Top 5 production marvels of all time

I don't think the leatherman belongs as it is more tool than knife.
My list:
Sebenza
BM 710
SAK
Buck 110
Military, or some spyderco whichever you spydie nuts want to include lol.
 
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.
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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.
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Don't think sales numbers are mentioned in the OP's description of what kind of top 5 we're talking about. "CRK unheard of outside knife circles?"....he was referring to the "knife community" and not the average joe public.

Whether or not the Sebenza has a spot in that list, is personal preference. But if we would go by numbers...I think only two would survive! The SAK in first and 110 in second.

But consider this, ever browsed a knife forum without bumping into a Sebenza thread every other day? So, yes, imo the Sebenza deserves a spot.
I also think that I don't know of too many well known knives that employ that special pivot system CRK uses, so it's not only S30V and framelocks that come to mind with a Sebenza. And another very well known knife company has even produced a tribute folder to the Sebenza (lock), should be worth something too....
 
SAK (folding multi-tool)

Buck 110
BM710 (axis)
Spyderco Military (lightweight, linerlock, cutting machine)
CRK Sebenza (RIL)
2010 CS Folders (Triad Lock)
 
Knifein said:
CRK Sebenza
Spyderco Military
Emerson CQC-7
Al Mar SERE
Buck 110

What say you fellow knife knuts? Anything that should be changed?
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i find the lack of a Swiss Army Knife on that list disturbing.

my $0.02:

1: SAK.
2: Buck 110
3: Opinel (any model)
4&5: who cares?
 
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.

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.
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walker himself gives reeve credit for the ti framelock, and reeve gives credit to walker for his inspiration. what does that prove? that these two men are quite humble.

that aside, reeve introduced ti framelocks to the knife world, and like walker, didnt slap a patent on it so no one could use it. the free use of frame locks certainly has made an impact on the knife world.

few companies recognize walker, in fact spyderco is the only i know of. but, walker has said he hasnt made a walkerlock folder since the early 90s, and is the creator of over 30 types of locks. he doesnt mind.
 
New to the forum and I've only hit on a few threads, but I haven't found anything, good or bad about Cold Steel. Wonder why. I've always felt that even considering the price, they were top of the line, especially with their latest locks. I have the rhino, a full tang karambit, and the Cold Steel standby the Bushman. Excellent knifes on all fronts.
 
I think my five, with reasons why, would be (in no particular order):

1. Opinel - One of the first widely produced and distributed locking folders.

2. Original Victorinox SAK - The grandfather of multitools and used an innovative spring design to hold 2 blades in place.

3. Buck 110 - Buck is generally credited with inventing the first folding hunting knife and their back locks were so common that the term 'Buck Knife' could, for a long time, be used to describe any locking folder.

4. Spyderco C01 Worker - Introduced the thumbhole and pocket clip. Both pretty major game changers.

5. Here's where I get a little obscure Korn Patent knife - This is the earliest patented automatic knife I could find. I know the British were making them well before this model, but I've got no info. Love or hate automatics, for a long time they were the only one hand opening folders.
 
If you're going by sales numbers, then most of the "modern" style folders would get blown out of the contest by traditional designs like the Buck 110 style lock back and others like the various stockman and trapper patterns, ones where production goes back 50 years or more. Mass producing the traditional designs from companies such as Case, Schrade, Buck, SAK, etc, helped to develop the sophisticated equipment that manufacturers use today.

Now if you talk engineering marvels.. No particular order here.

SAK
Buck 110 (has to be most copied knife EVER)
Spyderco Worker
First FRN handle with no steel liners (whoever it was)
First automatic opener (whoever it was)

Honorable mentions...

Leatherman PST
Non-automatic assisted openers
 
Now I'm not sure if my credits are correct but

1) SAK (because all the goodies)
2) spyderco (because one hand opening & clip)
3) spyderco again (because Police model thinest profile with biggest blade)
4) Sebenza ( because of the frame lock)
5) buck (because of the lockback)
correct me if I'm wrong with my assertions
 
TheUSMC2017 said:
The Buck 110 and Sebenza definitely need to be in there. Maybe the ESEE Izula.
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The Izula does not fold very easily, so it is wrong to label it a folder. This thread is about folders. I agree with you (and others) on the Buck 110, think that the Sebenza would not make my top 5 list for the OP's criteria.
 
Knifein said:
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?
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My list:

Swiss Army Knife (all the tools, fantastic value for quality)
Spyderco C01 Worker (introduced opening hole and pocket clip, not afraid to look odd)
Buck 110 (original bombproof folding hunter, tons of copies)
Laguiole (French elegance in a practical design, many elements have been copied over many decades)
Benchmade 710 (introduced Axis lock, much copied design elements, seminal "tactical folder")
 
My list is eclectic based on what I carry and find useful. In no particular order: William Henry B-15 Quest, Buck 186 Titan, Camillus CUDA MAXX, Benchmade 943 Osborne, and various SAK's.
 
I don't know that I can limit it to just 5


Spyderco Para-Military (or II - its not the first compression lock model, but its probably the most perfect)
CRK Sebenza
Benchmade 710
Buck 110
SAK (my favorite is the Victorinox Cadet)
Al Mar SERE


I've almost got to throw in the Hinderer XM-18 (its not the first flipper, but its one of the coolest and the Spanto grind is pretty awesome as well) but to be honest, I don't know who the first person to put a flipper on a folder was.
 
Knifein said:
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.
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Never have owned one, and likely never will. What I do own is a 110, SERE, SAK, and Opinel to name a few. I'm actually really big on acquiring the quintessential examples of knives that I thought you were trying to solicit opinions on. Indeed, if you ask people here, or on other knife forums, EVERYONE will have heard of CRK. I'm not arguing that. Ask the millions of men and women in America who aren't knife knuts and they will think you are talking about the guy who played Superman. My point is simply that to the world at large, CRK is pretty obscure and knives like the SAK, Buck 110 and Opinel are infinitely more relevant and therefore much more important in the grand scheme of knife manufacturing and production.

To use an admittedly poor analogy, the VW Bug, Honda Civic and Jeep are much more innovative and socially relevant cars in the grand scheme of things than a Ferrari.

I think you are confusing quality with innovation.
 
Since you asked for production marvels and not personal favorites or iconic designs, here are the knives that I think met the criteria you specified:

Sebenza (framelock)
C01 Spyderco Worker(invented the modern one-hand knife)
First production knife using using zytel or FRN scales (Buck lite, Gerber lite, Spyderco?)
Benchmade 710 (first AXIS lock)
Swiss army knife
 
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