***- OK Guys, here is your chance to tell us what you want to see in knives -***

Yeah, like the Prof. sez: 100% Domestic USA manufactured ONLY. No foreign nothin'. No foreign steel, no foreign labor, no foreign assembly, no foreign packaging, etc. And, I don't give a crap about NAFTA.

If you can't do it right, do it now, and do it here, then don't do it.
 
Well lets see.

1. No cast aluminum.
2. AUS6 or better steel, preferably 154CM or its equal.
3. Teflon or brass bushings
4. Solid locks with a little room for wear-in.
5. No plastic. Zytel or better.

That's about it. Just the main things you would expect in any minimal quality knife.
 
why not keep it in the family?
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I expect a US-only venture would raise costs and difficulty of production significantly. The standard of the knives is much more important than where they come from IMO.
I've noticed that the best production stuff mostly seems to come from Japan (Spyderco, Al Mar, and Fallkniven for example, all companies with excellent reputations for quality of manufacture). Taiwan also seems to have a few factories which put out good stuff.
 
All of this sounds great. Glad to see you care to take the time to find out what "the people want".
If you need a factory Rep. in the south east, let me know.
I am anxous to see what developes! Paul
 
Knife Kits, supplies, submit-your-design form.
 
...and enjoy doing so currently for Benchmade and Chris Reeve products, the quality of which are pretty-darn-tootin' good in their own respects ;).

And just so ya's know, the rumors about BM importing screws, clips, etc. are just that, rumors. A company rep. explained to me recently, based on my concern about this, that yeah, they may farm-out some work, but it's to American-based, American-owned companies/contractors.

Now more than ever in our history, it's time to internalize some, folks, especially in regard to our economy. If we continue to farm-foreign to save a buck we're sorta pulling the rug out from under ourselves, aren't we?

Just my humble .02, and with full realization that nothing's likely to change in this department; just trying to do my part.

Professor.
 
American mfg.

Blade change ability

Insert change ability

BEST steel, boy is that a loaded thought, but I agree with the posts above, S90V or S30V would be great.

Ti scales

Hmmmm

Wharncliff blade shape would suit me fine...;)


Good luck there Mike!

G2
 
4-5 1/2" drop point sheath knives with ergonomic rubber handle
good stainless steel (440A or better), sheath, for under $20.
Ditto in carbon steel.
Note : Texas law limits us to 5 1/2" :(
for public carry.

Folding knife: lite weightlockbacks with drop-point
stainless steel blades 2 - 3 1/2" long. Priced under $15.
Ditto in Std. weight lockbacks w/heavier construction.
Also ditto for folding knives w/clip point blades.

Like drop-point that curves back for cutting yet maintains a strong almost straight point for stabbing.
Everything American made.

My favorite sheath knife is one I bought at Walmart for $15.xx, 440A stainless, 5" drop point blade, "Remington", US made. It's light weight, fair edge holding ability, ergonomic rubber handle, not real thick, probably 1/8" or less. Yet I can carry it everywhere, it's so liteweight I don't notice it. The 5" length has been ok. I prefer 6"
but its better than 4", and its legal to wear. And its cheap! If I lose it, I won't cry over it. Would buy 2-3 more if they still sold them.
 
Everyones pretty much echoed my desires, I'ld like to see the ability to personally customize my knife, blade style/material, scales/inlays, coatings, anodizing, fileworked, ect.
Kinda like the Buck custom shop, only better, more of a reflection of my tastes, yea that's the ticket.:D
 
I would like to see really well done folders in the 2.5-3.1" range. Smaller knives should not be an after thought. In the post 9/11 atmosphere, knife carrying in general has become more difficult and I think that smaller knives should be stressed. Please use the best steel you can afford at eadh price point. Consumers have to remember that S30V may not be feasible for a $50 knife but 440C would work just fine. If you do anything traditional, please check with P.J. Tomes about mass producing his double lockback moose pattern.
 
Hear hear, Mr. Cheeseborough.

Smaller blades (with reasonable handles) would be much appreciated.

