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

[JParanee]

I rarely sell pieces from my own personal collection ....... Almost never but I've sold hundreds and hundreds of project pieces and Knives from DISKIN USA and I feel I have a pretty good sense of what is hot and what is not

 

[BenR.T.]

Kwaikens, tantos and wakis oh my!
My orders are nothing but Japanese style blades right now. Are they selling for all makers, not that I have seen. But they are hot for me right now.

 

[JParanee]

Kwaikens, tantos and wakis oh my!
My orders are nothing but Japanese style blades right now. Are they selling for all makers, not that I have seen. But they are hot for me right now.

That's because you have an excellent sense for them

 

[MT Damascus]

Zscherny, Mike-Two Blade Wharncliffe Trapper, Turkish Lace Damascus-if I could go back in time, I would have kept this one and carried it. Lovely knife, if anything maybe a bit small, and the lace damascus was a touch jarring to the eye

I carry and use it, nice knife

 

[Kohai999]

I carry and use it, nice knife

Yup, there she be, Kris, you paid less than I did, lol. Enjoy!!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Ben Seward]

Considering the trends of the market, is it unreasonable to think that carbon fiber could become the new ivory? I'm doing lots of knives somewhat "tactical" lines and modern materials lately...zirconium, titanium, timascus, carbon fiber, micarta. I work to order and ya just don't see much demand for traditional ABS stuff, and I do this full-time. Talked to someone in the tactical market lately and he said there is a shift away from the over built tactical stuff back to things more practical and time tested. Probably a good time for makers who have been doing traditional to lean tactical and draw some of the "kids" our way...I guess I'm a kid myself so what do I know?:foot: just my two cents

 

[JParanee]

Considering the trends of the market, is it unreasonable to think that carbon fiber could become the new ivory? I'm doing lots of knives somewhat "tactical" lines and modern materials lately...zirconium, titanium, timascus, carbon fiber, micarta. I work to order and ya just don't see much demand for traditional ABS stuff, and I do this full-time. Talked to someone in the tactical market lately and he said there is a shift away from the over built tactical stuff back to things more practical and time tested. Probably a good time for makers who have been doing traditional to lean tactical and draw some of the "kids" our way...I guess I'm a kid myself so what do I know?:foot: just my two cents

Ben I don't think Carbon Fiber will ever be the new Ivory but I do believe you are on to something and your work is outstanding

Makers like you are the best future of the Forged blade

Keep doing what your doing because it's great

I need one of your body guards

If ya have an extra in Atlanta

 

[kevin -the professor]

Maybe Sam, but there have to be qualified teachers of Chinese swordsmanship, and there are not a lot of them out there right now.
Scott Rodell in VA is one of the best, he teaches Yang Family Taiji Quan.

Swords are DOWN right now, at least the high end European and Japanese stuff. Spoke with some dealers at the Antique Arms and Armor Show in Las Vegas and the younger(25-35) buyers are not interested in good quality authentic stuff at the asking prices.

Fred Lohman who is THE manufacturer/supplier of excellent fittings in the US told me that business is way down for him, which is a shame because his stuff is literally irreplaceable. When I was in Kyoto a few years ago, the quality of what few swords supply shops had was vastly inferior to Fred's work....just look at his shitodome and menuki on his website for an indication of what I am explaining.

I've been getting some fantastic deals on the auction site for good Edo period Japanese fittings.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

I am actually working to make a jian designed by Scott right now, along with Charles Wu. China may be hit-or-miss, but if someone wants an excellent custom, it's possible. That's my gig. Of course, I don't make my living from bladesmithing, and won't until I retire (20 years from now, if I live that long). So, I can only make 4 or 5 in a good year, or 3 swords and about 10 knives. Not exactly flooding the market, or creating a large trend.

 

[BenR.T.]

