Whats missing in todays knives?

Oh yes. D2 steel folders. Bob Dozier makes some real nice ones but at a premium cost. Perhaps one will find its way into my pocket at this weeks upcoming show (a purchase that is!)Ka Bar is now offering a few but their ergonomics are much left to be desired. Definitely not Bobs design. Anyone else feel the same?

L8r,
Nakano
 
1) Ability to be disassembled for cleaning, maintenance.
2) More carbon steel offerings in folders.
3) Rougher handles! A knife must have a rough textured handle to get a really good grip. The KFFs thumb serrations, CRK one peice checkering and DRs own crosshatch pattern on the Apogee are some of the best grip enhancers to date. Finger grooves do not enhance grip, they limit it!
 
Well executed Integral Locks at the production level.

I would love to see more D2 folders as well, good call.

Offering sheiths instead of clips. At least have them available.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
I'd like to add to Senator's comment. I have always loved SAK's, but one thing I don't like about them is the scratching of the scales. I carry a mini tool chest (Wenger) along with my Spyderco Military, and it has very practical tools, but I would love to see better steel and G10 scales. How about a small SAK with a locking main blade, all steel tools made of CPM440V or VG10, and G10 scales(or even nylon, like some of the large SAK's)? I'd buy one RIGHT NOW, if it existed. :-)

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Chris

"We Don't Rent Pigs" --Augustus McCrae

"I won't abide rude behavior in a man." -- Woodrow Call


 
I want tactical knives that don't look like tactical knives. In fixed blades I would like to see more "tactical kitchen knives", and folder that don't want to look like they're gonna jump out of your pocket and slash and stab everyone in sight. Just knives that look and feel like good utility knives, but at the same time have the technical characteristics that make them excellent defensive bladeware. The Spyderco Moran is a good example, as is the Military, which unfortunately looks very big.
 
Here's a goofy answer.

I'd like to see more Victorionox SAKs with fingernail files. Many of the Wenger's have them but not Victorionox. They are few and far between on the bigger models.

Why you say? 'Cause I have a finger with a smashed fingernail (from my mechanic days) and I have to keep it filed down to a nub or it will snag on clothes and rip, etc. and I don't enjoy that.

I'd love to design my ideal everyday carry SAK. It would have a Spydie blade with a hole for sure, a good fingernail file. A FEW tools (scissors for sure), toothpick and tweezers (of course--never bought the Buck versions 'cause they didn't have the toothpick and tweezers).

Overall I would want to keep it slim enough that it didn't look like I was carrying a bottle of pop in my pocket.


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Hoodoo

Cogita tute
 
More utilitarian in design and execution yet with the "toughness" of tacticals, ease of disassembly and maintanence, good steels(D2,A2,1095 et al), longer lasting locks/materials(no liner-leaf locks).


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The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind is that one day I will have to stand before a Holy God and give an account of my life.
*Daniel Webster

Rev 20:12

 
There is such an amazing variety of knives being made today, by an assortment of makers, some of whom really know how to make a knife cut, that I really think almost anything you want is out there.

For my part, I wish that a really efficient cutting edge were not such an uncommon thing. Almost any knife that is obviously not going to be an efficient chopper, say under six inches, should have a thin, scary sharp edge on it. The Sebenza is a good example. One regularly hears comments about the Sebenza being the best cutting knife in somebody's collection, it is a hard use folder, and I don't remember ever reading any complaints about edge durability. It is a high alloy steel(BG-42). It usually comes with a thin, finely sharpened edge that cuts like stink. Every small knife should have an edge like that.

If the edge is thin, it can still be sharpened at a more obtuse angle to acheive edge durability on hard materials, but if the edge is thick, there isn't much you can do to make it cut better. Sharpening finer helps, but can't give you the super efficient cutting that a thin edge will give you.
 
My favorite "non-tactical knives" are multitools - Gerber's new custom program where you can mix and match pieces (or at least groups of pieces) is cool but we need BETTER STEELS.

In tacticals, eventually we're going to see a "lady's defense knife kit" complete with multi-position sheath and a video by a reputable instructor who covers carry, positioning, draw sequences, tactical awareness and a fairly KISS-principle "rip and run" gameplan or tactical equivelent. Collaborations between bladesmith and martial artist are already starting up, such as Bagwell/Keating; this would be a logical progression although I doubt a large Bowie is the right answer to this particular need.

So far makers of high-end products sometimes license their goods to a lower-end production company. So far we haven't seen anybody go the other way but it's a natural. Picture Spyderco arranging for a good custom maker to hand-build limited edition Militaries, for example. Or HI arranging for a small number of high-end US-bladesmith-produced khukuris to be sold via the HI channel. This will happen eventually.

