The Knife Industry is Tacticool BS

If you guys like that article I strongly suggest bookmarking the column. http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/

Both writers, Wes and Chris have good experience and more importantly for articles, they write well.


Esav Benyamin said:
I don't know why people think they are starting a discussion by posting a link but none of their own opinions about it.

We got a few good opinions later, or we would have closed this thread, too.
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He did the exact same thing Mauser did yesterday. Linked this exact article and ran with no further comment.
 
I absolutely agree that knife makers provide us 99% tacticool BS knives; Often fat, heavy, non-necessity folding knives which can take a beating, but that often are unpractical in terms of proper cutting/slicing tasks. What I find most interesting is when mega-production knife makers decide to create only a few knives of a specific model at some point, then have the balls to call it a 'custom' and charge out the a$$ for it. Yet people pay up.

Regardless, I absolutely love knives, (despite being quite picky). If I like something I don't care what it is, as long as its not crap. Its a great hobby, and I have much respect for a knife as both a tool and a collectors item. But the fact is that most of us (not all) have no particular use for a knife in our every day life, with the exception of a kitchen knife. I think that's pretty clear given that most knife pictures submitted by forum users are that of UNUSED, BNIB knives. It has become male jewelry.
 
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to4steh said:
But the fact is that most of us (not all) have no particular use for a knife in our every day life, with the exception of a kitchen knife. I think that's pretty clear given that most knife pictures submitted by forum users are that of UNUSED, BNIB knives. It has become male jewelry.
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You might be right, but some folks post pictures of pristine looking knives because they photograph the knife when they get it and keep using that picture (I know I do it).
 
Same thing with everything else in life. Does a family of 3 really need a 10 bedroom mansion? Does a person who drive a car on city streets really need a 500hp sports car? While I agree that the whole "tactical" thing is more of an advertisement factor more than anything but then again look at how many people ask all the time, "So what knives do Navy SEALS carry?", "What knives do soldiers carry?", "What is a good defensive blade?"

Just like how motorcycle manufacturer regularly calls their supersport line of motorcycles, "Race bikes with lights". How many people who buys a sportsbike actually races them on the track? Very few, but those are the phrases that sell. It's all advertisement tactics.
 
I don't know where he's trying to go with the edgy attitude, some of it is cringe worthy. obviously knives can become more of a want than a need, look at the society we live in.
 
monger4142 said:
I don't know where he's trying to go with the edgy attitude, some of it is cringe worthy. obviously knives can become more of a want than a need, look at the society we live in.
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The whole column is about wilderness stuff. Also the gawker sites as a whole will post articles with an unspoken rule of not taking it all literally. Otherwise 80% of the articles would need disclaimers.
The commentors are also much faster, much more numerous, and much more childish than BF. They can't buckle every time someone's opinion is questioned.
 
Well duuhhh
If you have more then 20 post on a forum dedicated to knives, I'd say that there is a 99,999999% your in the want, not need, category.
Yes I pulled those numbers out of my rear, but I believe them to be somewhat accurate.
Getting nice things, just because you want them is okay.
 
I feel that, as with almost any consumer goods, the manufacturer produces what he knows, or thinks he knows will sell well. The stylistic demographics are a reflection of the consumer. Throw in a little P.T.Barnum-esque marketing and the poularity snowball-effect begins. Playing "Cowboys & Indians" (wood brass, steel & maybe horn, w/leather) as boys has now evolved to "Aliens, Transformers, Zombie Pock-lips, and Special Forces" ('Super-steel', Titanium, & special polymers, et.al.), and for most, the tool may only be for boxes, string, straps & tape, but it can be a small Walter Mitty trip into a life less boring. We fill in the holes with performance bragging rights and tales of adventurous use because hey, we're guys (mostly), and pissing contests is one of the things we do. But diversity breeds usefulness, and there's room for all; a good tool eventually shines its worth, and almost disappears when working hard. The old geeezer may embarass 'Gecko 45' by unzipping a deer with a peanut, but looking closer one might see a Titanium pocket clip on his vest.
 
