall, while a young Weapons Mechanic at Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas. The Golden Spike was given to me as a present for being the Best Man at my High School best friends wedding. The Kodiak was purchased at the Elmendorf AFB Base Exchange Annex, in 1983.

 

[boring]

allright, if you saw my 80s collection you would think sam kinison threw up in my man room. remember westburys sales company?

 

[boring]

how about pcc tantos. rubber and metal handles. taylor tanto with integral knuckle guard. You couldnt go to a gun show and not hit one with a thrown rock. How about the bodyguard boot knife? what ever happened to them? I am still looking for the butterfly with the knuckle guard.

 

[D R E]

I used to visit their stores in malls. Prices were always too high. I believe they declared bankruptcy or were very stressed and Jim Parker bought them out, and then later closed the stores.

Your probably thinking of the Knife Shoppe. The Cutlery Shoppe is a mail order company only. They where "the" place to order from back in the day, before the internet. They are still around.

 

[JPD1998]

allright, if you saw my 80s collection you would think sam kinison threw up in my man room. remember westburys sales company?

I remember Westbury's cheap stiletto ads in the back of most gun magazines.
I never ordered one, but I did buy a bunch of stuff from Edgeco

 

[Blue Sky]

^^Wow, that looks just like AG Russell's "One Hand Knife" locking set up. Didn't know anyone else used it.

 

[LG&M]

My first "real" fixed blade
USAF survival knife made in 1980

Still have I,t still like it.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I missed the 80's by afew years but if im not mistaken the worker was introduced in the 80's

Couldn't afford any decent knives back then, had some Frost Cutlery knives, a decent slip joint or two etc.

Big names I remember from the 80s who are less known now
Paul Fox
Rod Chapelle
Jot Singh Khalsa

AG Russel also had the one-hand steel-frame opener
And Rigid had some nice knives

^^Wow, that looks just like AG Russell's "One Hand Knife" locking set up. Didn't know anyone else used it.

Actually that was Pat Crawford's design, IIRC he designed it for Mr. Russell and never got a patent on it.

You can't think of the 80s without thinking of AG Russell, Schrade, Case, Queen, Buck, Frost, Cold Steel, Parker, Spyderco, Gerber, Benchmade, Fury just to name a few of the companies out there. I think we were in the golden age of knives back then, new materials, new designs, some great names came from those days, Blackie Collins, Pete Kershaw just to name a

 

[JTC]

I used to visit their stores in malls. Prices were always too high. I believe they declared bankruptcy or were very stressed and Jim Parker bought them out, and then later closed the stores.

You may also be thinking of "cutlery world." They used to have one in the mall in Paducah Kentucky but is long since gone and from what I can tell gone completely. Cutlery shoppe is still around as has been mentioned.

 

[JTC]

Here's my Explorer Wilderness II survival knife I bought December 20 1984 for $26.84 plus tax at WalMart.
It a good little knife, very sturdy.

 

[Bob W]

In the 1980s the most common knives seen in hardware and actual stores were Case, Old Timers, Imperials, Buck, and Made in Pakistan lockbacks. Swiss Army Knives were also common, but I don't recall them being in stores where I lived.

For knife enthusiasts there was AG Russell and camping supply catalogs. Grey Owl was another mail order outfit for cheesy plastic beads and leather working supplies that also sold Russell frontier style knives - always wanted one but never ordered. Chicago Cutlery was a common kitchen brand back then, and their walnut handles were a staple item in many kitchens.

In the late 1980s I took part in a month-long desert survival course. My knife was a BuckLite, the instructor had an Opinel, and classmates had everything from SAKs to cheap lockbacks.