Hmmm ... moderators using phrases like "gray turds" to describe the products of their competitors. Now there's something that's attractive and a good representation for the cutlery industry. So much for disagreeing without being disagreeable, huh?
While some may consider the S&W Jogger, aka whistle knife, cute, a selling point for the less-than-bright ELU's, this is actually a very functional modification.
Whistles have long had a deterrent effect against some attackers. Most muggers and such don't want a crowd coming over to see what's up, which whistle's have a tendency to cause.
We have a local park where many people walk, jog, and run. Almost everyone has whistles. For that reason, if someone blows one, most everyone knows someone needs help. Simple, cheap, and effective. Will it stop a murderer or rapist? Probably not. But the average thug looking to just rip someone off for money will avoid folks that are prepared to summons help with a whistle.
Everytime I go to exercise, my S&W Jogger goes with me. It offers something of value no other neck knife has to offer. Laugh if you want, the whistle won't be a joke if I end up needing it. Or would you rather I stay quiet until the attacker is close by and then use your neck knife to inflict bodily harm? I will always prefer avoidance of such and whistles can and do work with many attackers.
True, the S&W knife itself isn't worth much, but it's certainly worth the $20 street price and I don't have to worry about a good and/or expensive knife suffering from the effects of body oils and sweat on it day after day. And, if the whistle does prove to be needed one day, it will be worth far more.
I also have a Crawford Kasper Neck Knife with me at all times, which, at $125, is a great value, especially as a utility knife and backup defense weapon. Even with the Kydex sheath, which is a clean, well-thought design, it's only 1/4" thick, making it extremely comfortable and extremely easy to conceal.
Is the S&W a ripoff of Darryl's beautiful and probably extremely well made neck knife? Probably so. But it's not a market threat - we talking very different leagues here. Heck, be flattered they thought enough of your design to copy it. Unless you're willing to spend the resource for a patent, and be prepared to back it up, well, welcome to the real world of capitalism. The copying of good designs is not new, you are not the first victim of it, won't be the last. Do I agree with S&W copying it - not on an intellectual level. Please note that I am a professional software developer, a field where it is FAR easier to duplicate a good design, and get it almost identical, than the cutlery industry. You guys are worried about a knife that has the same basic lines, but is far inferior to your's? Give me a break...
Ray
P.S. Not everyone hides email addresses to avoid responsibility, Darryl. Public forums such as this, are great places for harvesting email addresses to sell. Which isn't BF's fault - it happens everywhere. At least, by using Hotmail, the junk mail I receive doesn't flood my primary address. In other words, your remark about those that hide their email is not only wrong, but offensive.
