Naming Knives?

My wife named her Tramontina 18" machete "Jason" after Jason Voorhees. But me? No, I don't name my knives. My guns, yes, but not my knives.
 
Really isn't it all just part of marketing? I did some work for an outdoor clothing company years ago, they had a jacket they called something like the L72 Lightweight Double Ventile Coat, nice coat, sold like s**t. I suggested they call it The Wildreness Jacket. Made a world of difference!

Paradoxically, when I put out my own knives years ago, I called the first model the U1 (but the 'U' stood for 'utility'.) The handle material though was a resin-bonded wood laminate, a really good one, but a bit of a mouthful, so we called it 'Titanite'! Straight away people were saying, 'Oh, I've heard of that, it's really good'! It still gets discussed on UK knife forums! :D
 
JackBlack---Yes. I would agree marketing is involved. What is not marketed??
 
I'm pretty sure that makers have been naming patterns/models since there was more than one. If there was only one design, it would just be called "the knife". Since there are a few different models out there, we need some way to differentiate between them, hence names.

If the question is where do names like "Delica", "Chive", etc. come from, I suspect people pluck them out of their imaginations. If the question is why names and not just numbers, names are easier for most folks to remember, especially if they are descriptive names.
 
I want THAT knife. lol. That's true, Morimotom. It simplifies things. Although, like Jaisland boy said, look at what good marketing can do. BUSSE, REEVE and EMERSON, to name a few.
 
yobbos1 said:
I have an Opinel named Mr. Tibbles.:D (He tells me to burn things...)
Click to expand...

Be very, very afraid! :eek:

I think names create a sense of a personal relationship with an other wise impersonal object. For example I treat my Delica delicately and my Ranger Detatchment 4 (lets see how many get it :D) as the tough sonofabitch it is meant and named to be.

Other names such as Rat Cutlery 3 create a positive association for that product. RC knives instantly are associated with quality. Busse Combat also plays off of these name schemes that greatly increase the success of their product. The Battlemistress is named as a relentless warrior with a feminine side (the curvatious handle i guess) that will deal with anything you give it. It, like many Busse's and other knives lives up to it's name.

In short, knives are named to make connections with the potential buyer. For example, I am happy to own my own design LUK (little utility knife) knowing how unique and useful it is.

2220791533_089bf43b63.jpg
 
gajinoz said:
My knives have name like Gladys and Enid and Myrtle. I stroke them and oil them and rub them on leather.
Click to expand...

Gajinoz,

Please, moderate your language, there are young people and prudish ears in this forum.

dantzk.
 
In most northern European cultures backsmiths were considered magicians and it was believed that blades used in battle had thier own unique spirits. They were often named and passed on over generations. We all remember the story of Excalibur.
On the other hand Mediterranean cultures like the Romans, Greeks, ect viewed edged weapons as tools and we find little evidence of "Legendary" blades that were given names and imbuded by thier smiths with individual life forces. This did not prevent these cultures from using these blades to wage war over the known world with great sucess.
Being of Keltic descent it is tempting to name a truly great blade, however, my personal opinion is that it is an attempt to "plug into" the legendary blade mystic. Since most of our blades will never see combat and have a chance to earn name giving them one seems to be folly.

jmho
 
yablanowitz said:
I'm pretty sure that makers have been naming patterns/models since there was more than one. If there was only one design, it would just be called "the knife". Since there are a few different models out there, we need some way to differentiate between them, hence names.

If the question is where do names like "Delica", "Chive", etc. come from, I suspect people pluck them out of their imaginations. If the question is why names and not just numbers, names are easier for most folks to remember, especially if they are descriptive names.
Click to expand...

Leek, chive, and shallot are all names of different kinds of onions. They were all designed by Ken Onion so the names do make alot of sense. As to the delica, I dont think that is even a word in the english language. Most knife names do make alot of sense like griptilian, assist, persian, rukus and seal pup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top