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

I hope not, Don, but take a look around. Anything goes. And sometimes, for BIG money!
rolf
 
I for one am glad the clunky oversized folders with the "klingon" appearance are fading back. Its interesting to hear you guys talk of small well done fixed blades with an edc trend. I'm wondering how one would carry a fixed blade daily? It could be in a back pocket square sheath possibly? or is the belt sheath making a comeback? Son Brian lives in Portland and says he is seeing high end belt knives on dudes downtown lately. I kinda like that trend if its coming back in style.
I've always thought everybody should own and carry a fancy little folder to pull out and show off and never understood the tactical guys. The last thing I want is for some wild eyed guy to pull out a big black clunky worn out bladed folder on me after the sun goes down. (this could be the senior citizen in me thinking out loud)
 
Bruce- Yes, I like the squared off back pocket sheath but a slim sheath will drop right in my front pocket, like my Burnley or Fairly kwaiken sheath designs. Also, Jason Wilder made me his nekker sheath and I never thought I like a nekker but I'm starting to. Finally, the 'ole belt sheath works good, for my Busse AMS. I'm lucky here in PA as I can wear any knife I want and no one says a word.
 
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In my small part of the world people seem to be done with cheap factory made knives. Custom handmade knives are in demand. Simple carbon fixed blade Skinners and Drop points are desired.
 
Bruce Bump said:
I for one am glad the clunky oversized folders with the "klingon" appearance are fading back. Its interesting to hear you guys talk of small well done fixed blades with an edc trend. I'm wondering how one would carry a fixed blade daily? It could be in a back pocket square sheath possibly? or is the belt sheath making a comeback? Son Brian lives in Portland and says he is seeing high end belt knives on dudes downtown lately. I kinda like that trend if its coming back in style.
I've always thought everybody should own and carry a fancy little folder to pull out and show off and never understood the tactical guys. The last thing I want is for some wild eyed guy to pull out a big black clunky worn out bladed folder on me after the sun goes down. (this could be the senior citizen in me thinking out loud)
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Pocket and IWB sheaths a la Jon Graham work very well.

The only downside I see to fixed EDCs is that you have one of two options: The handle sticks out enough to be conspicuous or uncomfortable, or the handle is so buried that getting it in hand and sheathing it are complex and time consuming affairs.

As far as tactical folders go... this is how I see it.

Small fancy folders tend to have materials and characteristics that make them less suited for everyday work. Scuffs, scratches, dents and cracks on engraving, high polish, overlay work, pearl, gold, nitre blued damascus, and exotic wood can kill the appearance and value of these knives. They are less likely to have pocket clips, have filework that attracts dirt and lint, and have a blade length and finish that's less suited to ease of use.

Today's younger audience of tactical folders, myself included, would feel awkward purchasing a knife like this when a knife can be had that can be easily carried and used every day, and wear & tear will have a less detrimental effect on that knife's value.

Thankfully there are many custom makers who produce tactical designs with some of the excellence and attention to detail that we see more commonly in art folders, such as Todd Rexford, Shane Sibert, and Allen Elishewitz.
 
My opinion comes from a non-knifemaker, non collector point of view.
People I talk to are fond of the traditional fighters leaning toward the shorter (6" or under) blades.
Myself, I will never get tired of the longer fighters.
Clean fit and finish seem to be more important than embellishments.
(Of course this is mostly my personal taste)
 
Bruce Bump said:
I for one am glad the clunky oversized folders with the "klingon" appearance are fading back. Its interesting to hear you guys talk of small well done fixed blades with an edc trend. I'm wondering how one would carry a fixed blade daily? It could be in a back pocket square sheath possibly? or is the belt sheath making a comeback? Son Brian lives in Portland and says he is seeing high end belt knives on dudes downtown lately. I kinda like that trend if its coming back in style.
I've always thought everybody should own and carry a fancy little folder to pull out and show off and never understood the tactical guys. The last thing I want is for some wild eyed guy to pull out a big black clunky worn out bladed folder on me after the sun goes down. (this could be the senior citizen in me thinking out loud)
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Amen Bruce! Just say no to clunky!:)
 
Actually, I do have a Crusader Forge tanto folder on order. I have to try one.
And, I asked for a Ti blade on this one. Ti will make this big folder somewhat lighter.
rolf
 
If chunky funky folders are engaging a thousand NEW faces to Custom Knives why would you wish for them to be done with?

I really am surprised at the closed-mindedness of many of the members who feel they are an 'abomination'.

I submit that BIG Exquisite damascus and fileworked Bowies which we all admire, with all their ivory and finery are AS MUCH OF A CARICATURE of a useful knife than these all metal folders.

Neither is actually ergonomically and functionally good at doing actual cutting. But they both please the owners.

Sure my statements are polarizing. Or are they new reality?

