What's in a name?

[EngrSorenson]

It's Sunday and I had to come into work... and it's ended up being another one of those variations on, "Hurry-up-and-wait", so I figured we could pass some time discussing something I've been thinking about lately.

For the most part I'd say a knife is a knife, and a useful knife is a good knife and for the most part I don't care what it's called
But then there's special cases where it seems like there's specific branding going on, trying to appeal to a certain kind of person I don't identify with, and it does taint how I feel about the product.

For example, I really like ESEE products and I feel their naming conventions are very representative of the brand; straight forward tools for people who need tools.
Numbers 3 through 6 describing relative size? Yup, makes a lot of sense.
Naming them after a representative fish or insect? yeah, it elicits thoughts of small size and toughness which are both true to form, and is reflective of the experiences of the people who designed them.
Using the initials of the designer? no explanation necessary.

Then there's the laser strike...
I wish they'd called it the "Turbo Slaughter" or "Nazi Puncher" or at least something with some whimsy that I could get behind.
Maybe there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for the name, but it feels like they asked a 13 year old to pick a cool name for a knife.
I don't own one of these because I have some different personal preferences, but the name doesn't help.

Does a name of a knife ever change your opinion of the knife?
Any names out there that you find cringe-worthy?
Anything you'd be embarrassed to call by name if the average joe asked you about it?

 

[LightningG]

The first one that comes to mind is the Civivi Asticus. Nice enough knife, but my inner 12 year old self can't stop giggling at the name.

 

[EngrSorenson]

The first one that comes to mind is the Civivi Asticus. Nice enough knife, but my inner 12 year old self can't stop giggling at the name.

that, and you know if you had to tell a stranger what it was you'd end up repeating it.

"Oh that's a nice knife there, what's it called?"
"it's a Civivi Asticus"
"I'm sorry... what?"
"Asticus."
"You mean abacus?"
"No, Asticus."
"What's it mean?"
"I... I'm not really sure."

 

[eveled]

I appreciate knives having innocent names. You only get one chance to make a first impression when dealing with law enforcement or a jury.

A folding Hunter or tradesman knife sounds better than Malicious Rapist

 

[Knives&Lint]

Some CS knives come to mind, particularly with their penchant for billboard signage. I guess that bothers me more than the name itself, the execution of the branding. For instance I can't unsee the Comedy Central logo on a Civivi pivot, and for the life of me I can't figure out why Hogue prints "MCQOI" on their clips

 

[EngrSorenson]

I appreciate knives having innocent names. You only get one chance to make a first impression when dealing with law enforcement or a jury.

A folding Hunter or tradesman knife sounds better than Malicious Rapist

"and your honor, that's when the defendant attacked the victim with this knife, "The Rapist"."
"Objection! your honor, the knife is called "Therapist"."

 

[shane45-1911]

But then there's special cases where it seems like there's specific branding going on, trying to appeal to a certain kind of person I don't identify with, and it does taint how I feel about the product.

I guess you're not familiar with TOPS knives? They have had some knives with "noteworthy" names over the years.

Would a name stop me from buying something? No, it hasn't yet. If the knife appeals to me, I don't really care what it's called.

P.S. Asticus = Greek for "urban".

 

[Mister Coffee]

I always thought "Joe" was a good name for a knife.

 

[Surname]

Then there's the laser strike...
I wish they'd called it the "Turbo Slaughter" or "Nazi Puncher" or at least something with some whimsy that I could get behind.
Maybe there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for the name, but it feels like they asked a 13 year old to pick a cool name for a knife.

The Lazer Strike used to be produced by Tops Knives before it was produced by Esee. I don't know the exact history of the knife but if Tops is the one who named it you can bet that's exactly what they did.

 

[Surname]

The only time that the name comes into play for me is when I'm already on the fence about a knife, then the name can help push me one way or the other .

 

[Londinium Armoury]

I think the name matters only when it gets in to really silly or strange waters. Nobody wants to say they are carrying the "Ass blaster 4000"

 

[Wolverine666]

I , for one , enjoy learning the names of knives I’m interested in and the meaning behind them. A goofy name wouldn’t deter me in the least from buying a knife. If it was called “Throat Fillet” or “Gut Piercer” , I’d just take it as tongue in cheek.

I should copyright those before Cold Steel sees this

 

[Londinium Armoury]

I , for one , enjoy learning the names of knives I’m interested in and the meaning behind them. A goofy name wouldn’t deter me in the least from buying a knife. If it was called “Throat Fillet” or “Gut Piercer” , I’d just take it as tongue in cheek.

