Less hyped or noticeable knife characteristics which are important to you

If it's a gift. A good box.

Also choice. I don't know where 10 different options just became the norm for every single knife that comes out.

But that was unheard of back in the day.
 
This is not to understate the knife part of the knife. Steel material and geometry are obviously important. As a high drag low speed knife guy like myself though, the handle is a bigger consideration these days. I like simple, comfortable grips that just work.

Total package knives with a great steel and a great handle are even better.

I'm in NPD, and let me tell you, It's far more difficult designing something to be simple.... simple is difficult to achieve.
Complicated is used to either attract, or hide.

Hide an otherwise bad design, or like for attracting the rest of the flock (like crows) "Oh hey, look at the Shiny thing over There...."

I consider myself high/speed/low..... whatever kind of guy too... But still, that at it's basic means Efficiency.
Simple, basic, easy to do. High levels of effectiveness.

For instance....Krav Maga.
Krav can be sumed up as everything is a "kick to the balls, and a punch to the throat".
That's pretty much the answer to most things.
Why? Because, it Works.
Simple. Effective.
High speed low drag.


The knife industry is almost the opposite of that.
Every nook, and jimp, and choil, and exposed pommel this, and smashing that.....screw on your favorite colored handle of the day...Haha, It's Tuesday, what color am I today???
it's funny even.

I don't make friends when I say all the things I don't like about knives....(Almost everything)
And my advertising of not doing any of That, and making what I like, and what I like is seen as "Boring Knives"....is really catching on. Lots of people can see through the marketing BS that is so every present. And Other aren't wanting those things either.... I'm glad I'm helping, doing what I can...Handles ARE the reason I started making.
H.S.L.D.....is what Works.
What works is Boring!

THANKS
 
I hate the double clutch feel

Yeah good point. I forgot to mention that despite good opening action and detent, I hand grind a detent ramp on all my Resiliences for this very reason. Otherwise the close is kinda dangerous.
 
I'm in NPD, and let me tell you, It's far more difficult designing something to be simple.... simple is difficult to achieve.
Complicated is used to either attract, or hide.

Hide an otherwise bad design, or like for attracting the rest of the flock (like crows) "Oh hey, look at the Shiny thing over There...."

I consider myself high/speed/low..... whatever kind of guy too... But still, that at it's basic means Efficiency.
Simple, basic, easy to do. High levels of effectiveness.

For instance....Krav Maga.
Krav can be sumed up as everything is a "kick to the balls, and a punch to the throat".
That's pretty much the answer to most things.
Why? Because, it Works.
Simple. Effective.
High speed low drag.


The knife industry is almost the opposite of that.
Every nook, and jimp, and choil, and exposed pommel this, and smashing that.....screw on your favorite colored handle of the day...Haha, It's Tuesday, what color am I today???
it's funny even.

I don't make friends when I say all the things I don't like about knives....(Almost everything)
And my advertising of not doing any of That, and making what I like, and what I like is seen as "Boring Knives"....is really catching on. Lots of people can see through the marketing BS that is so every present. And Other aren't wanting those things either.... I'm glad I'm helping, doing what I can...Handles ARE the reason I started making.
H.S.L.D.....is what Works.
What works is Boring!

THANKS

K
I
S
S
Keep it simple stoopid is something one should say to one's self daily......

Its been.Great watching you work thru the years and GROW.....😉........

More OD green canvas in 25.......😜
 
I'm in NPD, and let me tell you, It's far more difficult designing something to be simple.... simple is difficult to achieve.
Complicated is used to either attract, or hide.

Hide an otherwise bad design, or like for attracting the rest of the flock (like crows) "Oh hey, look at the Shiny thing over There...."

I consider myself high/speed/low..... whatever kind of guy too... But still, that at it's basic means Efficiency.
Simple, basic, easy to do. High levels of effectiveness.

For instance....Krav Maga.
Krav can be sumed up as everything is a "kick to the balls, and a punch to the throat".
That's pretty much the answer to most things.
Why? Because, it Works.
Simple. Effective.
High speed low drag.


