2015 Blade Show Knife of the Year Awards Winners

[Sikael]

Technically you could have overall knife of the year be some really crappy knife if one category is super super weak and the other category is a murderers row of epicness.

It boils down to something like: 1st Place: Overall Knife of the Year; 2nd Place (or The Other 1st Place): American Made Knife of the Year; 3rd Place: Imported Knife of the Year.

If the Import category heats up a bit in coming years, it will increase the prestige a bit, bring it closer to the USA-made category. But for now, that's how I'll see things, even though it's not the official take.

In fact, 'American Made KotY' is often better than the Overall pick, so they're at least even. After saying all that, I'm looking forward to the Nirvana more than any of the ZT releases, although the 0606 is right behind it. It deserved 'OKotY', IMO.

 

[Scurvy092]

It boils down to something like: 1st Place: Overall Knife of the Year; 2nd Place (or The Other 1st Place): American Made Knife of the Year; 3rd Place: Imported Knife of the Year.

If the Import category heats up a bit in coming years, it will increase the prestige a bit, bring it closer to the USA-made category. But for now, that's how I'll see things, even though it's not the official take.

In fact, 'American Made KotY' is often better than the Overall pick, so they're at least even. After saying all that, I'm looking forward to the Nirvana more than any of the ZT releases, although the 0606 is right behind it. It deserved 'OKotY', IMO.

Kind of but not quite. There is a winner in each American and Imported. Whichever of those winner has the highest total number of votes is overall. If the overall winner is from America then the second place getter from American gets the American koty award. If the overall winner is an import than it works the other way.

 

[Sikael]

Kind of but not quite. There is a winner in each American and Imported. Whichever of those winner has the highest total number of votes is overall. If the overall winner is from America then the second place getter from American gets the American koty award. If the overall winner is an import than it works the other way.

Yeah, I get that; but thanks... I'm just saying that's how it feels to me. If there's not enough Import competition, a strong Import has a better chance of getting more votes and taking the Overall, than a strong American release up against several other strong releases. It could certainly be the case that if all the American and Imports faced off against each other in one vote for Overall, it's possible the Import that won OKotY might come in behind 3 or 4 American knives. Purely hypothetical. I know that's not how it works, you explained it very clearly and concisely before. As it is, unless the American knife kills it, or has very little competition, the weakness of the Import offerings keep things weighted toward any strong Import to take overall. As you said, Lionsteel (probably) won because the competition in the Import pool was weak after those top 2; For Example: out of an imaginary 1000 votes on the Import division, the LionSteel may have got 500, the Nirvana 300, with 200 to the rest. In the American-made division, the same 1000 voter example: the 0999 may have got 275, a Benchmade 250, an American Spyderco 250, etc. The Votes get split by strong entries, so the Lionsteel takes Overall, the 0999 takes American, and the Nirvana takes Import. No? (since I'm going by your description...)

 

[Scurvy092]

Yes. Exactly right.

What's crazy is if one is exceptionally weak, that category could win overall with a weak knife.

Lets say one year KAI puts up like a blur replacement knife for American koty. Every other American knife is very very weak . Then in Imports, spyderco brings an insane Taiwan knife, crkt brings something crazy, boker bring some gorgeous pieces from Germany, Lionsteel 3d prints something epic etc.

The cheap USA Kershaw could wind up beating all of those for overall koty if the American category is so weak it's the only one that gets votes.

 

[Scurvy092]

My solution would be when the exhibitors fill out their ballot, they mark next to their answers for American and import, which one they felt was overall.

 

[Sikael]

Yes. Exactly right.

What's crazy is if one is exceptionally weak, that category could win overall with a weak knife.

Lets say one year KAI puts up like a blur replacement knife for American koty. Every other American knife is very very weak . Then in Imports, spyderco brings an insane Taiwan knife, crkt brings something crazy, boker bring some gorgeous pieces from Germany, Lionsteel 3d prints something epic etc.

The cheap USA Kershaw could wind up beating all of those for overall koty if the American category is so weak it's the only one that gets votes.

:thumbup: Yeah, I hear you... I'd like to see a simple extra step in their voting process; why not take a final vote after determining the top performer in American and Imports, putting them head to head (without revealing the No.2 in each category, since either could be No. 1 if their top pick wins Overall)... it would make the awards a little more interesting (maybe), as all the other awards could be announced beforehand. When the Overall is selected between the two, head-to-head, the unannounced No.2 in whichever category has the Overall winner takes the top spot as Import or American KotY. It has problems too, of course.

They could also take all the entries from both groups, put them all together, and do one big vote. Whoever gets the most votes wins, and the American and Import winners would be the next highest of the Overall winners group, and the other groups biggest votegetter. That would be more fair, I think. If an Import can't beat an American-made head-to-head, it doesn't deserve to, and vice versa.

