From where would the weight come?
I think the Chinook II weighs as little as it can and still have the strength to do the job.
I would not begrudge a lighter Chinook II, but neither would I want a less strong Chinook II.
I consider it now, as it stands, the ultimate folder; perfect in every regard.
Still, for the sake of conversation:
1) titanium alloy liners;
2) titanium alloy screws;
3) titanium alloy lock bar;
4) titanium alloy pivots and pins;
5) titanium alloy clip;
6) carbon fiber scales;
7) lightening holes in both the scales and the liners, carefully chosen, defined and placed by consulting engineers from the helicopter and bridge-building industries, with regards to load paths;
8) epoxy the scales and liners together into one structural unit; and,
9) polish the chines and bevels off of the blade so that its surface follows a constant curve in all directions.
How much weight would this remove and what would it cost?
Would the spring, pins and screws require the development of new titanium alloys (I don't know if titanium works well as a machined screw, bearing surface, or with shear loads)?
Totally guessing, given the possibility of custom metallurgy and consulting engineers, and the cost associated with that type of development, I think Sypderco could market this for $499 msrp, and New Graham would discount it at $399.
How many would Spyderco need to sell to break even?
In the world of high-performance bicycles, people pay this kind of money to remove grams of weight and add prestige.
Someone might in fact pay this kind of money for a production knife.
I wonder.
It sounds kinda nice now that I have put it into words and have a mental picture of it.
I like the deep plaid of polished carbon fiber, and the lightening holes would let me look into the guts of the knife and see the polished blade even when closed.
$399 for the world's lightest, strongest, most advanced and aesthetically beautiful folder?
Hm.
.
