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

JParanee said:
I need one of your body guards

If ya have an extra in Atlanta :)
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Planning on having a couple there;) If you want something special let me know ahead of time and I can probably make it happen:)
 
Lorien said:
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.
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I agree with a lot here

As a hunter with a lot of connection thru out the world I have some insight into things that involve animals and what is happening on the world scene

As I said earlier once things in that world get taken away they rarely get given back

I'm glad I did my hunting abroad years ago :)

Game laws effect all animal parts

Cities permits , etc all factor in
 
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I can not really speak as to what genre is going up or down as my only interaction is with a few makers and this forum.

Anecdotally, I have seen an uprise in interest in custom slip joints and more refined tactical folders...too bad ...as that is what I am interested in, that and the rare B&T knife

I think what will be the biggest trend overall is the aging of the baby boomers, one of the wealthiest generations in history. Significant factor in collecting interest across most genres is accumulating things you admired when you were younger ...and could not have.

Steven commented on another thread about the Fisk show that everyone looked 60 or above, that is not necessarily the best thing. A vibrant hobby needs growing interest across many age ranges to flourish. The knife flippers will come and go, as soon as they can't make a quick buck , they will move on. Need more buy/hold/enjoy than buy/sell/flip collectors. Hopefully the tactical crowd will move more in that direction.

Post baby boom generations have less disposable income than their parents and are more worried about retirement and job security. They are also much more mobile ( at least in the professional job market) and quite honestly that does not help with most any collecting hobby.

The best news is that the level of quality and the number of high quality craftsman has never been better.
 
bandaidman said:
Post baby boom generations have less disposable income than their parents and are more worried about retirement and job security.
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...not to mention the fatalistic viewpoint, in these generations, that accompanies the real threat of accelerated climate change and, generally, a sense that the world as we know it can and probably will end. This is why I feel that materials with extraordinary longevity are in such high demand, but I digress.

You've made some excellent points, sir.
 
My opinion only, but stone is tacky with few exceptions. I see it only having a place on an art knife. Same with coral and mammoth tooth. Younger collectors are not buying gold, stone,coral etc...... Art knives are a completely different (older) crowd. Not wrong, I just don't think it's what's up and coming.
 
Don't get me started on kirinite or ctek. :D
 
BenR.T. said:
My opinion only, but stone is tacky with few exceptions. I see it only having a place on an art knife. Same with coral and mammoth tooth. Younger collectors are not buying gold, stone,coral etc...... Art knives are a completely different (older) crowd. Not wrong, I just don't think it's what's up and coming.
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You are not seeing the right stone, because the impetus has not been there to use it.....it comes in every color.....white marble in a number of iterations is perfect for many tacticals, as is black marble.

Likely you, Ben R.T. will not be purchasing lapidary equipment any time soon, but tactical knives that have ivory, stag or pearl art not tactical knives anymore...they are something else...stone will be a very capable material...and I'll bet you $100.00 on that.....say 5 years time!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
bandaidman said:
I can not really speak as to what genre is going up or down as my only interaction is with a few makers and this forum.

Anecdotally, I have seen an uprise in interest in custom slip joints and more refined tactical folders...too bad ...as that is what I am interested in, that and the rare B&T knife

I think what will be the biggest trend overall is the aging of the baby boomers, one of the wealthiest generations in history. Significant factor in collecting interest across most genres is accumulating things you admired when you were younger ...and could not have.

Steven commented on another thread about the Fisk show that everyone looked 60 or above, that is not necessarily the best thing. A vibrant hobby needs growing interest across many age ranges to flourish. The knife flippers will come and go, as soon as they can't make a quick buck , they will move on. Need more buy/hold/enjoy than buy/sell/flip collectors. Hopefully the tactical crowd will move more in that direction.

Post baby boom generations have less disposable income than their parents and are more worried about retirement and job security. They are also much more mobile ( at least in the professional job market) and quite honestly that does not help with most any collecting hobby.

