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

[John T Wylie Jr]

It's my business when laws are passed that affect me because you've been waving the Super Ninja AO Walter Mitty Throatcutter Fantasy Special around.

so are you one of the irresponsible peeps responsible for the DUI laws ? or the laws against cell phone use while driving ?

laws are passed because of criminal actions , or in some cases , because law makers fall into the candyass mindset that you have...

 

[mmarkh]

Hmmm, we complain about non-knife people not understanding our hobby(the "sheeple" word gets banded around alot), and we can't even let others enjoy different knives without snobbishly thinking them stupid?

Bingo! If it's a knife you like then carry and use it.

 

[Rick]

In an attempt to keep this thread on topic, I'll pose an example: What is it about today's knife consumer that draws them to this (with its appropriately pugnacious "Nightmare" moniker):

Rather than this?

Putting aside cost and minor functional differences for the moment (please), they're both one-hand opening, screw-assembled, medium/large folders with (I assume) excellent steel, ergos, edge geometry and modern materials, but the American offering (and its maker!) goes out of its way to appear as menacing, inelegant and intimidating as possible, while the Swedish knife is comparatively elegant, timeless and benign-looking.

What is it that draws today's consumers in such abundant numbers to the aesthetic of the first knife?

Again, please don't tell us which one is "better." I'm only using these two examples to illustrate a puzzling aesthetic trend.

 

[stabman]

In an attempt to keep this thread on topic, I'll pose an example: What is it about today's knife consumer that draws them to this (with its appropriately pugnacious "Nightmare" moniker):

I can't say, as I never liked that weird blade grind. But, if someone finds that it works for their tasks, good for them.
I think it was Sal Glesser who said "all good, just different."
I'd say he got it right.

 

[jonnymac44]

Quote from Bigmark, "It's abundant enough in the production knife world that i will stick with my statement"

If you want to stick by your statement, that an abundant amount of production knife companies use coatings to cheaply cover up flaws in the blade steel, and if you want to lump the top notch companies such as Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw in with that group, then fine. You have a right to your opinion, and I sure as hell won't try and change it. But I'll stick with my opinion that it is foolish to lump all manufacturers together in a such a negative way. It sounds to me like you're a bit bitter. About what?, well that's none of my business, but I don't think your comments are fair.:thumbdn:

 

[Tony_A]

Going back to my original marketing example, consider:

The 3 cheapest/easiest finishes I can think of would be coatings, bead-blasting, and tumbling. I've seen all 3 marketed in a tactical sense.

Bare metal polishes like mirror, satin, crocus, hand-rubbed, and glaze are all more difficult (hence expensive) to do, and I don't recall ever seeing them marketed as "tactical" finishes.

I really do think that much of the popularity comes down to the marketers successfully putting a positive spin to a (potentially) negative aspect on their knives.

Think of how Heinz used clever marketing to spin the "slow to pour" aspect of their ketchup into a positive, desirable feature...

That does NOT mean that anyone who likes these finishes is foolish or anything, people should buy what they like.

 

[Rick]

Tony, I completely agree, but what I find so perplexing is that, not only did we buy into the cheap 'n' easy finish gimmick hook, line and stinker, it appears that, with the proper marketing, many consumers are perfectly willing to pay more for a cheaply-finished knife than they might for one with an expensive, labor-intensive finish. I know that marketing is a powerful tool, but I find the unquestioning acceptance of these manipulative sell tactics difficult to comprehend.

 

[sambo.]

@OP" buggered if i know why all this tactikewl stuff is selling so well.

i suppose it's just trends. like when the original Rambo movie came out. all of a sudden, there were heaps of (seriously crap) rambo knife clones on the market.

personally, i don't plan on "needing" a blacked out blade anytime soon. if i do find myself needing one, then some bootpolish or soot or similar will have to do.

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.

the USA seems addicted to War.....

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.

i would probably buy such a knife.

and i'd use it until it got "popular" then i'd go back to my trusty Leatherman.

 

[jakeyjake4528]

In an attempt to keep this thread on topic, I'll pose an example: What is it about today's knife consumer that draws them to this (with its appropriately pugnacious "Nightmare" moniker):

Rather than this?

Putting aside cost and minor functional differences for the moment (please), they're both one-hand opening, screw-assembled, medium/large folders with (I assume) excellent steel, ergos, edge geometry and modern materials, but the American offering (and its maker!) goes out of its way to appear as menacing, inelegant and intimidating as possible, while the Swedish knife is comparatively elegant, timeless and benign-looking.

What is it that draws today's consumers in such abundant numbers to the aesthetic of the first knife?

Again, please don't tell us which one is "better." I'm only using these two examples to illustrate a puzzling aesthetic trend.