#ClunkyFoldersMatter

This matter would have a MUCH different take on another forum. (One that is growing at a substantially higher rate.)

I'm 61 and I grew up with Classic Rock. My son listens to new popular music that is 'chunky and clunky' to me. Who's right?

Let's discuss.

Coop
 
Joe Watson said:
Don't like something? I just move on.

Snobs will be snobs. My take is that if you can make people happy, pursue your entrepreneurial cravings, live comfortably and influence others- god bless ya because that's success and the American dream.
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This forum is filled with collectors and makers who have been in the game for 10...20...30....40 years....longer than a lot of the jcl makers and collectors have been on the planet. Start throwing around words like "snob" and we can up that game really quick.....counter with other words like "unrefined", "loosely developed aesthetic" or "ennui inducing, elementary saber-ground chisel grinds pandering to a taste for Westernized neo-defensive edges".

Coop plays Devil's advocate, because he sorta likes doing that and he also sorta has to. He is in the public eye, a lot more than most of us, and unfortunately, has to get his customers from who and what is available.

Coop...seriously? #ChunkyFoldersMatter? Not hardly they don't, and we have been through this before.

But I'll recap.

The bubble will burst some day...likely, sooner rather than later. I see MORE different, and LESS repeat show goers at The Gathering every year. The "kids" are not educating themselves in an overall sense, they are like idiot savants...they know their favorite makers, but many of them are clueless to even BASIC knife terminology and concepts....they look at ATS-34 as if it were mystery metal, and probably couldn't work a backlock knife if life depended upon it. They understand "flavor of the month"....and they have no patience. They do seem to have money....and a short attention span.

How does that promote a long term market base? Quality should be one of the first criteria, not how many Facebook followers you have.



Custom made kitchen knives are on the rise in a big way.

Likely this wouldn't have happened if not for Bob Kramer.
He gets a LOT of money for one of his original chef's knives, and likely many of them do get used.
His Henckels damascus kitchen knives are game changers.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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SharpByCoop said:
This matter would have a MUCH different take on another forum. (One that is growing at a substantially higher rate.)
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here are some stats (roughly) that may or may not have bearing on this conversation:

Bladeforums
members- 280 000 (20K 'active')
threads- 1 100 000
posts- 14 000 000

the other forum
members- 45 000
threads- 620 000
posts- 8 400 000
 
A lot of people have been waiting for "the bubble to burst." They have been wrong since the late 20th century.

The constant parade of ABS ennui-inducing bowies on this forum is proof of its basic bias. The fighting Bowie is just as much a fantasy knife as an American tanto or sci-fi blade. The trouble is the traditional forge crowd believes they are higher class.
 
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brownshoe said:
A lot of people have been waiting for "the bubble to burst." They have been wrong since the late 20th century.

The constant parade of ABS ennui-inducing bowies on this forum is proof of its basic bias. The fighting Bowie is just as much a fantasy knife as an American tanto or sci-fi blade. The trouble is the traditional forge crowd believes they are higher class.
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at least ABS bowies have uses such as chopping and yes even fighting, what are 10 ounce folders good for paper weights? If that what they like that is fine I'm just saying it's silly.
 
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I know a lot of these makers that make what is being described as big clunky folders

I may not like that genre of knives but I like the guys making them and yes it is true the majority of people buying these knives truly do not understand how impractical they are but and this is a BIG BuT as long as they are bringing money into the game and helping the world of custom knives I am all for it

When they realize 2 pound folders are really not that useful and if the supposed bubble ever bursts these makers can produce what ever interests the newer buying crowd ....... The circle goes on which is good for all of us

Over built does not have to be a paper weight

Just look at what DISKIN USA new flipper demonstrates

But if the newer buying crowd digs the larger what many of us would refer to as clunky that's awesome and more power to them

As for the Big South Western Bowies

There will always be a market for them

I do see the attention going slightly to the less ornate and more performance oriented ....... Either way there is room for it all

Especially right before the Blade show :)
 
JParanee said:
I know a lot of these makers that make what is being described as big clunky folders

I may not like that genre of knives but I like the guys making them and yes it is true the majority of people buying these knives truly do not understand how impractical they are but and this is a BIG BuT as long as they are bringing money into the game and helping the world of custom knives I am all for it

When they realize 2 pound folders are really not that useful and if the supposed bubble ever bursts these makers can produce what ever interests the newer buying crowd ....... The circle goes on which is good for all of us

Over built does not have to be a paper weight

Just look at what DISKIN USA new flipper demonstrates

But if the newer buying crowd digs the larger what many of us would refer to as clunky that's awesome and more power to them

As for the Big South Western Bowies

There will always be a market for them

I do see the attention going slightly to the less ornate and more performance oriented ....... Either way there is room for it all

Especially right before the Blade show :)
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Well said.

Tad
 
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