I would like to hear from you on what you think we should make next.
What areas of the production knife arena do you feel we should put more focus on and why?
What do you think is missing?
Who is the target audience? Are the new projects aimed at providing a tool that nobody else makes, or is the sole purpose to create a market around a tool that does not yet exist?
I think the area of concealment has yet to been tapped by large manufacturers. Providing slim (not exactly small), easily concealed tools for personal protection could be of benefit to real folks at home, as well as those of us that find ourselves in an unsafe work environment.
I do think some knifemakers have scratched the surface and provide some tools that will work, but these are not mass produced as of yet. I was thinking of in the waist band concealable folders that are slim, light, assisted opening, have short clips made for the waist band that allow the folder to lay flat along the back of the hip. The clips might attach in multiple places, even allowing for a horizontal concealed carry of the knife.
FRN/plastic/titanium/aluminum/G10/CF scales (depends on your price point), with stainless liner/s and hardware (high rust and salt resistance-low cost). Coated strong steel, not really concerned with high hardness.
The idea is to have something extremely slim, easily deployable (assisted opening), concealable and comfortable in the waist or inside pocket. I was thinking a long oval or stretched egg shape design would fit well. A three inch blade with no longer than a 3.5 overall length would work well. A spear point with false top edge would allow for good penetration and still the user to feel comfortable holding it. Did I say it needed to be slim?
That is just an idea I had, but have yet to do something about it.
I did recently design an Air Crew specific knife with my knifemaker (definitely fills a market hole). Forged 52100 steel, heat and cryo treated, and Walter Birdsong Black-T coated. We discovered that GunKote and Duracoat coatings just don't hold up for a heavy use tool. We'll see how the Black-T works. I also helped design a couple folders with 52100 Black-T coated blades, though they aren't a design that hasn't been done before...for the most part.
I've always been a fan of your designs, even though my appeal is towards a more traditional design. You have put affordable good quality knives in our hands...and thanks for the assisted folder...great job.