What is it that so draws you to the fallkniven versus the strider?

Whatever it is, just try to think the opposite. Their, got your answer.

 

[Rick]

What is it that so draws you to the fallkniven versus the strider?

Whatever it is, just try to think the opposite. Their, got your answer.

 

[Hammer27]

In an attempt to keep this thread on topic, I'll pose an example: What is it about today's knife consumer that draws them to this (with its appropriately pugnacious "Nightmare" moniker):

Rather than this?

Putting aside cost and minor functional differences for the moment (please), they're both one-hand opening, screw-assembled, medium/large folders with (I assume) excellent steel, ergos, edge geometry and modern materials, but the American offering (and its maker!) goes out of its way to appear as menacing, inelegant and intimidating as possible, while the Swedish knife is comparatively elegant, timeless and benign-looking.

What is it that draws today's consumers in such abundant numbers to the aesthetic of the first knife?

Again, please don't tell us which one is "better." I'm only using these two examples to illustrate a puzzling aesthetic trend.

Its called a Nightmare Grind because its "a nightmare to grind." "Pain in the a$$" doesn't sound as cool...

 

[jakeyjake4528]

Their isn't an answer you'd hear that you'd agree with, understand, or accept. You don't shy from the fact that the knives you aren't into are, in your words, ugly, drab, dull, implements of war, best carried by someone insecure, etc, etc.

Then you ask those same people you've already formed a HUGE bias against their taste to explain to you why they would choose tactical over traditional?

Yea, I'm shaking my head too.

 

[catspa]

Hmmn, do I want that buck 110 with wood handles, and two hand opening or do I want...

Mike, I've never been to your LA, but I've been soaking wet and covered with mud and frozen here in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Gotta tell ya, bud, it don't take two hands to open a 110.

I tend toward the old school approach in many things, and find satisfaction in old knives and used ones and broken ones and sometimes I make my own. But I'd stand up for anybody's right to buy and carry the kind they like.

Knives, horses, guns, and women: my advice is, find the one you love, take good care of her, try not to leave her out in the rain, and she'll be there when you need her.

Parker

 

[Rick]

Their isn't an answer you'd hear that you'd agree with, understand, or accept. You don't shy from the fact that the knives you aren't into are, in your words, ugly, drab, dull, implements of war, best carried by someone insecure, etc, etc.

Then you ask those same people you've already formed a HUGE bias against their taste to explain to you why they would choose tactical over traditional?

Yea, I'm shaking my head too.

Here are a few of the more aggressive knives that I own, or have owned recently. Are they traditional?

Now, about that "huge bias..."

 

[stabman]

Uhm, Rick, being as you own some knives which could be classified as "tactical", is this thread really about Strider knives?
If so(which appears to be the case), why not label it as such?
It would lead to better answers, if you actually want a discussion on the matter.

 

[Amaranth]

I love this thread.

 

[Rick]

Stabman, I don't believe that my intent here was disingenuous. Strider knives are a blatant example of the marketing genre I'm referring to, so I've used them for clarity's sake, but my question concerns our current obsession with the exaggerated militarization of popular utility knives in general. As you can see, I've bought into the game a few times myself. Now I'm hoping that my fellow knife-knuts can help me to better understand what the game is really about.

 

[SteelSnob]

@Rick

I really like some of those! What's that bottom knife? The last one with the Damascus blade.

 

[jakeyjake4528]

Those are some sweet blades rick, but, are they the ones that you refer to as dull, drab, and ugly?

Of course not.

What's your opinion on a strider knife, as if you didn't already make that extremely obvious?

What's your opinion on the current trend of military like/weapon like/dark colors and coated blade tactical knives?

Sheeple to the industry, stupid, useless, over the top gimmicks? I miss anything?

Cmon, if you weren't biased against a certain type of knife, you wouldn't of posted this thread.

The reason you haven't yet got your answer is because you insulted anyone who would own a certain type of knife.

From your tastes-which are very nice-i can't say, try a strider, you'll love it! Because you wouldn't.

And hey, I don't have a problem with what anyone likes in a knife, I'm already near obssesion with the many, many types I like.

What I said earlier about thinking of the opposite wasn't some silly remark, but you treated it as such when you were the one asking why.

Different strokes for different folks? Is that better?

You wanna hear the why, how about we wanna hear the why not?

You tell us why not, without insulting, you'll get better answers.

(What's funny is I actually own far more less lethal knives, and have given up strider for CRK and am really starting to get into traditionals)

 

[Rick]

Thanks, Steelsnob - It's a Des Horn "Thiers" flicker (as opposed to flipper) based on the traditional (uh oh) French clasp knife from that region.