What would you like to see us make next?

[Bumppo]

A "Clamshell" Bali type knife, but the handles flip horizontally with the flat of the blade.

An offset handled bali, to give the blade more strength.

An assisted withdrawing edge cover or sheath that retracts into the handle, that way you can have a pocket clip on a small fixed blade knife.

 

[SPXTrader]

PLEASE use a recurve blade!

What's the point of making a Kershaw Taboo if it doesn't look like YOUR Taboo Ken? I've been asking for one for two years; please don't compromise. A Hollow-Ground recurve is the knife a true Taboo-lover wants. If you want a flat-ground knife with a staight blade, get a ZDP Leek.

I agree 100%!

 

[nygiantsfan3342]

I like the DLC coated S30V blade.--RECURVE PLEASE!
Make it look like a Spec Bump, with the angled Blur thumbstuds, with a stud lock. Please make sure it has the ZT style clips, with Tip-up/down, right and left hand carry.

Black 3D machined G-10, just like the Spec Bump.

Also try to make sure everything says matte black, including the stud-lock.

Just buy a Spec Bump!

Why would Kershaw go through all the trouble making a new design if it is going to look just like an existing knife? I want a Kershaw Taboo that looks like a Taboo, not a Spec Bump.

 

[Dekz]

So now we gotta convince Kershaw to do the Taboo/ Taboojito guys. How many of you want to see it with a drop point style blade(sans recurve) and how many of you want it with the existing blade? Of course you all know I love a recurve . Seems alot of you don't.

I would love it if you could do both versions so that everybody can get the Taboo that they want. But if I had to choose, I would much prefer a drop point. Something similar to the bladeshape on my Cyclone would be perfect

 

[nygiantsfan3342]

I would love it if you could do both versions so that everybody can get the Taboo that they want. But if I had to choose, I would much prefer a drop point. Something similar to the bladeshape on my Cyclone would be perfect

Guys, maybe I'm missing something. Why would any of you want a Taboo that looks like a knife that Kershaw already makes????????????????

Isn't the point of a NEW knife to give us something that DOESN't already exist? Why would you want a knife that is just like a Cyclone, or a Spec Bump? The Shallot was a completely new design and it works just fine on its own. Do the same thing for the Taboo, but let it remain a Taboo! The uncoated recurved blade is what makes it a Taboo!

 

[knivesandguns]

NO!
The Tactiboo must be coated!
Maybe we could also get an ornamental version...
The spec bump is kinda on the small side... diff thumb stud, only one type of pocket carry.....

 

[riffraff]

Nah, I agree with giantsfan; a Kershaw Taboo complete with recurved blade, uncoated (blasted or...ooo! polished?), and handle/scales with inserts. Yep.

And the Shallot is a wonderful blank canvas; it's simply screaming for boutique runs with exotic metals (both blade and handles).

:thumbup:

 

[SPXTrader]

Satin (or possibly polished...)

Yung uns these days...what are we gonna do with them Jeremy? The Master himself asks what we want, and we'd better be very careful of what we ask! I want a TABOO, as close to the Master's creation as he will allow. And I've been thinking about the blade composition. The handle is so beautiful, I think using a CB like the JYD II CB would take away form it. I'm leaning SG2...clean, sharp, and hollow ground. WITH the recurve! It would make a great mate for that handle!

 

[boef800]

ZT0200 with CPM3V blade.How would that be?

Alex

 

[SPXTrader]

Alex,

No.

SPX

 

[Joshua J.]

Ok Ken, if you want a challenge, how's this.

1. It needs to use the Stud-lock.

2. With the Composite blade technology, try using three different steel types on the same blade.
Something nice and stainless for the base, with more wear resistant steel at the start of the edge, and ending in something tougher (For example, 13C26 base, with the edge beginning in CPM S125V and ending in CPM 154).

