The universally acceptable knife

KenOnion

KenOnion

Joined
Apr 21, 1999
Messages
739
What do you think,

Is it possable,even remotely to think that any one can design a knife that would appeal to every knife enthusiast? Remember thats (a) knife singular

I'm not talking about a knife that would be the holy grail of the knife world . Just one that everyone would agree is a great knife in all aspects .And would not get the negative bias that seems to permeat the otherwise beautiful thrill of a new knife .

Or am I to optimistic? Will there alwayse be the nay sayers and pessimists that have nothing better to do than dwell on negativity?


No noone has attacked me personaly ,I'm not responding to a bad experience .And we all can use constrictive criticism if delivered for the sake of bettering ones self. I just see alot of it and I wonder if it's the knife thats provoking the animosity or do these persons have issues that keep them from looking on the bright side of life reguardless of the topic.I'm only refering to that 10%
Just my thoughts
Aloha!!! Ken
 
The knife that I've seen the fewest bad comments on is the JB Cheyenne. The only negative comments that I've seen on these is that some people don't like the tanto blade shape. Now that JB has come out with a clip point version, EVERYONE should like them now.
 
I personally don't think we could get everyone to agree on what steel to use nevermind having them all agree on the knife overall as a great, or even very good knife.

I know nothing about steel, everything I know about it I learned in these forums. I find the discusions of steel very interesting and read most of these threads. In any discussion of a particular knife there is always, going out on a limb with that, someone who says something like:

I love that knif too, I just wish they'd make it with a " " blade.

Just fill in the blank with your favorite steel.

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Pete
"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle."

 
Ken
Hope you are feeling better and recovering nicely. Now for your question.

There is a favorite knife that everyone has. But most would say that a Buck 110, certain Spyderco #'s, various Randall's or certian of any other maker's knives come close to that goal. Buck's 110 has it's own army of followers and those that hate it, but most would say that it has made a change in the knife world. The same with the rest.

No matter the design, maker, or material some will find it the ugliest thing they have ever seen, others the best looking, blade too big/small, etc.

Your question has merit. But, like was said in your other thread by Uncle Bill, products are marketed to different segments of the population. Some want the jet blackest, tanto bladed, biggest, thickest, badest looking thing possible, usable or not. Others want an unobtrusive knife that will do most everything regular people ask of it. I want a blade that will open mail, cut rope, and can be used to clean a fish or a deer, and will slice and dice in the kitchen if pushed.

I don't think that one design can satisfy today's consumer. They are too used to getting what others tell them is good/useful/desirable, practical or not, for what ever price the seller can get, worth it or not.

dwight

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This post is a natural product.
The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

 
Ken, one particular knife and style can’t even satisfy me, let alone the entire ELU.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
I think the biggest "split" in our community is between the people primarily interested in utility and the folk primarily interested in defense. The second biggest split is between "fixed-blade fanatics" and "folder freaks". Then you've got a few "heavy utility junkies" such as Cliff Stamp, you've got the "high end art knife market", etc.

All that said, I think a VERY high quality folder in the 3.5" range has the broadest appeal. There is NOBODY here who would not jump for joy at a free Sebenza...good lock, good ergos, great blade steel, good little utility knife that CAN fight in a pinch.

Believe it or not, the one blade that in that category that stirs my interest even more is the Buck TI-goldcoat crosslock, esp. the one with one half-serrated blade, one "utility hook" on the other side. Crosslocks are smooth openers with good ergos; on that particular model I'd turn the blunt tip of the hook into a "chisel shape" on a good grinder. That would make for a nice, good-looking and high quality little "office displayable" critter that could fight in a pinch, at less than half the cost of a Sebenza.

This is the basic class that "everybody could use".

And the BEST possible variant in the class would be a Muscrat with a true Sheepsfoot on one end and a good general utility blade with a belly on the other.

My $.02

Jim March
 
Not gonna happen. You'd never get past the fixed blade/folder question.

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I guess negativity is a sign of a mature interest, not unlike autofocus vs manual focus or small format vs large or print vs slide in cameras, tube vs solid state or planar vs dynamic or CD vs LP in audio, or SCT vs reflector vs refractor or wide field vs simpler ocular or Telrad vs conventional finder in astronomy, or Glock vs everything else or semi-auto vs revolver or high velocity vs medium velocity in firearms, and on and on.
 
The one true universal knife has already been designed back when ideas for the rec.knives commemorative project were being kicked around. The article is available at dejanews...

Seriously, though, as others have mentioned, the basic problem is that as least some percentage of the crowd only likes folders, or fixed blades, or tacticals, or art knives, so there is little completely common ground. Your best bet for finding something that (nearly) everyone can agree upon would be the Micra or Victorinox Classic SAK that nearly every one here likely carries without a second thought, in addition to whatever "real" knife (or knives!) they're carrying.

