Modern knife era - what defines it

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我来自中国的，我觉得刀具没有具体的定义，我们那边论坛有一篇著名的帖子《身怀利器，杀心自起》，刀首先是有社会需求的，在哪个国家，刀无论是日常的工具，这个需求是首先的；其次才是刀具所带来的其他属性，比如刀是武器……

通过认识刀具，逐渐熟悉到假如刀是武器，首先它作为武器，是人在使用它，刀不会杀人，人心惶惶，用它杀人。



正因为刀是社会有需求的，在需求的前提下，首先不断设计改革刀具现代品种，设计精巧，再有深入探索，加工科技加持，刀具发展逐步越来越枝繁叶茂……


其实刀具没有具体的定义，机床上的铣刀也刀，钻头也算刀，电动剃须刀也刀，牙齿也刀……
 
Fanta said:
我来自中国的，我觉得刀具没有具体的定义，我们那边论坛有一篇著名的帖子《身怀利器，杀心自起》，刀首先是有社会需求的，在哪个国家，刀无论是日常的工具，这个需求是首先的；其次才是刀具所带来的其他属性，比如刀是武器……

通过认识刀具，逐渐熟悉到假如刀是武器，首先它作为武器，是人在使用它，刀不会杀人，人心惶惶，用它杀人。



正因为刀是社会有需求的，在需求的前提下，首先不断设计改革刀具现代品种，设计精巧，再有深入探索，加工科技加持，刀具发展逐步越来越枝繁叶茂……


其实刀具没有具体的定义，机床上的铣刀也刀，钻头也算刀，电动剃须刀也刀，牙齿也刀……
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Welcome to the forum. May I translate for others ?

"I am from China, and I think knives don’t have a specific definition. There is a famous post on a forum over there called "With a Sharp Tool Comes a Killing Heart." Firstly, a knife meets a social need. In any country, whether a knife is used as a daily tool, that need comes first; only afterwards do the other attributes of the knife, such as being a weapon, come into play... By understanding knives, one gradually realizes that if a knife is used as a weapon, it is people who use it; the knife itself does not kill. People’s minds are agitated, and it is humans who use it to kill. Precisely because knives fulfill a social need, under the premise of that demand, people first continually design and innovate modern varieties of knives, making them more sophisticated. Then, through further exploration and advances in processing technology, knives gradually develop and flourish... Actually, knives do not have a specific definition. A milling cutter on a machine tool is a knife, a drill bit is also considered a knife, an electric shaver is a knife, teeth are also knives..."

Good post, IMO. Cheers,

Roland.
 
Tsujigiri said:
There have been a few big shifts in the past 5 years or so. A lot of models started trending towards flippers that run on ball bearings, and titanium framelocks with a lot of detailed machining became highly available as higher end Chinese manufacturers came into their own. More recently, there's been a push towards thin, lightweight, unobtrusive EDC knives following the success of the Bugout. Even more recently, there have been a lot more button locks after the Malibu became a hit, and crossbar locks after Benchmade's patent expired.

You'll see in the era a little over a decade ago, titanium framelocks were a rarity and a luxury. There were a lot more knives built on steel liners and G10 handles, and the trend pushed heavily towards overbuilt or tactical style knives.
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When I give 'modern era' of knives a quick thought, my initial image is the BM Bugout explosion. Maybe that trend is so big it could represent this new 'era' of small, light, customizable knives we've found ourselves in.

I'll also admit I have a Malibu and carried it a bunch. I stopped carrying it after the pocket clip caught a few seat belts and bag straps, getting pulled out of my pocket without my knowledge.

Blues Blues thats a nice stash! I wish mine had as much flair but I like what I like haha

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willmtn1 said:
knarfeng knarfeng

It was somewhere on Reddit... so not in this realm. They were ripping on a knife company they felt has fallen behind the times.

I hadn't thought of the rise of high end China knives being released into the market and how that would impact the industry. The utilitarian Benchmades I fell in love with 20 yrs ago are all long gone now and replaced with fancy stuff.
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I don't believe that country of origin makes a demarcation of a new ""modern knife era", any more than the rise of high end Japanese makers did in the early 1980's. "modern knife era" should define a change in design technology. And I'm sorry but, not running out after the latest trendy feature does not mean a company has "fallen behind the times".