3. Give the blade the same texture/pattern as the handle.
Remember the Ti Bump, how the handle had the coolest texturing ever?
Try using some crazy pattern like that on the blade as well as the handle, keeping it all anodized the same.
Maybe a nice pattern that looks like crystal roses...
On a mountain side.
With the ocean in the background.
And bunny rabbits (under the beautiful golden rays of the sun).

Ok, just a rose theme would do it for me.
(seriously, don't put bunny rabbits on it.)

4. Give it a true, full, convex grind (and just try re-curving that!).

 

[Bookworm]

Guys, maybe I'm missing something. Why would any of you want a Taboo that looks like a knife that Kershaw already makes????????????????

Isn't the point of a NEW knife to give us something that DOESN't already exist? Why would you want a knife that is just like a Cyclone, or a Spec Bump? The Shallot was a completely new design and it works just fine on its own. Do the same thing for the Taboo, but let it remain a Taboo! The uncoated recurved blade is what makes it a Taboo!

Because the Speed/Spec bumps are user knives. They can and will take a beating.

The tabeautiful on the other hand, is an ornamental knife, designed for little use, to be carried primarily as an accessory. In the same niche as a Sebenza. Unfortunately, to get the knife we want, it will probably have to be in the same price range as the sebbie, but for the handle designs I've seen, that's I price I'd gladly pay.

The Kershaw Taboo would be a fully functional knife (and probably a damn nice one at that) but it would also be equally ornamental. I hate to say it, but when I throw on a suit, the speed bump and RAM just don't quite fit with the theme.


edit: I also second a skeletonized knife, I love that look.

and on another note, I'd like to see submissions for this: What would Al Capone carry? I think it would be a knife along the lines of the taboo. Wickedly efficient, but goes well with a suit.

 

[nygiantsfan3342]

Satin (or possibly polished...)

Yung uns these days...what are we gonna do with them Jeremy? The Master himself asks what we want, and we'd better be very careful of what we ask! I want a TABOO, as close to the Master's creation as he will allow. And I've been thinking about the blade composition. The handle is so beautiful, I think using a CB like the JYD II CB would take away form it. I'm leaning SG2...clean, sharp, and hollow ground. WITH the recurve! It would make a great mate for that handle!

A polished S30V blade would keep it in the tradition of functional art, but SG2 would be okay, as long as the recurve was present. The real custom Taboo is about the size of the Ti Bump, which is a little smaller than the Spec Bump. Those who want a giant tactical folder will be much happier with the ZT-0300 or 0200, both of which are tanks, and available now.

In the spirit of this thread, I had to change my avatar back to the Taboos. Sorry Offsetlover, I had to replace your photo!

 

[nygiantsfan3342]

The tabeautiful on the other hand, is an ornamental knife, designed for little use, to be carried primarily as an accessory.

I DISAGREE, but if I spent $3000 on a custom Taboo, I'd think twice before using it to open a bag of mulch!

The Kershaw Taboo would be a fully functional knife (and probably a damn nice one at that) but it would also be equally ornamental.

This is closer to the niche of the Taboo.

I hate to say it, but when I throw on a suit, the speed bump and RAM just don't quite fit with the theme.

I agree about the dress clothes statement too. I am in sales and usually carry my Boron/Damascus Leek on sales calls. The Tyrade is so heavy it pulls down my slacks pocket in a weird way. The Ti Bump (which is similar in size to the Taboo) is perfect though, not to heavy, but stout enough for heavy duty cutting.

 

[nozh2002]

I've been perusing this forum for a while and it sounds like you guys have some pretty good ideas. I would like to hear from you on what you think we should make next. Don't be afraid to give me a challenge.Feel free to go outside the box in your thinking, or not.

What areas of the production knife arena do you feel we should put more focus on and why?

What do you think is missing?

