Is Dull, Drab, Ugly and Agressive the New Measure of Beauty?

Rick

Rick

Joined
Nov 27, 1998
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If you look at the popular knives of yore, the steel was more-often-than-not brightly finished, and they were handled in beautiful natural materials, polished metals and attractively colored celluloids, etc.

So why the current trend toward dull, drab, belligerent-looking "tactical" cutlery with overblown military motifs and juvenile marketing slogans (""Death is our Only Competition," etc.) that look like something broken off of an old rototiller?

What is it about modern consumer culture that exalts the current crop of "combat" knives above the comparatively benign looking, colorful and moderately sized offerings that served our ancestors so well during the last century?

It can't be solely based on performance. A high-performance knife is still high-performance whether it's dressed in a party gown or a camo mall-ninja outfit. Likewise, the latest synthetic materials can be made in any color, but the most popular continue to be various shades of dull.

In the past, a kid would be far more inclined to buy a small pocketknife with colorful scales, even though large synthetic black-handled jacks and Barlows were often a cheaper option.

(( better to ask before using someone else's kids to make your point ))

So, what changed? Have we become so confused, fearful and insecure as a culture that we seek out the illusion of empowerment by purchasing utilitarian pocket tools that look like implements of war? After well over a decade of this bizarre fashion trend, one begins to wonder who the real "sheeple" are when it comes to knives.

Thoughts?
 
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It's a trend and like all trends, there tends to be a peak and a leveling off period. I'm sure in 10-15 years, it'll be some other style. At that point, some guys will probably be saying similar things about why the tactical knives are no longer as popular. I just accept that there are styles that I don't like or prefer that has a strong consumer base. I have nothing against tactical knives myself, but I understand why others don't like 'em.
 
For me, it's about utility. I like my pocket knife to open easily, lock in place, cut what I need cut and close back up when I'm done.

When I was a kid I had a very nice camillus folder, jigged bone handle, brass bolsters and a shiny blade. It was a pain to open, requiring two hands and a lot of force, sure, that stiffness served to help keep it open while in use but it was a pain to close when I was done. It held a decent edge, but after some whittling and other common cutting chores it needed time on the stone. Lacking a pocket clip, it always ended up at the bottom of my pocket, tangled with keys. I think I paid around $30 at the time.

Compare that to the Benchmade Mini Grip I got a few weeks ago. It opens and closes easily with one hand. You can easily adjust the tension with which it opens and closes. The axis lock keeps the knife closed when I want it closed, and open when I need it open. The pocket clip keeps it handy and accessible so I don't have to stop what I'm doing to dig for it.

So, does my current pocket knife look scary and war-like, with it's black coated blade and olive drab scales? Sure. Is it 900 times the tool that my old, beautiful Camillus was? Without a doubt.
 
"Different strokes for different folks" For each their own" It all depends on the person their lifestyle and profession. For some people who are "defensively inclined they prefer a tactical style knife instead of a slip joint or case knife. Some just think they are cool, note tacticool. Not everyone has a knife in their force continuum if you will. Some folks don't think about such things and just don't worry about having such things and for some that is why a simple slipjoint makes sense and they wonder why people need a lock on their folding knife.
 
I like both "styles".

For every new Spyderco or BM I buy...I get a Case or old Schrade or two. I love the traditional slippies but the new stuff is great too.

I carry whatever fits the occasion.

Great pic by the way. :D
 
When it comes to the dull/drab look, IMO it's mostly marketing.

It's used to "train the consumer" that roughly finished/bead-blasted metal perhaps hidden with a black coating, is tacticool and desirable, when all these finishes really are, are cheaper ways to finish a blade.
 
Tony_A said:
When it comes to the dull/drab look, IMO it's mostly marketing.

It's used to "train the consumer" that roughly finished/bead-blasted metal hidden with a cheap black coating is tacticool and desirable, when all these finishes really are, are cheaper ways to finish a blade.
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Excellent point.
 
poor taste using someone elses kids w/o permission.
 
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I am not one for the tacticool marketing

hell I love the simple no nonsense knives I always have. The only crazy knife I own is the urban camo et kershaw because of it's wierd opening mechanism other than that its pretty much all no frills stuff like bucks, case and customs.


I might add I have a bunch of carbon knives both in the kitchen and as carry knives and I let them patina right up. I let the brass on the handles of stuff patina as well.
 
I think that there are a lot of great options still out there. I was watching a SHOT video and there are sparkling blue, green, and pink new FFG enduras, very nice. Also, you can get a Grip in pink or yellow. But still, I see your point. Love the pic.

I sayin, baby, you can have whatever you like...
 
Oh yah, bead blast and coatings hide lots of flaws such as pitting and grit marks..thats the part i luv....now days with a little marketing gimmick you can get top dollar for fast work.
 
