Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife - SOLVED

[Mechamaniac]

So, on my umpteen millionth rewatch of BTLC last night, I suddenly got an urge to track down Jack Burton's boot knife.

Anyone know what it is? I know when I saw the movie as a teenager back in the 80's I was pretty sure it was made by Gerber but my internet searching has proven fruitless.

Here's a screencap...

 

[franz bolo]

Re: Jack Burton's Knife?

It looks like a gerber rip to me.

FB

 

[Grouch]

Re: Jack Burton's Knife?

I'd love to know where I could pick one up.

 

[Darth Detroit]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

I have a vintage Gerber boot knife. And it is somewhat similar to this one. The only differnce with mine is, it doenst have the string lanyard on the grip and it doesnt have a serrated blade. I find the pommel on this knife very interesting too.

 

[SgtFang]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

It WAS a Gerber. but I'm drawing a blank on the model right now. I remember it because immediately before I saw the movie back in the 80's, I was lusting after the exact same knife at a cutlery store in the mall. :lol

Really cool knife- it comes w/ a molded plastic sheath w/ a slick, pushbutton release!

-Sarge

 

[Darth Detroit]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

It almost looks ike a diving knife...

 

[switchblade_slinger]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

The Knife is cool, but without the right custom moccasins with the built-in sheath....

http://http://www.baldmountain.net/design_samples.html

It ain't Jack Burton.

 

[hydin]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

It's an out of production Gerber. Horribly expensive, and almost impossible to find except from collectors.

I dont recall the exact model number, and the only thing that comes to mind is MKV and I dunno what the hell that means.

There was a thread a while back and I want to say Wakal showed his off. It's a great piece, and I think there were even resin castings offered up by someone. Remember this is from a few years ago though, and my memory aint what it used to be.

 

[franz bolo]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

It's an out of production Gerber. Horribly expensive, and almost impossible to find except from collectors.

No, it is a Blackie Collins Tac II and goes for about $80.

http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/in...ubmenu=Products&category=MILITARY&pos=0,20,11

http://www.supertrooper.com/BearKnives.htm

FB

 

[Mechamaniac]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

Actually, you're both right...I tracked it down this morning...

I KNEW it was a Gerber :cool

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...name=STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=260122805639

Now that I think of it, if you look in the pic I posted, you can see near the hilt where it looks like they put a piece of tape over the brand name, see where the metal looks almost two tone?

In any case...MYSTERY SOLVED!

Thanks to all who contributed.

Now on to Jack's Boots.

 

[franz bolo]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

That Gerber has a different blade design.

FB

 

[Mechamaniac]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

That Gerber has a different blade design.

FB

The basic shape is the same, but I think you're right, the ricasso area seems a bit different. It's flared on the Gerber and straight on the Blackie Collins. Also the teeth look a bit more accurate on the Collins whereas the close up shots of the teeth on the Gerber (auction link I provided) make the Gerber teeth look a little more squarish.

Good eye FB, thanks! Now I can just snag it and not have to worry about bidding one out on E(vil)bay.

 

[franz bolo]

Blackie Collins designed a lot of fighting and throwing knives so I guess Gerber and other companies probably bought his designs and modified them.

The more I look at the Tac II, it looks like the handle is more oval than the Movie one. The Gerber's handle looks closer. Hmmmmm...

I guess we need more pics to verify.

FB

 

[SgtFang]

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to relent and say it was the BC Tac II after all- this is what I remember the sheath looking like. You push down on that short, silver rod and it releases the knife, kind of like removing a socket from a ratchet.-

-Sarge

 

[Mechamaniac]

Wow, especially in those side by sides, you can see how much different the blade on the Gerber is than the BC. The Gerber blade is clearly wider, the teeth are different, and the ricasso flows outward, down the center line of the blade on the Gerber.

Come to think of it, the BC is a better looking knife in general. I'm glad that's the one the prop seems to be.

 

[Apollo]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

Interesting thread as I always thought it was a Gerber untill a few years ago.

When the Movie came out I had that Gerber AND the Fire-arm he picked up already in my Collectionl :lol

 

[bigbisont]

Re: Big Trouble in Little China - Jack Burton's Knife?

So not sure why I felt motivated to resurrect this thread now (maybe just stirring up trouble), but most of the pics don't work anymore above, and I wanted to present the case for it actually being the Gerber with some new pics.

So, yeah. I'm throwing my vote for the Gerber, SPECIFICALLY the "1985 First production run" version.

Look at the teeth on Jack's knife. Specifically look at the number of teeth on the blade: Eleven.





The Gerber Tac II (1st production run) has 11 teeth.



Later released gerber Tac IIs had 14-teeth, so any reference to the non "1985" version is pointless. This later version of the Gerber wasn't the knife.



As for our buddy Blackie Collins, there is no question he designed the knife. No one can argue that after his Gerber run he took his design with him to other companies where his design was also used (specifically, but not necessarily limited to, Bear & Sons Cutlery). HOWEVER, the tooth count is different on his other branded versions of the Tac II.

Specifically the bear and son 'course tooth' version has 10 teeth. (They also had versions with no teeth, and versions with only half the blade even sharp).



They were all designed by the same guy and the sheaths were all the same, so any reference to a sheath does nothing for the argument.


So in summery, my point is with such a clear image of Jack's knife having 11 teeth (and not 10), I am firmly in the "It was a First production run version of the Gerber Tac II".

If someone comes up with a non-gerber Tac II that has 11 teeth, I will change my tune, but as of now I don't see how its physically possible that Jack's knife was anything other than a Gerber Tac II "1985 First production run" version.

 

[Apollo]

"Nice Knife Mr. Burton" :lol

I wanted the Mocs and was ready to drop the hammer on them and of course the are no longer being made. :unsure

 

[19narvik40]

What are the chances someone could do a resin copy of this knife?

 

[Paradox]

Possible to get a 14-tooth Tac II and toss it in some resin using clay to fill in the extra teeth? Or get a Bear & Son and toss it in some resin, take it out, round-file in another tooth, then cast again?