What Genre of knives is on its way up.....and what's on its way down ? :)

Tad Lynch said:
A lot of them seem almost offended, if not amused by what I would consider a badass knife, saying "why would you need a knife like that?"

Tad
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That's when you look just as offended right back and ask them why they're here, since nobody needs whiny little bitches, either.
 
JParanee said:
I would love to fly it around the show

They would freak out :)
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Joey, there's a lot of truth in the old saying..........."He who dies with the most toys, WINS!":thumbup: You are leading by a mile.;) I love you.:D

Paul
 
mike malosh said:
madcap...check out my instgram. there are some on there. I cant post pictures here.
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Tad Lynch said:
Here's some of Mike's stacked micarta.

IMG_8634.jpg
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Hey thanks... looks great, Mike.
 
Joe, that is cool!

The million Cools is justified! You could scout your hunting property with that!

You are a most interesting person, I hope you would not mind me introducing myself @ the Blade Show.

Steve
----------
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS Apprentice
 
Steve Nuckels said:
Joe, that is cool!

The million Cools is justified! You could scout your hunting property with that!

You are a most interesting person, I hope you would not mind me introducing myself @ the Blade Show.

Steve
----------
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS Apprentice
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Please do

I very much look forward to it :)
 
What an odd turn this thread has taken

My only additional comment is that success in life has little to do with material goods or toys
 
So much of what passes for popularity today, comes by way of social media. Just look at whats been "created" for us in the political arena. Those involved, who are very unpopular with a broad spectrum of citizens, have none the less been adorned with the mantel of social acceptance. I believe the same thing happens with autos, women, guns and knives. Their popularity is created by the media that feeds on ratings and exposure. View a photo of anything 100,000 times and it will become popular just because its very recognizable.

One thing that will never, I hope, go out of fashion and that is the skill and workmanship it takes to create perfection, no matter what medium is used.

Good discussion with many interesting views, Fred
 
Joe, what do you think about the Japanese cord wrap trend? That's always been fairly popular as long as I've been around knives, but lately it seems more popular, and anything cord-wrapped in the Maker for Sale section seems like it's gone instantly.

Obviously you're a little biased and part of this growth, but it's pretty cool.
 
madcap_magician said:
Joe, what do you think about the Japanese cord wrap trend? That's always been fairly popular as long as I've been around knives, but lately it seems more popular, and anything cord-wrapped in the Maker for Sale section seems like it's gone instantly.

Obviously you're a little biased and part of this growth, but it's pretty cool.
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First...... I love your avatar :)

There is a reason that it has always been so popular and imho will continue to be popular ..... It works

There are timeless functional designs in this world and possible the greatest warrior class this planet will ever see certainly knew how to make a functional piece of art

Well done cord wrap is timeless and very functional ..... So yes it is here to stay

You can watch an old samurai movie and it of course fits perfectly

You can watch a modern Si fi movie and again it is fitting
 
JParanee said:
First...... I love your avatar :)

There is a reason that it has always been so popular and imho will continue to be popular ..... It works

There are timeless functional designs in this world and possible the greatest warrior class this planet will ever see certainly knew how to make a functional piece of art

Well done cord wrap is timeless and very functional ..... So yes it is here to stay

You can watch an old samurai movie and it of course fits perfectly

You can watch a modern Si fi movie and again it is fitting
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Recently I had the luck and good fortune to pick up a Dan Keffeler piece (SA II) with cord wrap. I've never had a cord wrapped blade before. Totally utilitarian feel, grippy, super comfortable and the perfectly executed Turks head knots for the Tsuba and Kashira work as intended. Hopefully it won't be my last, it was a pleasure talking with Dan.

On another note: My collection has taken a change of course because of the state of the country. Sold some great knives to pick up knives that can be used,,,,, TM Hunt M18, a Ed Martin WTK , Newt Martin MCEII and some others. Hopefully just need them for campouts but you never know when the grid is going down!:D

This has been an excellent thread Joe..thanks for asking the question!
 
I love using multi-layered cord wraps, especially over a core of neoprene or something like that. Among other reasons, if forced they can flex a little bit along with a sword tang, so the entire piece will bend end-to-end. It makes for a great shock absorber!
 
Good discussion. I don't know enough about market trends to speak with authority. I do know that trends and demographics are related in the big picture. Any new group that enters the knife world in sufficient numbers will influence the market. Examples might include women or post-military young adult males or Asians or the spawn of baby boomers or whatever. If there's enough of them they'll push the market toward their preferences.

Also, external forces are market drivers. The ivory ban for example, or legal pressures on blade length, concealed vs open carry etc. On top of all that stuff, over time those who enter as knife enthusiasts and stay around will experience an evolution of what they like, causing trends to shift.

In fact, I've got a new trend going in my life that is interesting. This no BS. As jeans have gotten tighter I've moved away from carrying knives in my pockets. I've started routinely wearing some of my custom belt knives with 3 inch blades out in the open and so far no issues. I may or may not be wearing a jacket or vest. But the blades are legal and I'm more comfortable in close fitting jeans.

Will this trend catch on? Will wearing custom belt knives with nice sheaths, materials and craftsmanship (and legal blades) become a thing? Any of my knife friends out there gonna join me? Come on, let's do it. Let's show some commitment. I don't want to be one of those guys who straps on a belt knife just for the knife show. Know what I mean?
 
evanPGH said:
This is me 100%, always carry a 3.75-4" bladed tactical and a 3.5" ish closed slippy or lockback.

