Since there is so much interest in how awards are won, I thought I would describe how I go about the process for coming up with an entry. Since I have only entered the TACTICAL FOLDER category, some of my comments may not apply to other categories.
First, I try to define the attributes that the "best" knife should have. I start with functionality. This ultimately drives a whole bunch of parameters for the knife, to include:
Blade steel, heat treat, edge thickness, blade finish, handle material, texture, etc.
Second, I factor in the general likes and dislikes of my customers, and the judges, when I know their preferences. This can drive me towards certain features, materials, etc, and away from others
Third, I eliminate everything from the knife design that does not provide a positive benefit to the knife. This is particularly important in my category, and includes everything from shiny surfaces to materials like mokume and damascus steel.
Fourth, I try to add everything to the knife that does provide a positive benefit. This includes things that will impress the judges and make the knife stand out. A flipper instead of a manual opener- more complicated knife. Bearings instead of washers-Technically, more challenging to build. Inlays instead of overlays-Sexier and stronger. Ergonomics, gimping, chamfers. You get the idea.
Fifth, I try to come up with a design that showcases all of the above, at least to my eye and my way of thinking. The design has to be a reflection of ME, easily identifiable as an RJ Martin design. This is the hardest part.
Lastly, I build the knife, paying particular attention to.....Everything. It is the most stressful, painstaking build of the entire year. There is a ton of doubt that creeps in during the process, often some changes that are required, and generally several nagging choices that remain questionable up until the judging. Last year's knife, for example, the DRT was fine until I decided 3 days before the show (the same day I finished it) that it was too heavy, based on a comment I heard from the judges about a knife that came in second place the year before. So I went back and took an ounce of weight out of the frames, a 25% reduction. Talk about stress!
The process I outlined above generally takes me about 9 months to complete.
The funny thing about all these competition knives is, they take a tremendous amount of time and effort to build, and, ultimately I'm not convinced just how much they help the maker. Winning an award does not result in crowds of customers at your table waving fist-fulls of money. The publicity and name recognition is definitely helpful, but, award winners or not, all the makers who enter are probably full-up with orders anyway.
And, as I have found out, the awards themselves are polarizing. Which is both unfortunate and inevitable.
