What are the next big things in...?

[Omega Leather Works]

Steel?

Handle materials?

Shapes/styles/profiles?

Sheath materials and styles?

I've made only one knife, and two sheaths. I'm not making knives, or sheaths, for sale. Yet. But I'm curious to know exactly what you guys think are the next, or even current, big things.

I'm on a wharncliffe kick myself. I believe they offer an outstanding balance of cool and utility, especially in an urban environment where you might open a lot of packages, break down boxes... stuff like that.

This is my first knife and it's sheath. The handle and pin stock material are made by me. I also heat treated it. It's got a tapered tang and is super lightweight. Tell me what you don't like about it, and if there are things that could be better. Again, I don't have the membership to sell knives that I make, and don't have any current plans to do so. I'm just curious to know what you all think might be next big thing in the world of knifemaking.

Thanks!

 

[mp31x]

I don't know the next big things but that is a beautiful knife. I love the green sheath and knife handle. Looks very clean nice job.

 

[Ajack60]

That is one butt ugly knife, since you don't sell, just send it to me as a gift Seriously, that is a sweet looking piece. Since you built it, you tell us what you would have done differently or how it can be improved. I'm in the construction field and most always once a person finishes building their home, they point out the things they could have done differently.
As far as what's in the pipe line, don't have a clue and can't help you there. I just like the knife and sheath.

 

[mrdabble]

I think your knife is great! Especially if it's your first holy cow!! You've definitely got a knack my friend I would give it some cutting tests to see how well the steel performs maybe even some torture tests...I hate to say that because it's such a beautiful piece but if there are any flaws at all I think that's where it would show up. Because judging from the pics that thing is sweet!

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Thanks guys. I really like my first sheath more. The stitching is much cleaner. Terrible pic, but you get the idea. It's for my Fiddleback Kephart.

I don't really like how the edge is in line with the handle on that wharncliffe. I made the knife designing inside the limitations of the steel I bought. Unfortunately, the supplier only had 1" tall steel so I had to compromise. Because of this, the edge nearest the ricasso is not useful when cutting something that is lying flat on a table or counter top. For something that is freestanding, or, say, for wood carving, the full edge is accessible. I wouldn't carve with a blade like that anyway as I have carving knives for that (mostly wharncliffe style incidentally), but it could be done. I also wish that I had spaced the pins better. I had intended to put bolsters on it, but chickened out after having to make a whole new batch of laminate handle material, and after screwing up the first set of liners. The tip is also extremely thin and needle like. I would never sell something with a tip as acute as it is. One false move from the ham fisted and it's gone.

Outside of those things, I like them well enough. The heat treat is solid. It originally had a nice hamon, but I re-heat treated it because I didn't feel that I got enough of the ricasso hardened. Annealed steel + thin= folded and all that.

Anyway, I'd love to know what y'all think about the other stuff.

To me it seems that tactical is still in. What about ti flippers, frame locks, super hard use knives, etc? The ridiculously thick bladed folder fad seems to be passing (or not?).

Suppose Les or Sal were asking about what you look forward to from BKC, or Spyderco. What would you say? What about custom makers? Are they the same things?

I'm all ears.

 

[Shorttime]

First of all, I like the knife. Very clean, well-executed.

The sheath is spectacular! The deep green contrasts with the brown edging, without being garish.

As far as trends? I think the super steel trend is going to continue for as long as foundries can keep pushing metallurgy for more toughness and higher wear resistance. When they run out of steel alloys, I think they will look wherever they can, including ceramic composites. In another ten years, we may see a knife that is made of some kind of crazy ceramic/plastic composite material that never needs sharpening. Lucky thing, too, because it will be so hard, that nothing we have could sharpen it, anyway!

I also believe that resin-based composite handles (G-10, Micarta, etc) will be around for another three years or so. Expect them to show up in a dizzying array of colors and patterns. Eventually, people will find ways to embed images inside the handle slabs, including the usual round of nature scenes, skulls, and manufacturer's logos. The glow-in-the-dark ones will also stick around, and eventually they will come in multiple colors.