Yammering like that, and the associated difference in knowledge level, is the difference between Reddit and BF.
 
knarfeng said:
I don't believe that country of origin makes a demarcation of a new ""modern knife era", any more than the rise of high end Japanese makers did in the early 1980's. "modern knife era" should define a change in design technology. And I'm sorry but, not running out after the latest trendy feature does not mean a company has "fallen behind the times".

Yammering like that, and the associated difference in knowledge level, is the difference between Reddit and BF.
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I can't argue with any of that. It didn't make much sense to me but I don't keep track of trends. I thought maybe I missed something somehow.

The China comment stems from the relative fair prices and high customization they've brought to the international market. It could have changed the bottom line for a few knife makers, at least shifted the goal posts.
 
willmtn1 said:
I can't argue with any of that. It didn't make much sense to me but I don't keep track of trends. I thought maybe I missed something somehow.

The China comment stems from the relative fair prices and high customization they've brought to the international market. It could have changed the bottom line for a few knife makers, at least shifted the goal posts.
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Note my "yammering" comment was directed at the "Not keeping up with current trends", not country of origin.
 
I’d consider the modern era to be a kind of amalgamation of styles, traditions and ergos largely concurrent with the rise of the internet.
That has defined traditional sources even more so, but you’ll see makers really pick and choose from what’s out there and what shines when it comes to a particular function or task.
 
Some would say the Buck 110 was the start of the modern age, others would say Spyderco with pocket clips and opening holes was the start, others would say…

Everything is built on what came before it. Good luck trying to find a definitive answer.
 
To me the modern era of pocket knives was when one handed opening and pocket clips were initiated. If I remember correctly the first time I saw them was around the early 1990s at a gun, knife and coin show. They were met with mixed reactions but mostly negative. It seemed to most people thought it unnecessary and a good way to lose a knife or cut yourself trying to open them. I know I didn’t try one until around 2002 and yes I lost it unloading hay bales. It took me a few years to try another one and then I was a fan.
 
The only change I have seen in recent years is the willing belief held by many buyers that some steels are magically inclined to be absolutely superior to other ferrous metals. Its a continuum and tradeoff, and each blend brings advantages and disadvantages. For many, it would be a shock to learn that their great grandfather's knife could still match or outperform their latest imbued relic in many areas that count. Buy the knife, not the story, and certainly not the marketing.

n2s
 
"modern knife era which evolved about 5 years ago."

Nah. Just nah.

When I was a kid jamming Metallica as the new hotness, my old man told me “this has been done already, by Black Sabbath.”

I paid him no mind at the time, so imagine my chagrin when James Hetfield said the same exact thing years later (after I already knew my pops was right).

Another perfect example was one time we were talking about “modern warfare”. I kept going on and on about what we had at the time and my Dad said “do you think we didn’t have all that shit in WWII? We did. Everything you’re saying is so modern was out and in use then, but maybe not as refined.” He was right again.

This is just like that. To get a definitive answer, define “modern”. To some, that’s a locking, folding knife that fits in your pocket. To others, it’s a Ti handled, crossbar lock knife with a magnacut blade and a deep carry clip.

To me, in the grand scheme of things, “modern” knives have been around a shitload longer than the last 5 years.

Every new advancement is touted as the modern new hotness, but I don’t think any of us would feel underprepared with a good ol’ Buck 110, and they have been out a daaaamn long time.
 
If it's not a toaster knife is it really modern?

HHGTTG_BreadKnifeCap3.jpg
 
More emphasis on chasing steels, or rather what ever is new. Less on practical hard usage. A very meaningful percentage of buyers no longer think heat treat/grind/profile/sharpening difficulty to edge retention ratio.
And Chinese manufacturing. Say what you will, but when some of them want to they can really knock out a good design in a decent still with very good fit and finish at a really low cost in volume.

So, oddly one side forgets the practical for the flavor of the moment. The other is all about practicality on all levels.
 
Modern Knife. It's probably gonna have a pocket clip. It will likely have a lock. It will be a super stainless or an exotic tool steel. It will have an opening mechanism that is more convenient than a nail nick. The scales will rarely be natural materials, they'll be composite or an aerospace metal.
 
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