Higher standards for hard use folders today?

[singularity35]

Do you think the bar for hard use folders has been raised from say 10 years ago? Or were the hard use folders of 10 years ago no longer considered hard use today? Any thoughts?

 

[Tostig]

The bar has been raised considerably and continues to rise each year.

Notice over the last few years how much competition there has been amongst production knife companies to make the 'toughest folders' , not to mention semi production and custom makers.

Ten years ago there was nothing folder wise that I can think of that would begin compare to the Hinderers and ZT's of today.
Ten years ago I dont think the term 'hard use' was even tossed around much ? Anyone else care to put in on that ?

Ten years ago my two toughest folders in my eye were my -trustworthy to this day- Buck 110 and my Cold Steel Recon 1 but I do not recall either being touted as hard use , maybe my memory serves me wrong..




My two cents.

Tostig

 

[misterjuiceman]

I think it's analogous to the situation with muscle cars today--everything has more ponies, but we don't necessarily need them.

 

[Tostig]

Was wondering if it has much to do with being at war ?



Tostig

 

[John Smith V]

Was wondering if it has much to do with being at war ?



Tostig

Yep. Started the tactical trend explosion.

 

[RevDevil]

Was wondering if it has much to do with being at war ?



Tostig

That could be considered one impetus for continual improvement. Most if it I think is the wide variety of steels, grinds, and open communication between larger production companies and the end users. Looks at the ZT 0550 thread for example, or Sal in the Spyderco forums. They are doing their best to provide a customer with what they want in the materials they want. Great time to be a knife nut!

 

[knarfeng]

Do you think the bar for hard use folders has been raised from say 10 years ago? Or were the hard use folders of 10 years ago no longer considered hard use today? Any thoughts?

Yes I think the "bar has been raised" as far as expectations of what a "hard use knife" must be. Whether those expectations mesh with actual need is open to question.

Was wondering if it has much to do with being at war ?
Tostig

NO. Else we'd have seen a plethora of "hard use folders" in the 60's.

 

[Tostig]

Yes I think the "bar has been raised" as far as expectations of what a "hard use knife" must be. Whether those expectations mesh with actual need is open to question.



NO. Else we'd have seen a plethora of "hard use folders" in the 60's.[/QUOTE]

Different time , different attitudes ? The internet IMO is one of the biggest reason knives and anything else you can think of people collect/use/buy for the hell of it are selling so well. Think of how much cash this in knife sales this forum alone has generated.
Joe-bob buys the newest -titanium slabbed , toughest lock , best steel ( order now and recieve free silver screaming skull lanyard ! amaze your friends!!) and posts his new toy/tool/collectible on BF , how many more folks are gonna line up to buy one just like it , or better yet , outbuy him by buying an even cooler one with even better features , gotta keep up with them jonses ! Not dissing any of this , just havin a bit of friday night laughs

Tostig

 

[Slim to None]

I'd be much more apt to blame, err attribute the "hard use" trend to Lynn Thompson rather than the wars. His hackneyed sensationalist videos somehow became acceptable, nay, demanded performance of a knife and I think it's grown from there.

 

[misterjuiceman]

I'd be much more apt to blame, err attribute the "hard use" trend to Lynn Thompson rather than the wars. His hackneyed sensationalist videos somehow became acceptable, nay, demanded performance of a knife and I think it's grown from there.

I'm actually more inclined to believe this than anything else.

 

[John Smith V]

Ten years ago I dont think the term 'hard use' was even tossed around much ? Anyone else care to put in on that ?

Tostig

When did Emerson start using the slogan "#1 Hard Use Knife in the World"?

Must be from customers sending in knives to be serviced.

 

[LaBella]

When did Emerson start using the slogan "#1 Hard Use Knife in the World"?

Must be from customers sending in knives to be serviced.

Along the same lines as Budweiser's "King of Beers". Marketing/hype

:barf: As Pacman pukes up yet another arrow

 

[Ankerson]

I'd be much more apt to blame, err attribute the "hard use" trend to Lynn Thompson rather than the wars. His hackneyed sensationalist videos somehow became acceptable, nay, demanded performance of a knife and I think it's grown from there.

I think CS had a lot to do with it, raising the bar even more as each new product line came came out. Adding in Companies like Strider and Emerson in the hard use folder market. Lately in the past years we are seeing more true hard use knives enter the market while the standard keeps going up each year.

It's good for us as in we are seeing some of the strongest hard use folders ever made that can really be classified as hard use and approaching fixed blade strength. :thumbup:

 

[LaBella]

I think CS had a lot to do with it, raising the bar even more as each new product line came came out. Adding in Companies like Strider and Emerson in the hard use folder market. Lately in the past years we are seeing more true hard use knives enter the market while the standard keeps going up each year.

It's good for us as in we are seeing some of the strongest hard use folders ever made that can really be classified as hard use and approaching fixed blade strength. :thumbup:

Sir Ankerson, a folder is essentially a "splinted" knife and thusly can never be as strong as a fixed blade, or faster to deploy either!

 

[Ankerson]

Sir Ankerson, a folder is essentially a "splinted" knife and thusly can never be as strong as a fixed blade, or faster to deploy either!

I said approaching fixed blade strength.

Although I own a few folders that are stronger than some of the weaker fixed blades I have seen so it depends on the knives we are talking about also.

Will we ever see a folder that will be as strong as a Busse?

That I doubt will ever happen, just keeping things real.

 

[LaBella]

I said approaching fixed blade strength.

Although I own a few folders that are stronger than some of the weaker fixed blades I have seen so it depends on the knives we are talking about also.

Will we ever see a folder that will be as strong as a Busse?

That I doubt will ever happen, just keeping things real.

Did you see that Busse folder? I hope to hell NOT! That thing was fugly

 

[Ankerson]

Did you see that Busse folder? I hope to hell NOT! That thing was fugly

Never saw it, but I heard about it.

I still think the folders will keep getting better and stronger as time goes on. :thumbup:

 

[singularity35]

A ZT 301 is probably stronger than this.

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So maybe generalizations should be qualified.

 

[LorenzoL]

Definitely, especially with respect with pivot size and liner thickness.

However, I still can't understand how some can consider CS a trend setter with regards to the aforementioned improvement. That would be my last choice in any situation where I depend on a good folder to do the job.
I am starting to think that Ankerson bought CS from Lynn Thompson...

 

[Ankerson]

Definitely, especially with respect with pivot size and liner thickness.

However, I still can't understand how some can consider CS a trend setter with regards to the aforementioned improvement. That would be my last choice in any situation where I depend on a good folder to do the job.
I am starting to think that Ankerson bought CS from Lynn Thompson...

Well because if it wasn't for CS and LCT's agressive marketing we wouldn't be in the place that we are now with the great hard use knives.

They started it.

Some are too young to remember most of the junk that was on the market back before CS was founded.

I for one noticed a complete turn around in the quality and strength of folders and fixed blades.

People might hate CS and LCT, but give them the credit that they deserve for raising the bar and causing the other companies to step up to the plate.