Are most knives today too thick.

[Duane Sanders]

I think you under estimate the power of marketing and the U-tube videos. Also the influence of the forum reviews and discussion are substantial. But yeah, there are a wide selection of knives available in various steel thicknesses to satisfy the broad demand in knives whether it be a 8 year old kid or a 75 year old grandma.

You are overestimating the power of marketing. An extreme low percentage of knife buyers rely on marketing and YouTube for knife purchases. It might seem high here because of the high concentration of such buyers but I just don't see people with knives on their belts that are useless for what they do with them.

You won't see a deer hunter with a BK7 on his belt. You won't see a "bushcrafter" chopping logs and splitting wood with a sharp finger.

I'm not seeing how people can think marketing and videos trick people into buying knives that will be useless for what they will do with a knife.

The only people I see being tricked are the people buying knives and not knowing why they bought them. Get some buyers remorse and look for a reason to use it and then figure out it don't do so well in the kitchen. Then they buy a thin slicer Spyderco and it works great in the kitchen. Then we see posts like the OP. The blade failed for hard use, all it does is point us in a direction that thicker harder use blades do have a place in the open market. Keep the thin slicers in the kitchen.

I'm just saying people aren't being tricked by the masses from marketing or pointless videos on YouTube.

 

[22-rimfire]

Of course you took that the wrong way. So be it.

This is your previous statement.

People don't buy stuff because of marketing. Companies market products because people need them.

I disagree with it if for no other reason than it is a gross generalization. People buy stuff all the time because of marketing and not need or what's available. People who know nothing about knives are heavily influenced by marketing in choosing one product over another and if the take the time to try to find out something via some "expert" views on UTube. I for one don't look at those videos unless I see a link here and do so more out of curiosity. Good marketing can actually create a demand for a product that there is little need for. Example: pet rock.

Your typical day of using a knife far exceeds mine in terms of hard use which you probably consider normal use.

 

[Sulaco]

I think a big part of it is marketing but as a user I also see the befit of thicker blades for some applications. Most all of my knives are for cutting things. But I do use a couple of knives for atypical knife duties.

For example, I had to remove a screw from the side of my belt grinder and the washer stuck to the side of the grinder. I couldn't get it loose so I used my Bahco wrecking knife to pry it loose. I would not have done this with a thinner knife because I may have damaged the delicate tip. The wrecking knife was designed for this so it's what I used.

I also use a heavy duty folder when I am out working at the hunting property. I use it for all sorts of things and it's easier to just have the one tool as opposed to hauling around several implements and having to pull out one for each thing. I use it for things like working on the bush hog, cutting heavy straps or tubing, stuff a more delicate cutter wouldn't be well suited for.

So to each his own I say.

 

[22-rimfire]

You are overestimating the power of marketing. An extreme low percentage of knife buyers rely on marketing and YouTube for knife purchases. It might seem high here because of the high concentration of such buyers but I just don't see people with knives on their belts that are useless for what they do with them.

You won't see a deer hunter with a BK7 on his belt. You won't see a "bushcrafter" chopping logs and splitting wood with a sharp finger.

I'm not seeing how people can think marketing and videos trick people into buying knives that will be useless for what they will do with a knife.

The only people I see being tricked are the people buying knives and not knowing why they bought them. Get some buyers remorse and look for a reason to use it and then figure out it don't do so well in the kitchen. Then they buy a thin slicer Spyderco and it works great in the kitchen. Then we see posts like the OP. The blade failed for hard use, all it does is point us in a direction that thicker harder use blades do have a place in the open market. Keep the thin slicers in the kitchen.

I'm just saying people aren't being tricked by the masses from marketing or pointless videos on YouTube.

There is no tricking going on. You misunderstand. The purpose of marketing a product is to convince someone to purchase their product over another competing product whether it be a knife or something else. Overall, people are not well informed at all. Ask my wife to buy a knife for me for Christmas and see just how influenced she is by marketing. I'd be lucky to get a Bear Grylls "survival" knife.

Added: Simply what product comes up first when you search on line is marketing. Companies pay to have their business name come up on the first page of internet search engines all the time. That's marketing.

 

[bodog]

I think you over estimate your knife needs and opinion.

In a typical day I cut pallet strapping, packing tape, conveyor belt, hydraulic lines, compressor lines, cut out the fittings for reuse, pry collars of pistons, trim cut resistant gloves, pry staples from pallets, remove stone chips from body parts and even pry stones from my boot treads. You???

