"Shoebox" OTF

[button_man]

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The larger OTF (which I have always thought of as a "shoebox" style due to the shape) was purchased directly from a retailer by myself ages ago.... in the 1980s or 1990s. The ricasso is marked "BLADE HQ" over "USA". The smaller OTF came from my trusty flea market a couple months ago -- the seller told me that a friend brought it back from Italy in the 1980s and gave it to him. The ricasso is marked "Rostfrei" in slightly italicized lettering (capital "R" and the rest lower-case.)

The Italian knife has a "high-necked" deployment slide -- there is about 1/16" of stem showing between the slide and the handle of the knife.
Only 2 screws are visible: a single slot-head machine screw on either side. There is a rectangular plug in the base of the knife; no plug in the USA knife.

I would be interested in any information at all that anyone has on either of these knives! Especially: who made the Italian OTF?
And was the "USA" knife actually made here; or just marked as Blade HQ specified? If the latter, then where WAS it made?

(The Italian knife cost me $30 .....for an extra $3 the seller included the keychain switchblade and the teenie tiny manual folder)

All knives shown are in good working condition.

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[sammy the blade]

The silver with black inserts was called a tomb raider.

[john]

Nice score for $30.00
I hope someone can answer your questions. I’d like to know the answer too.

[button_man]

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Sammy ~ My first thought was "but that Lara Croft stuff is a lot more recent!" -- then I looked it up and was shocked to see that the first L.C./T.R.
video game was released way back in 1996! I assume this knife was given that moniker to capitalize on the popularity of the video game... but was an OTF actually featured in the video game(s) ??? (I vaguely recollect that the last computerized game that I played was "Pong" in a bar* back around 1978,
so I am not familiar with this particular field of popular culture.)

( * very possibly the Pyrite Bar & Grill )
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[Bill DeShivs]

I believe the Tomb Raider OTFs were made in Taiwan. They were not made in the US.
The Italian knife is still in production. They work well.
The miniature was not made in Italy.

[whippersnapper]

The rectangle cut out on the side top side was for the ring part of the tomb raider. I think for a couple bucks more they included it.

Most of the BladeHQ marked knives were kits that you put together, but some were assembled. I think I bought a dozen of the kits when they came out to give away. I never bought any of the rings because I'm a cheap ass, but now it would probably make them more valuable.

They also came in different colors and I think you could get different colors of the plastic insert. I even think they sold an upgrated aluminum insert.

The knife isn't as old as you think. BladeHQ didn't become BladeHQ until into the 2000's. They used to be called BladePlay. I can't remember the year they split up the company into 2 divisions and made the name changes but it wasn't more than a dozen years ago. The budget knife part became BladeHQ and the higher end store became Grindworx.

[whippersnapper]

Not related to the knives but I believe around 2018 Cam Hughes sold BladeHQ and Grindworx. The new owners moved the brick and mortar shop from Utah to Virginia.

[button_man]

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Bill ~ Thanks for the info.... do you know if one specific company makes these? If so, which one....?

whip ~ I found the BHQ in a box with some old EdgeCo stuff that I bought back during the time frame that I mentioned, so I assumed that I had picked up this one right around the same time. But I honestly don't have any memory of even buying it, so whatever you say is okay with me....

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[whippersnapper]

I figured for sure you were going to argue with me...lol

I could be a couple years off on the exact year of the first tombraiders because I have had them that didn't have the BladeHQ stamp.

Cam the ex owner of BladeHQ is/was a member here. You could try to send him a personal message. He might still have an email connected and answer you...Although he hasn't visited us in 10 years.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=621









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[Bill DeShivs]

One company makes the Italian OTFs. I would have to look it up, and I have no time to do so today. Maybe Monday.
I have no clue who makes the Asian OTFs.

[jerryk25]

The original movie prop was never available for sale.
I don't know what type knife was mangled to make the prop.

The Movie prop has "Ears" or cross-guards, and a Round Button on a DA-OTF.
( Double action - out the front )

[jerryk25]

I think I bought 4 knives, one for big brother, one for little brother, one for me.
and one goes into the collection . . . .

The ring came separate in the box. You had to do your own surgery to install it.
Once you put the ring on, it didn't fit back in the box.

You got a folded up mini poster inside.

The blade was stamped "Solingen Germany." . . .the box was in German.
I presumed it to be a German Blade with Asian handle and springs.

If you look at the knife on the right, over the poster, you can see the slot for the ring.

Also. . .compare the two different buttons in the images below.

[jerryk25]

I don't know where this other poster came from, but it shows the video-game cartoon Laura Croft.
So find out when the video game started being sold. and you'll have a date.

I presume these to be "2nd generation" Tomb Raiders. . . .
Because they come in Colors. . .that are not the Movie Prop coloring.
and the blade no longer says "Solingen Germany".

I never bought any of these. . . .
But I recall some people posting that they bought them and did not get the ring or the box.

[jerryk25]

When I compared mine to my favorite Early version Concord.
I thought the Tomb Raider blade was not as hard, not as polished.
I didn't like the hard square corners, or the excess "meat" on the handle.

Mine did not have the hard square-ish silver button
shaped like a stair stepped Aztec pyramid . .with more small steps than a NATO button.

Mine had a standard pyramid NATO button in Black, slightly rounded edges..

Overall . . I'd grade it sub-par compared to a concord. , , for Carry in your pocket.

But the Tomb Raider I use to play with. . . .Is still running strong, without problems.

[sammy the blade]

Although I haven't played with mine lately it still works like the day I got it and it's been at least 20 years ago.