Where are Custom Handmade knives headed in 2016...? 2017

switchblades and mechanisms made via EDM- super precise- magnets, computer chips, servo motors, LEDs...
those big, thick, clunky tactical folders are on their way out, imo. There's a point where something becomes ridiculous- a caricature of itself- that it ceases to be.
big, lightweight, technologically advanced (via cutting edge tooling) folders are on the march.

Annnnd...the nineties called, and they want their survival/camp and defense oriented concealment fixed blades back!

It bears saying that some things will never go out of style.
 
Lorien said:
switchblades and mechanisms made via EDM- super precise- magnets, computer chips, servo motors, LEDs...
those big, thick, clunky tactical folders are on their way out, imo. There's a point where something becomes ridiculous- a caricature of itself- that it ceases to be.
big, lightweight, technologically advanced (via cutting edge tooling) folders are on the march.

Annnnd...the nineties called, and they want their survival/camp and defense oriented concealment fixed blades back!

It bears saying that some things will never go out of style.
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We can only hope :)
 
Patrice Lemée;14652318 said:
How will the construction hold up to everyday use? Can things "loosen up" with repeated assembling/disassembling and use?
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No - not if done with due attention to fit.
 
With the change in auto knife laws, there has been an explosion of sales of commercial versions in states where they are now legal. I have not seen a similar up-tick in custom automatic knives. Could that be a future trend?
 
I definitely agree with the smaller fixed blades being a place that I'd like to see an emphasis on. More Damascus would be great (assuming they can keep the quality up) as I feel the design attracts a lot of the younger crowd. For me (being in the younger crowd) a lot of us prefer the synthetic grips and I see that being more prevalent (same with handguns). A lot of wood seems to feel older to me. I think a lot of the younger crowd will still be focused on the tacticool style knives.
 
Lets hear more from the Twitter Instagram Facebook edc crowd. Always ready to listen
Small thinner full flat grinds Slice like a Laser seems to be the trend
 
@patrice i think bamboo has something like 20x the strength-to-weight of steel so, as @karl says, if the fit of everything is right, it is a wonderful system!
go for it...and keep me posted on the journey!
 
JParanee said:
I believe we will continue to see a lot of contemporary CNC/Machine enhanced Folders as Coop mentioned

I believe we will still be seeing the massively overbuilt ones but I also believe a return to more practical designs and sizes will take the lead

I believe that we will see a larger interest in smaller fixed blades with an emphasis on EDC

Of course the big pieces will always have a following but an upcoming buying public seems to like the smaller pieces and what we deemed the mid size pieces will have a large following

This next statement saddens me but it has to be said....... With the attack on ivory I do believe we will not be seeing near as much of it and alas it's days could be over.

there will be a larger push towards using woods as the predominate premier handle material. Although I love stag pieces they are at a premium and again a younger buying public does not seem attracted to it

We will see a rise in synthetic handle materials again because a new audience wants it
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I agree (with some sadness) with all of this.

Kevin Jones said:
I have a very positive view for custom knives in general over the next 2-3 years driven by a good economy with an increase in higher end buyers for many styles of custom knives.

Hot:

EDCs 7.5" OAL and below- we have seen the popularity of these increase and I feel this is only the start.

Damascus- especially new patterns and processes as makers look for ways to distinguish their designs from the pack.

Higher End Tactical Folders- I look for the these folders to remain in favor especially with the younger buyers.

Stag - I look for high quality stag (especially amber) to continue it's popularity and even gaining such as a result of decreased ivory use.

Larger, Higher End Art/Collectable/Investment grade knives - driven by a favorable economy.

Unique and Exotic Wood Handles- Beautiful rare and exotic woods and unique salvaged woods (including historically significant examples) will gain in popularity (especially for higher end knives) as makers and collectors look for options for replacing their previous use of ivory.

Pre-Death Bob Loveless Knives.

Not, So Hot:

Elephant Ivory - is on the way out for good.

Mammoth/Walrus Ivory- Just too much negative press for most knifemakers to invest in inventory. I do feel these ivories will make a comeback down the road when they are better understood by the non-knife buying public. Personally, I'm not going to stop buying knives with Mammoth and Walrus.

Loveless 'Style' Knives- I believe the demand for this style knife may slow a bit from the increased popularity we've seen in recent years.

