What makes a knife cool?

[DocJD]

The Barlow brings up an interesting point about coolness: history! The history behind a type of knife can add a lot to the cool factor.

A great example is the kukri. It's not only unique and very functional type of blade, it has an interesting history with the Gurkhas and just in general. It makes it a lot cooler than just some weird banana-shaped machete.

I always thought that the history of the development of the Spyderco Warrior certainly added to the martial coolness . Apparently they thought so also because they included a big booklet along with the knife detailing the design and technique of use .

 

[Lapedog]

Did you say pop up lights are cool again ?

Thank god

When I was a kid in the early 90s if a car had popup lights that meant it was not only cooler, but automatically faster.

 

[Arian29]

The Barlow brings up an interesting point about coolness: history! The history behind a type of knife can add a lot to the cool factor.

A great example is the kukri. It's not only unique and very functional type of blade, it has an interesting history with the Gurkhas and just in general. It makes it a lot cooler than just some weird banana-shaped machete.

The kukri is an icon and a national symbol of the Gurkhas, its also identified as a military carry, it’s held very high in pride and honour throughout Nepali traditions.
Heres an old pic of a couple Kukris I bought during my trip to Nepal,
(the small folder at the bottom is my buck 110Auto.. helps show the size of the Kukris)

 

[eugenechia1989]

I voted the last option because I really don't know. I currently carry a Cold Steel Code 4 and I'd like to say it's the fact that it excels in both form and function that is why I think it's cool, but then I also think the Spyderco Endura 4 is very cool and it's hardly a pretty piece. I guess if I like it, it's because I think it's cool. But it's difficult for me to narrow down on specific traits. I think it has most to do with how well it combines tasteful, simple, elegant and classy good looks with cutting performance, durability, ease of carry, ease of maintenance and price.

 

[BellaBlades]

Carefully disguised photo to obscure the writing.

That's was a mistake , just replaced it with the clear version.

I know you were kidding. But I don't like blurry photos.

 

[22-rimfire]

That's was a mistake , just replaced it with the clear version.

I was just making a joke. Nothing personal or a comment on the blurry photo. Stuff happens.

I think the history aspect adds quite a lot to one's appreciation of a particular knife or style of knife. Why would anyone like an old rusty WWII bayonet? Mecha, you summed up the yellow barlow in a nutshell in terms of my attraction to it. (I am not a collector and an actual collector talked me into selling this GEC (CC SFO) barlow. I like it but I think it is going to a good home.)

 

[22-rimfire]

Old school butchers definately are cool.
One of the coolest knives I've seen in a long time is the Russell Green River fish knife ( I think that's what they call it ) not a big knife or anything but Soo cool and it's blade has roots In the classic broad clip point butcher pattern.

I like that Green River knife and have been tempted to order one from AG Russell.

 

[JParanee]

Oh man, they're probably cooler now than they have ever been before. Speaking of you making swords look cool...I hope you're prepared for what Mirabile is about to do.

David imho sets the bench mark in cool

 

[vox801]

"Neat shape/design" and "who cares what people" think, oh, and lots and lots of skulls. Because skulls are cool.

 

[Arian29]

IMHO, altho the performance/cutting and neat shape/design are most important, sometimes we do get interested in a knife even without trying out it’s cutting performance,(which can be improved with a high quality steel knife).

I think that’s where the neat design/shape comes into play first by sight, and makes it look more attractive than average. I’ve acquired some bowies that I keep not for cutting or for some other purpose, but just becoz they look so good that I couldn’t NOT have ‘em.
These’re pretty cool for me...

.

.

 

[Arian29]

The present poll’s getting interesting with a small diff between ‘Neat Design/Shape’ and ‘Who Cares what people think’

 

[evltcat]

I'm always interested in checking out a great design with excellent cutting performance.
If the blade meets those two criteria, I don't give a Monkey-frog-chicken-tart what anyone else thinks, I'm buyin' it.

 

[Mecha]

I'm always interested in checking out a great design with excellent cutting performance.
If the blade meets those two criteria, I don't give a Monkey-frog-chicken-tart what anyone else thinks, I'm buyin' it.

Evil T Cat!

David imho sets the bench mark in cool

Yes his knives and swords are at the top tier of cool: the type that define cool.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The present poll’s getting interesting with a small diff between ‘Neat Design/Shape’ and ‘Who Cares what people think’

If two choices could be made I'll bet the numbers would match.
We want a knife with a design we personally think is cool, regardless of whether anyone else thinks it's cool.

 

[DocJD]

Even the coolest seeming blade can become instantly uncool if it fails to function or proves unsafe . So I think that performance is more important than the poll indicates . Maybe we tend to take performance for granted ?



Thought the Al Mar Pathfinder was the coolest until blade snapped off at the hilt . They replaced it , but my trust and most of the coolness was gone .

 

[Arian29]

Even the coolest seeming blade can become instantly uncool if it fails to function or proves unsafe . So I think that performance is more important than the poll indicates . Maybe we tend to take performance for granted ?



Thought the Al Mar Pathfinder was the coolest until blade snapped off at the hilt . They replaced it , but my trust and most of the coolness was gone .

By that logic, ‘Survival Of the Fittest’

Or shall we say ‘Coolest’

 

[22-rimfire]

Even the coolest seeming blade can become instantly uncool if it fails to function or proves unsafe . So I think that performance is more important than the poll indicates . Maybe we tend to take performance for granted ?

Performance is certainly important. But many knives are purchased just because they're "cool" without any or little intention of using them. So, they would never know if the knife is a piece of junk. And "junk" is pretty relative too.

 

[Arian29]

Performance is certainly important. But many knives are purchased just because they're "cool" without any or little intention of using them. So, they would never know if the knife is a piece of junk. And "junk" is pretty relative too.

I think that’s why the option ‘Who Cares..’ is pretty high with votes

 

[danbot]

Knives that have confidence and don't "try" to be cool, but can just be themselves are truly cool.

 

[Mecha]

Knives that have confidence and don't "try" to be cool, but can just be themselves are truly cool.

Just like high school.

Performance is certainly important. But many knives are purchased just because they're "cool" without any or little intention of using them. So, they would never know if the knife is a piece of junk. And "junk" is pretty relative too.

Yes and as you can see, according to the poll, a neat shape or design has a lot more to do with whether a knife is cool or not than the ability to do its job and cut well.