I should copyright those before Cold Steel sees this

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, I present to you exhibit A, this model of knife is called [Rustling as prosecution checks her papers] 'The Gut Piercer'
[Members of the jury gasp in unison]

 

[EngrSorenson]

I guess you're not familiar with TOPS knives? They have had some knives with "noteworthy" names over the years.

The Lazer Strike used to be produced by Tops Knives before it was produced by Esee. I don't know the exact history of the knife but if Tops is the one who named it you can bet that's exactly what they did.

This is starting to add up, all of a sudden.

I think the name matters only when it gets in to really silly or strange waters. Nobody wants to say they are carrying the "Ass blaster 4000"

I laughed so hard I snorted.

 

[Londinium Armoury]

This is starting to add up, all of a sudden.



I laughed so hard I snorted.

Haha.

 

[AntDog]

Here’s the backstory on the Laser Strike:

Back in 1999, the Randall’s Adventure & Training group started work on designing a knife that would be named after a late 1990s counterdrug operation in South America. Involving numerous international agencies, including U.S. Special Operations Forces, the operation was named “Operation Laser Strike.” The original Laser Strike, manufactured in 2000 by TOPS Knives, was a fire-based knife kit complete with a ferrocium rod fixed to the sheath. There was a divot on the left side of the scales for a spindle when using a bow and drill. According to ESEE, the raised surface on the handle was harder than the blade, thus the handle could be used as a striker for true flint and steel. The late, great custom knifemaker, Rob Simonich, is credited with being the guru behind this sort of differentially heat-treating process. Well over a decade later, ESEE Knives has produced the new long-awaited Laser Strike made by Rowen Manufacturing.

There are a couple of different knives named “Saca Tripas” (gut snare). They look exactly like what you’d imagine too.

 

[Wolverine666]

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, I present to you exhibit A, this model of knife is called [Rustling as prosecution checks her papers] 'The Gut Piercer'
[Members of the jury gasp in unison]

Hahahaha

 

[Londinium Armoury]

Now picture this.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury I present to you Exhibit A [Rustling as the prosecution checks her notes] 'The Classic with Mother of Pearl inlay'
[Members of the jury begin to admire the craftsmansip and talk in hushed tones]
"Look at the finish on those inlays"
"The man obviously had it coming, I hope they return this gentlemans lovely knife after"

 

[EngrSorenson]

Here’s the backstory on the Laser Strike:

Back in 1999, the Randall’s Adventure & Training group started work on designing a knife that would be named after a late 1990s counterdrug operation in South America. Involving numerous international agencies, including U.S. Special Operations Forces, the operation was named “Operation Laser Strike.” The original Laser Strike, manufactured in 2000 by TOPS Knives, was a fire-based knife kit complete with a ferrocium rod fixed to the sheath. There was a divot on the left side of the scales for a spindle when using a bow and drill. According to ESEE, the raised surface on the handle was harder than the blade, thus the handle could be used as a striker for true flint and steel. The late, great custom knifemaker, Rob Simonich, is credited with being the guru behind this sort of differentially heat-treating process. Well over a decade later, ESEE Knives has produced the new long-awaited Laser Strike made by Rowen Manufacturing.

There are a couple of different knives named “Saca Tripas” (gut snare). They look exactly like what you’d imagine too.

I definitely appreciate the backstory here- definitely wasn't evident to an ESEE new-comer.
Begs the question- did the knife and the operation have anything to do with each other? or was it just a spiffy name?

 

[Chronovore]

If a design is really interesting with good materials, decent fit and finish, etc.; then it usually doesn't matter. What I won't do is carry knives with skulls, Punisher logos, names like "skull crusher" or "super murderer", etc.

For folders, this has a lot to do with the ignorant bias many people and institutions have in viewing both folding knives as weapons and defensive tools in general as bad. Seriously, folding knives are pretty terrible as far as defensive tools go. The problem with anyone who would use a folder as an offensive weapon isn't their choice of weapon. It's them, their moral choices, mental health, etc.. They could just as easily use a sharp pencil, box cutter, or hot cup of coffee to do serious harm.

A big difference is that while I legally carry a gun as my defensive tool, most people will never know that unless it's the kind of emergency situation that would radically change their valuation of having a defensive tool. Meanwhile, I am regularly using my folder to open packages and do other mundane cutting tasks. I have no interest in leaning into the punch with their biases.