Blade Forums Knife Design contest

Sesoku

Sesoku

Joined
Oct 19, 1998
Messages
498
I was also thinking it would be really interesting to have some knife maker sponser a contest where forum members submit a folder design and then all the forum members vote for their favorite. The winner would get his knife made for free, and if there was enough interest then the maker could sell some to members of the forum. I think we would see a lot of really cool concepts from this and it could be a lot of fun.
 
I really like that idea. Sometimes in class, when the professor is droning, I doodle knife designs. The only small "problem" I see is that many forum members are knifemakers. I might think that they'd have a distinct advantage.

On the other hand, that could be very cool. If a professional designed a "bladeforums" knife. I dunno...just my ramblings.

~Mitch
 
I thought about that, but it would be hard to exclude knifemakers, because how would you draw the line between someone who makes a few knives once in a while for their hobby and full timers? I think that even if pro makers participated it would just be that much more interesting.
 
Despite the problem of the distinction between makers and non makers, I think this would be a great idea. God knows, I do my share of doodling during some lectures, mostly small fixed blades though.
 
Fixed blade would be the answer to the first one. Sounds like a great idea. Submission of the drawing and if accepted would grant the winner a free knife (which would also compensate him for the idea which would eliminate any potential infringement rights). I would think that a one sheet piece of paper with release language on one side in which the entree could date and sign off and on the other side could be the drawing he is submitting. I would think the winner would have some impact on steel used, etc. (within reason and cost factors) GREAT IDEA--SELL IT EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE FORUM.
 
What happens then if some maker uses a design that looks similar to what a forum member came up with in a future model? Tricky tricky.... this looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

"I designed this knife, just look, it's on BladeForums.com at this date, where's my royalties!"

See what I mean?

Spark

------------------
Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Not a legal expert by any means, but wouldn't the design count as intellectual property. I've heard talk of mailing yourself the documents (so you get a date put on the envelope by the USPS), then preserving the unopened envelope. That way, you could say that it was created by such a date, so if somebody else comes up with the same idea, you can show that your idea predates.

plus, I would imagine that the submissions would be mailed in, not posted online, with only the winning entry being posted-- and the intellectual property for that one has been addressed in an earlier post.

My thinking about this contest is that it would probably be better that it originate with some custom maker, or someone with some bench time, and that the materials be strictly limited, as to make the knife feasible to produce.
As much as I want adamantium in my knife, that would offest the plutonium content, and then yadda yadda yadda.

chizpuf
 
Hey guys,
I think this is a great idea. Maybe Bladeforums could get the winner and the knife together for a picture and send it in to the knife magazines.
Go with the fixed blade for starters.
Will they have to submit a blueprint, simple sketch, or can it be sent in on 3 1/2 floppy?
Maybe this could become an annual event.

------------------
If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

William Least Heat Moon
 
I'll get in on this as well...

To the winner of the blade.. I'll supply a custom made sheath to their specs,, all they do is cover my shipping!

Hows that sound?

Could someone e-mail me if this is a go,, don't know when I'll be back,,got a pile of work to do....

Eric..
On/Scene Tactical http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel


 
I'm in! I've got a design in mind right now. It's a whole different concept than The Outsider, it's my take on a "long fast skinny light fighter" versus a "smashfighter".

I'd like to suggest a three-judge panel, and may I be so bold, suggest judges?

James Mattis for his general knowledge and honesty;

Joe Talmadge for his knowledge of edge geometry and performance (and honesty
smile.gif
);

Either Donna or Bram so that one judge knows fighters inside and out yet aren't themselves noted designers that might have biases towards their existing types of pieces.

Sound good?

Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim March (edited 13 November 1999).]
 
Uh... Jim.... I see you drooling.... Maybe we should start with a fixed blade AND a style. I really do not think ANYONE could compete with you in the SMASHFIGHTERBROKENBONETWISTYSNAPPYPOPKNIFETHINGY Design catagory. I have handled the Outsider
smile.gif

Just a thought....
 
how serious is this getting here? i'd love to get in on it so i hope to hear that this is for real. i'd agree with the fixed blade idea and suggest that we either specify a category or size.
 
Spark, Mike,

We need your approval.
We need to know what to submit Can you do one of those survey pages to determine a catagory and size?
We need judges Another survey page!
We need an artisan to build the winner ( unless jim wins then we need a welder
wink.gif
).


[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 13 November 1999).]
 
We could use that photo point site to post the entries. This won't hurt sparks server space. I would be happy to volunteer as the official poster through a special special yahoo account, like BFentry@yahoo.com
Each person would submit a standard size drawing, I could add the entry number. If spark did a survey we could all judge right here at the forums.
what ya think.
 
How about an entry fee to cover materials?
The more that participate the better the materials!

[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 13 November 1999).]
 
HELL YEA! At $5 or $10 with every entry we'd have a pool of cash to completely pay for making it! We gotta vote on a maker then; somebody good but not necessarily "big bux/major name". Alan Folts comes to mind, or Lynn Grififth?

Let's get it on!

The neat thing about this is that since all entries will be judged and *witnessed* by the judges and then the public on a given date and all will have a little copyright notice in the corner (hinthintNUDGE) any stealing of the designs will be immediately apparant. And would subject the thieves to ridicule and scorn at the very least...you can't do business that way. Recent events which we won't go into 'cuz it's been fixed come to mind...

One question: should we have two contests, divided into "utility class" and "fighter class"? Depends on how many entries we get but...it seems fair; the fighters will always be "sexier".

Jim
 
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