Most popular folding knife

MattBPKT

MattBPKT

Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
62
Hi folks
I'm writing a paper on pocket knife sales in the US and am keen to know what are the most popular folding knives in terms of units sold. Can anyone venture an educated guess?
I appreciate the input.

Thanks
 
Chinese folders.. No sarcasm intended really, just a scoff that real knives aren't the majority of knives to sold to people who have knives unless they know what their special needs are other than opening boxes or they know about knives in general.

Behind that, I'd have to say some type of Swiss Army Knife, a victorinox Spartan being the most basic that you could find in most any Wal-Mart.

Even then the ones that can be found in most department stores are also Chinese Swiss type knives.

Gerber is pretty popular and can be found anywhere, check into these companies and then see what thier most popular model is.
 
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If you are looking for a brand I think it would be Case XX. Even people who dont know knives have heard of Case. Just what I think. :D Kevin
 
there are a ton of extremely popular knives from a ton of extremely great companies, some in particular would be

Spyderco: paramilitary 2, delica/endura
Kershaw: leek, skyline
Chris Reeve: sebenza
Benchmade: griptilian
Case: peanut
Victorinox: tinker
ZT: 0550, 0560
 
Blade-fiend said:
there are a ton of extremely popular knives from a ton of extremely great companies, some in particular would be

Spyderco: paramilitary 2, delica/endura
Kershaw: leek, skyline
Chris Reeve: sebenza
Benchmade: griptilian
Case: peanut
Victorinox: tinker
ZT: 0550, 0560
Click to expand...

Lets add the Buck 110 to that list
Leatherman: Micra
Victorinox: Classic

Last 2 knives listed are pretty much what people carry as small keychain EDC knives, and there are several variations of each. I don't see people carrying any other keychain knives as much as these two, with the big advantage going to the Classic.

In terms of actual numbers that be hard to get as not everyone releases those numbers.
 
I would guess: Whatever is the most popular folder, selling in Walmart. I would also guess that Spydercos, CRKs, Benchmades and ZTs don't even crack the top 10 (it terms of volume, and I doubt in terms of revenue). Those are knives for the small group of people that frequent this site. :)
 
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MattBPKT said:
Hi folks
I'm writing a paper on pocket knife sales in the US and am keen to know what are the most popular folding knives in terms of units sold. Can anyone venture an educated guess?
I appreciate the input.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that these dominate all others by quite a margin, the ubiquitous Victorinox Classic (known mundanely as the Swiss Army knife).
victorinox%20classic%20sd%20rot%200.6223.jpg
 
I am kind of old and not familiar with modern writing styles, but I am pretty sure you can't use the guys on Bladeforums as authority in your footnotes. Try researching trade journals.
 
Cardiackid said:
I am kind of old and not familiar with modern writing styles, but I am pretty sure you can't use the guys on Bladeforums as authority in your footnotes. Try researching trade journals.
Click to expand...

PPFFFF speak for yourself I like to think Im footnote worthy :D
 
Not to be a jerk, but if you are writing the paper, shouldn't you be doing the primary research? I doubt that "educated guesses" and anecdotal evidence gleaned from these forums will hold any kind of credence in a academic or research paper.

I'd email/call manufacturers, distributors and retailers directly. I'd look for trade journals or magazines that update these people on the goings-ons of their marketplace. I'd also narrow your questions down to relevant differences such that the answers you get actually hold meaning. That is, what different kinds of folders are there and what are their respective sales figures? Why are some more popular than others? What particular variables determine the overall consumption of said products? Where do you see the market going?

Sorry if I sound a bit pedantic here.

MattBPKT said:
Hi folks
I'm writing a paper on pocket knife sales in the US and am keen to know what are the most popular folding knives in terms of units sold. Can anyone venture an educated guess?
I appreciate the input.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Lets be honest here; its nothing from Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, Spyderco, or any of the other higher end niche manufacturers. I would say it is a Buck folder, or possibly a Swiss Army Knife. I would say Gerber sales the most in terms of total sales; they flood the market with a majority of their product being cheap affordable Chinese junk. The average consumer does not and will not spend more than $30 bucks on a pocket knife. We are in the minority.
 
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Thanks for the input guys. To clarify, I'm writing a paper on the evolution of the pocket knife and wanted to throw in some references to the most popular knives sold today. I really didn't know where to start so I threw the question out here.
Again, appreciate the input.
 
Look at what the biggest U.S. retailers offer and see what kind of documentation you can find from them. Walmart is the biggest retailer period so that would be a good place to start. My guess would be Victorinox SAKs would be at the top of the list. Lowes and Home Depot carry SOG. Gerber and Kershaw are offered at most of the big box sporting goods stores. In the over $50 price range, I would bet that Benchmade takes a large share with the Griptillian being their biggest seller.
 
I think it would definitely be one of the Victorinox models in terms of sheer numbers. Either that or a Buck or Case.
 
Just a suggestion but I would probably start with why the folding knife came to be. Kind of like what was the impetus of why the folding knife came to be over the traditional fixed blades and go from there. Good luck, you've got quite a daunting task before you. I would be interested in reading your finished work. Share.
 
MattBPKT said:
Thanks for the input guys. To clarify, I'm writing a paper on the evolution of the pocket knife and wanted to throw in some references to the most popular knives sold today. I really didn't know where to start so I threw the question out here.
Again, appreciate the input.
Click to expand...

if you are doing the evolution of pocket knives you might start with old non locking slipjoints and then research different opening and locking mechanisms as well as blade and handle materials. there have been many advances in the knife world, locks have change drastically over the years and continue to get stronger the same goes for blade steels
 
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