Another try at naming a New(?) Knife Category

S

SDouglas

Joined
Jan 6, 1999
Messages
605
I don't think Ken Onion's post went the way he had hoped but it spiked my interest.

What category do knives like the SpeedTechs and the Apogee fit into?

What other knives fit into this category?

What are the essential characteristics of this category?

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AKTI Member No. A000370
 
Me personally, I'd call them Precision Engineered Knives, because of all the CAD and CNC work that goes into them.

But, that's just me....

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
But those engineering techniques allow for more ergonomic shapes, right? SpeedTech Synergy, for example, reminds me of an organic-based Vorlon ship. REKAT Carnivour, for example, reminds me of a Russian battle ship.
wink.gif


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Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!

 
Ewok,
CNC and Computer Aided Drafting to don't make a knife more ergonomic. Just look at the knives that utilize that techonolgy. For the most part they are flat in many different areas. The best way to get a knife to feel good in the hand, in my opinion, is by shaping the knife by hand. I shape all of my handle by hand utilizing files, and sand paper. I challenge any machine to match the contours (and comfort) of my handles.

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Lynn GriffithMy website
GriffithKN@aol.com


 
Of course, but the trick is to mass-produce knives that approach the ergonomics of a custom made knife. It isn't a matter of man Vs. machine, it's simply a tool that a knife-maker could utilize to increase production, without sacrificing comfort.

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Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!



[This message has been edited by Ewok (edited 21 October 1999).]
 
Lynn,

While I'm with you 100% in lamenting the absence of contoured, organic forms among many production knives (especially folders) and I agree that 99% of the time the CNC'ed knife is a collection of jarring angles and harsh chamfers, give the Speed-Techs another look. These folks are taking it to a new level, with 3D sculptured milling that matches what can be done by hand. This is incredibly expensive, of course, and does not have the versatility to fit varying hand shapes and sizes that a custom maker can achieve easily... but it hints at things to come. Should we be scared or exalted?

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-Corduroy
"Why else would a bear want a pocket?"

Little Bear Knives
Drew Gleason:
adg@student.umass.edu
 
TiNives is another example similar to SpeedTech. Here's an abridged quote from TiNives
The knife is named the Hybrid Collectible — the joining of two separate species to gain the best attributes of all. With the Hybrid you have the best of both worlds, extreme precision, and hand made quality.... Let’s start with the fully sculpted 6-AL-4V billet titanium handle rendered into a full three-dimensional sculpted ergonomic form.... It is not your usual flat aluminum plate with the corners rounded off.
Click to expand...


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Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!

 
Mr Douglas,

Thank you, no my post didn't go the right direction. Maybe I wasn't clear enough . Seems some are threatened by a new category some feel it unnessary. My intention Had nothing to do with cnc machines , production vs handmade, new market oportunity,shafting the consumer. none of the above. My intention was merely to recognise A beautiful evolution . This really has nothing to do with me other than my observation and yes I am trying to evolve and try different things . this has to do with the fact that you cannot put an Emerson CQC6 and a Darrel Ralph in the same category It's like putting a stag handled hunter in the same category as a Quillion dagger.
It's time to recognise this category .

So far I like TECHNO TACTICAL, SPORT UTILITY BLADE(SUB) AND ULTRA TECH.

Thanks again for reviving this thread . Hopefully we'll stay on track .

Aloha!!! Ken Onion
 
Lynn,

I believe that this may be one of the defining characteristics of this new category of knives. They are squeezing the most out of the manufacturing equipment available to more closely approach the ergonomics and quality of the very best Handmade Custom Knives.

On that note do the Sebenza and William Henry knives belong in this category?

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AKTI Member No. A000370
 
Precision Engineered Knives is certainly right on track, a much more accurate description of the Sebenza and the Synergy than either Custom or Tactical is of the knives in their respective categories. It does lack a certain panache or flair, it might sound better in a foreign tongue, or even Greek or Latin. Any Linguists out there?

