Cult knives

I'm going to throw the Douk Douk into the ring. It's been around since 1929. People who own one or one of its cousins generally tend to love them for their simplicity and ruggedness.

I'm partial to Le Tiki myself as a "cult classic."

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Butterfly knives definitely fit the idea of a cult following. They may not be mainstream, but have a very strong contingent of followers who are quite vocal and excitable about their passion for the design. As a design, they have been around for a very long time, and the range of models out there is amazing. From cheap $5 pieces, all the way to hand-made customs with outrageous materials and embellishments, and everything in between.

Oh, and count me in as a member of that cult. :D
 
Fiddleback knives developed a cult following, I think largely because of this site. It started with fairly basic models and handle configurations (two-tone, one liner) and became a full-blown company. The prices went up accordingly, and there are multiple production models that now fill the lower-end demand spectrum.

Ray Laconico is one I am more familiar with. His work started with basic fixed blade designs that became cleaner and more complex (although the complexity was literally below the surface, such as framed tang knives). He transitioned to folders and went from slipjoints to linerlocks, then to framelocks in fairly quick succession. His customs are also highly priced and he now has a production design with Kizer.

Gavko knives started as a guy doing pimp jobs and turned into a four-figure-folders custom designer and maker. I think Tuffthumbz (Tuffknives) and Jeremy Horton followed a similar path.

Finally there's Jared Oeser, who (correct me if I'm wrong Jared) started by making sheaths for Fiddlebacks and moved into custom fixed blades after his "real" job slowed down. Demand was seriously intense. He then moved into slipjoints and now is one of the most revered traditional folder makers on this forum.
 
My thoughts on your topic, but not really your question,
I think there are certain knives that have a following that is somewhat timeless, for example: Vic Farmer, Buck 110, opinel. But the following is based on some reality. Where other knives gain a more mythical status that suggests far more than what might be delivered, not to offend, but some of the "bushcraft" knives are starting to get into that territory, nessmucks, kepharts, even the various scandi's are pushing into that legendary status. While all legends start from a grain of truth, I would define a cult as anything that cannot be questioned, and some styles and manufacturers are getting to that point. When it comes to manufacturers some have ridden that wave and have continued on, IMHO Chris Reeve stuff falls there, those who posses such knives seem confident enough that they can entertain questions of the great sebenza, where some are not there yet, I think ZT falls under that zone. Love em, or hate em, just don't debate em. That to me is where the "Cult" line gets drawn.

As for knives that have stood the long test of time, I would say that some like the scharade sharpfinger outlasted the parent company and I would not be surprised that in a few years we may see that style come back to a degree, depending on how the scharade brand is handled. When I think of other "classic" knives that I've seen very old versions of, the ontario old-hickory kitchen and butcher knives come to mind. And there are a great many buck 119 hunters around. Almost all of the standard slipjoint patterns go way way back, trappers, stockmans and the rest that have been mentioned, the sodbuster and barlow being granddaddy to all I think. There are many designs that have tried to be timeless, but have changed without improving on the original(american tanto), where there are many that have not changed as there has been no need to.
There are some modern knives that will probably continue on relatively unchanged like the benchmade griptillian, spyderco endura and delica, but only time will really tell. considering that they are sort of as young compared to the buck 110 as that is compared to the barlow pattern (actually even more so, you get the image.)

Of course all this is based on my opinion which is worth very little as I was eager to jump onto the RAT/Rowen bandwagon and get both an izula and a RC-3, two very arguably culty knives at the time of release. Of course that has not continued as such, with the eskabar calming one debate, and time not really wearing away the RC-3's rep but more aligning it with reality. Still great knives, but when they were released you might have thought they were forged by Jesus himself!
 
gadgetgeek said:
While all legends start from a grain of truth, I would define a cult as anything that cannot be questioned, and some styles and manufacturers are getting to that point. When it comes to manufacturers some have ridden that wave and have continued on, IMHO Chris Reeve stuff falls there, those who posses such knives seem confident enough that they can entertain questions of the great sebenza, where some are not there yet, I think ZT falls under that zone. Love em, or hate em, just don't debate em. That to me is where the "Cult" line gets drawn.
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Interesting comment and one that falls along my thinking as well. "Love 'em, or hate 'm, just don't debate 'em".

These would likely be the more recent "cult knives". Many of the others are moving into "classic" status like the Buck 110 although I was never a huge fan of the knife personally (but I still own a couple). I always preferred the Schrade versions for using.
 
Few knives have the history and cult reference as original Higo no kami's. Very much knocked up like Laguiole, and the authentic ones need to be retooled sometimes due to overproduction.
 
While this is not sientific, I think the MPK is worth mentioning.
From what I understand, the MPK was the first procuct of John Moore and Rick Schultz.
Mission Knives has their own forum on another board and a following.
The knife is still around after some 20 years, has a NSN and fills a special slot.

It may not be as well-known as some others mentioned here,
but for sure worth a look.

red mag
 
Mission does have a cult. Those who owned or own Mission knives know why.
And, have these knives appreciated! I was lucky to get a MPF on a trade.
My cult knife would be a Phill Hartsfield knife. Just to have ONE.
rolf
 
Nellem said:
Busse Battle Mistress
Chris Reeve Sebenza 21
Chris Reeve Green Beret
Opinel #8
Victorinox Swiss Champ
Victorinox Alox Cadet/Soldier/Pioneer/Farmer
Strider SMF/SNG
Hinderer XM
Buck 110
Buck 119
Applegate-Fairbairn combat dagger
Fairbairn-Sykes combat dagger
Kabar Mark 1
Kabar USMC
Ontario Airforce Survival Knife
Glock Field Knife 81
Randall Made Model 1
Gerber Mark II
Okapi
Spyderco PM2
Case Trapper
Emerson CQC 7
Fällkniven F1
Joseph Rodgers pocket knife
Any Bob Loveless design.
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Good list. I can't find fault with any of it.
 
I'm pretty sure most of us qualify as cultists so open your sock drawers for a good selection of cult knives. :)
 
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