Those having a problem with variety, personal preferences, and owning more than absolutely necessary can relocate to North Korea where a shoe is a shoe and pants are pants. No tactitool BS there. Just BS everywhere.
 
Goes without saying that there's a sucker born every minute
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_a_sucker_born_every_minute
And quite honestly, the public in general actually needs to believe in larger than life claims.
As a social creature, we yearn for recognition.
At some point or other we end up buying for an actual Need, an uncontrollable want, an occupational requirement or an insanely unforgiving waste as a passing social status symbol.
Yup, life would be exceptionally boring if we didn't make purposeful mistakes and enjoy learning from it.
Gullible, foolish and hungry for even more meaningless materialistic binging.
All because we blindly think we are giving new meaning to our hollow lives as habitual consumers.
To have more than two of anything at any one time makes perfect sense if you are fortunate to be able to own more than just the shirt on your back.
So Relex and enjoy buying while you are still able to.
Any new knife no matter how silly it seems, is well worth the momentary joy it brings.
Life is too short to try and figure it out what to do with our excesses.
 
Gillyman, there is much wisdom in your post, and as you say momentary joy is also a factor in our purchases, well said.
 
I follow these threads with interest. It does seem some folks really want to dog guys that own a knife that may be considered tactical. To me, I need a clear definition of what makes it tactical. Is it a knife with Ti handles and a little thicker blade? It seems to vary from person to person. I really wouldn't call my Sebenza tactical. Or perhaps my Hinderer either. They're just really nicely built knives. I have some heavier knives as well, Dua, TSF, like that. I just like to carry one of those on occasion. I don't think you need to be an "operator" to appreciate those knives too.

By some guys logic, all you'd ever need to own is a SAK, Buck 110, and a KaBar. Which is probably true. For need. If you really take a hard look, you could likely get by almost all the time with just a box cutter.

We all just buy what we like and appreciate. I have everything from old SAK's, traditional slippies, pocket clipped knives. Pretty much the entire gamut. I appreciate knives.

The knife industry wouldn't survive without a large diversity of models and designs. I'm glad so many types are offered. Makes knives fun. I don't get guys who collect stamps. But to them it's fun and interesting. Some guys build bird houses.

Kind of a disjointed ramble so it just really boils down to buy what you like, buy what you need, and enjoy your purchase. What others think of your purchase is immaterial.

Joe
 
Joe Watson said:
I'm with Sgt244 here.

Most major knife companies offer a variety already. Same goes for custom makers.

Most people don't really use their knives? You don't say.

Same goes for guns, sports cars, various luxury items.

All you need is a simple design? I think simple is a box cutter blade.

I guess sometimes folks need something to complain about.
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I concur, a box cutter and a honda civic do exactly what they are supposed to do (cut and transport), but they aren't nearly as a cool as a Titanium flipper and a hot rod.
 
I could spend way to much of my time trying to explain how I feel about this but, I think this meme sums it up pretty nicely....
whatever-floats-your-goat.jpg
 
longun said:
I use a knife everyday. I don't use all my knives everyday, but I enjoy having them. Come to think of it, I don't use all my automobiles everyday. I don't use all my guns everyday. Hell, I don't use all the rooms in my house everyday. I'm beginning to think everything is BS.
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This man gets it! :thumbup:
 
Personally, I don't understand some of the blade designs. They look like they would be really hard to sharpen. I'm kind of the person that buys things to use them, not really collect.

That being said, I couldn't care less what other people buy. If they like the crazy looking "tacticool" knives, more power to them. And I certainly can't blame the knife companies catering to that market. If it's popular and makes them money, why wouldn't they?
 
I think the point is proven that most suffer from over-consumerism. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Whatever makes you happy.
I just need a couple of more to get it out of my system. :D
 
It may just be me but I don't even think of "tacticool" anymore, some designs work smoother and better, being safer with locks and okay I admit sometimes are more appealing to my eye. But that's just me, I could never have gotten away with a slipjoint, or anything with really tiny blades.
 
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