Knife evolution.....how far can it go?

M

mk.ultra

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Jun 17, 2010
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This is just a hypothetical question, and obviously people can only speculate, but it might be interesting. Knives have come a long way since their creation at the dawn of time itself...but how much farther do you think they can evolve? Will anything trump the Tri-Ad lock? Will new, invincible blade steels be created? Will handles infused with helium bubbles be invented for lighter weight knives?
 
We still haven't invented lightsabers or vorpal blades or perfected chainsaw bayonets, so knives have a LONG freaking way to go yet.
 
I can't wait for high frequency piezoelectric blades that cut through material almost effortlessly.
 
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There was a time in history, before relativity and quantum mechanics, when people believed everything to be discovered had been discovered and there was nothing left in science.

Knife evolution will end only if everyone wants it to end.
 
mk.ultra said:
Will anything trump the Tri-Ad lock? Will new, invincible blade steels be created? Will handles infused with helium bubbles be invented for lighter weight knives?
Click to expand...

Something already trumps the tri-ad lock. It's called a fixed blade.

And Helium infused handles would save like .000001 ounces.
 
There will always be new ideas and new technology and makers who push the boundaries. Just when you think all lock ideas have been thought up you see a new design
like the Ti-Lock by Chris Reeve. An awesome knife by the way.
 
In terms of materials and technology, I'll try to make some educated guesses.
We already have self sharpening blades. We also have shape memory alloys, which remember the original, cold forged shape and return to it by heating. I expect the metalurgy will go even further, with self assembling metals, with the mollecules arranged in such manner so there will be no need for heat / cryo treatment. Those materials will be shaped using a 3D printing technology, similar with the way nowadays 3D printers let us make our own models from Nylon (like the N12 printed bikinis).
All you'll need to do is go to the printing workshop with the CAD drawings and there is your dream knife come true.
It will be a wonderful time for designers and here, on the creativity turf is where the challenge begins. For my part, I'm waiting for the folder with a slider which selects: "manual / automatic / assisted / out the front / balisong" mode :D
 
dialex said:
In terms of materials and technology, I'll try to make some educated guesses.
We already have self sharpening blades. We also have shape memory alloys, which remember the original, cold forged shape and return to it by heating. I expect the metalurgy will go even further, with self assembling metals, with the mollecules arranged in such manner so there will be no need for heat / cryo treatment. Those materials will be shaped using a 3D printing technology, similar with the way nowadays 3D printers let us make our own models from Nylon (like the N12 printed bikinis).
All you'll need to do is go to the printing workshop with the CAD drawings and there is your dream knife come true.
It will be a wonderful time for designers and here, on the creativity turf is where the challenge begins. For my part, I'm waiting for the folder with a slider which selects: "manual / automatic / assisted / out the front / balisong" mode :D
Click to expand...

Magnetoforging?
 
Those obsidian blades of 5000 years ago were already pretty sharp. The bronze blades of 3000 years ago were already pretty tough. Romans made folders 2000 years ago. Everything that has happened since is just optimalization.

*strops ATS 34 folder and waits for replies*
 
snowreaper1 said:
There will always be new ideas and new technology and makers who push the boundaries. Just when you think all lock ideas have been thought up you see a new design
like the Ti-Lock by Chris Reeve. An awesome knife by the way.
Click to expand...
Just wanted to note that Ti-Lock knife was only manufactured by CRK, the design belongs to G&G Hawk.
 
goodeyesniper said:
Something already trumps the tri-ad lock. It's called a fixed blade.
Click to expand...

This is so funny, it's what I thought of immediately, too. All these locks are great, but for strength, get a fixed blade. For convenience, get a slipjoint or friction folder -- no fumbling with a lock to close it to put it away.

Many locks are just dirt magnets. Slipjoints are the best folding knives for food prep, no crevices or tiny parts to gunk up.
 
Here you go. Definitely the apogee of current knifemaking.

[video=youtube;yBVumM6-vt4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBVumM6-vt4&feature=player_embedded[/video]

- Mark
 
I'm waiting impatiently for the Larry Niven Variable Sword:

383px-Variable_sword.jpg


http://starfrontiers.info/wiki/index.php/Variable_Sword
 
Knife technology is fairly mature. It will only advance in small increments until something revolutionary like a lightsaber or vibroblade comes along. And even then, steel knife technology will still be cheap and mature.

I like the examples of knife locks given in this thread. The Tri-Ad lock is an ordinary lockback with a blade stop pin. One extra part.

The Ti-Lock appears to be almost the same as Kershaw's Stud Lock.
 
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