what's the future of knives?

L

lonestag

Joined
Nov 13, 2011
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162
I have been looking over my knife collection of modern tactical folders and a thought occurred to me.when I look at my knives I see a lot of high tech steel ,titanium g-10 etc..I also see features and types of construction undreamed of when I started getting into knives over 40 years ago.Back when a USA schrade was in many working mans pockets, Gerber was a premium USA brand and assisted opening meant you were dextrous enough to flick your lock back open with 2 fingers! Now I have titanium framlocks,axis locks and automatics with 154cm blades.I have s30v folders with anodized standoffs and carbon fiber folders with ceramic bearings. I don't collect knives I collect aerospace technology! While I love all this modern tech I wonder...what can possibly be next? What new materials,designs technology await for knives in the future...I can't imagine,can you?
 
Many things we are seeing in knives nowadays have been used in industrial applications for many years (i.e. Bearings, PM steels, etc..).

There's obviously a market for this type of stuff for knife buyers, so that's why it is more common nowadays; it sells. There really isn't anything advanced about the "technology" in modern knives except the use of materials that were not common place in the knife industry years ago.
 
I'm hoping the whole thing crashes so we can zero out the fads. If I see another titanium framelock ball bearing flipper with carbon fiber presentation scale and rock pattern blade flats I'm gonna get hives.
 
I would like to see more unique locking mechanisms, or at least make locks like the compression and ball bearing lock in more applications.

I would also like to see the overbuilt fad go away, or diminish. Same with tactical.

I understand the need for a folder that can handle heavier duties, but it's gotten ridiculous. Right tool for the right job.



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It might sound absurd now
With the current state of technology.
But its a possibility that
Future tech advances might
Turn the knife business
Into some sort of
3-d print on demand...
Made of bio degradable matter!
 
Its 2054, here's my collection everyone!:D


maxresdefault.jpg
 
Yeah I guess I will try and keep a good old steel knife around when lasers are common place. I might want to cut paper, mail open, or skin an animal and not cook it in the process. I have to say I would love that though, to see lasers common place.

I would love to see the tactical "weapon" thing go away, quick! I have a feeling it might get worse though.
 
ATJ999 said:
Yeah I guess I will try and keep a good old steel knife around when lasers are common place. I might want to cut paper, mail open, or skin an animal and not cook it in the process. I have to say I would love that though, to see lasers common place.

I would love to see the tactical "weapon" thing go away, quick! I have a feeling it might get worse though.
Click to expand...
As the current political climate deteriorates, we will be seeing more people wanting tactical and "survivorist" knives, unfortunately. The worst of which will be more low end imported crap.

On the same token, other people will be more and more afraid of any perceived "weapon."

The next ten years will be very interesting to say the least. Further out, maybe laser knives, but I will always prefer steel. Could even go so far as to say other blade materials will be available. Synthetic diamond blades? Perhaps.

This all makes me want to learn and buy tools to make my own knives. Maybe after my liver transplant when I can work and afford the tools.
 
K.O.D. said:
As the current political climate deteriorates, we will be seeing more people wanting tactical and "survivorist" knives, unfortunately. The worst of which will be more low end imported crap.

On the same token, other people will be more and more afraid of any perceived "weapon."
Click to expand...

I don't think perceived (and not actually occurring) political deterioration has any effect on knife fashions.

And people have been scared of knives as weapons for a LONG time...Bowie knife bans, switchblade bans, and such things prove that to be the case.
 
Things should get very interesting when 3d printing gets up to speed.

Then everyone can make there own MTech knives
Lol


As of now we are definitely living in the golden age of knives

We can all thank social media for the increased growth and interest that helped to siphon technology from other crucial, more relavent industries that make our world work.

Just to make Some fancy steels and materials that the average person no longer needs for day to day living

I would like to see the knife world grow.

Because that would drive higher performance knives rather then being banished to the fringes

Exotic alloys would become less esoteric

And perhaps new methods and mastering of materials will drive new alloys that will finally bridge the gap between all the different steels.

One steel to rule them all...


Hahaha

Maybe 100-200 years

If civilization doesn't reset to tribal factions

Nano machine blades that can tranform shape and structure depending on how it's being used or at the touch of a button or thoughts

Each nano machine the size of an atom, self repairing and can rearrange themselves for toughness or hardness as well as move to change edge geometry and blade shape.

Haha sci-fi fantasy stuff.


Just daydreaming :D
 
Once Guns are outlawed, knives will be next......so there will only be plastic cutlery and this forum will be long dead....You can figure out why this will happen (I'm not saying cause of that no politics rule)
 
I've always looked at things from a business perspective, so perhaps that influences the way I see the OPs question, but here's my take.

With so many knife makers making slight variations on similar designs (just as one example, a drop point folder in S30v, with a flipper) there's a lot of redundancy in the industry. Hundreds of companies machining out blades and handle scales, doing their own heat treat, and of course all the administrative expenses involved, etc...

What stops some enterprising investment company from streamlining things, much the way Cerberus did in the firearms industry, by buying every knife company they can, and then driving down costs by ordering steels in much larger bulk orders, doing heat treats for each of the brands that falls under their umbrella etc. You end up buying a ZT that's made in the same plant right next to a Medford, or whatever.

In the very least, I see companies pooling resources more and sending knives to one another for HT, or polishing, or whatever else.
It used to be common when there was an incestuous relationship between Kabar, Schrade, Buck, Camillus, and a few other brands that all made traditional slipjoints for one another.

In a world of pooling resources, and streamlining around cost efficiency, I think it's the way of the future.
 
The future of knives is that I'll collect so damn many of them that a black hole forms, obliterating the planet. :)
 
Say Heah Boys and Girls, The more knives you have the harder it is to choose which one to use that day, and that can turn into a problem. Years ago you didn't have as many knives so the couple you had, You appreciated them because you put them through their paces and you picked the likes and don't likes easier because you first of all didn't have as many to use. Today you only say your not a collector, But I bet you the more expensive knives you have, Yeah with that Hi-tech stuff you prolly don't even use, It's like a guy in a hot kitchen complaining why it's so hot, But doesn't leave but stays and complains, I have a few folders the most expensive are my Cold Steel Talwar with the Titanium and San Mai, same with my Black Sable, Then my Rajah 1 and Black Rhino, I have a Old Puma Emperor a couple of Old Al-Mars (2) The rest are my few Schrade, Westerns and Camillus etc. My EDC Is my Camillus Silver Sword Canoe Stockman, I don't take knives to a gun fight. If you keep buying more Hi-tech atleast be aware it's your decision you bought it.

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GatorFlash1 said:
My future knife will be a small pocket size laser, adjustable beam length, width, and strength. Similar to what is being used in surgery today. Light weight, always sharp.
Click to expand...

Might be a bitch to pry with one of those. ;) Might be useful for cutting off bolts.

But I suspect that this kind of thing will become more common for regular people as time moves forward.
 
ATJ999 said:
Yeah I guess I will try and keep a good old steel knife around when lasers are common place. I might want to cut paper, mail open, or skin an animal and not cook it in the process. I have to say I would love that though, to see lasers common place.

I would love to see the tactical "weapon" thing go away, quick! I have a feeling it might get worse though.
Click to expand...

That made me laugh.
 
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