What will the next Knifemaker Challenge be?

[kgd]

I originally voted bushcrafter - but I like Open Class Extreme - sounds like one of my lectures.....EXTREME ECOLOGY!

 

[Rick Marchand]

I know... EXTREME is a buzzword... but so was/is BUSHCRAFT.

I say we just have fun with a wide array of maker challenges and let folks take from it what they may.

 

[Kentucky]

Personally I voted bird & trout just because Im a hillbilly that hunts/fishs year round..For me personally its a nice, useful style/sized knife..

 

[kgd]

I know... EXTREME is a buzzword... but so was/is BUSHCRAFT.

I say we just have fun with a wide array of maker challenges and let folks take from it what they may.

The most interesting challenges are the ones where makers think of very different interpretations for a series of tests and scenarios as set up prior to the contest. To some extent, the earlier contests came with preconceived notions about tasks but nonetheless contributed great diversity in designs. As a person who just watches these things unfold, I'm always surprised by the results and how very different knives seem to hold their own to the same set of tasks. For example, everybody pretty much expected the bushlore clones to take top rank on the bushy knives, but that didn't happen at all.

If the extreme knife challenge really makes makers contemplate aspects of cutlery design - taking heat treat, steel choice and edge geometry as far as they can go, then I think this is and can be an extremely interesting contest. On the otherhand, if all the entries are are 1/4" stock with 25 degree edge angles than it will be less interesting and more like shopping products already available off the shelves. So can an EXTREME knife really perform at the small tasks and at the ungodly abusive ones? Is the only ploy (for a knifemaker) to go with the obvious blunt instruments - go for broke on tougness at the expense of elegance? Where is the happy medium? I think it could be interesting, but only if our makers rise to the challenge in ingenuity and creativity. I have a feeling they can!

 

[Rick Marchand]

Maybe we can call them Full-Spectrum Blades instead of Extreme. I'm talking about a challenge where making fuzzsticks and fig-4 traps holds as much value as prying open a stump or breaking a padlock. It will be interesting to see what virtues the makers feel are most important in a tool that will be used for everything.

 

[pitdog]

Maybe we can call them Full-Spectrum Blades instead of Extreme. I'm talking about a challenge where making fuzzsticks and fig-4 traps holds as much value as prying open a stump or breaking a padlock. It will be interesting to see what virtues the makers feel are most important in a tool that will be used for everything.

I think you have hit the nail on the head Rick......any half decent knife maker can make a sharpened prybar but to make a big knife that can also be used for finer tasks takes a little more thought !

Can I also add that although input from users such as myself is interesting, to me the vote for the next challenge should be cast by the makers who are taking part !


PS. Just noticed that Daniel Fairly is checking out this thread.....I'm pretty sure where his vote will go.......man he makes some awesome monsters !!!

 

[TheGame]

I also believe it should come down to the makers, and Pit for what this challenge should be. (Pit came up with the challenge idea the first go round) Even if it isn't this time, I would love to see this challenge get done. I think repeating before one has been done even once isn't a great idea. We can repeat, just after the others have been done. If this were something that has been done, it wouldn't be as interesting as one that hasn't been done.

 

[pitdog]

I also believe it should come down to the makers, and Pit for what this challenge should be. (Pit came up with the challenge idea the first go round) Even if it isn't this time, I would love to see this challenge get done. I think repeating before one has been done even once isn't a great idea. We can repeat, just after the others have been done. If this were something that has been done, it wouldn't be as interesting as one that hasn't been done.

Thanks buddy, I guess the challenge idea was one of my better ones eh !!!:encouragement:

I guess if you throw enough crazy ideas out there ,one is bound to make sense eventually !!!!!

 

[Storm Crow]

So I'm not the only one with a machete, ax, Cold Steel shovel, and variety of mid- to large-sized fixed blade knives floating around in the back seat of the pickup in the middle of a major urban center? Cool!

I'd take the Wilderness/urban extreme to not necessarily mean what you'd carry on your person at all times, but one that you would have readily accessible.

 

[JV3]

I voted for Urban.

