Some nice older school factory fighters

[Rover]

I picked these up over the weekend during some horse trading. Paul Chen Practical Plus Katana, Ontario Hell's Belle, and a Cold Steel Tai Pan from the "made in Japan" days.

Too bad Ontario is gone and Cold Steel has gone off the deep end, and it's very sad about the Paul Chen factory burning down but great that they're rebuilding.

You guys have any favorites from the recent past (your lifetime) that are no more? Rekat Hobbit and Al Mar Sere folder are two I remember from my teenage years that I still lust after.

[Persev]

I really wish I had snagged some of the older Al Mar knives like the Shadow daggers and the California Bowie.These were some sweet blades and it would be great if they brought them back or had a "limited edition" run of those knives.

[Rover]

I had a small shadow dagger as a kid. Very cool blade. I don't know why Al Mar doesn't reintroduce that, and the original SERE, and the Warrior just to name a few. They would make a fortune instead of being another knife company out there that time has forgotten. Not to insult their current lineup but they don't get nearly the interest they once did.

[JohnnyBmore]

Nie score!! I would love to get my hands on the Cold Steel Tai Pan ...

[Rover]

They're definitely cool. My buddy had 3 Japanese made versions and somehow was willing to part with one lol

I dig the old school Cold Steel blades. Wish I still had that double edged arc angel I sold for $100.

[Buffalohump]

That Tai Pan is one bad mutha of a blade. If you like big fixed blades see if you can find a good deal on a CS Natchez bowie in San Mai. Its a freaking sword!

[Rover]

The Natchez does look pretty cool. I've recently been reading Bill Bagwell's book and might have to pick one up.

Love the big blades. If you know how to carry one they aren't that difficult to lug around.

[mwestbro]

I wish I had grabbed one of the Ontario SP-18 Frontiersman bowies, so that I had a Bagwell-like beater.