Knives and Sex .....

KenOnion

KenOnion

Joined
Apr 21, 1999
Messages
739
Ha! Ha! Got ya ,
I got a question . What gives a knife sex appeal? Also when looking at knives at a show or on line what gets your attention first? is it knives that are tough and angular Boss looking lots of testosterome or are you more attracted to the fluid,symetrical,graceful type knives with lots of curves lots of estrogen lots of lipstick?
Just curious on where to focus when designing.
Aloha!!! Ken Onion
 
Ken,

I can't imagine that you would have trouble designing.
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For me the first thing that grabs my attention is the overall shape. Sometimes it is fluid and sometimes it is angular. It depends on the way the curves or angles are presented.
It's kind of like looking at two beautiful women that have totally different features and trying to tell you why they are beautiful. You really can't explain it. You just know it right from the start that they are beautiful.

Wish I had a better answer for you.

BTW, You just keep doing things the way you have been and all will fall into the right place.

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Barry
Jones Knives
"NEW Knives"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=5922856
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry
 
Ken, I may be a little biased, but I tend to lean towards the more curves the better!!!!!!!!! ya know what I mean
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Mike
 
Oh yeah, it's the curves, Ken. I can't even quantify what it is, but I know it when I see it. Symmetry and flow.

Jack
 
Hi Ken,

I must say it is the overall package. Some knives just look good angular but I really like curvy knives. To me it just seems more comfortable to use. Fluid designs just seems that someone put some thought into the work instead of just drawing out a blade n putting some old handle on it.

Liong
 
Personally, I'm a big fan of recurve blades and Tantos.

There's also just damn classic and sexy about a double edged sub-hilt fighter like the Loveless Big Bear.

Just thought of a few more things:

Curly Koa or Smake wood scales
Ivory scales
intricate, high contrast Damascus
Smooooth action on a folder (Tom Anderson has the smoothest I've felt)
A simple, clean folder

John

[This message has been edited by John Hollister (edited 07-13-2000).]
 
Thanks Guys , I like the curves too but sometimes the suggestion of a curve is sexier than the curve it's self . I also like curves with a bit of testosterone.(kinda makes me question my masculinity)
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I've been a bit stuck lately determining which way to go for 2001. although I am Thinking, Persian with attitude.
Thanks for the input I need all I can get .

Mike Draper, You rascal, with a wife as pretty as yours all you got to do is get her to model for you when designing .If you could find a way to trace her out and make her pocket sized and steel you'd be a millionare.
smile.gif
Nice to see you guys finnaly making yourselves known on BF. And especially congratulations to Audra for getting her master smith Rating . what a great accomplishment.
 
Ken - wow, two of my favorite things in one thread
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For me, it's handles with lots of curves. A handle that feels as if it were machined to fit your hand like a glove. It's the absence of boxy features and no straight lines on the handle profile.

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"
 
I like curves too. Right now, I'm developing kind of a "thing" for really sharp knives, and really big knives. If they're curvy too, all the better. Maybe you should make a Hawaiian Kukri.
 
How about a knife that walks the walk and talks dirty? Breasts molded in base- relief on the handle? Maybe one that only opens when it wants to?
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Seriously though, the sexiest folder I know of is the Piriela/ Elishewitz custom Evo. Great curves in the handle and nifty recurved blade.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
Welllll...

I guess the some thing that gives women sex appeal. Curves, but not too much. Color, but not too much. A bit of wickedness hidden beneath an angelic face. If it was the mid '80s I would also say big hair, but maybe I digress.

Check out www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/brendpresfol.htm for what I think is a sexy knife. And it is not as sexy as the one Walter made for his wife. If I figure out how to do it I will scan a photo in and post it.

-Scott
 
For STRICTLY working knives, I'm attracted to knives that fit my own preconceived notions of what makes such knives perform. That depends, of course, on what I'm using it for.

But very few of my custom knives are strictly working knives, they've all been chosen for much more than that, and aesthetics can be important.

I personally am more attracted to understated elegance. Long lines and soft curves, rather than abrupt transitions. For aesthetics, I almost never like recurves. I love the work of Jeff Harkins, as an example. And even, Lord help me, Herman's Sliver.
 
Ken, Your Boa collaboration with Kershaw is what I think of when I think of a sexy knife. Lotsa curves and colorful. I love recurve blades! You got sexy down pat with this one.

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Dennis Bible
 
The thing that gets my attention first, is the balde style. Then my eyes start going over the handle, and the scale material. Then the feel, and weight, and finally the maker. The price doesn't matter! If I really like it I will buy it some how.


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BC...For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know... Semper Fi
 
So it seems that Hermaphrodite knives rule .Curves with testosterone ,chest hair and lipstick, You guys are sad !
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Just kidding .
Thanks for the kind comments about "BOA"
Aloha!!! Ken Onion
 
The sexiest blades I have seen are kriss blades - now there's curves! What I would like to see is a functional kriss blade. I've only seen them on swords, daggers, and stilettos (i.e., fighting-only knives). I'd like to see something curvy like that on a utility/combat folder.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
This post is a stream-of-conciousness answer to a difficult-to-pin-down question.

Working knives: comfortable handle and useful blade grind, usually with some belly (curves).

Not tantos in general. Except for Bob Lum's stuff, cause his Tanto's have style, curves in the transitions.

Art or collector pieces: subtle blend ... can be a bit angular like a Ditmar Kressler knife, very Germanic and precise and angular, and yet integral and classic with enough subtle curves (Loveless!) to make it work. Classic designs. Or it can be the flowing artwork of David Broadwell... Dave's got his right brain working overtime, and yet his craftsmanship is super.

Fighters: curves again, double ground, recurved blades, comfortable looking handles that are ergonomic.

No mirror finishes! Almost without exception, mirror finish just doesn't do it. Satin/brushed finishes for me (except for damascus of course). Even if it's a satin finish courtesy of Tony Bose to 800 or 1000 grit (nearly mirror), that subtle dull sheen is SO much better. Mirrored finishes in general remind me of chrome plating, and that looks cheap usually.

It's a subtle Bauhaus thing for me, where design should be utilitarian. Loveless stuff, almost ALL of it, is minimalist and functional but subtly sexy, as you stated, the suggestion of a curve is all you need sometimes.

You know, I can walk through a knife show and pass 2 or 3 tables with quick glances...I've seen enough ... I'm scanning for eye catching designs where I should stop, and scanning for ordinary old-style mirror polish with wood handles to just pass right on by.

Scagel: the guy had curves.

I will stop for great wood though... at least briefly. Ironwood, cocobolo, birch, burls in general. G10 and micarta are getting old.

I will stop for mastodon, mokume, walrus... but if design is mediocre or fit/finish/action is mediocre, I'm gone quickly with a polite smile and thanks.

Anodizing: it has to be tasteful and restrained..... lots of purple and other colors and I'm thinking "pimp" or "Hawg".

Michael Walker is great, Hawg ain't.
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rdangerer@home.com

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 07-28-2000).]
 
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