Challenges for you Ken
- make clip point! You have this curved dolphin like design for a while, can you do something outside your current style, something concave not convex (but not on the edge, where you have always S-edge)? I like wide blades - like ZT302, but can you make it Russian (Oersian) style?
- make knives with YXR7, CPM S125V, SRS15 or even wootz (why can not you start small parawootz production - thermocycle D2 several times and have this pattern...) and ZDP189 with bigger blade.
- make ZT in collaboration with Yuna (custom maker - new but very talented artist)
- make your own version of classic knives like SunFish, Wild Cat Driller, Buck110 with modern steels and materials...
- make orange, yellow handled - resque ZT300...

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[sixfoot7]

I can't think of anything, but hey... you guys are the innovators. I'd rather be surprized by something I've never thought of.(Draper/Onion)

I agree. If I could really envision something truly original, I'd try to actually make it. That's why you do what you do. I look at most of your creations and think "yup, that's what I wanted". But I'll try.
1) Something big, bigger that an Offset or ZT 0200 that looks normal in mine and OL's hands, flipper, recurve, with a choice of blades like S30V, BG 42, SG2, VG 10. Not interchangeable, but easily changeable.
2) A gent's flipper, also recurve, perhaps olive wood or something similar, same blade option as above.

See? Pretty lame, but the best I can come up with.

I personally would like to see a knife that is made in the US factory, is of top rate construction, reeks of quality, that everyone can afford, and it sells in huge volume.

I know, call me killjoy.

Were you into your right-hand drawer when you wrote that? What makes you think that you're not already doing that? Or am I missing something, could you elaborate?

Rik

 

[Dekz]

Guys, maybe I'm missing something. Why would any of you want a Taboo that looks like a knife that Kershaw already makes????????????????

Isn't the point of a NEW knife to give us something that DOESN't already exist? Why would you want a knife that is just like a Cyclone, or a Spec Bump? The Shallot was a completely new design and it works just fine on its own. Do the same thing for the Taboo, but let it remain a Taboo! The uncoated recurved blade is what makes it a Taboo!

And how exactly is the Taboo blade shape different from a Spec Bump? The taboo doesn't have some revolutionary blade shape, recurve knives exist.

I LOVE the Taboo handles, I like the blade finish, I don't like the blade shape.

I like it so much I'll probably buy one either way, but i'd really prefer a different blade shape.

 

[dmonay]

Satin (or possibly polished...)

I want a TABOO, as close to the Master's creation as he will allow. And I've been thinking about the blade composition. The handle is so beautiful, I think using a CB like the JYD II CB would take away form it. I'm leaning SG2...clean, sharp, and hollow ground. WITH the recurve! It would make a great mate for that handle!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What if the line where the two metals are joined followed the curves of the blade?
I think that would accentuate the blade shape and the whole knife!
.........Imho

 

[thombrogan]

why can not you start small parawootz production - thermocycle D2 several times and have this pattern...

That'd be awesome! Bulat, pulad, wootz, whatever you call it, and the blades could be modern versions of the bulat blades found on the Eurasian steppe! There so many regional blades - from Khorasan to Ossettia through the Caucasus Mountains to the Anatolian plains. A SpeedSafe kinjal (single-edged, though) framelock, a yataghan-bladed balisong, a pizh-qabz ZT-style flipper... And all with D2 bulat or D2 bulat with a CPM-D2 composition edge. Maybe Achim Wirtz (is that the guy's name?) could help with the D2 bulat heat-treatment?

 

[grapesofbaath]

I definitely don't like the idea of the "tactiboo" with black blades. I think if the Taboo is turned into a production knife, it HAS to be because they found a way to keep the bright, bold colors and and design of the handle. That's one thing Kershaw knives are missing, and I think people would love it. And I don't think the Taboo would look right without a polished blade.

And I really think the Taboo can still be a Taboo without the dramatic recurve. The Bump's recurve is more functional with its longer straight edge towards the tip. Maybe Ken can find a happy medium, or even better, put out both a straighter drop point and the recurve!

If I have time this weekend, I'll try to photohop what a straighter drop point would look like on the Taboo. No thumb studs either way though.