I'm not as warm on a forum knife, personally. There are so many folks with different tastes (as mentioned already). For it to be a success, it's going to have to be pretty pedestrian and relatively inexpensive to get more folks interested.
We have to ask ourselves if we:
a) want a knife where the appeal is simply inclusion as members of this forum, or
b) want a knife that is super special, that is made to our "majority" interests.
If the answer is "a", then it might be a slip-joint or 500 series folder for the simple fact that they might be more affordable and thus, more appealing to the community.
If the answer is "b", then I give you the 110 that SK is currently working out in that thread. Perhaps adding a Buck @ BladeForums.com moniker to that knife is the best course.
If the answer is "b", and something in addition to, or in lieu of SKs project and you really want the community involved, you'll have to narrow down the offering via polls.
Poll #1 might be price point. <$50 with slip joints, less expensive lock-backs, or plastic frames, $50-$100 with lock backs or lower end fixed blade, >$100 with higher end materials in lock-backs, or a larger variety of fixed blades.
Poll #2 would narrow down the model options from poll #1.
Poll #3 would narrow down materials that would keep the knife inside the price range.
Then when it's all said and done put it out to bid through Buck, SK, C&C, etc...
My guess is that we end up in the <$50 category to keep it appealing to the majority of members so as to move more of them.
For me, a good forum knife that is both affordable and attractive, that would have a broader appeal might be to bring back a 700 series slip-joint. It's a fine knife that hasn't been made in years. Throw some updated materials at it and it should still be affordable and broadly appealing.
That's my $0.02. Don't spend it all in one place!
