Jim Wagner? RBB drop point

[mozzy]

Just looking for some board opinion here. Not trying to put the good moderators at Boker USA on the spot. But I think it's important for them to hear customer opinion on such matters. I've read the posts, I see they try darned hard to put up really good information, but this is a matter I think to be debated.
The new 01BO048 ... I had read on another board, were someone had asked why the RBB line isn't just classified as a variation of the KAL. I replied to the poster that one series is designed by Pohl the other Wagner ... but the RBB drop point is kind of a hitch, and I think now that they meant this knife specifically and NOT the entire line-up.

"These new Jim Wagner models were developed based on the demand for a Reality-Based Blade in a smaller, lighter version. The black coated aluminum handles are based on our famous KAL 74 series, and the blades remain unchanged." from the BokerUSA webpage.

OK so the handle isn't identical but is loosely based on the Pohl design, and it uses the Pohl designed knife's blade ... so exactly where DOES Jim Wagner's name fit into this equation? In my opinion Boker does own the rights to these designs and can make knives in any configuration they see fit, but would it not make sense to classify this as something other than a RBB? Perhaps put neither Wagner nor Pohl on the blade and just run it as a new Boker Plus model? In the catalog descriptions feel free to drop BOTH names as inspiration for the new model or maybe tag the blade as a Pohl/Wagner design. When I think of a RBB ... first thing that stands out in my head is the deep recurve design of the blade (reguardless of point configuration and or presence/lack of serrations) ... that is it's number 1 uniqueness ... the whole meaning behind Jim's "reality based blade" design. I do not yet have any RBB designs but have being eyeing them for awhile. I do have a olive KALS74 and it's desert tan KAL74 liner lock cousin.

 

[Marketing]

Hi Mozzy,
your got me on the spot!!!
But no problem at all.

To be honest, you are not the first one, who says, the KAL 74 has some similarities with the RBB or the RBB with the KAL 74. But this is something, that was definitely not our intention. But we keep features, our customers like, and try to modify them and integrate these features into new designs.

Both knives do have some light similarities, I mean, both come from the same company, both knives went through the same design dept., engeneering dept. etc.

To Boker, the handles cannot really be compared to each other. The RBB handle is something different. Ok, the checkering on both knives can be compared, but this is it.

The RBB has few more features to offer, no wonder, cause it is younger on the market, for example:
reversible clip
exchangeable window breaker
false pen writing tip
no false edge...

So, we think, they are both independent products.
I hope this helps.

 

[mozzy]

Hi Mozzy,
your got me on the spot!!!
But no problem at all.

To be honest, you are not the first one, who says, the KAL 74 has some similarities with the RBB or the RBB with the KAL 74. But this is something, that was definitely not our intention. But we keep features, our customers like, and try to modify them and integrate these features into new designs.

Both knives do have some light similarities, I mean, both come from the same company, both knives went through the same design dept., engeneering dept. etc.

To Boker, the handles cannot really be compared to each other. The RBB handle is something different. Ok, the checkering on both knives can be compared, but this is it.

The RBB has few more features to offer, no wonder, cause it is younger on the market, for example:
reversible clip
exchangeable window breaker
false pen writing tip
no false edge...

So, we think, they are both independent products.
I hope this helps.

No, I do follow and can see the variances between the two knives. The quote about the handles, actually comes from the Boker catalog. I'm really questioning how much "Jim Wagner" is in the new knife? RBBs were very unique from the Pohl designs because of the blade ... well here is a knife using the Pohl blade and a brand new handle design that you can say falls in between the two designers ... that even the company says was inspired by Pohl. It looks like a great knife ... one I'd buy but is it really a "Jim Wagner" design? IMHO Boker really should have afixed both names Wagner/Pohl or none at all. Just an observation.

 

[Marketing]

It is not that difficult. We noticed the popularity of the drop point blade from the KAL with its versatility.
And, we have seen the advantages of a RBB handle with the reversible pocket clip and the exchangeable windowbreaker. So, our idea was to combine the two things.
Jim Wagner works for us and Dietmar did in the past. So, not one of them had a problem sharing the features on a common knife project. It would be something different, when we would have used a "complete" design, and say, it was made by someone else.
This is mainly a "BOKER", cause all we do, we do it for BOKER mainly... We are working in the same team.