Considering the trends of the market, is it unreasonable to think that carbon fiber could become the new ivory? I'm doing lots of knives somewhat "tactical" lines and modern materials lately...zirconium, titanium, timascus, carbon fiber, micarta. I work to order and ya just don't see much demand for traditional ABS stuff, and I do this full-time. Talked to someone in the tactical market lately and he said there is a shift away from the over built tactical stuff back to things more practical and time tested. Probably a good time for makers who have been doing traditional to lean tactical and draw some of the "kids" our way...I guess I'm a kid myself so what do I know?:foot: just my two cents

Ben, your doing all the right stuff. Mixing in stuff like Zirc and Timascus is smart and draws a larger crowd. Can't wait for our collab.

 

[DEllis]

If Ivory is going out, then how long until stag, horn, and other natural materials follow? Even some woods are more restricted now than they used to be(desert ironwood, cocobolo etc.) I hope the common sense revolution gets here soon

Personally I find knives far more interesting if they have natural handle materials, and if the trade in naturals gets too restricted I guess I'll have lots of time to make knives for ME!

Darcy

 

[Lorien]

Considering the trends of the market, is it unreasonable to think that carbon fiber could become the new ivory?

that's pretty much exactly what I was trying to say.

My sense is that millennials and younger demographics generally hold differing views and value judgements from the old guard wrt materials harvested from animals. There are reasons why restrictions are being imposed on certain nature-based materials, and I'm pretty sure those reasons are more easily rationalized by younger folks- and advocated for by them. Call it youthful idealism if you like.

I think there is a feeling out there that a material developed to last for generations has value due to that longevity, as opposed to a value that traditional status places on more or less exotic natural materials.

 

[DEllis]

that's pretty much exactly what I was trying to say.

My sense is that millennials and younger demographics generally hold differing views and value judgements from the old guard wrt materials harvested from animals. There are reasons why restrictions are being imposed on certain nature-based materials, and I'm pretty sure those reasons are more easily rationalized by younger folks- and advocated for by them. Call it youthful idealism if you like.

I think there is a feeling out there that a material developed to last for generations has value due to that longevity, as opposed to a value that traditional status places on more or less exotic natural materials.

I don't think the synthetic materials are in any way more environmentally friendly than natural(and in almost every case, renewable) resource materials. Stag is naturally shed every year, elephants die of natural causes, the mammoths are already extinct, trees grow back.
Let's pretend the knife with synthetic materials will last forever, and be passed down from generation to generation........what about the offcuts and grinding dust from the manufacture of that handle? They end up in the landfills and take millennia to break down? How is that more environmentally responsible than stag or ivory if harvested in a sustainable manner?
People need to realize that we(humanity) are part of the natural world.

Darcy

 

[Scurvy092]

First person to use vantablack on a knife is going to make a ton of dough.

 

[JParanee]

Of course the synthetic materials are more detrimental environmentally in a lot of cases...that is not really the question

The question is natural materials mainly Ivory are under a lot of scrutiny

I don't see a real attack on Stag right now

Someday maybe but stag is a farmed animal meaning a renewable resource and the powers that be are not attacking it right no.....not like Ivory at least

The problem is that the average person is not informed and not educate on the plight of the elephant and is too close minded or stupid to understand that fossilized ,ancient , other sourced Ivory is not effecting the current situation of elephants

They have demonized Ivory in general and they do not care to distinguish any differences in source

They refuse to be educated

You can't fix stupid

Bigger problem

The powers to be don't want to deal with determining what the origins of the in question piece are

It's easier to just just lump it all together and say no

you try and explain to a fish and game officer that the piece of Ivory you have in your possession is pre ban , fossil etc

I don't think anyone here is against natural materials I just think they are trying to say that it's not like it used to be when folks wanted burl dashes in their cars ....these days they want Carbon fiber etc

Times are changing amd to capture a new and upcoming audience makers should be willing to look at the big picture and get the pulse of what people entering into this hobble have interest in

I think Both Bens in this thread are checking the temp pretty well

 

[Kohai999]

Honestly, I think stone will be the new ivory.

