What are your ZT wishes for the Blade Show 2014?

Kai Corp. said:
Haven't seen a new lock that I feel will sell well to the masses. We don't have too many issues with frame/liner lock designs, so I'm not seeing a reason. All non-frame/liners we've utilized in the past have been losers.
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This is understandable, but nontheless makes me sad. The MUDD, RAM and Spec Bump remain some of my favorite KAI designs.
 
Apec said:
A monolithic Ti framelock - that would be something, since right now those are pretty much exclusive to the world of customs.
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Now this would be fun...

Insipid Moniker said:
This is understandable, but nontheless makes me sad. The MUDD, RAM and Spec Bump remain some of my favorite KAI designs.
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I understand, but they leave little behind other than wasted time and efforts for us...
 
Kai Corp. said:
Now this would be fun...

I understand, but they leave little behind other than wasted time and efforts for us...
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I hear you. I sincerely appreciate that you guys take the time to respond to threads like this and listen to customers, but you gotta make a profit. Now about that great big Emerson design I mentioned, maybe that would be more of a money maker...;)
 
Whatever they bring out at Blade I know it'll be awesome. Last year I nearly died seeing the pictures from the Kai booth!
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I hear you. I sincerely appreciate that you guys take the time to respond to threads like this and listen to customers...
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THIS.

I've asked this before and I'll ask it again: What other top tier manufacturer has such a constant presence on the forums?

Some people can't grasp how awesome it actually is that we can shoot the breeze and get company feedback in threads like these.

And I back that wharnie Hinderer idea :D
 
Actually, a polished CF-inlaid Wharncliffe bearing flipper Ti framelock with a .20" thick spine and a very high hollow grind in M390. Textured Ti frame and also a lockbar insert, of course. Blackwash blade, satin Ti, 0600-style clip, partially open construction with a ridged and slightly-proud-to-the-handles Ti backspacer.

Just picture it.

Blackwashed flipper doom razor.
 
Kai Corp. said:
Now this would be fun...

I understand, but they leave little behind other than wasted time and efforts for us...
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was there something wrong with those designs? im wondering mainly about the stud lock, it seems like a pretty decent lock, and i really liked the kershaws that used them like the bumps and the mojo/mojito, was there something wrong with it? are there no plans for anymore stud lock knives?
 
A robust and narrow profile KVT flipper full titanium and frame lock with a just under 3" inch blade of M390 that weighs under 4 ounces. Blade thickness could be 0.12-0.14" with a strong tip. Kind of like a Kwaiken or even a mini 0801.

A new KVT flipper in the 3.75"-4" blade length.

A 0600 scaled down to a 3.5" blade with pure titanium handle.

0454M390.

0801M390.

An updated Kershaw RAM as a ZT!!!

More of the gorgeous and practical contoured CF on the 0777. Expensive but worth it! Nobody has anything close to the frame of the 0777! Great design and manufacturing!

With KAI's manufacturing prowess those monoblock titanium, aluminum, Micarta (and soon CF) frames that LionSteel is so famous for.

We asked for pens last year and I'd like to see some without a screw on cap. My Hinderer pens have a habit of coming loose and consequently lost! For instance, like my Fellhoelter TiBolt Pen.

Would like to see 0801CF, 0770CF, 0888MAX and 0888M390 released before Blade Show!

There's still a lot that's coming from ZT hopefully this year:

  1. 0102
  2. 0180
  3. 0454
  4. 0562
  5. 0562CF
  6. 0566BW
  7. 0566BWCF
  8. 0620
  9. 0620CF
  10. 0770CF
  11. 0770CFM390
  12. 0801BLK
  13. 0801BW
  14. 0801CF
  15. 0888M390
  16. 0888MAX
 
JeremiahWeaver09 said:
was there something wrong with those designs? im wondering mainly about the stud lock, it seems like a pretty decent lock, and i really liked the kershaws that used them like the bumps and the mojo/mojito, was there something wrong with it? are there no plans for anymore stud lock knives?
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I think what was wrong with them is that people didn't buy them.
 
Kai Corp. said:
Haven't seen a new lock that I feel will sell well to the masses. We don't have too many issues with frame/liner lock designs, so I'm not seeing a reason. All non-frame/liners we've utilized in the past have been losers.
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It's unfortunate that alternative locks have not proved profitable for you guys in the past, perhaps it was the overall design that failed and not the type of lock. I think it's safe to say that other companies have proven alternative lock designs can be and are popular with the masses. The benefits are probably not appreciated by the average customer (the same thing could probably be said for blade steel differences, HT, G10 -vs- Carbon, subtle fit/finish differences, etc.) so it's probably does not impact overall sales much, but I can only assume they are profitable for the companies offering them or they'd discontinue them. I'd also concede they are not a feature that aggressively sells knives, or we'd see the liner/frame locks go away in favor of alternative locks.

IMO, fashion and performance don't always contradict each other. Feel it's more personal preference than anything else here. I'm unsure if its fair to label a specific build set up as fashion only.
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I think a logical/scientific case could be made that some features are more functional and superior to others when it comes to a knife being used hard in a variety of conditions.......then again I'm a scientist so I'm predisposed to argue :)

An exposed frame lockbar is easier to accidentally release with any twisting motion with a firm grip. While not the norm, the reality is sometimes twisting happens while cutting especially in soft pliable materials or if you need to cut an arc. It's also not a left hand friendly design because the users grip naturally tries to release the lock bar. Now hopefully even if that happens the user is cutting safely and never causes an injury, but that doesn't mean it's not a quantifiable advantage. Even if you dismiss the posts about inconsistent lock bar tension, locks failing, lock rock, and detent holding power we read about daily (which I'd bet is restricted mostly to us knife nuts) I'd say it's beyond a personal preference issue.

The same is true for smooth handle slabs, while fine on a knife used under ideal conditions, if you work outdoors sooner or later your hands are going to be wet, sweaty, dirty, you want a knife handle that maintains that grip. Now some materials like micarta, wood, etc. can provide good grip when wet even smoothly finished. However metal and carbon fiber do NOT share that quality unless aggressively textured. Again I'd say that's a quantifiable advantage, unless you never run into those conditions, which I'm happy to admit most customers probably don't, and if they do they probably avoid them by leaving their $200+ knife in their pocket or at home.

I know nothing of the knife business, and no one can argue with ZT's success in that arena and my suspicion is that the above only impacts a tiny percentage of overall knife customers and hardcore knife enthusiasts are probably not a profitable group to cater your products/features to, but a handle that provides better grip in a wider range of environments, and a lock that is more secure under a wider range of cutting tasks and/or when being used with the left hand goes beyond just personal preference to me.
 
A short, stubby and beefy folder/flipper with titanium frame lock and a blade length of 2.5"-2.9" that's 0.16"-0.18" thick.

Examples:

  • Benchmade 755 MPR (M390, 2.9" x 0.164")
  • Boker Pipsqueak (S35VN, 2.5" x 0.16")
  • Spyderco Techno (CTS-XHP, 2.55" x 0.177")
 
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DEMKO!

I know, not going to happen because of prior licensing arrangements regarding the Demko Lock.

But.... Mmmmmm.
 
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