Don't expect wood to go away, it's still a popular choice. But I think that the bone/tooth/tusk market will continue to shrink. There will be people out there who want animal bone handles, but I don't see them being as popular as they once were. The exception to this might be if some mad scientist figures out a way to "grow" horn in the lab, but it would likely be expensive as all hell!

Blade shapes are pretty well defined, and I don't expect much to change there. If it does, it will be some unpredictable thing that comes along and takes the market by storm. Obviously, I have no idea what that would be, but it could happen...

The bottom line is that you should make knives that you would want to use, regardless of what is new, fancy, or popular. It's only when you put your heart into your art, that it truly becomes special.

God, that sounded cheesy....

 

[The Mastiff]

As far as trends? I think the super steel trend is going to continue for as long as foundries can keep pushing metallurgy for more toughness and higher wear resistanc

I agree. The "super steels" though usually a bit more expensive sell themselves. "Sprint" runs sell out faster than they can get them delivered, such is the demand for new steels and potentially higher performance.

Simple, comfortable, strong and tight locks with a high performing steel remain the pinnacle of knife buying with the majority of the knife aficionado types ( the sort of customer that signs up to Blade forum to keep up with the latest information, releases coming up, etc.

It's ( we aren't) not the big box store crowd and will spend a $190-$220 for our knives and use the heck out of them.

The "Bushcrafting" market is a bit different with steels like O-1, A2, 3V, etc. high quality good steels but not the vanguard of the exploring new steel crowd though they are just as or more demanding and sophisticated in their choices.

Camp and hunting knives are pretty close to the all around, practical ( good slicing yet tough enough for light batoning for fire starting sticks, etc.) Keeping watch of the forums and trends is important making knives for this crowd.

etc.

Good luck,

Joe

 

[bladeboss]

Holy crap that knife looks fantastic. That's your fist knife!? It looks like your 300th knife. You could make some money for sure.
I agree with the super steel trend.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

No resurgence for carbon steels? Retro-chic? No? Well, it's worth a mentioned anyway.

In the time that I spent in the Traditional forum, I noticed a number of "new" fans migrating from the so-called Modern crowd. The most recognized brand amongst these gentlemen being GEC, but also a keen interest in vintage stuff. It's companies like GEC that I really admire. They make a high quality product from buying used equipment and talent, then turning it cool. Limited (sprint like) models driving much of the fandom, and accounting for much of the buzz and a lot of the threads posted. Of course Spyderco with their overall quality, innovation and sprints. Benchmade with their Gold Class and staunch adherence to U.S. Made quality. Kershaw with their great CS and catering to the hard-core fan base.

In customs you have Daniel Fairly who is just downright cool, Andy Roy with Fiddleback Forge and his Fiddleback Fridays, Aaron Gough with his awesome testing and willingness to help others, Big Chris who puts Super Steels to excellent use, Nick Wheeler for his amazing talent with hamons and bowies, and up and comer Ian Hall who has the cleanest machined grinds in the world, and dozens of others.

It's definitely a fascinating world knives.

I agree with much of what you guys are saying. Obviously the future cannot be fully predicted, but I think a lot of it is cyclical. After all, we aren't floating around on our hoverboards (still mad about that), but instead, we have cars that, at least on the surface, very much resemble what we had available to us years ago.

 

[Shorttime]

I was disappointed about the hoverboards, too....

I could never get into traditional pattern knives, although I do think they are a better choice for some settings, where you encounter a lot of NKP's.

I would like to see more traditional/modern fusion knives, like the Trapperlock, or CS' Mackinac/Lone Star series.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

I was disappointed about the hoverboards, too....

I could never get into traditional pattern knives, although I do think they are a better choice for some settings, where you encounter a lot of NKP's.

I would like to see more traditional/modern fusion knives, like the Trapperlock, or CS' Mackinac/Lone Star series.

Ooh good one. Trad/mod are some of my favorites. There's a sweet bowie being made right now that has a Damascus blade (not my first choice) and a ghost jade handle. Imagine holding the handle up to the light and being able to make out the tang inside it.

How about leather sheaths with g10 windows? I need to try that.

Interesting thought about pictures encased in the handle material. I like the idea of a modern Stanhope window too.

Hybrid blades using ceramics or high tech plastics? You could do that now (san mai) if you kept the core steel or titanium. Actually, a ceramic core would work too...