Finally, we need to see more variety in "combat folders". More megafolders, but you knew I'd mention that
biggrin.gif
. Another direction is the Muskrat, where two 3.9" or so blades pop out of the same grip in opposite directions. TRUST me on this, the only folder more frightening than a Sifu is a good Muskrat because you literally don't know what style the guy is using! You don't know if he's attacking in a reverse-grip or forward grip, in fact you CAN'T know because he can change direction at the last second. They're totally unpredictable. They also maximize knife size limits! Even a dual 2.5" Muskrat would be a formidable weapon. Hell, you could do a dual 1.9" auto Muskrat for the CA market.

Hey Bob: that last idea I had for a megafolder worked out pretty good! How much for a pushme-pullyou CARNIVORE!?

Jim
 
More carbon steel folders... a Voyager in Carbon V would be great. Used to have a big Case folder -- non-lockback (slipjoint?) and never had a problem with rust. A drop or two of Breakfree and no problem!
 
I think the wolrd needs a XL Voyager in Carbon V with a steel pocket clip. I know at least I would like one.
 
I would like to see more knives (particularly production) that look better with age instead of worse. Most of the modern synthetic materials and blades with coatings look like crap after they have been used for a while, even if well taken care of. My Father has been carrying the same serpentine stockman knives for years (one of them for at least 30). They have been well used but taken care of. They do not look perfect, but they have a certain warmth about them. Case has tried to cash in on this with the Pocketworn line. I would like to see some knives with modern technology mixed with traditional materials. Lockbacks with jigged bone scales, bolsters, one hand opening blades, and pocket clips would be nice. A SAK/scout knife type with bolsters and wood or jigged bone scales maybe, but with the functionality and variety of tools of a modern SAK. Sure some of these materials are not as sturdy as G-10 et al but I see a lot of tactical wunder knives being treated with kid gloves.

I would like to see more flat ground blades in general.

I also agree with Steve Harvey, I would like to see more knives (esp folders) with nice thin, scary sharp edges. I don't want a knife that is totally indestructible, just one that is sharp and holds an edge.

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Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."


 
More colors to handles! As I see it companies worth of mentioning are already moving to better and varying steels But still most production knives are black. It woud be nice to pick a knife that matches with trousers. It woud allow more discreet knife carry. Surface finish can also make a big difference as polished G10 looks so much better than the normally dull surface.

More colors to clips! Of course the clip should be colored too and with a LASTING coloring.

More colors to baldes. I have seen only black coatings on blades. If there is black teflon why not green teflon ect.?
 
what they said: more color, more wood, purty clips, less weight, less rambo, more val the tool gal
smile.gif
but SHARP and durable...

i want a new kind of lock device, or an improvement on the existing ones, that doesn't take strength or big hands to open. i've said this elsewhere, so apologies if i sound like a broken record: most liner locks and lockbacks take too much force for smaller/weaker hands to operate, increasing the risk of slippage and carnage. the axis lock is a nice move in this direction. my BM 850 has a very gentle liner lock, yet is very secure. more! more!

in general, knife ergonomics favor large folk, and need to be more inclusive--why can't a knife be workable for both large & small hands? ex: most folders pivot on a radius too large for me to operate one handed (including your beautiful Kraits, mr. ralph). and, in my experience, mini versions often don't live up to their big cousins.

i'd also like to see innovations in carry thingamabobs--my clothes, and those of half the human race, don't always have a pocket or a waistband, and it's annoying to go across the room and dig in a bag/briefcase for a knife when i need it. what about an anodized roach-clip (like for ID badges) or ??? -- i bet guys in suits would like to get the weight out of their pockets, too.

add my vote for better kitchen knives. can you imagine--a Darryl Ralph veggie knife, or a Chris Reeve bread knife?
smile.gif
the mind boggles. i use my leopard cub in the kitchen cuz all my kitchen knives are a disgrace.

silverwing
 
WOOD WOOD AND MORE WOOD !!

I love a lot of the new designs of folders but they lack soul. THey have really become kind of cookie cutter. Black g10. A few variations on blade shape. How about a Wenger with stainless bolsters and ironwood scales. Yumm. A steel endura with some short bocate scales. I know wood doesnt hold up as well as the stuff from dupont but how many of us are really going to land up in that survival situation in the rainforest where such things might matter. Give me a kick A-- using knife and make it pretty. Wood has the benifit of not having two peices be the same so each and every knife would have its own charecter.
Alex
 
id also like to see some handmade/custum multitools/swissarmy type knives.

id also like different blade coatings(how about blue), and it could help to make the knife less offensive to sheeple, but still maintain the corrosion resistance of coated blades.

and i agree with the handle-size thing, im a guy, but i have small hands, and cant use most of the knives with finger-grooves and what not.

id also like to see more user-disassembleable(sp?) knives, ones you can easily breakdown and put back together without voiding the warranty.
I also like knives that dont have a spacer on the back of the handle, i like it open so it is easier to clean.

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AKTI member #A000911

 
How about less on the tactical side and more on the classly side.

No
G10, aluminium, beadblast (stone wash).

Yes
Stag, Bolsters, Wood, satin finish.

Rich

[This message has been edited by shootz (edited 03 November 1999).]
 
One word... "Character" Most of the factory knives nowadays lack that certain intangible aspect......
 
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