We've had a bushcraft knife challenge, the EDC and Bird and Trout are somewhat similar to the Necker challenge, and we've had a camp knife challenge.

ditto.

 

[Gossman Knives]

The most interesting challenges are the ones where makers think of very different interpretations for a series of tests and scenarios as set up prior to the contest. To some extent, the earlier contests came with preconceived notions about tasks but nonetheless contributed great diversity in designs. As a person who just watches these things unfold, I'm always surprised by the results and how very different knives seem to hold their own to the same set of tasks. For example, everybody pretty much expected the bushlore clones to take top rank on the bushy knives, but that didn't happen at all.

If the extreme knife challenge really makes makers contemplate aspects of cutlery design - taking heat treat, steel choice and edge geometry as far as they can go, then I think this is and can be an extremely interesting contest. On the otherhand, if all the entries are are 1/4" stock with 25 degree edge angles than it will be less interesting and more like shopping products already available off the shelves. So can an EXTREME knife really perform at the small tasks and at the ungodly abusive ones? Is the only ploy (for a knifemaker) to go with the obvious blunt instruments - go for broke on tougness at the expense of elegance? Where is the happy medium? I think it could be interesting, but only if our makers rise to the challenge in ingenuity and creativity. I have a feeling they can!

As long as the testers aren't testing the knives in a block building with hockey masks on.
Scott

 

[Rick Marchand]

As long as the testers aren't testing the knives in a block building with hockey masks on.
Scott

Naw, Scott.... I think it'll go down something like this...



"I think this is the funnest challenge we've judged yet, Tony!"
"Yeah, Marce. Hey, if I get nabbed, you'll have to do the uploads tonight, okay?"
"Oh SNAP, I left Gossman's blade wedged in that cash register... he really should have put a lanyard on that beast."
"Noted."

 

[PatriotDan]

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

I like this idea. My mods for the list:

Wilderness Survival Kit
Bush Folder
Necker
Whittler
Bushcraft
3-4" Farm Knife
Hunter's Knife
5-7" Camp Knife
Heavy Chopper 7-10"
Machete
Open Class Extreme (Love this!!)

 

[TheGame]

Thanks buddy, I guess the challenge idea was one of my better ones eh !!!:encouragement:

I guess if you throw enough crazy ideas out there ,one is bound to make sense eventually !!!!!

It was one of the best ideas that have came through this forum, in my opinion.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Thanks buddy, I guess the challenge idea was one of my better ones eh !!!:encouragement:

I guess if you throw enough crazy ideas out there ,one is bound to make sense eventually !!!!!

I've always liked that idea and remember when you posted it.

I believe a Makers Challenge is supposed to be just that.... a Challenge!

 

[Shotgun]

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

No chip I just don't understand the point of destroying things for the sake of it. If you, other makers and the people testing want to expend time, money and energy on it then go for it. It wouldn't be the first time I didn't understand why people do the things they do.

 

[JCavSD]

Shotgun, I'm not getting your point anymore. Putting a large blade to the test under tough circumstances doesn't sound unreasonable as long as issue of general functionality are addressed. To me the question is how tough can it be made and still be usable for general purpose chopping/camp knife duties.

Rick, there has been plenty of defining at this point. Let the votes build in and the cards fall where they may. I'd be stoked to have a gentleman's EDC or an urban/wilderness survival knife...either way someone will probably get my money. Everyone un-clinch and let the votes drive the challenge.

 

[JCavSD]

Now that I'm thinking about this, I think you need to take the top three styles from the vote, then let the testers from the previous challenge make the pick from those three. A little payback and joy for the downtrodden testers! Power to the people!

 

[TheGame]

I really wish the vote could be limited to those who are WS&S regulars. I know for a fact there is not 140 regulars that post here. In my opinion, it would be better that way, since a lot of the people voting aren't ones who help to keep this section of BF alive.

 

[pitdog]

I really wish the vote could be limited to those who are WS&S regulars. I know for a fact there is not 140 regulars that post here. In my opinion, it would be better that way, since a lot of the people voting aren't ones who help to keep this section of BF alive.

Sorry buddy, I'll bow out !