Lapidary equipment is becoming more readily available, but selecting, fitting and finishing great stone is very, very difficult and as collectors become more educated through things like videos, and books like David Darom publishes...the appeal and desire for it will become greater. It's not really more fragile than ivory and dimensionally stable

It has an inherent beauty, a WIDE variety of features and is not always heavy.....btw, gold bearing quartz costs many times the value of the gold in it.

Here is a photo of a gold bearing quartz handle, knife by Steve Rapp...the knife is FAST and balanced in the hand:

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Scurvy092]

The problem with stag and jigged bone is it looks like something your dad or grandad would carry. Aka, super uncool to younger rebellious people. Also a lot of younger suburban/urban people who have no connection to the outdoors and so some of the mystique and desireability is lost in them.

 

[Scurvy092]

Carbon fiber is hot now but even it's on the backslide I think. Its peaked in popularity imho.

There may come a day where people think it looks hokey or silly.

 

[Ben Seward]

That's a great looking knife. We're definitely in a bad way if stone and precious metals get banned. Darcy is totally correct that natural materials are more environmentally friendly but to the uneducated masses perception is reality. There will probably always be some who appreciate the natural materials. There's more room for artistic expression with wood, imo. Carving will probably always be appreciated and let's hope the love of craftsmanship doesn't give way completely to CNC machine work.

 

[Kohai999]

Hi Ben,

It's likely we might be addressing two sides of the same issue.....

1. Natural materials have their place, so do synthetics... Darcy decrying the use of synthetics is trying to plug the hole with a thumb....not gonna happen. A hard use knife may be well handled with wood, but G-10 is still going to edge it out in performance, and for a synthetic, it's pretty interesting to look at.....as is carbon fiber and micarta. Carbon fiber is not as durable for abrasion resistance, I don't think.

2. Ivory has appeal on multiple levels, but you rarely see it on basic "using" knives. As makers and collectors search for a replacement material that has as much if not more appeal due to expense, rarity and aesthetic interest, stone is a natural.(no pun intended).

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

I don't think the synthetic materials are in any way more environmentally friendly than natural(and in almost every case, renewable) resource materials. Stag is naturally shed every year, elephants die of natural causes, the mammoths are already extinct, trees grow back.
Let's pretend the knife with synthetic materials will last forever, and be passed down from generation to generation........what about the offcuts and grinding dust from the manufacture of that handle? They end up in the landfills and take millennia to break down? How is that more environmentally responsible than stag or ivory if harvested in a sustainable manner?
People need to realize that we(humanity) are part of the natural world.

Darcy

I think you latched on to a point that I was not making. It's not the environmental side effects of producing that stuff that people think about. I think that most folks are ignorant of how things are made. Armchair environmentalists might not connect their use of batteries and electronics, for example, to the result that producing these things has on the environment and the human cultures involved in their manufacture.

It's what the material symbolizes that I'm talking about, and a great example of that is fossilized material. There is a reason why ancient ivories are lumped in with 'fresh' ivory, and that is because those clamouring for conservation might not know or think about the difference. Yet, their demands are seemingly effective.

Now, as the world continues to dry out and heat up, and more ancient ivories are discovered in previously frozen places, the generalized view of ivory may change and the use of the ancient stuff might actually increase. But I don't think there's any turning back wrt fresh ivory. The point of banning all ivory, I assume, is to attach shame to its use and kill the demand for it. Whether or not you agree on the effectiveness of banning is pretty much a moot point at this stage. The wheels are in motion and, like it or not, fresh ivory's time is coming to an end. At least in the western world.

So, maybe it's not just genre popularity we're talking about, but also the demand for materials. In that regard, I'm pretty confident in saying that fresh ivory is on its way out, and that ancient ivory will increasingly fill the void. That is, if it comes off the ban list, which I think it will at some point.