Lost Knife Technology?

Julian Elliot

Julian Elliot

Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
428
Like some other forumites, I have a habit of buying multiple copies of production knives that I really like. The main reason I do this is because I am afraid the knife in question will be discontinued and I will lose, break or wear out my only copy. As time has passed, I’ve found that this hasn’t been a very good strategy for 2 reasons: great knives tend to be available for a long, long time (too many examples to list, but: Buck 110, Sebenza, Randall #1, etc), and also because a knife that I consider great today, probably will be replaced by an even better new model or a better new version (for example, a S30V Gunting or Sebenza vs the original CPM440V or BG-42, or the Chinook II vs the original Chinook). I’ve owned knives as long as I can remember, and I can’t think of a single case where a great knife or a great knife technology/feature/material has disappeared and left an unfilled void.

How about it? Does anyone think that a great knife or knife technology has disappeared, and not been replaced by something at least as good?
 
Great knives have disappeared quite often. The Gerber Paul Knife disappeared for a long time. The design is back as a Lone Wolf model, but in my opinion this knife is nowhere near as good as the last version by Gerber.

A great technology will not disappear. It will be modified and tweaked, but if it is a good design, it will endure. knife designs pass into history when they no longer sell well. So some great designs have been put out to pasture.
 
I've never believed in doubling (or tripling) up on products so you can have a backup, but.....

I may soon be making an exception to this and purchase a second Greco folder. I'm quite sure that I won't be breaking my current one, but it could conceivably get lost or stolen, and since Mr. Greco is getting out of the knife making end of things a replacement might be a bit hard to come by a few years from now.

Production knives are by and large similar enough that even if the particular model you lost is no longer in production there is likely to be something very similar (or superior) available with which to replace it.
 
I barely have the money to buy 1 copy of the knives I want. I can't afford back-ups.
 
Well, I've been buying up all the Benchmade Pinnacle 750 I can find and own about 4 of them right now!

I've got this same fear as Julian about breaking it... :rolleyes:
 
Well, here's an example for 'ya.

I happen to like Benchmade AFCK's. The 804 was replaced by the 806, while the 'mini' version, the 814 has been discontinued and will presumably be replaced as well.

The new knives use the axis lock, while the older knives were liner locks.

The new axis lock is good... I have one and I like it. But; I really prefer the liner lock, which also lends itself to scale replacement with greater ease than the axis lock, if you are making your own scales.

There are other manufacturers using axis-like locks, and I really wonder if we are seeing a slow demise of the liner lock. Kershaw/Onion is keeping the frame lock alive (along with some other notables), but it would be a shame to see the venerable liner lock fade away.

Also, I'm not sure if it's possible to get an 806 without a coated blade... I like a plain satin blade.

So, even though there is new and interesting technologies springing forth, I lament some really good designs being discontinued.
 
I too have these odd instincts to buy multiples of knives I love. Luckily, I've only given into that impulse a few times. I say "luckily" because I usually end up regretting it. Not because it's not a great knife, but because now I don't have money to spend on whatever new thing has come along. The examples you gave -- e.g., Chinook vs Chinook II -- are excellent ones.

I do think that some good things disappear. If you loved the EKI Genesis, well, you're out of luck now. Good designs disappear. In fact, great designs disappear, because too often great designs are only interesting to hardcore knife fans rather than the general knife-buying public, so they fail to sell as well as they should. Witness the demise of the Calypso Jr., in my opinion maybe the best knife Spyderco ever designed -- that's one knife I'm glad I have a couple of in the micarta version. On the other hand, we usually get plenty of warning before a knife design disappears, so there's always time to buy a duplicate before they actually completely disappear from the supply chain.

Joe
 
HOBBITS! I NEED MY HOBBITS!:eek:

I've had as many as nine and as few as one in my possession. All in all, I've adopted 15 through the years. A few were lost in conflicts and in unfortunate accidents. Three have been entrusted to respected and esteemed compatriots and colleauges. Two were laid to rest alongside beloved soulmates.

I have seven now and two trainers as well. Two Hobbits are on permanent deployment as essential gear in BOB "caches" near safe "sanctuaries" should TARFU move to FUBAR. Another Hobbit has residence in a safe deposit box and never seen sunlight or handled by anyone other than its parents at REKAT, my supplier, and myself. That one will accompany me on my journey when I am laid to rest.

Dayuhan

BTW: I have opened my home to abused, orphaned, unloved, unappreciated, and wayward Hobbits. I offer above average care, regular (though often concealed) ventures into the civilized and "not so civilized" world, regular maintenance in a comfortable, secure, climate controlled enviroment with Hobbits and other edged "creatures". I have a modest budget for adoption fees so new prospects are not always accepted but will always be considered. Feel free to contact me at dayuhan13@aol.com for details!:D
 
For a while now I've thought it was a good idea, if affordable, to get more than one of something you like. I had a really nice Old Timer lockback 20 or so years ago. It got traded or given away long ago and I've never seen another. Regret. By chance I saw one on ebay a while back but I could not go high enough to win it. Because of all this I say buy knives in their time because the ones you like may not be the 'long lived' design and may not be available years from now when you decide you'd like to have one.
 
I don't do backups unless they come out later with a much better steel. And I don't even own any expensive knives.
 
I carried a CS Ultralock for 3 years. I came home from school one day, and GONE! It jumped it out of my pocket. I really liked the knife but it was discontinued. I did locate a replacement and it taught me a lesson. I now carry a Calypso Jr. (I have 3) and a Kershaw 1416 (I have 4)So I don't expect to have that problem again.
 
If I can afford it I'll sometimes by a backup or several of a knife I really like. That is not really for if they are discontinued but more so I can put them in survival kits or keep one in my car and still have one to carry.

Good designs do disappear. In 1999 I saw Gerber MK IIs for sale for $75.00 and was going to buy one but then thought I could get one later since it has been around for decades and will always be around. I was wrong.
 
Yes, I buy back-ups, and I think it's a good thing if you can afford it. I stocked up on Microtech USSOCOMs, and I'm glad I did, they went out of production for a while, and now they're over 450 in someplaces.

What about the Sifu? That knife was popular.

And that ugly Rekat Hobbitt folder? Yikes, I had a love/hate realtionship with that knife. It was uglier than a Chinook, but stronger than any other folder of its vintage. Vintage? Perhaps the Extrema Ratio folders are stronger, but that's about it.
 
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