Let's see here...there is a war on terror, war on terrorists, war on drugs, two actual real wars plus assorted drones killing people remotely in countries we aren't technically at war with, the police are warring on gangs, violence and whatever else is the hot button. On TV we get CSI, NCIS, 24 and non stop coverage of military and police action....so it's pretty easy to see ugly, tiger stripes and micarta as the in thing.

Hopefully, I pray about this, Miley Cyrus will put out a collaborative knife with Mick Strider or Jerry Busse with a flattened fuscia anodized aluminum spoon blade design and sparkly, confetti grips, only then will the pendulum truly swing.
 
Tony_A said:
When it comes to the dull/drab look, IMO it's mostly marketing.

It's used to "train the consumer" that roughly finished/bead-blasted metal perhaps hidden with a black coating, is tacticool and desirable, when all these finishes really are, are cheaper ways to finish a blade.
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I think your right about the trained consumer point. Especially now with stricter knife laws, the younger knife owner would most likely opt for a more aggressive looking blade. Children tend to repel the rules and with knives I think it sometimes goes "well if your gonna ban me from carrying a knife then I'm gonna buy the most badass knife out there" thinking that tactical looking blades are automatically superior and "taboo". And the recent marketing gimicks of the military and freakin video games like Modern Warfare Poo telling our kids what's cool, is something I believe directly influences the knifebuying market. That being said I love and respect our soldiers and no, I don't think that all knife owners are children. I myself love traditional folders as well as a few "drab" blades. FYI my grandmother gave me an original Bowie when I was 12 and that was my first knife.
 
I don't know I too would like to know the attraction this type of knife. I like my EDC knives to look less tactical and more like gentlemens blades. I don't like these ugly looking blacked out mean looking tactical blades, I only have a couple and I'm not impressed with any of them. For those that think a nice looking knife has to be a slipjoint or traditional style folder with stiff one handed opening, look at some of the AO Knives that Buck and Kershaw produce, some of them are very nice looking and do not reflect the tactical craze. I get annoyed by people who want a good "killing" knife, because to me that's not what they're for. A knife that's only good for killing ain't good for nothing in my book. Some people won't but a knife if it doesn't have a "tactical aplication" or if it's not finished or styled for "tactical use" or "self defense". If you want to see this just google the word "tactical" and see all the wonderful items labeled that way, you'll get everything from tactical firearms to tactical socks and toothbrushes :rolleyes:.
 
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stanley_white said:
We're at war. The DoD budget is huge. Companies market their products to those who have the money.
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Right and soldiers are the only people who can afford knives. Also, if your in the armed forces you only like tactical military knives and find no atraction in anything but.

(( save that "smiley" for whine & cheese ))
 
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jay2pointoh said:
Right and soldiers are the only people who can afford knives. Also, if your in the armed forces you only like tactical military knives and find no atraction in anything but.

(( save that "smiley" for whine & cheese ))
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You totally missed the point bro.

What he was talking about is how companies that sell weapons make more money off contracting than selling to average joe...ie Extrema Ratio Italian Military, Busse Military Runs and gobs of SRKs and KABARs.

Beside that how many guys in the sandbox choose a bright, shiny 500.00, Kenny Onion flame knife custom over a (insert your branch and stereotype here...USMC-KABAR, etc...) ;)
 
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The Chef said:
Let's see here...there is a war on terror, war on terrorists, war on drugs, two actual real wars plus assorted drones killing people remotely in countries we aren't technically at war with, the police are warring on gangs, violence and whatever else is the hot button. On TV we get CSI, NCIS, 24 and non stop coverage of military and police action....so it's pretty easy to see ugly, tiger stripes and micarta as the in thing.
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Bingo!

Hopefully, I pray about this, Miley Cyrus will put out a collaborative knife with Mick Strider or Jerry Busse with a flattened fuscia anodized aluminum spoon blade design and sparkly, confetti grips, only then will the pendulum truly swing.
Click to expand...

LMAO - I await its release with bated breath. :D
 
It's marketing, plain and simple. I see the same thing with guns. Lots of younger guys pass over blued steel and highly figured walnut for matte coatings and plastic stocks.

There's a certain "look" that this generation is convinced they should portray, and the look that says Winchester Model 12 and redbone Case trapper ain't it.
 
When I was a kid, the jackknives offered handles slabbed with colored transparent plastic which was vacuum metallized on the underside for extra flash. The blades were carbon steel and kept their polish for about a day. Within a week the innards were rusty and the handle was cracked. Now I can get anodized titanium handles in all colors of the rainbow and blades made out of Haynes Stellite 6-K. The blades don't rust because there is no steel in them. On account of thumb studs and pocket clips, the new knives are much easier to deploy. I still get a kick out of seeing those old knives, but I wouldn't use one if I lost a bet.
 
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