What will the next Knifemaker Challenge be?

[Brad "the butcher"]

Urban extreme for me as well, there have been lots of small to med. blades in previous challenges.

 

[Shotgun]

To me the extreme one is a bit unrealistic. Yeah it'll be fun to make one, fun to test and fun to read about but in the end that's all it's good for. I'm not going to carry around a 2 pound tomahawk/knife/prybar so this challenge would have no realistic point to it for me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.

 

[Bo T]

How about a PSK knife. i.e. one that will fit in an altoids box or other small container?

 

[TheGame]

To me the extreme one is a bit unrealistic. Yeah it'll be fun to make one, fun to test and fun to read about but in the end that's all it's good for. I'm not going to carry around a 2 pound tomahawk/knife/prybar so this challenge would have no realistic point to it for me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.

No, you probably aren't. But there are a lot who'd like it as well. I usually carry a heavy knife when I go to the woods. Besides, we've already done all the others, if you view a necker as an EDC/Bird and Trout type knife. (I know a bird and trout isn't the same, but they are close) It's just a challenge that has not been done. I'd be more interested in that one personally.

 

[Rick Marchand]

To me the extreme one is a bit unrealistic. Yeah it'll be fun to make one, fun to test and fun to read about but in the end that's all it's good for. I'm not going to carry around a 2 pound tomahawk/knife/prybar so this challenge would have no realistic point to it for me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.

I think you are way off on the relevance of a heavy working blade that can take abuse. Take a look at the current Busse or Tops line up. I for one am not an end of the world type guy but see the need for a large multipurpose blade to the point that it is my prefered carry. I dont carve spoons or whittle traps, so bushcraft knives arent much use to me. These types of tools dont have to be 2lb hawks or prybars... they can easily be a BK9, Hoodlum or a Junglas. Surely you are not suggesting that there is no interest in a Tops Tracker or a Busse Battle Mistress because I believe there is... and Im sure Im not the only one who thinks so.

 

[Rick Marchand]

oops... double tap.

 

[Big Chris]

I really like making and using the bigger blades. I also hope this is what's chosen since like The Game said all the other topics have basically been covered. With this challenge I am trying to think outside the normal box for knife design. I guess I should not be planning that far ahead since the Urban/Extreme has not won yet, but I think I will make one anyway. Lets let the creativity flow.

 

[TheGame]

I think you are way off on the relevance of a heavy working blade that can take abuse. Take a look at the current Busse or Tops line up. I for one am not an end of the world type guy but see the need for a large multipurpose blade to the point that it is my prefered carry. I dont carve spoons or whittle traps, so bushcraft knives arent much use to me. These types of tools dont have to be 2lb hawks or prybars... they can easily be a BK9, Hoodlum or a Junglas. Surely you are not suggesting that there is no interest in a Tops Tracker or a Busse Battle Mistress because I believe there is... and Im sure Im not the only one who thinks so.

Yea... you said what I was thinking to a T.

It doesn't look like it will win, but I still think it would be the best idea. The EDC, was what I thought the necker challenge really was. I mean, it was called a necker, but I usually carry neckers in my pocket in the first place.

 

[kgd]

Answer...knives shaped like a smooth Asian boy. :O

Damn, that is exactly what I was thinking...but a little more on the tranny side!

Should I put brief descriptions in the OP?

Wilderness/Urban Extreme - Think of the worst case scenario knife/tool uses. It may start with fuzzsticks and opening beer bottles but will eventually lead to cutting 8" logs and hacking through a brick walls(throw in digging and punching through sheet metal for good measure).... these knives would go from delicate to downright abusive use. There will be damage and possible catastrophic failure.... though, perhaps a little more creative than other extreme tests we've seen to date. We would of course have to set size parameters and define "tool" (blades, hawks, hammers, axes, etc...)

As long as it can also be used for pedicures...When the SHTF, you don't want an in-grown toenail to be your death dealer!!!!

The EDC, was what I thought the necker challenge really was. I mean, it was called a necker, but I usually carry neckers in my pocket in the first place.

I agree here. I love me a 5" blade, but how many people really EDC something that big outside of using it as a bushcrafter. Pocket carry a necker??? Random, you are such a non-conformist!

Looks like you blokes want the brick basher!

 

[Storm Crow]

I was seriosuly disappointed to find out about the custom machete challenge after it was long over. I'd love to see a round 2 of that.

In the meantime, I throw my hat in the ring for wilderness/urban extreme.

 

[Rick Marchand]

I dont know... By now it is obvious that I am partial to the Extreme blade challenge but I do think we should at least hold new challenges before repeating old ones.

 

[pitdog]

I dont know... By now it is obvious that I am partial to the Extreme blade challenge but I do think we should at least hold new challenges before repeating old ones.

Rick just post a pic of your angry face and scare them into submission....we need a Bad ass big blade challenge !!!:thumbup:

I want to see some variations of these :eagerness:~

 

[kgd]

Rick just post a pic of your angry face and scare them into submission....we need a Bad ass big blade challenge !!!:thumbup:

 

[Rick Marchand]

That's my constipated look.... which may be equally scary for those who share a shelter with me... lol.

 

[TheGame]

I dont know... By now it is obvious that I am partial to the Extreme blade challenge but I do think we should at least hold new challenges before repeating old ones.

That's what I've been saying. We've done them all but that. Not necessarily a bird and trout, but that is pretty close to the necker, and the Necker is pretty much the EDC as well.