Well, ZT has obviously been doing things right to win as many Overall, American-Made, and Collaboration of the Year Awards. You've given me an interesting new perspective on how the awards are decided. I don't think the People's Choice Award will make sense to anyone, ever... but oh well.

 

[RamZar]

I do wish that the Blade Show would have voters actually vote on their Overall Knife of the Year instead of the top vote getter in the American & Imported categories winning.

The imported category will continue to field strong candidates like both LionSteel and Spyderco Taichung have done the past two years. We'll even see a knife from China win the Imported Category within the next few years as long as voters vote objectively on merits.

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

My solution would be when the exhibitors fill out their ballot, they mark next to their answers for American and import, which one they felt was overall.

By far the simplest, easiest to implement, and best solution. Which is exactly why it will never happen........:beaten:
It just makes too much sense.

 

[shootz]

gee top four are frame locks yawn

 

[Sikael]

My solution would be when the exhibitors fill out their ballot, they mark next to their answers for American and import, which one they felt was overall.

^^^This.:thumbup::thumbup: Yes.

 

[Sikael]

I do wish that the Blade Show would have voters actually vote on their Overall Knife of the Year instead of the top vote getter in the American & Imported categories winning.

The imported category will continue to field strong candidates like both LionSteel and Spyderco Taichung have done the past two years. We'll even see a knife from China win the Imported Category within the next few years as long as voters vote objectively.

Yeah, I was wondering if Reate or Carson Tech Labs were in contention this year... I'd like to know who came 2nd or 3rd, but they'd never let that info leak. After Spyderco and Lionsteel, Reate might be number 3, quality/popularity-wise

 

[Lycosa]

Thanks, Ram.
Gratzee to all.
Mah will be in this group next.
rolf

 

[Scurvy092]

Yeah, I was wondering if Reate or Carson Tech Labs were in contention this year... I'd like to know who came 2nd or 3rd, but they'd never let that info leak. After Spyderco and Lionsteel, Reate might be number 3, quality/popularity-wise

Reate was in there.

 

[Scurvy092]

So apparently this is the website blade used for people's choice. I found a thread on arfcom of artwork trying to stuff the ballot box like last year.

https://wingunsandknives.upickem.ne...=171351&s=77110808&i=1&m=X&sort=SORTORDER&#SD


The Scrade won with 3750 votes. Next highest was like 175 and I'm pretty sure that was the only other one over 100 votes...

 

[RamZar]

Personally, I see no value in the People’s Choice Knife Of The Year award. It's way too subjective and open to abuse.

 

[Scurvy092]

Personally, I see no value in the People’s Choice Knife Of The Year award. It's way too subjective and open to abuse.

Nine of the major players were even on the list except the Lionsteel.

 

[Angus McGunnigle]

A bunch of people dig overbuilt knives, 1095 has the reputation to help it sell and it retails for $25. It's not my cup of tea, but I wouldn't be shocked if it outsells every one of my favorite knives combined.

Well said.

 

[Sikael]

Personally, I see no value in the People’s Choice Knife Of The Year award. It's way too subjective and open to abuse.

A Schrade knife no one gives a damn about gets 3750 votes, the next highest is 175? That's utter crap. Last year it was that MRX chain-driven auto; not my thing at all, but it was interesting, at the very least, and I think innovative in a lot of ways... really durable, reliable action. How the hell did it go from something so obscure to a Schrade? Online ballot-stuffing, I guess. All it takes is a bunch of sock puppet accounts, and the security... who knows? The other awards hold a lot more weight with me as well, especially after year two of the PCA is a bust. Unless... hold on; is it possible this Schrade is actually the greatest knife ever made? I better pick one up, just to be sure. The people have spoken, and I'm all about democracy.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

A Schrade knife no one gives a damn about gets 3750 votes, the next highest is 175? That's utter crap. Last year it was that MRX chain-driven auto; not my thing at all, but it was interesting, at the very least, and I think innovative in a lot of ways... really durable, reliable action. How the hell did it go from something so obscure to a Schrade? Online ballot-stuffing, I guess. All it takes is a bunch of sock puppet accounts, and the security... who knows? The other awards hold a lot more weight with me as well, especially after year two of the PCA is a bust. Unless... hold on; is it possible this Schrade is actually the greatest knife ever made? I better pick one up, just to be sure. The people have spoken, and I'm all about democracy.

Fast and Furious 26 isn't exactly a cinema masterpiece, but it's still the highest grossing movie this year. Knives are the same way, I don't like the Schrade, but I absolutely promise you that 1000 times more people give a damn about it than care at all about the 0999, TRE and Nirvana combined. Most people think we're a bunch of idiots for spending more than $50 on a knife. Ballot stuffing or not, if you really want a people's choice award it would realistically go to something like the Schrade every year.

 

[austonh]

This is the best thread I've read on BF in quite some time. Lots of great input and commentary on something that actually matters in the knife hobby.