The best news is that the level of quality and the number of high quality craftsman has never been better.
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Good stuff
 
BenR.T. said:
My opinion only, but stone is tacky with few exceptions. I see it only having a place on an art knife. Same with coral and mammoth tooth. Younger collectors are not buying gold, stone,coral etc...... Art knives are a completely different (older) crowd. Not wrong, I just don't think it's what's up and coming.
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I agree
 
Kohai999 said:
You are not seeing the right stone, because the impetus has not been there to use it.....it comes in every color.....white marble in a number of iterations is perfect for many tacticals, as is black marble.

Likely you, Ben R.T. will not be purchasing lapidary equipment any time soon, but tactical knives that have ivory, stag or pearl art not tactical knives anymore...they are something else...stone will be a very capable material...and I'll bet you $100.00 on that.....say 5 years time!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I love you Stevie but stone sucks and cracks.....plus your old :)
 
bandaidman said:
They are also much more mobile ( at least in the professional job market) and quite honestly that does not help with most any collecting hobby.
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The affluent younger people I know don't have any "Heirloom" quality stuff- it's all disposable. High quality is Ikea. The most valuable physical items they own are their disposable electronics- computers, smart phones, 60" Displays.
 
Corian comes in every color too, still don't like it. :)
I do like the look of Ivory, stag and even Mop can look nice on the right knife.
 
Lorien said:
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.
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I hope you are right:)

Darcy
 
Scurvy092 said:
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.
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One thing I really like seeing is material/design fusion. Like, people making traditional knives out of carbon fiber and super stainless steels, or making tactical knives with stag, jigged bone, etc.

Also one thing that hasn't come up, but in a just world would be on its way up is... stacked leather! Love me some stacked leather handles.

I do feel that Japanese cord wrap variants are on their way up. With the use of epoxy, the durability issue isn't really there anymore; they're visually attractive, and provide a very secure grip.
 
madcap_magician said:
One thing I really like seeing is material/design fusion. Like, people making traditional knives out of carbon fiber and super stainless steels, or making tactical knives with stag, jigged bone, etc.

Also one thing that hasn't come up, but in a just world would be on its way up is... stacked leather! Love me some stacked leather handles.

I do feel that Japanese cord wrap variants are on their way up. With the use of epoxy, the durability issue isn't really there anymore; they're visually attractive, and provide a very secure grip.
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You may be one of the only ones out there. It shows age and use almost instantly. Chuck Gedraitis has been doing some interesting things with stacked natural micarta that well mimics stacked leather without any of the very legitimate issues that leather has.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
BenR.T. said:
My opinion only, but stone is tacky with few exceptions. I see it only having a place on an art knife. Same with coral and mammoth tooth. Younger collectors are not buying gold, stone,coral etc...... Art knives are a completely different (older) crowd. Not wrong, I just don't think it's what's up and coming.
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Same here.
 
madcap_magician said:
One thing I really like seeing is material/design fusion. Like, people making traditional knives out of carbon fiber and super stainless steels, or making tactical knives with stag, jigged bone, etc.

Also one thing that hasn't come up, but in a just world would be on its way up is... stacked leather! Love me some stacked leather handles.

I do feel that Japanese cord wrap variants are on their way up. With the use of epoxy, the durability issue isn't really there anymore; they're visually attractive, and provide a very secure grip.
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I too enjoy see9ng fusion pieces

David Mirabile is an artist tat excels at this

The ancient with the new

 
For all those younger guys who see stone as unappealing to a younger crowd, young people tend to grow older. And with that aging issue, in time, comes all form of change in flavor, taste, vision, you name it. You'll be there sooner than you think. Age isn't a static state. As every day goes by, someone in one demographic changes to another demographic, and becomes subject to those changes that come with it.

In the meantime, I agree with you that stone IS primarily best when thought of in terms of art knives. One particular maker whose art knives command five and six figure prices used quite bit of stone. And all things being equal, a stone art dagger of his (only the best and rarest stones, semi-precious, etc) would command more than about any other handle material (except for his solid gold pieces).

My own preference in a non-art knife is black micarta.
 
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