Old school knives you don’t see or use much any more...

[ramairthree]

They have seen better days,
But show off those old Al Mars, beat up Kabars, etc.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/x83PPCBPcOJ4Hj553

[Campbell]

Too cool! Gerber BMF was the first knife I bought after boot... still have several old Gerbers in the safe, no pics though.

[ramairthree]

Yeah I remember that BMF depending on when you got one had a slightly different blade profile and size.
The LMF has a weird handle everyone hated.

The TAC II has the cool sheath with retention lock.

This was an era when guys did stuff like got a Buckmaster and bent the prongs using it as an anchor rappelling down the side of the barracks.

[flenna]

The best folder ever- the Buck 110. Although still for sale not part of the tacticool club. Mine is 30+ years old and will still shave the hair off my arm.

[TexHill]

About 25 years ago when I was in ROTC I had a really nice E.K. Commando that I really liked. Somehow it sprouted legs and walked off. Sadly you don't see E.K. knives much anymore.

[seb5]

I've still got an original Blackjack HALO that was carried on my old SWAT vest for 15 years. I recently sold an original, new Blackjack Combat Kukri. The price was too much and I wouldn't use it anyway. Over the years in the woods I usually had the old Cold Steel S.S. Kukris. Still have one of those.

[elephant]

Attachment 48716

Pretty sweet collection, They kind of look like old dive knives. What is the make/model of the middle one.

A while back I saw a one of a kind Glesser Knife & Tool prototype folding knife designed by Al Mar on Ebay. That knife had like 100+ bids and was already up to $3400 with 2 days left. Sal Glesser is the founder of Spyderco.

[titsonritz]

Too cool! Gerber BMF was the first knife I bought after boot... still have several old Gerbers in the safe, no pics though.

I use to have one of the too.

Attachment 48716

Pretty sweet collection, They kind of look like old dive knives. What is the make/model of the middle one.

That's the one we're talking about - Gerber BMF

[ramairthree]

Top is Gerber TAC 2.
You used to see the MK I and II a lot as well.

Middle is early BMF. Plain or saw toothed they were a touch shorter than later ones.

Bottom is later 80s BMF. Plain or saw toothed they were a touch bigger.

My most used and abused was actually a KABAR.
The big conundrum was to spend 40 bucks on a real one, or there was a 20 or 30 dollar camellius version I believe.

A new ranger was looking at about 800 bucks a month after taxes. Figure half that gone for car and insurance.
Then most of the rest spent on dates, alcohol, etc.

I think BMFs and zbuckmasters, etc. were three or four times as much as a real KaBar. And the KaBar would dig cat holes, hammer stuff, chop stuff, and cut stuff fine.

I would say a KaBar or the smaller survival issue knife, a Seiko Diver, and a pocket Swiss Army knife (until the leatherman came out) were ten times as common as the more expensive knives, roleses, etc.

It was an EVENT when someone got a BMF or Buckmaster let alone a Randall. We literally huddled around and oohed and awed at the unwrapping. I bought my first BMF used off a guy I grew up as a 60 gunner with and spent some time as roommates when we were new team leaders. He was getting married. He died a few years later. I bumped into one young ranger who was the son of another guy I had been in the same platoon with. I kept hoping I would run into his son and I could give him the knife.

I’m getting old.

[RetroRevolver77]

Those cheap Rambo knives from the 80's.

My brother and I each had one, carried them everywhere when we were kids.

http://www.gofastandlight.com/images/surknife_big.JPG