It's kinda like when someone asks, in the PalmPilot newsgroups, for the perfect carrying case; lots of enthusiastic answers, but they're all different, because some want a book-like zip open case with a notepad, some want a flip-over-the-top cover, while others (like me) want something akin to a belt sheath. (Guess that's why they call 'em Personal Digital Assistants -- everyone's needs are different.)

One other thing to keep in mind is that the responses you're gonna get here are all from people who are self-selected to be strongly opinionated about knives, by the very fact that they are here. Many are here for a good natured argument on a topic they feel passionate about ("I'm sorry, I can't argue with you unless you've paid"
smile.gif
). For every one person here, there are hundreds (thousands?) who decided they wanted a knife, went to the mall or WalMart or the local sporting goods store, bought a Case/Gerber/Fury/SAK, went home happy, and well, end of story, never gave it another thought. They'd be much easier to please than this crowd...

Hi, my name is Carl, and I am a knifeaholic,
-- Carl
 
Hope that back is getting better Ken.

Now, getting back
wink.gif
to the subject.

We are a pretty particular bunch here. I find that right now I have the most trouble with handles, not blades steel or fixed vs folder, but handles. If the handle doesn't feel right, forget it. Maybe it's a stage I'm going through.
smile.gif
 
Ken,
As you can plainly see, everyone is in it for a different reason. They love different parts of the knife experience. I don't think EVERYONE will ever agree on anything.

It's the age old battle between Optimists and Pessimists. Some people look at a knife and try to find the weaknesses, and others look only for the strengths.

~Some analyze steel compositions to death.

~For others it's a handle material issue.

~From there it moves on to Thumb studs, blade profiles, size, .......lanyard knots. The list is endless.

To be honest, thats one of the things I like most about this forum. It gets me thinking about things that weren't really EVER important to me.

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Clay G.
www.balisongxtreme.com


 
A medium sized SAK is looked upon by most people as a tool rather than a knife. The small SAK is viewed as a toy (which it is definitely NOT). These two knives are almost universally acceptable to other people.

An old fashioned slip-joint double bladed pocket knife also is very useful, and does not provoke anxious responses in onlookers.

The small Sebenza is perhaps the most useful knife you can carry that enjoys almost universal acceptance. It is perhaps the best knife you can carry onto an airplane. I have had second looks from airport security at my Ernie Emerson CQC6, but always was allowed to take it on board. The small Sebenza, with some bills clipped to it, goes unnoticed into the change bowl at the security gate, and slides right on through.

Of course, YMMV. Walt
 
Heh, I think the one thing we can get everyone here to agree on is "we like knives"...
wink.gif


I agree with Walt on the small Sebenza, I've taken mine into the San Diego airport many times, put it in the dish with my pager, palmpilot, keycases, micra, and pocket change, and they always want to make sure my palmpilot isn't a bomb, but they hardly glance at the Sebenza. Few here doubt its utility and design, about the only naysayers are the faction who think it's overpriced.

-- Carl

[This message has been edited by Carl Jacobsen (edited 17 October 1999).]
 
Thanks for the concern for my back ! it's a good feeling to know you care.

I feel the same as you guys do . I think this knife thing is to diverse to incorporate all of the different facets into one product. But I'll keep on trying .

I just think there is so much more out there that hasn't been discovered yet. Who knows .
 
IMHO, a Decorated SEBENZA if it were half the price.

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RICK LEFTIES UNITE


 
It's kind of like the Sat Night Live commercial for the car "The Paradox".

One team worked to make the car smaller - Another worked to make it the largest in it's class...

One team gave the car 2 doors, another 4, yet another team 6, while another team gave the car 1 huge door...

One team gave the car incredible stopping power, another team gave the car no brakes at all...

Can't be all things to all people...
 
Probably the closest you will come is something along the lines of the Sebenza.
I have seen, read and heard so many awesome things about this knife that I had to get one for myself. Was it worth it....?
In a word..."YES!!"

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The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind is that one day I will have to stand before a Holy God and give an account of my life.
*Daniel Webster

Rev 20:12

 
Ken,

I don't think anyone will ever develop a universally accepted knife.

Every knife will have critics of two types.

One group of critics look at a knife and say it is wonderful but it could be a little bit better if....

The other group looks at the knife and say it is no good because it has this that or the other flaw.

I hope that anytime I do offer criticism that I fit in the first group.

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AKTI Member No. A000370
 
I don't think its possible to create a blade that satisfies everyone...no matter how good it is. Its alot like buying a Car or a Firearm you have to find the features which you need/want/value. Its a matter of what the Individual is comfortable w/.
 
I will be curious to see if the Axis is that knife? Like the buck 110 of old.

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RICK LEFTIES UNITE


 
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