The knife industry is almost the opposite of that.
Every nook, and jimp, and choil, and exposed pommel this, and smashing that.....screw on your favorite colored handle of the day...Haha, It's Tuesday, what color am I today???
it's funny even.

I don't make friends when I say all the things I don't like about knives....(Almost everything)
And my advertising of not doing any of That, and making what I like, and what I like is seen as "Boring Knives"....is really catching on. Lots of people can see through the marketing BS that is so every present. And Other aren't wanting those things either.... I'm glad I'm helping, doing what I can...Handles ARE the reason I started making.
H.S.L.D.....is what Works.
What works is Boring!

THANKS

Crag, allow me to introduce you to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who is quoted as saying "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away". It's one of the philosophies which has informed my own dabblings in knife making. I daresay you may not have much left to take away in your own work, but if you need to summarize your design philosophy, it's a poetic way of saying it.

I will now also be including a discussion of balance points in the rare knife reviews that I do.
 
I like pretty boring neutral, hand filling handles. I think they’re under appreciated because they don’t have all the marketing features like sharp jimping and useless choils and finger grooves, or thinness that makes your hand cramp after a minute of actual use instead of fidget spinning. But a basic handle just works, like on a kabar usmc. I just like comfy stuff. A buck 110 is more comfy when you’re doing a lot of cutting than the tactical flavor of the day knives.
 
I'm in NPD, and let me tell you, It's far more difficult designing something to be simple.... simple is difficult to achieve.
Complicated is used to either attract, or hide.

Hide an otherwise bad design, or like for attracting the rest of the flock (like crows) "Oh hey, look at the Shiny thing over There...."

I consider myself high/speed/low..... whatever kind of guy too... But still, that at it's basic means Efficiency.
Simple, basic, easy to do. High levels of effectiveness.

For instance....Krav Maga.
Krav can be sumed up as everything is a "kick to the balls, and a punch to the throat".
That's pretty much the answer to most things.
Why? Because, it Works.
Simple. Effective.
High speed low drag.


The knife industry is almost the opposite of that.
Every nook, and jimp, and choil, and exposed pommel this, and smashing that.....screw on your favorite colored handle of the day...Haha, It's Tuesday, what color am I today???
it's funny even.

I don't make friends when I say all the things I don't like about knives....(Almost everything)
And my advertising of not doing any of That, and making what I like, and what I like is seen as "Boring Knives"....is really catching on. Lots of people can see through the marketing BS that is so every present. And Other aren't wanting those things either.... I'm glad I'm helping, doing what I can...Handles ARE the reason I started making.
H.S.L.D.....is what Works.
What works is Boring!

THANKS
Balls and throat. Easy easy. Thanks for the lesson officer. 💯
 
I'm in NPD, and let me tell you, It's far more difficult designing something to be simple.... simple is difficult to achieve.
Complicated is used to either attract, or hide.

Hide an otherwise bad design, or like for attracting the rest of the flock (like crows) "Oh hey, look at the Shiny thing over There...."

I consider myself high/speed/low..... whatever kind of guy too... But still, that at it's basic means Efficiency.
Simple, basic, easy to do. High levels of effectiveness.

For instance....Krav Maga.
Krav can be sumed up as everything is a "kick to the balls, and a punch to the throat".
That's pretty much the answer to most things.
Why? Because, it Works.
Simple. Effective.
High speed low drag.


The knife industry is almost the opposite of that.
Every nook, and jimp, and choil, and exposed pommel this, and smashing that.....screw on your favorite colored handle of the day...Haha, It's Tuesday, what color am I today???
it's funny even.

I don't make friends when I say all the things I don't like about knives....(Almost everything)
And my advertising of not doing any of That, and making what I like, and what I like is seen as "Boring Knives"....is really catching on. Lots of people can see through the marketing BS that is so every present. And Other aren't wanting those things either.... I'm glad I'm helping, doing what I can...Handles ARE the reason I started making.
H.S.L.D.....is what Works.
What works is Boring!

THANKS
This post *almost* seems like anything that isn't "simple" and "boring" is wrong. I hope that's not what you're saying.

Just because YOU like "simple" and "boring" doesn't mean everyone else has to.

