Top 5 production marvels of all time

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Knifein

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So, today I was contemplating choices for the top 5 production folding knife marvels of all time. In other words, folders that have earned a legendary status in the knife community for originality, high performance, reliability, and inspiration towards the production of newer knives.

I came up with these:
CRK Sebenza
Spyderco Military
Emerson CQC-7
Al Mar SERE
Buck 110

What say you fellow knife knuts? Anything that should be changed?
 
I think you'd have to throw in Spyderco's C01 Worker, since it introduced one-hand opening and the pocket clip.
 
Buck 110
Al Mar SERE
SAK (pick one)
Opinel (#8 if I had to pick one)

Hard to think of a 5th. I suppose Sebenza, but only because it seems to be at the pinnacle of production folders, but not for any qualities which are particularly innovative or revolutionary. I'm also finding it hard to agree with the Emerson or Spyderco. I don't find either to be particular marvels.
 
sqoon said:
I suppose Sebenza, but only because it seems to be at the pinnacle of production folders, but not for any qualities which are particularly innovative or revolutionary.
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If I am not mistaken Chris Reeve helped introduce S30V steel when he was looking to upgrade and renew the Sebenza. Considering that it is one of the most highly sought after steels today I would most definitely consider it a particular quality that helped revolutionize the knife industry. Also, just the fact that the Sebenza is one of the most sought after knives in the knife world just proves another point, and in my opinion deserves a solid no questions asked spot in the top 5 list.
 
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muskyhunter said:
The BM 710 has to be on the list.
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You're right I originally had it on the list but then I remembered that I was missing the Buck 110 on the list so I exchanged it. Perhaps I should exchange the Military with the 710? Or maybe I should just expand the list to top 10.
 
Knifein said:
If I am not mistaken Chris Reeve helped introduce S30V steel when he was looking to upgrade and renew the Sebenza. Considering that it is one of the most highly sought after steels today I would most definitely consider it a particular quality that helped revolutionize the knife industry. Also, just the fact that the Sebenza is one of the most sought after knives in the knife world just proves another point, and in my opinion deserves a solid no questions asked spot in the top 5 list.
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I would look at some sales numbers and tell me if you still think the CRK is one of the most sought after knives in the world. I don't think millions of people are seeking a knife with a $400+ price tag. CRK is almost unheard of anywhere outside knife circles.

It sounds like you are fine with your list and don't need any other points of view.
 
sqoon said:
I would look at some sales numbers and tell me if you still think the CRK is one of the most sought after knives in the world. I don't think millions of people are seeking a knife with a $400+ price tag. CRK is almost unheard of anywhere outside knife circles.

It sounds like you are fine with your list and don't need any other points of view.
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Sure...but to be fair, you are going to have to count all the other knives that use a framelock (Chris Reeve invented it and implemented it on the Sebenza).

The Buck 110 is definitely iconic.
 
I don't agree that s30v is still one of the most sought after steels. It might have been a few years ago when it was the "new hotness." I'd say Elmax, m390, and vanax are the current sought after steels.

As far as my list is concerned, I only have two top production marvels, the venerable 110 and the BM 710.

Reeve might have invented the integral lock, but the Walker linerlock came before it, and you can be sure Reeve took design cues from the linerlock. Afterall, a framelock is a linerlock without a scale. Reeve does deserve credit, but not as much as people say.

And from what I notice, the linerlock is still much more prevalent than the framelock. If anything, Walker deserves accolades for pioneering a lock using a lockbar. /alright, closing the can of worms back up.
 
sqoon said:
I would look at some sales numbers and tell me if you still think the CRK is one of the most sought after knives in the world. I don't think millions of people are seeking a knife with a $400+ price tag. CRK is almost unheard of anywhere outside knife circles.

It sounds like you are fine with your list and don't need any other points of view.
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It sounds like you have never owned a Sebenza.

Do you mind telling me why Sebenzas immediately sell almost every time a seller posts a thread in the for sale section? It doesn't happen just on bladeforums it happens on different forums to, you know. Can you tell me why a great portion of the knife community consider their Sebenzas as their holy grail folder?

As for Chris Reeve being unheard of outside knife circles, it's obviously true because people outside knife circles are unaware of high value knives, or simply do not care. They probably wouldn't even know of a more mainstream company like Benchmade. Now, I bet if I asked every one on this forum if they know about the Sebenza an extremely high majority would say yes.
 
harkamus said:
I don't agree that s30v is still one of the most sought after steels. It might have been a few years ago when it was the "new hotness." I'd say Elmax, m390, and vanax are the current sought after steels.
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Maybe for a very, very small % of knife nuts, who themselves are a very, very small % of knife USERS, those steels are highly sought after. For everyone else, not so much. S30V is iconic as it sort've bridges the gap between older, working man's steels, and super steels. And is now used in some of today's best pocket knives, and on a very large scale. maybe some day those steels will have that same reputation, but not today.
 
Don't swap the military for 710. Military has better fit and finish quality and is one of the most beloved knives

Sak
Leatherman multitool
buck 110
Sebenza
Spyderco military
 
If you're looking at "originality, high performance, reliability, and inspiration towards the production of newer knives", you should definately have the Benchmade 710 and the Leatherman PST in that list.
The Buck 110 should stay.
The "Emerson" CQC-7 should be removed, as should the Al Mar SERE.
The Chris Reeve Sebenza should "probably" stay.
The Spyderco Military should be replaced with the Worker, or maybe the Endura/Delica.
The original USMC combat knife could probably fit on this list too.

No perticular order:

Benchmade 710
Leatherman PST
Buck 110
Chris Reeve Sebenza
Spyderco Worker (or Endura/Delica)
 
Production marvels:

The entire Victorinox brand. Mass produced at astounding quantities, sold at very affordable prices, and yet retaining an amazing level of consistent quality.

Whoever mass-produced the first modern folder with plastic handles and no liners, the grandmother of all "tactical" folders. The Bucklite did it six years before Spyderco's Endura/Delica, but I'm not sure who was before that.

Whoever made the first assisted opening knife.

A couple of standout models that were only possible on large scale by the "marvels" of modern design and manufacturing: Kershaw ET, Gerber Paul Knife.
 
Not for anything groundbreaking but from a production standpoint this is perfect !!!
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