I've been into knives for about 5 years at this point, I'm 27 years old. Slowly my tastes have changed, but not so much aesthetically.

While I used to be all about looks with little regard for much else, I'm now putting the "maker" part of custom knife maker at the top. With so many flavor of the week, over hyped knives dominating certain social media avenues, proper build quality and design seems to have taken a back seat in favor of "cool" or flashy designs, expensive materials etc. Ergonomics have largely become an afterthought and if it's not on bearings, nobody wants to hear about it. Rough finish, lock stick, and the inability to actually CUT have seemingly become acceptable.

And for a spell, I was guilty of this myself. Now older, maybe not so much wiser, but I've listened to those who know way more than I do and I've started to pay closer attention.

How well is the design executed, is there enough blade stuffed into the handle? Are the bolster transitions clean? Handles nicely contoured with the edges knocked down? Was time and attention to detail used on the finishing stages or is it lazily wrapped up? These are all just examples and will obviously vary depending on the style of knife, but you get my point.

Of course there are many exceptions to this and plenty of makers putting out a top shelf product. But I feel there are far too many others who are unfathomably excused, or even praised for delivering a sub-standard product for the money.

And hey, it takes all kinds. If someone likes a certain piece and they're happy, go for it. But there's a right way and a wrong way to make a knife, and unfortunately the "hastily thrown together but it has timascus on it" Instagram market is boomin'
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Pretty much summed up the same boat im in. Although my tactical knife preferences are a little smaller than yours and I seem to be carrying a slip joint by itself more and more. I am also into small belt knives with around a 3 inch blade. And with a lot of the customs being machined and done less and less by hand it really leaves me with a hankering for a forged blade as well. The older I get I start appreciating what someone can do with there own two hands and lack of smart machinery more and more.
 
HTMD said:
Good discussion. I don't know enough about market trends to speak with authority. I do know that trends and demographics are related in the big picture. Any new group that enters the knife world in sufficient numbers will influence the market. Examples might include women or post-military young adult males or Asians or the spawn of baby boomers or whatever. If there's enough of them they'll push the market toward their preferences.

Also, external forces are market drivers. The ivory ban for example, or legal pressures on blade length, concealed vs open carry etc. On top of all that stuff, over time those who enter as knife enthusiasts and stay around will experience an evolution of what they like, causing trends to shift.

In fact, I've got a new trend going in my life that is interesting. This no BS. As jeans have gotten tighter I've moved away from carrying knives in my pockets. I've started routinely wearing some of my custom belt knives with 3 inch blades out in the open and so far no issues. I may or may not be wearing a jacket or vest. But the blades are legal and I'm more comfortable in close fitting jeans.

Will this trend catch on? Will wearing custom belt knives with nice sheaths, materials and craftsmanship (and legal blades) become a thing? Any of my knife friends out there gonna join me? Come on, let's do it. Let's show some commitment. I don't want to be one of those guys who straps on a belt knife just for the knife show. Know what I mean?
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Good read, Buddy. I carry a smallish sheath knife every day and have enough use for it I wont be without it.

But will not wear tight jeans and will ALWAYS have a couple slip joints in my pockets. :cool:
 
Nice addition Buddy, thanks. I have been wearing a custom fixed blade and custom sheath on my hip for years, with a custom slip joint in my pocket too, of course. Two of my favorite fixed blades to carry were made by John White and Bob Loveless.
 
HTMD said:
In fact, I've got a new trend going in my life that is interesting. This no BS. As jeans have gotten tighter I've moved away from carrying knives in my pockets. I've started routinely wearing some of my custom belt knives with 3 inch blades out in the open and so far no issues. I may or may not be wearing a jacket or vest. But the blades are legal and I'm more comfortable in close fitting jeans.

Will this trend catch on? Will wearing custom belt knives with nice sheaths, materials and craftsmanship (and legal blades) become a thing? Any of my knife friends out there gonna join me? Come on, let's do it. Let's show some commitment. I don't want to be one of those guys who straps on a belt knife just for the knife show. Know what I mean?
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Well I don't know that MY jeans have gotten tighter... ;)
But I've always been a mix of snug and loose. Back when I was working in corporate NYC, I migrated to IWB carry for my folders as it was more discrete, and discovered that it was actually less obstructive to my pockets, and worked with every type of pants. When I started making my own blades, I started carrying sub-3" fixes on my belt while out in the country, just as you describe. I've been 100% out of NYC (instead of back and forth) for several years now, and I mix it up. Finally found a few decent folders I truly like, and have been carrying them more, but still IWB.

I don't have a broad enough view of the market to truly identify overall trends. I'm glad there is enough demand for the big choppers, even if that's just fantasy use beyond my yard. It seems like the smaller, practical EDC stuff is solidly appealing, which is good for me. IMO, it's good for all of us if modest, non-threatening pocketknives become more mainstream again, because it softens attitudes towards knives as a whole, rather than perpetuating "OMG a weapon!" every time you open a snack pack.
 
Don Hanson III said:
But will not wear tight jeans...
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Ha! Please don't. 😉
Glad to hear you, Kris and daizee (others too, I'm sure) actually carry a belt knife daily where people can see it. That's actually my point. I'm sick and tired of catering to the sensitive ones out there who get anxious and clutch their kids close if I legitimately carry and use a real knife in public. Plus it's an excellent way to promote custom knives because there are also curious folks who will say, "Hey, that's a nice looking knife. Can I see it?" Sure, let me show it to you. It was made by... etc. Simply put - we can influence trends by not hiding what we're into - and we should, or there will be more bans and restrictions.
 
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