Old-School Forged knife designs - The desire for forged knives with old fluted disc guards and straight life-less handles will continue to decline. The jazzy and innovative forged designs with contoured/sculptured handles, engraving and new-school Damascus patterns that quite a few makers are creating now will continue in favor, especially with higher end collectors.
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Agree with a lot of this . . . the parts in "red."

Personally . . . I am losing interest in generic designs (especially liner locks, frame locks, etc. - I am so through with those). The exception would be classic gentleman folders - slip joints and lock backs handmade with beautiful materials and the highest level of precision and fit and finish. Can't predict that as any kind of industry trend - just a personal one. But perhaps in knives, as in fashion, someday we may say that , , , everything old is new again.
 
My grandfather, a self made man who began supporting his Russian immigrant, jewish family at age twelve, (escaped the pogroms by immigrating to Canada) told me something when I was a kid that I will never forget.

He was in the garment industry in Montreal- started a company which manufactured labels for clothing companies. He'd see all the new stuff, year after year, come through his factory for his labels. He ran his company for decades and noted, firsthand, the ebb and flow of fashion.

He told me that every year, the industry of which he was a part, would take each and every pattern developed for each and every year, and put the pattern in a barrel. Eventually the barrel would fill, at which time it was capped.

The barrel would then be upended, the opposing cap removed, and the patterns would once again see the light of day...until the barrel ran out, and the newly filled barrel would once again be upended, uncapped and emptied once more.

I realize now, as an adult, that it was a metaphor. Imagine what I would have thought about that as a kid!
 
My art mentor once told me to never throw away clothes when they go out of fashion but to keep them for the next cycle that will surely come.

There is growing emphasis on damascus and Damasteel, and especially so in the "tactical" genre. What I see happening is the mashing up of "tactical" and "traditional" where tactical gets more and more features associated with traditional knives, and traditional knives getting tactical features. The rivers are joining.

I've designed a "tactical" slip-joint knife for a maker in South Africa (JD Ellis) that illustrates this mashup ...

hYh15tzE
 
I am tired of seeing customs costing several thousand dollars with lock bar dip, sticky locks, and clunky ergonomics. I am hoping that in the future the bubble will burst on overhyped underperforming customs. What I mean by this, are high priced customs that lack the smoothness, fit and finish, and design of a production Shirogorov. Ideally only knives that warrant attention due to superior craftsmanship, materials, and design will be the ones receiving it.

As far as materials I would like to see a lot more zirconium clips. Zirconium, when treated properly is extremely hard wearing therefore making it ideal for the part of your knife that sticks out of your pocket the most. Slim, pocketable, well thought out ergonomic knives with useful grinds are the way of the future. Also, I hope makers will focus more on the quality of the heat treat rather than what steel is the "in" steel at the moment.
 
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Dozier knows. ^
My Little workhorse has a great feel and a great steel.
rolf
 
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slorenzo said:
As far as materials I would like to see a lot more zirconium clips. Zirconium, when treated properly is extremely hard wearing therefore making it ideal for the part of your knife that sticks out of your pocket the most.
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Zirconium is one of the worst materials to use for a pocket clip. One of the most important properties of a pocket clip is spring tension and the ability to bend without taking a set. Zirc is soft and takes a set quite easily. The exterior oxide of the clip is hard but the interior is soft.

I have no idea why zirc clips have become popular. However, I'm now also seeing pocket clips made from copper. :confused:

Chuck
 
Alpha Knife Supply said:
Zirconium is one of the worst materials to use for a pocket clip. One of the most important properties of a pocket clip is spring tension and the ability to bend without taking a set. Zirc is soft and takes a set quite easily. The exterior oxide of the clip is hard but the interior is soft.

I have no idea why zirc clips have become popular. However, I'm now also seeing pocket clips made from copper. :confused:

Chuck
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If the person buying the knife never uses it, Chuck....the clip could be made of Delrin and they wouldn't know it's not a good material for a clip.

For the record, I think Delrin, a trade name for Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability has some qualities that SOUND like a good fit, but in use, it doesn't. It's sort of bendy when thin, and does well if it is thick, but should a pocket clip be a thick piece of plastic?

It has these qualities:

High abrasion resistance
Low coefficient of friction
High heat resistance
Good electrical and dielectric properties
Low water absorption.....

BUT....it's still kind of soft for a pocket clip, and if you use flat torx or allen screws to secure it, it kind of "mooshes" around the hole. Still, have seen it used as a clip. I'm just glad that makers are not "really" pushing the envelope and making clips from spun sugar, lol.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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