I guess I am just a victim of marketing and you tube vids, not an informed buyer. [emoji6]

I do similar stuff. Have you owned a thin knife with good, tough steel?

 

[Todd21969]

I do similar stuff. Have you owned a thin knife with good, tough steel?

Most of the knives I grew up using were thin slip joints.


Define tough steel?

1080, 1095, SK5, D2, 1095CV, whatever Camillus'"Carbon V" was etc.... And a whole bunch of various stainless steels from the late 70's till now.

 

[dogrunner]

I do similar stuff. Have you owned a thin knife with good, tough steel?

Not to beat a dead horse (which WOULD require a thick blade), but it seems like a lot of this spinning around discussion is ignoring the point you are trying to make - that is, how far can we go (most likely using a good tough properly heat treated steel) with a thinner blade, that gives up nothing in general cutting ability (and abrasion resistance while we are at it), without having to resort to thicker blades that are arguably stronger in some absolute way (all else equal in terms of steel quality and heat treat), but also heavier and less versatile in some ways. As I said, my current solution is to hedge my bets and carry a thinner blade and a beefier (but not in my opinion crazy thick) blade. And I use the thinner one more, but the thicker one when the job makes me nervous. I guess I lack confidence in the thinner one, or maybe just don't want to take the chance. But I am very happy YOU are taking the chance because I am very interested in the result. More so than maxing out abrasion resistance in rope-cutting tests (although that is interesting too, in a different way).

My 0.02

 

[bodog]

Most of the knives I grew up using were thin slip joints.


Define tough steel?

1080, 1095, SK5, D2, 1095CV, whatever Camillus'"Carbon V" was etc.... And a whole bunch of various stainless steels from the late 70's till now.

Cool. Just wondering.

 

[bodog]

Not to beat a dead horse (which WOULD require a thick blade), but it seems like a lot of this spinning around discussion is ignoring the point you are trying to make - that is, how far can we go (most likely using a good tough properly heat treated steel) with a thinner blade, that gives up nothing in general cutting ability (and abrasion resistance while we are at it), without having to resort to thicker blades that are arguably stronger in some absolute way (all else equal in terms of steel quality and heat treat), but also heavier and less versatile in some ways. As I said, my current solution is to hedge my bets and carry a thinner blade and a beefier (but not in my opinion crazy thick) blade. And I use the thinner one more, but the thicker one when the job makes me nervous. I guess I lack confidence in the thinner one, or maybe just don't want to take the chance. But I am very happy YOU are taking the chance because I am very interested in the result. More so than maxing out abrasion resistance in rope-cutting tests (although that is interesting too, in a different way).

My 0.02

Thanks man. I feel the same way. It's about taking it as low as possible, checking for a failure, and then raising it until it doesn't fail anymore. And using some sense with the knife in hand. I don't need to put a knife in a vice and beat it with a sledgehammer. You hit the nail on the head with what I was originally posting about. I'm happy there's a knifemaker willing to let people learn from it all. I guess maybe I made it sound like I was saying that a knife as thin as the one in the OP is all anyone needs. I wasn't saying that at all. I was saying that I believe almost everyone could probably do 99% of what they need to do with a knife much thinner than what's commonly found today.

 

[singularity35]

Thanks man. I feel the same way. It's about taking it as low as possible, checking for a failure, and then raising it until it doesn't fail anymore. And using some sense with the knife in hand. I don't need to put a knife in a vice and beat it with a sledgehammer. You hit the nail on the head with what I was originally posting about. I'm happy there's a knifemaker willing to let people learn from it all. I guess maybe I made it sound like I was saying that a knife as thin as the one in the OP is all anyone needs. I wasn't saying that at all. I was saying that I believe almost everyone could probably do 99% of what they need to do with a knife much thinner than what's commonly found today.

I've worked in a farm for the better part of my life. A lot of the time, chores need to be done fast and being careful to avoid damage to a thinner knife will just slow us down. This is were a good "bulletproof" tool will shine.

 

[Surfingringo]

People don't buy stuff because of marketing. Companies market products because people need them.

Yes, that's an excellent point. I'll just leave these here...

 

[singularity35]

Yes, that's an excellent point. I'll just leave these here...

How did I live without this?

 

[bodog]

Yes, that's an excellent point. I'll just leave these here...

How now, don't diss the shakeweight. I'm sure it's saved its fair share of marriages

 

[Duane Sanders]

There is no tricking going on. You misunderstand. The purpose of marketing a product is to convince someone to purchase their product over another competing product whether it be a knife or something else. Overall, people are not well informed at all. Ask my wife to buy a knife for me for Christmas and see just how influenced she is by marketing. I'd be lucky to get a Bear Grylls "survival" knife.