Simple knives aren't that hard to design. Executing that design....well that's another matter.

Knives are an incredible canvas for a maker to express artistic license. While it's true there are a few things that definitely are market hype (still not "wrong"), it doesn't mean that any embellishments are pointless and/or trying to "hide something". Drastically different tastes and preferences are exactly what makes the world not "boring".

Also, I've personally witnessed more than a couple makers belligerently take your same stance as a way to take shots at better makers in order to justify their own lack of ability and/or desire to improve their own work. Talk about hiding something!......amiright?
 
This post *almost* seems like anything that isn't "simple" and "boring" is wrong. I hope that's not what you're saying.

Just because YOU like "simple" and "boring" doesn't mean everyone else has to.

Simple knives aren't that hard to design. Executing that design....well that's another matter.

Knives are an incredible canvas for a maker to express artistic license. While it's true there are a few things that definitely are market hype (still not "wrong"), it doesn't mean that any embellishments are pointless and/or trying to "hide something". Drastically different tastes and preferences are exactly what makes the world not "boring".

Also, I've personally witnessed more than a couple makers belligerently take your same stance as a way to take shots at better makers in order to justify their own lack of ability and/or desire to improve their own work. Talk about hiding something!......amiright?


Yeah, that's what is wonderful about All of this.
So Many people, and So many views.

*I'm rewriting what I originally wrote.

You make a good point.
Let me backtrack what I said......
I'm referring to Working knives.
Knives I use, I don't want non-useful features.

Art pieces, collector stuff, show pieces.....stuff Just meant to be looked at, and coveted (safe queens) at can be as detailed, decorated, and intricate as possible. Yes, I can appreciate that. Some look good.


Thank you for calling me out about that.
I did say that Others may not agree, and I usually don't make friends with fringe views.


It's a complicated subject, lots of different views for what we like, and for what "should be popular."
For sure
Good design, and great workmanship Can be two completely different things. I've seen knives unbalanced between those two. Made excellent, but seem off

The OP asked each of us liked/looked for?
-each of us is correct. There are no wrong answers.

THANKS.
 
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Crag, allow me to introduce you to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who is quoted as saying "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away". It's one of the philosophies which has informed my own dabblings in knife making. I daresay you may not have much left to take away in your own work, but if you need to summarize your design philosophy, it's a poetic way of saying it.

I will now also be including a discussion of balance points in the rare knife reviews that I do.

Thanks....I'll read about him.
I know I have a strong personality, and some people like to lash out at that.....but contrary to public opinion....
I Am always willing to learn.....Thank You!
 
Balls and throat. Easy easy. Thanks for the lesson officer. 💯

Not officer....NPD (New Product Development)
Inventor.

But I speak from experience...Haha.
Both my wife, and daughter are Aries. So there is a lot of self defense in My household.

*True story....
Once, I wanted pork chops for dinner.
My wife did a flying karate kick, one leg straight, one leg tucked up..... flying across the kitchen, into me. Caught me in the hip.
(Obviously, she Didn't want pork chops)
 
The comments, i believe, were framed in the context of a LEO....things listed would have to be his priority. KISS and 'Slow smooth, smooth is fast, fast is lethal.' In that context any knife he carries a mission critical tool, regardless of it's use. ✌️



Disregard all of my comments. 😁
[/QUOTE]
No...you are still right .
Plus I Do have lots of friends in various capacity.
I agree with that efficiency, and I support them.

Sorry if I caused confusion
 
Mass and blade width.

For outdoor and general purpose knives, I like a light yet durable blade. A little wider blade means that you don't need full flat or full convex grind fore it to cut well. The overall thickness can therefore go a little thinner.

I think have a little bit to do with blade steel because it needs tough steel and good heat treatment.

My issue is that so many manufacturers are focusing on making durable knives in form of thick heavy blades, like 4-5mm for a 10-6cm (~ 4-5") blade is kind of non sense for me. With all of the advancement in metallurgy and steel options, I believe that we can get the same quality in lighter package while not scarifying the length. For example, the Cold SRK, the 3V version could go thinner and lighter while it is still about as durable as the base SK85 steel.
 
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