 

[Shotgun]

I think you are way off on the relevance of a heavy working blade that can take abuse. Take a look at the current Busse or Tops line up. I for one am not an end of the world type guy but see the need for a large multipurpose blade to the point that it is my prefered carry. I dont carve spoons or whittle traps, so bushcraft knives arent much use to me. These types of tools dont have to be 2lb hawks or prybars... they can easily be a BK9, Hoodlum or a Junglas. Surely you are not suggesting that there is no interest in a Tops Tracker or a Busse Battle Mistress because I believe there is... and Im sure Im not the only one who thinks so.

Let me be more clear. I'm not talking about what you prefer in the woods so much as the urban aspect of it. There is NO WAY I'm walking down the streets of Portland with an 8 inch bowie knife on my belt. I don't care how pretty you make them. So again, this would have no interest from me. Why would anyone care if so and so made the best urban environment knife if it's not something anyone would have with them? Maybe if you gave it a realistic size limitation? I guess I don't understand what you want to achieve here. It seems to me you just want to beat on knives. And yes there's an interest in that.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Let me be more clear. I'm not talking about what you prefer in the woods so much as the urban aspect of it. There is NO WAY I'm walking down the streets of Portland with an 8 inch bowie knife on my belt. I don't care how pretty you make them. So again, this would have no interest from me. Why would anyone care if so and so made the best urban environment knife if it's not something anyone would have with them? Maybe if you gave it a realistic size limitation? I guess I don't understand what you want to achieve here. It seems to me you just want to beat on knives. And yes there's an interest in that.

I guess I read into it differently, I was thinking the Wilderness/ Urban Extreme would bring out some really NEW idea's. I get what you are saying, but aren't there already 1,000 other knives that you can stick in your pocket right off the shelf.
Also, I would think the size of the Wilderness/ Urban Extreme would vary a whole bunch...I see this being the most diverse option as far as what each individual maker would envision it as.
Just my 2 cents..
Anyways...why not just have another challenge after this one. It almost sounds like you would never like to see a "survival' knife challenge of sorts...if the knife can chop stuff that is.
Like I said, I totally understand your take on it..but why don't you come on over to the DARK SIDE for this one...just this once...please.

 

[kgd]

All I know is Rick kept on blabbering on about the perfect knife geometry last time we camped....Something to do with communing with the mystical mooneye during the sacred blue flame heat treat.....Anyhow, I thunk he has a few ideas in his noggin to make a blade that will slice salomi and bricks and then cut tomatoes. Who knows, maybe it can be done (I'm just not sure I want to photo-document the process on this one).....

Gotta chase your dreams!

 

[JCavSD]

Let me be more clear. I'm not talking about what you prefer in the woods so much as the urban aspect of it. There is NO WAY I'm walking down the streets of Portland with an 8 inch bowie knife on my belt. I don't care how pretty you make them. So again, this would have no interest from me. Why would anyone care if so and so made the best urban environment knife if it's not something anyone would have with them? Maybe if you gave it a realistic size limitation? I guess I don't understand what you want to achieve here. It seems to me you just want to beat on knives. And yes there's an interest in that.

That's a really good point. I wouldn't carry some monster knife on my belt down the streets of San Diego. However, in the back of both my vehicles you'll find Fiddleback machetes for those times that I'm not in the city, or if/when the urban environment goes unstable. When it comes to protection it's much easier to conceal a handgun than a large knife. However, a large knife has a broader range of applications than a handgun. I live in an urban environment, so if I'm home or with my car I'll have a big knife close by just in case.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Let me be more clear. I'm not talking about what you prefer in the woods so much as the urban aspect of it. There is NO WAY I'm walking down the streets of Portland with an 8 inch bowie knife on my belt. I don't care how pretty you make them. So again, this would have no interest from me. Why would anyone care if so and so made the best urban environment knife if it's not something anyone would have with them? Maybe if you gave it a realistic size limitation? I guess I don't understand what you want to achieve here. It seems to me you just want to beat on knives. And yes there's an interest in that.

Shotgun, I suppose I understand your opinion... I just think it is based on personal preference. There is a huge market for "Extreme" blades and I think there is a real need. You may be of the mind that it is hype or fad but not everyone shares your opinion. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about knife abuse... it is just steel, bro it's all good.

Wilderness/Urban Extreme blades aren't necessarily carried on your belt. They can be thrown into a bugout bag, behind a car seat or strapped to a backpack. I wouldn't carry a 10" blade downtown either. We did a machete challange... I don't think many folks carry a machete on the local trails. Same with the Camp Knife challenge... I don't carry a 5-7" blade around everytime I head out. I DO wear a 10.5" blade in the woods and keep it in a backpack, hung in my shop for grab and go. I HAVE had to dig, hammer, chop, baton, chip ice, break stone, pry and generally abuse my knife. I DID throw my beater blade in the pop-up camper when I went on a 3week road trip last summer. It saved us A LOT of time and headache when I used it to remove a fused bearing race that NO OTHER TOOL at the auto garage was capable of. I would consider that Extreme and very useful.

I don't understand the campaign against this particular challenge.... just click the box to cast your vote, bud. Maybe it won't happen this time around, I'm cool with that. So far I've submitted 7" Camp Knife, 12" Machete, 4.5" Bushcrafter and a 3" Necker.... None of which I carry on a regular basis. My daily user is a SAK. So realistically speaking, the only challenges that would directly influence my personal choice in knives would be a Slipjoint and Wilderness/Urban Extreme.... neither of which has been done, yet.

The more I think about it the more I believe we shouldn't repeat knife Challanges just yet.... perhaps we should make a thread to first CLEARLY DEFINE THE GROUPS, then to vote on the next challenge or the order of rotation for future challenges.

Maybe something like...

Kit Knife
Folder
Necker
Bushcraft
Game Prep
3-5" Camp
6-9" Camp
Heavy Chopper
Machete
Open Class Extreme