Knives then and now

The thicker blades came about because of locks and marketing to folks for self defense whether that's a good idea or not.
 
There is great variety in knives today. But for me, there are only a few types (traditional or modern) that really hold my interest anymore. I started out in the '70s with Schrade, Buck, etc., then moved on to Vic and Wenger SAKs. IMO, those old knives still hold up today. I became interested in 'modern' knives in the late '90s. But my own preferences nowadays are: Victorinox, CRK and Spyderco.

I still like the Vic SAK steel, as well as steels like VG-10, S35VN, H1, etc. I don't prefer some super steel that holds an edge for a longer time but is hard to resharpen. Why, when some new super steel comes out, do yesterday's 'super steels' suddenly suck? They don't; it's only an OCD type of opinion that believes so. I once heard a guy saying that he 'has to' buy a new cell phone every couple weeks to a month, because he knows that by the time he buys it, its technology is already obsolete, and he always 'needs' the latest technology. Even though he admitted he never came close to using all the phones' features. Same type of obsession.

I kinda shake my head when people have videos on youtube showing expensive tactical-style knives opening cans with only minimal damage to the tip and edge, as if that's an impressive feat. All I do is use the can opener on my below-$30 SAK with zero tip or edge damage to my knife, and a much cleaner cut, too.

Jim
 
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Sorta happy that most tacky looking designs are gone from the main stream.
As in a blend featuring the best of survival cum fantasy art knives...
Seals inspired had to make way for ray meers type wannabe's.
It makes perfect sense to stick with the basics.
Otherwise one could easily be railroaded through peer pressure
From knife trends of the day.
 
I do agree that the gap between sensible and traditional on one side and the "tactical wacky" bent of the "leading edge" urban-ite type knives has widened and will keep doing so. And yes, knives do follow the money.... For better or for worse.
 
I get to wander a really good-sized gun and knife show a couple of times a year, and I've been doing this for about 35 years. Went to the Knife Makers Guild show in '86, THAT was an eye-opener! I've met and befriended a LOT of knife-makers, and seen a lot of trends. The availability of good Damascus? HUGE. Rambo knives were the Beatles of the knife world. HUGE. Tanto's? HUGE. Super steels? HUGE. The Och's Black Knife. Medium huge. Drop points are still popular. Randall is still a cult. Real knife people still buy what real knife people have always bought. They buy what works. Collectors buy whatever the objects of their lust might be. Hoarders buy whatever hoarders buy, not that it matters, cuz nobody'll ever likely see it again anyway. Older people still tend to look for quality. Kids will buy anything that looks like a knife, just because it's a knife. And the more fins and cut-outs and finger grooves it has, the better, or so it seems. Pawn shop crap is still pawn shop crap, no matter how much you pay for it. Good designs endure, and the most useful blades have changed little in hundreds of years. I know I am not the only one who has ever used a SOG S-1 to carve a ham. But even I will admit that my BK-5 is MUCH more capable.
 
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