Added: Simply what product comes up first when you search on line is marketing. Companies pay to have their business name come up on the first page of internet search engines all the time. That's marketing.

The ONLY way you will find marketing by any knife company is if you actively seek it. It's not something they put out there to sway people. No matter what people feel, knife buyers are hardly swayed by "marketing". They simply buy knives for what they expect it to get done for them.

Need a thin slicer for the kitchen, then most buy a whole set like I did. Need a tough beat up pry chop splitter, then get a knife that meets the job it will do.

Too many are over thinking this. People don't buy a BK7 when they are looking for a game dressing knife and they don't buy a large game dressing knife for squirrels either.

People aren't buying knives to use because of you tube or commercials. They buy a knife to use because it does what they will want it to do.

The person who buys a knife because of a YouTube video or commercial, they probably don't need a knife. There's nothing wrong with collecting but don't expect a collected knife made for chopping wood to make super thin slices of carrots. That's the actual confusion going on here.

You just can't buy a thick knife with no use for it, then use it for the wrong purpose then go online and tell everyone that knife has no place. It don't work that way.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The ONLY way you will find marketing by any knife company is if you actively seek it. It's not something they put out there to sway people. No matter what people feel, knife buyers are hardly swayed by "marketing". They simply buy knives for what they expect it to get done for them.

Need a thin slicer for the kitchen, then most buy a whole set like I did. Need a tough beat up pry chop splitter, then get a knife that meets the job it will do.

Too many are over thinking this. People don't buy a BK7 when they are looking for a game dressing knife and they don't buy a large game dressing knife for squirrels either.

People aren't buying knives to use because of you tube or commercials. They buy a knife to use because it does what they will want it to do.

The person who buys a knife because of a YouTube video or commercial, they probably don't need a knife. There's nothing wrong with collecting but don't expect a collected knife made for chopping wood to make super thin slices of carrots. That's the actual confusion going on here.

You just can't buy a thick knife with no use for it, then use it for the wrong purpose then go online and tell everyone that knife has no place. It don't work that way.

You know that things like item descriptions and packaging are part of marketing, right?

 

[bodog]

Duane,

What thin knives have you used, out of curiosity. Hell, what thick knives have you used? 420HC doesn't test very well at all and that's your go to steel. It may be fine, I don't know, but I'm doubting what all you've used to say what you're saying. No offense meant. Each person has their preferences. I'm wondering why anyone should listen to what you're saying. You may be the most experienced guy in the world. I don't know. If all you've really used is 420HC or soft 1095 then I can understand your Statements a little better.

 

[Duane Sanders]

You know that things like item descriptions and packaging are part of marketing, right?

Nothing to be confused about. Knife packaging is pretty bland. They aren't doing John cenna WWE style graphics on them to pizazz people into buying theirs over the other brand next to them.

The last couple knives I bought were Bucks. They had info like made in the USA, this is the steel, this is the heat treat, this is the warranty. No claim of being the best ever, no comparisons, no examples of this is the extreme use it will survive. Gerber, kershaw, CRKT, the list goes on and on. Some pretty boring blah packaging.

Fruit juice drink boxes have more sensational packaging.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Duane,

What thin knives have you used, out of curiosity. Hell, what thick knives have you used? 420HC doesn't test very well at all and that's your go to steel. It may be fine, I don't know, but I'm doubting what all you've used to say what you're saying. No offense meant. Each person has their preferences. I'm wondering why anyone should listen to what you're saying. You may be the most experienced guy in the world. I don't know. If all you've really used is 420HC or soft 1095 then I can understand your Statements a little better.

Heck--420HC and 1095 can be run very thin and take a lot of abuse.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Nothing to be confused about. Knife packaging is pretty bland. They aren't doing John cenna WWE style graphics on them to pizazz people into buying theirs over the other brand next to them.

The last couple knives I bought were Bucks. They had info like made in the USA, this is the steel, this is the heat treat, this is the warranty. No claim of being the best ever, no comparisons, no examples of this is the extreme use it will survive. Gerber, kershaw, CRKT, the list goes on and on. Some pretty boring blah packaging.

Fruit juice drink boxes have more sensational packaging.

 

[Duane Sanders]

That turns more people away than it attracts. I don't know anyone who owns or uses one. Even the people I know who watch the show.