Knife designs by Blackie Collins
-
rugmar
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:45 pm
- Location: Central NC
Knife designs by Blackie Collins
I’ve found that I am particularly drawn to knives from Gerber that were designed by the late Blackie Collins. What a talent he possessed. Sad that he died.
I think two of my favorites, both are fixed blades, are the clip lock river knife and the Frisco Shiv. There are at least two iterations of the Frisco Shiv and five or six iterations of the river knives. Both of these have unique sheathing systems to securely lock the knives into their respective sheaths.
Anyone else drawn to Blackie Collins designs? Which ones do you like?
I think two of my favorites, both are fixed blades, are the clip lock river knife and the Frisco Shiv. There are at least two iterations of the Frisco Shiv and five or six iterations of the river knives. Both of these have unique sheathing systems to securely lock the knives into their respective sheaths.
Anyone else drawn to Blackie Collins designs? Which ones do you like?
- Mumbleypeg
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 15682
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
- Location: Republic of Texas
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
He made a LOT of different designs, and for several different companies. Some great, some just “different”. Keyword search here for ”Blackie” found 263 posts https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... mit=Search. Many showing the favorites of the member who posted.
Hope that helps.
Ken
Hope that helps.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- OLDE CUTLER
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 5658
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
I had a Frisco Shiv back in the day, but traded it for who knows what????? Kick, kick, kick myself, wish I still had it. I carried it on a neck cord upside down under my shirt.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
-
Case V42
- Bronze Tier

- Posts: 220
- Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:33 am
- Location: North Dakota
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
In my opinion, I think Blackie Collins' most remarkable design for Gerber was the line of folder models with no liners. Not only did Gerber sell an untold number of those knives, but innumerable other companies have sold what must be millions of derivatives. I still own, and occasionally use, the Bolt Action I bought new.
- Sharpnshinyknives
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 6305
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:32 am
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
I’m very partial to the knives he designed for Paragon. They are truly beautiful knives. I will try to take some pictures of them and post them here.
SSk Mark
Visit my AAPK store here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sharpnshinyknives
Visit my AAPK store here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sharpnshinyknives
-
rugmar
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:45 pm
- Location: Central NC
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
Thanks for the replies and info fellows. And yes SSK, I would love to see the pictures.
I worked with a guy in Charlotte NC back in the late 80’s named Jack McKnight that claimed to have worked at Benchmark knives at one time. Benchmark was one of,if not the first, company to introduce the Rolox knife. He brought in and showed to me some early prototypes of these extremely cool knives and even said that Blackie Collins contributed to that design. He also said he knew Blackie personally. This guy was from somewhere in SC and I think Blackie was from SC as well. It appears CRKT also made a version called Rollock II.
Here is a link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnpQMtMtwww
Rugmar
I worked with a guy in Charlotte NC back in the late 80’s named Jack McKnight that claimed to have worked at Benchmark knives at one time. Benchmark was one of,if not the first, company to introduce the Rolox knife. He brought in and showed to me some early prototypes of these extremely cool knives and even said that Blackie Collins contributed to that design. He also said he knew Blackie personally. This guy was from somewhere in SC and I think Blackie was from SC as well. It appears CRKT also made a version called Rollock II.
Here is a link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnpQMtMtwww
Rugmar
- Sharpnshinyknives
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 6305
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:32 am
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
There you go Rugmar. I just copied these from my store. All great knives, looks and feels great in hand and sharp as any knife I’ve ever handled.rugmar wrote: ↑Mon Nov 10, 2025 2:24 pm Thanks for the replies and info fellows. And yes SSK, I would love to see the pictures.
I worked with a guy in Charlotte NC back in the late 80’s named Jack McKnight that claimed to have worked at Benchmark knives at one time. Benchmark was one of,if not the first, company to introduce the Rolox knife. He brought in and showed to me some early prototypes of these extremely cool knives and even said that Blackie Collins contributed to that design. He also said he knew Blackie personally. This guy was from somewhere in SC and I think Blackie was from SC as well. It appears CRKT also made a version called Rollock II.
Here is a link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnpQMtMtwww
Rugmar
- Attachments
-
- IMG_1188.jpeg (92.9 KiB) Viewed 5712 times
-
- IMG_1189.jpeg (130.01 KiB) Viewed 5712 times
-
- IMG_1190.jpeg (106.57 KiB) Viewed 5712 times
SSk Mark
Visit my AAPK store here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sharpnshinyknives
Visit my AAPK store here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sharpnshinyknives
-
rugmar
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:45 pm
- Location: Central NC
Re: Knife designs by Blackie Collins
Wow! Those are some beauties . I’ll need to do a little research on Paragon as I have never heard of them. Thanks for posting those pictures! I like the one in the middle picture the best.
Take care!
Rugmar
Take care!
Rugmar