The Father of Tactical Knives?

SharpByCoop said:
I wrote to the 'Godfather of Tactical Knowledge' (as I know): Les Robertson. He responded in two emails.

As usual, his answers aren't diluted, and they may surprise you:
I wrote to the 'Godfather of Tactical Knowledge' (as I know): Les Robertson. He responded in two emails.

As usual, his answers aren't diluted, and they may surprise you:

Hi Jim,

The following get credit for certain things:

Flipper opener: Mel Pardue

Frame Lock: Chris Reeve

Liner Lock: Michael Walker

Ti Bolsters and Scales: Bob Terzuola and Kit Carson

Holes in Ti Handle: Pat Crawford.

Emerson/Elishewitz/Gilbreath/Lum. All incorporated things the others did. Second generation…not Fathers of custom knives in any way shape or form.

Coop
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Hah!

I love Les, he is a friend...but he's wrong.....Bob Hayes....1974
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William Cassidy's book, "Knife Digest", published 1974, hardbound, page 113.

Talk about "before your time"....if anyone set the stage, it was him.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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great thread!!! I always enjoy this kind of historical reviews, and with pictures on top!!! Yummm!
 
Bob Terzuola and Pat Crawford gave the "Combat" and "Tactical" folder their character appearance. Michael Walker introduced his first combat knife ("Liner Lock Fighter") with a spring lock in 1983.
In 1987 Ron Miller made the first true tactical automatic that he christened the"Black Knife". Charlie Ochs gave various ideas for improvement of the knife , mainly appearance and handling.
It's interesting to note that Och's used the title"Emergency Chemical, Biological, Radiation Suit Cutter" to avoid the word "swichblade". The first 5 knives went to the U.S. Navy to be tested by the SEALS.
 
With all due respect to Walker, I was told the liner lock was around for quite some time. For some reason, Michael got the credit? Is this true?
 
Lycosa said:
With all due respect to Walker, I was told the liner lock was around for quite some time. For some reason, Michael got the credit? Is this true?
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I understand that Walker was the first to bring all of the elements together in a "Tactical" folder. It is also noteworthy that Bod Terzuola is the first to use a thumb disk.
 
jbravo said:
Everyone understands that there is no actual "father" of inanimate objects. But, the notion always persists that credit can be given to someone...

Are there any others who should share in the title?
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Tactical knives are not a product per se, it is a modern and successful advertising campaign for all kinds of products, including many that have been with us for centuries. It has been applied to just about any shape and type of equipment; including: flashlights, guns, knives, clothing, footwear, luggage.... and just about anything else. The real father of "tactical" is whomever came up with the marketing campaign. But, as with most advertising, the word "tactical" is meaningless and left to be defined by the customer's imagination. Similar terms which were popular in the past would include "heavy duty" and "deluxe" which are equally meaningless. There is no reason why "deluxe heavy duty tactical knife" couldn't refer to a $0.25 Frost Cutlery bargain bin knife. The meaning is left entirely to your perception, while the manufacturer is spared any implied warranty for use.

n2s
 
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Lycosa said:
Thank you, Mossy.
So, Michael did not "invent" the liner lock?
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I was of the understanding that he did. There was a form of liner lock on some traditional slip joints long before, but they were still a slip joint with a backspring.....small liner lock to keep them from accidental closure(on screwdriver blades etc.)
I'm no expert though.
Darcy:)
 
IIRC Walker is credited with inventing the modern liner lock with the ball detent, stop pin and the pin/tang/liner geometry. Earlier liner locks were generally on slipjoints, with the spring holding it closed and no need for a stop pin and the related geometry.
 
Lycosa said:
Brownshoe nailed it. Thanks.
rolf
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Yes, Brownshoe is correct. If you want to see the old style Watson and Chadwick 1906 linerlock, electrician knives are the handiest choice.

Thumbstuds date to the early 20th century with the British pellet lift used on some smaller folders, it vanished due to the availability of switchblades -

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I think Bob Hayes is the right track for modern flipper, although a thumb flipper that used an action much like a straight razor tail was used on a Sheffield pruning knives in the first 1/2 of the 20th century.

Les Robertson's post seems to jive with most of my thoughts on the subject of modern tactical folders.
 
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brownshoe said:
IIRC Walker is credited with inventing the modern liner lock with the ball detent, stop pin and the pin/tang/liner geometry. Earlier liner locks were generally on slipjoints, with the spring holding it closed and no need for a stop pin and the related geometry.
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I believe this is correct. Invention is a tricky word . . . but at a minimum I believe that he is responsible for all of the gozillion linerlocks one sees today. And IMO that ought to be good enough.

SharpByCoop said:
I wrote to the 'Godfather of Tactical Knowledge' (as I know): Les Robertson. He responded in two emails.

As usual, his answers aren't diluted, and they may surprise you:



Hi Jim,

The following get credit for certain things:

Flipper opener: Mel Pardue

Frame Lock: Chris Reeve

Liner Lock: Michael Walker

Ti Bolsters and Scales: Bob Terzuola and Kit Carson

Holes in Ti Handle: Pat Crawford.

Emerson/Elishewitz/Gilbreath/Lum. All incorporated things the others did. Second generation…not Fathers of custom knives in any way shape or form.
I saw Joe Paranee was giving Emerson credit. He showed up around 1993. Second generation tactical folder maker. Along with Elishewitz, Darrel Ralph, Phil Boguszewski, Ken Onion, Steve Ryan, Bob Lum, (who gets credit for introducing the Tanto style blade with his fixed blades) etc. Most if of the lottery tactical folder makers were not making knives back then. Although I am sure that fan boys will try and include them in the conversation.

Someone mentioned Spyderco. Early on they did provide Emerson all of his clips and a few others. I think even Kit Carson used their clips.

Not sure how many members were there in 1991 when tac folders first showed up. So everything they know about it is either hearsay or something they read. Those who made the “gray turds” were a very very small group. Terzuola, Reeve, Carson, Crawford and Pardue. You could probably argue to include Michael Walker.

Les


Coop
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Reminds me of the saying: Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.
 
Those are some VERY attractive early flippers, STeven! Me likes.

In the past year I have had to go through a process and sign some legal mumbo jumbo so my photos of Michael Walker's LinerLock™ could be shown on the Wikipedia page covering the Liner Lock. Michael asked me personally if he could use these images.

A year ago Michael Walker had a substantial article in Blade magazine noting the challenges he had in the creation of the LinerLock, and to address the defense of his improvements over original designs.

He did not patent this mechanism. He knew it would have more good in the Custom Knife world to let it be utilized freely. 'A rising tide floats all ships!'

Good thread. :thumbup:
 
I think the pocket clip is the most basic innovation, even if you can put one on any knife...

The liner lock would be the second, but the thumb stud is close. I remember something widely advertised in the '80s called the "one-arm bandit", which was a thumb disc that could be fitted to any folder, best of all clamped without drilling, and the ad showed it used on a 110...

When tactical folders became all the rage, quality and convenience mostly went way way up, while weight and handle thickness went way down. I remember when all that was availble locally was 110s, or 110 knock offs (some nice)... I also remember that lockbacks would sometimes fail the rapping on the spine test... Liner locks, on the other hand, put no safety-enhancing closing pressure on the blade, and that turned out to be way, way more dangerous to me... The CRKT Apache sliced me badly through my pocket, and that was the last liner lock I ever carried, 16 years ago...

Gaston
 
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