Design a best selling folder!

S

surveyguy7

Joined
Jan 5, 2010
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If you where a knife designer at a quality knife company, and tasked with designing a best selling folder knife to retail for $100 or less, what would it be. Explain your particulars: size, blade style, steel, assisted/ not assisted, scales, lock method, etc. What will make it different, and what will make it a best seller? Now be realistic, there is a budget and if you over design the knife you won't be a designer for long.

For me I want a EDC with clean lines a little squarish and having a rather slim profile, 3 1/2" x 1" deep full flat grind drop point of polished 154-CM, carbon fiber scales, liner lock (special attention goes into to making lockup strong with no blade play), duel thumb studs (studs on the short side) with the scales shaved a bit for easy access to the studs, and with a SOG style tip up belt clip. This knife will be made in the USA and advertised as the perfect EDC.
 
One of two routes.

1) Black, lots of pointy bits sticking out, real big blade, skulls and writing on blade. Put "spec" "ops", "tech", "gov", "spec" etc etc etc in name with a couple numbers. Like "marcinek gov tango-1." Say "I didn't want to design it this way, but the the guys in "gov tango-1 force" requested it for their use." Say "I had some left over and figured I'd sell them to the non-pro operators." Done. Ka-ching.

2) Take any knife, put "survival" in its name. Ka-ching.

It ain't rocket science.
 
A knife very similar to the Victorinox Forester but designed for the user to disassemble and reassemble so they can swap in parts they want it to have for that day or weekend (i.e. swap the bottle opener for scissors) - thin G-10 scales with different colors available to be thrown on - one side red, one side blue or whatever you want to do - Spyderco pocket clip attached where the key ring is.

Could be less than $80 and for sure would be a lot more useful and "customizable" than 99% of pocket knives out there. Available swappable tools and handle scales will bring in additional revenue at least 40-50% of what the basic knife/package does.
 
marcinek said:
One of two routes.

1) Black, lots of pointy bits sticking out, real big blade, skulls and writing on blade. Put "spec" "ops", "tech", "gov", "spec" etc etc etc in name with a couple numbers. Like "marcinek gov tango-1." Say "I didn't want to design it this way, but the the guys in "gov tango-1 force" requested it for their use." Say "I had some left over and figured I'd sell them to the non-pro operators." Done. Ka-ching.

2) Take any knife, put "survival" in its name. Ka-ching.

It ain't rocket science.
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I'm shocked you forgot to include "tactical" somewhere in the name.
 
marcinek said:
One of two routes.

1) Black, lots of pointy bits sticking out, real big blade, skulls and writing on blade. Put "spec" "ops", "tech", "gov", "spec" etc etc etc in name with a couple numbers. Like "marcinek gov tango-1." Say "I didn't want to design it this way, but the the guys in "gov tango-1 force" requested it for their use." Say "I had some left over and figured I'd sell them to the non-pro operators." Done. Ka-ching.

2) Take any knife, put "survival" in its name. Ka-ching.

It ain't rocket science.
Click to expand...
You said "spec" twice, hehe.

Blade:
- Drop point high flat ground
- 2.95" length
- Flipper
- 154CM or VG10 steel

Handle:
- Titanium
- Frame lock
- Low rider pocket clip that can be attached to all 4 corners
 
The knife I would design would be based on a Spyderco Delica 4. It would have the same handle, but sport a wharncliffe blade shape, high hollow grind and VG10.
 
Blade- 3.25" blade, D2 steel, flipper (no studs), Scandi grind, average thickness.

Handle- Stainless or anodized aluminum, liner lock, 4-position deep carry clip, ball bearing "washers" (don't know what to call them).
 
Sep said:
You said "spec" twice, hehe.
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Sep, that's "double spec." Even better! :) CWL, the "tango" in "gov tango-1 force" is for "tactical."

My attempt would probably end up looking like a combination of an Opinel, a Vic Classic, and a Case peanut.

It would sell horribly. :D
 
4inch reverse tanto plane edge(think kershaw random) but with a recurve(spyderco captian) with solid G10 handles with the ergo's of the recon 1.

^^^^ total dream knife.
 
marcinek said:
One of two routes.

1) Black, lots of pointy bits sticking out, real big blade, skulls and writing on blade. Put "spec" "ops", "tech", "gov", "spec" etc etc etc in name with a couple numbers. Like "marcinek gov tango-1." Say "I didn't want to design it this way, but the the guys in "gov tango-1 force" requested it for their use." Say "I had some left over and figured I'd sell them to the non-pro operators." Done. Ka-ching.
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Oooh, can I get the special limited edition run in S40000V Special forces edition?
 
res1cue said:
Oooh, can I get the special limited edition run in S40000V Special forces edition?
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I suppose.

If you are badass enough to carry it! If you are not, don't even talk to me about buying it. Because, really...it takes a lotta man to handle the S40000V Spec Forces Edition. Everybody knows it...especially the ladies.
 
Lol, marcinek got it in one. Want a best-seller? Market to the mall ninjas. Make it a flipper, black blade, serrations...
 
Orion's Belt said:
The knife I would design would be based on a Spyderco Delica 4. It would have the same handle, but sport a wharncliffe blade shape, high hollow grind and VG10.
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I'd probably buy two. Spyderco really needs another nice, thin, gentleman's wharncliffe knife. My Cento 4 is lonely.
 
Yes, yes! More wharncliffe blades!

I'd like to see a 3"-4" cutting edge, full-flat or high-hollow grind wharnie in CPM154 (1" wide and 3-4mm thick) with forward finger choil, ti frame-lock, with linen micarta, bone, or wood inlay. No thumb-ramp, but a jimped shallow divot instead on the spine. Of course, such a creature would likely be double the OP's budget of $100... but I'd want one, fer sher!

surveyguy7 said:
I forgot to ask for a name of the knife you design.

Mine would be named "Special Agent".
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I would name it... Cindy.
 
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marcinek said:
Sep, that's "double spec." Even better! :) CWL, the "tango" in "gov tango-1 force" is for "tactical."

My attempt would probably end up looking like a combination of an Opinel, a Vic Classic, and a Case peanut.

It would sell horribly. :D
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Ooops! I didn't realize that you were using Spec-Ops secret code! My bad!
 
marcinek said:
Because, really...it takes a lotta man to handle the S40000V Spec Forces Edition.
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If I put on a black headwrap, wear all black, and sneak around a large commercial building, is that good enough? How about if I sit around all day eating pork rinds and daydreaming about being in the 101st?
 
Mine would be a BM Rift blade that's FFG and a Griptilian frame and scales with full liners.Steel could probably be M4, but I'm not certain. Right at $100, perfect lock for me, great handle shape and awesome blade.
 
Okay, here goes.

A friction folder with a hair over 3", THIN (2 - 2.5mm) wharncliffe blade, high hollow grind. A proper pivot/bushing system so that it opens as smooth as butter, but with a moderate detent when closed so it stays closed in pocket. I'm thinking micarta handle, ranging from dark green, dark blue, maybe black. The handle itself would be quite thin as well. 1095 blade, satin finish.

Doesn't have to be the most trick ball bearing/bushing system. Just something so it's not awkward like a svord. I think someone could pull those materials together for $100 easily.
 
res1cue said:
How about if I sit around all day eating pork rinds and daydreaming about being in the 101st?
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No! No! No! It's not at all for people like that! <wink, wink> It's designed for people who, everyday, crash their fighter jets deep behind enemy lines and need to kill or be killed. And who need practice extreme survival 24/7. <nudge, nudge> Real men.
 
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