I recently picked up the Buck Koji collaboration. Tiny 2.6" blade, tiny handle. Strong closing detent.

Couldn't open it one-handed.

-Jon
 
Was checking the forums out (I've been gone a while) when I HAD to throw a comment in here.

I have to agree with Mongrel on the handle/blade idea....I read it from someone else, too, but can't recall which one.

A great design in a handle with a series of different blade choices. Something like what Case did with the XX-Changer, just not all blades as a set. One blade, i.e. Wharncliffe, clip, recurve, etc... with a great designed handle that would cover the different blades.

And a second agreement with the NO BLACK color choices.

Last, from a soldiers point of view. Make the lanyard attachment point realistic. 550 cord doesn't fit through 80% of the knives I use.

Just my two cents on the subject
 
Mike, wny don't you make a small (2.5") S30V neck knife with a micarta handle and a plastic style sheath like Cold Steel. I know people would prefer kydex, but kydex adn S30V would surely put the knife over $50.

For a folder, make a 2.5", 154CM flat ground lockback folder with ambi thumb studs and a zytel handle. The kicker is to put a non-locking, finger nail file on the underside like a Swiss Army Classic.
This would definitely send a utilitarian, non-weapon message. The knife could also have a reversible metqal clip.

The folder could be made in the US at the price point, the folder might have to be made overseas unless you get a good arrangemnet with a major cutler like Camillus.
 
Just a reminder, everyone overseas doesn't hate us, not even in countries where the media sounds like it does.

Countries like Japan and Taiwan, where so many of our really well-made knives come from these days, are practically extensions of our own economy.

Countries like Great Britain and Canada and Australia, where we may not get much in the way of knives, are practically extensions of our civilization ... or we are extensions of theirs :)

Xenophobia is too hard to spell. Don't go there.
 
Knives! You want recommendations on knives! OK ...

1. Zytel or Micarta or G-10 airweight handles. Every knife doesn't have to have liners, or be suitable for weight training, either. Metal handles are cold in winter and slippery in water.

2. Lockbacks are inherently ambidextrous, strong, simple, and durable. Complex mechanisms like liner locks and axis locks may hold up in real life but they are unesthetic !!! (Ahhh, I don't care ...)

3. Save money where you can but don't skimp on blade steel. Of course the blade geometry and heat treat should be done right, but start with corrosion-resistant and edge-holding formulas.

4. Hard use in rough environments is easier to deal with if the owner can field-strip the knife. You don't have to include a "key" -- I've got plenty already. It would be nice to see slotted or Philips instead of Torx.

5. Sell them cheap, like the auto Amphibian you sold me at Blade :D Well, OK, cheaper than that, even.
 
Cheap kerambit along the same design lines as the Tarani/Strider collaboration in ATS-34/154-CM. Kydex sheathing with multiple carry options. Strider's taking too long pricing their piece.
 
Cool so far, now try and give me ideas on knives that will have a retail of $49.99 or less.......
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whats the problem, buy a bunch of sebenza's and sell them for 50 bucks, it seems like thats what everyone wants, you dont want to make money doing this do you? its all for the love of knives!

How about choices, a knife for every man for less than $50, Knives for multi purpose and specific sizes for specific hands, knives with blade lengths for all jusidictions (2.5, 3, 3.5, 4) that can still get the job done. And a no ugly knives policy! (i think some of the other manufactures in this price range are having some ugly knife issues).

Oh and pretty much everyone uses over seas parts, and i dont mind, people from other countries have to eat too.
 
Can I ask a really stupid question? I could've sworn when I read Mike's original posting he was asking for suggestions about the company itself, not the end product. I'm sure he has plenty of knife designs, ideas, etc, and knows what materials he can/will use, and was asking for what you want from the company.

So Mike, is it the former or the latter? 'Cause I thought you already had a thread for knife suggestions ;) .
 
Originally posted by Mike Turber
Cool so far, now try and give me ideas on knives that will have a retail of $49.99 or less.......
Click to expand...

Knife kits.
 
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