The Synergy is an amazing piece of construction, it is almost hard to believe that it wasn’t put together by hand. The most comfortable folding knife I have ever held, and I hear the same from anyone I show it to.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
hello sirs,

I guess i should try my hand at it since everyone helped me out on My Name thingy!!

how bout : Tec Tac Toe ( just kidding)!!


"Presision Technical Knives" or PTK for short.

Just trying to Contribute my part.


Thanks Again,,, you all have a great DAY!!!


M.E.U.K & Company
 
Somewhere in a previous thread a custom maker referred to this kind of knife as 'the cnc knife', of which we will see more. I think that'll do. It's simply that.

Not custom in any respect.

As for the Synergy, I first saw it on the giveaway banner. I completely dismissed it because of the very large inked logo on the blade, which made it look like a cheap (sub $100) thing.

A few days later members began posting pics of their collections, and one of those contained a Synergy.

So I looked up their web site. Whoaa $250. For another $50 more or less one could have a Sebenza or even a low end custon.

I see this knife as essentially the same concept as the GT Knives. Precision machined handles with a textured surface, button lock, two blade styles (one tanto one not), multiple color options, and very good fit and finish for a production knife.

But the GT (don't remember the exact retail) is basically a $150 class knife, give or take a few dollars.

I can't see any reason why the Synergy is worth 250.

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Regards,
Ron Knight

Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it

[This message has been edited by RKnight (edited 24 October 1999).]
 
Having actually handled a Synergy and corresponded with the maker, I would say that it was designed by an enthusiast for enthusiasts. Actual experience on a subject not idle speculation.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
RKnight, the handle on the GT knives is just another pinned, or maybe screwed, together handle. The Synergy handle is machined from a single piece of high-grade aluminum. The Synergy is incomparably stronger than any sandwich-type knife.

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Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!

[This message has been edited by Ewok (edited 24 October 1999).]
 
ewok,

Thanks for reminding me that the Synergy handle is one piece. I either overlooked that or forgot it. That is an advantage.

The GT handle is not one piece, but is precision machined and the fit is very good.

Solid piece handles are a good thing and not new. Pat Crawford used to make (and perhaps still does) a frame lock folder with a handle machined from a solid piece of 440c and then later Ti I believe.

It's a good concept.

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Regards,
Ron Knight

Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
 
As far as naming a new category goes, I think we should stay away from names that have to do with "CNC" or "tech".

Calling a new category of knives "CNC knives" or "CNC tacticals" or whatever will not have meaning for the average knife buyer, who doesn't know what a CNC machine is and can't identify a knife that is made by one.

Using the term "tech", as in "Ultra-tech" or "sports-tech" or what have you, is also a bad idea in my opinion. Sure, these knives are high-tech, but they won't be high-tech in the future. It's like calling a movement in art "modern art". It was modern at the time, but it isn't any more.
 
How about , X-O-TEC Sounds like exotic but could also mean extreme tec.

Oh well ! at least i'm trying
 
Just a few colorful thoughts
<TABLE BORDER=1 WIDTH=200>
<TR>
<TD>
<FONT SIZE="+2" COLOR="#0000AF">NeoTech</FONT>
</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>


<FONT SIZE="+2" COLOR="#AF0000">NeoTac</FONT>
</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>


<FONT SIZE="+2" COLOR="#00AF00">NeoUtility</FONT>
</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 25 October 1999).]
 
I like NeoTech. Sport Utility Blade should be Sport Utility Knife but that would SUK. You could have NeoTech tacticals, NeoTech utility, NeoTech hunting, NeoTech fixed?, etc. etc. etc.

Or better still, how about AvantTech for advancing technology. NeoTech will soon become old tech but AvantTech implies continuing progress which undoubtedly will occur with new technologies.



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Hoodoo

Cogita tute
 
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