Your image of 1990s knives

I didn't have any upscale retail establishments near where I lived that sold decent knives such as Sog and Cold Steel. I remember everyone carrying lockbacks like the Gerber LST, Pakistani lockbacks, etc. I also remember seeing alot of Old Timers, Buck, Victorinox, etc. I think I carried either one of the Nato OTF knives or a Parker Balisong through the early part of the 90's that were bought at a gun show, but I probably picked them up late 80's.
I never saw Spyderco knives near where I live (still don't, everything either came from Walmart, Kmart, Sears, or a local hardware store) I cannot think of one place in my hometown to this day that would sell a Spyderco/Benchmade knife, much less something like a Chris Reeve or Hinderer, so I have to go online or go out of town for a decent selection.
 
My all of the 90's folder:

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I rocked a Gerber EZ out for a LONG time

I also think of Kershaw knives… was it an “avalanche” or “whirlwind”?

Gerber Gators.

A Gerber LTS

Bucklites too…
 
I still have my EZ outs and LST. Ill find em and post pics tomorrow
 
I was buying spyderco delicas in mid 90s. Plastic clip molded in scale. My dad still has one in pristine condition that I bought him then. Mine was stollen when my apartment was broken into around 2001.

They were still expensive in the mid 90s but quality. I still have a soft spot for delicas/enduras and still buy them. I call the design old school modern if that makes sense.
 
Gerber Gator is what I think of, I had one and it was used and abused.

Never heard of Spyderco or most knife brands back then and it was mostly Gerber/SAK/Buck for me or slipjoint brands.
 
Very nostalgic 90’s representations here; Gerber, Sog, Cold Steel, etc. Victorinox ever present. Anyone remember Junglee? (Not my photos) Edit: some of these models might be early 2000’s)
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They even had Seki Hattori models:
(Photo from K KenHash website, HattoriCollector.com)
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And the Z knives, many knife magazines advertised Junglee in the mid-late 90’s
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Hashishiin said:
So, when I think of a quinticenttial 90's knife, let's say a folder... I might picture an assisted action, blocky, drop point with a sabre grind. Black FRN type materials. I was not really around buying knives during that time period however, and my only knives from that period are a Spyderco Military and a Spyderco GIN-1 Snap-It model with the rubber inlays. Also, an old Civilian.

Sort of see 90s era folders like I would Emerson. I don't know why this is exactly though, where I picked up these preconceptions. Advertisements from the period, perhaps?

What's your idea of what constitutes a very "90s" knife, be it a fixed blade or folder? New ideas that were good being introduced? Silly ideas that were improved upon or nixed later on trying to give a knife all the bells and whistles? I am interested to how we came from the only options on a folder being traditional patterns, SAKs, the Buck 110 or a Japanese switchblade to the flourishing of the knife market to where we have the choices we have today - stylistically, materially, any way you like.
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Benchmade 710 McHenry Williams in G10 and D2. Ended up selling it. I know it’s a loved classic but I hated the recurve, the D2, the long and heavy blade, and the thinness of the knife for its length and weight.
 
I'm pretty sure this is from the 90s or at least pretty close to it if not. It's been around a long time and I can't remember exactly when.

cheap steel... Plastic handles... Tacticool look... it's got that 90s look.

It's the most fun you can have opening a knife, though. Handle flips right down into your hand if you pinch the large hole in the blade.

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jux t said:
Very nostalgic 90’s representations here; Gerber, Sog, Cold Steel, etc. Victorinox ever present. Anyone remember Junglee? (Not my photos) Edit: some of these models might be early 2000’s)
View attachment 2358605
They even had Seki Hattori models:
(Photo from K KenHash website, HattoriCollector.com)
View attachment 2358613
And the Z knives, many knife magazines advertised Junglee in the mid-late 90’s
View attachment 2358614
Click to expand...


I remember most of those models! Had a few Junglee knives in the late 90’s. You can still find them on the used market pretty easily.
 
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