Where do you see knife making going in 2016?

Hengelo_77 said:
Where is knife making going?
I think thin is still in.
There's less and less 1/4" thick smaller blades and more and more thinner blades.
I predict this trend will continue for a while
Click to expand...

Thin is in--tell me about it. This summer I ordered some 1084 to make some hunting knives. The vendor was out of anything thinner than .200, but in my zeal I decided to go ahead and order the .200 anyway. Bad idea. Cutting it and grinding it wore me out, but at least I ended up with one heck of a tough knife.
 
I edited the following quote from 12345678910 because I have zero desire to get into personal attacks with individuals. But I feel strongly that the basic statement is valid. I too have been met with similar reactions by loudmouths who do not take well to being approached by colleaques/competitors in this business. And frankly, I refuse to post their names.

12345678910 said:
I mentioned to "XXXX" how he could have done better and it was met with hostility.
Click to expand...


Well, forget those guys. Those types ALWAYS react with anger when challenged. Because their entire philosophy and knowledge and business-plan is a very fragile house of cards, built on ego and myths and hype/marketing/baloney-sausage. They don't really give a fat flying leap at a rolling bale of barbed-wire about knife design or serving a market. They wanna be rock-stars and they wanna get rich.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.


They'll have their followers. They'll get their sales. That's just gonna happen. Good for them.

Other makers, designers, and researchers will continue to actually move forward and improve their knives.
.
 
Last edited:
Bill DeShivs said:
I think that soon styling will begin to return to traditional styles.
Modern designs have morphed into absurdity than makes Gil Hibben look tame.
There isn't much more that can be done, except a return to classic sanity.
An old guy.
Click to expand...

:D :thumbup: Everyone needs a folding tactical cleaver!
 
james terrio said:
I edited the following quote from 12345678910 because I have zero desire to get into personal attacks with individuals. But I feel strongly that the basic statement is valid. I too have been met with similar reactions by loudmouths who do not take well to being approached by colleaques/competitors in this business.
.
Click to expand...

Just the other day I got the stink eye/mouth(whatever you want to call it) because I tried to help a kid with a simple blacksmith procedure..I was just giving him options on different ways to make them. Another smith summarily dismissed anything I had to say because "No, this is the right way to do it" because it was HIS way to do it..Oh well..I just try to help when I can and share what I know..Some folks have their minds made up that their way is only one way and refuse to see it any other. No skin of my arse.
 
Last edited:
On the rare occasion a wood handled knife is on cover of Blade magazine, that wood is popular for about six months then fades off. I firmly believe knife buyers set the market just like guitar buyers. I collect daggers, but only specific styles so a maker's creativeness is not relevant to me if it does not fit my desired style.
 
I've taken the dive into knife making because I really wanted a hobby that produced something worthwhile.
One thing I've noticed at the knife shows is how many retired or nearly retired gents there were producing knives.
For me, being at the tail end of the boomer generation, I grew up learning the difference between quality American tools and crappy imports.
(It's ironic to me that Japanese used to symbolize cheap crap, and now they are some of the best tools to be found).
Anyway, I have seen America go from producing great quality tooling to largely just importing cheap throw away junk tooling.
Part of the thing that drives me is to do a little bit to bring quality production back to the US, even if it's just a tiny drop in a big bucket.

In knife making, it's great to see so many younger men picking this up and learning how to actually produce quality instead of just sitting at a computer and consuming import junk.
 
Brock47 said:
(It's ironic to me that Japanese used to symbolize cheap crap, and now they are some of the best tools to be found).
Click to expand...
People are starting to pay more attention to the things they spend their money on. Japan dumped a huge amount of cheap stuff on the American market for a long time simply because we didn't care where and how things were made as long as they were clean and cheap. The novelty of being able to buy piles of food and products was pretty compelling in the fifties and sixties, but we're growing weary of that.
"Made in Japan" meant the same thing that "made in china" does now, but bit by bit their culture has begun to symbolize careful methods drawn from ancient culture. Now, anything Japanese is perceived to have a story behind it, and that's what draws people.
Someone who cares how their potatoes and chicken were grown is very likely to care how their tools were made, and by whom. That's a good thing. Ride it. Steer it!
 
the future is all bout delicious food and thus food prep knives, of course :)
 
Brock47 said:
I've taken the dive into knife making because I really wanted a hobby that produced something worthwhile.
One thing I've noticed at the knife shows is how many retired or nearly retired gents there were producing knives.
For me, being at the tail end of the boomer generation, I grew up learning the difference between quality American tools and crappy imports.
(It's ironic to me that Japanese used to symbolize cheap crap, and now they are some of the best tools to be found).
Anyway, I have seen America go from producing great quality tooling to largely just importing cheap throw away junk tooling.
Part of the thing that drives me is to do a little bit to bring quality production back to the US, even if it's just a tiny drop in a big bucket.

In knife making, it's great to see so many younger men picking this up and learning how to actually produce quality instead of just sitting at a computer and consuming import junk.
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar situation Brock47. I am a developer and builder and my wife and I own a very successful company. In the old days I did a lot of the work on our homes, especially trim and intricate detail work on some projects. Those days are long behind us and I'm no longer involved in performing actual field work. Though I design quite a few of our projects and get a sense of real satisfaction from that, I missed not actually having my hands involved in producing a beautiful finished product. I am a big gun guy and do a lot of work on firearms and knife making seemed like a natural fit. I enjoy holding some of our favorite knives and thinking of a way I might be able to improve on the design, and designing and creating something from scratch. I find satisfaction in seeing my skills improve, and looking at pictures on this forum and realizing there is a long, long way for me to go and much to learn. For me success would one day be producing a knife of sufficient quality and beauty that I would feel good about taking one or two with me to something like a gun show to use as trading material, or to make gifts for special people. Our homes are known for having amazing kitchens (my wife does all of our kitchen design and she is a very serious cook) and I would really enjoy being able to present each new homeowner with something like a chef's knife that I made.

I truly believe that success is the quality of your journey, and I am enjoying the knife making hobby immensely.
 
drysideshooter said:
I'm in a similar situation Brock47. I am a developer and builder and my wife and I own a very successful company. In the old days I did a lot of the work on our homes, especially trim and intricate detail work on some projects. Those days are long behind us and I'm no longer involved in performing actual field work. Though I design quite a few of our projects and get a sense of real satisfaction from that, I missed not actually having my hands involved in producing a beautiful finished product. I am a big gun guy and do a lot of work on firearms and knife making seemed like a natural fit. I enjoy holding some of our favorite knives and thinking of a way I might be able to improve on the design, and designing and creating something from scratch. I find satisfaction in seeing my skills improve, and looking at pictures on this forum and realizing there is a long, long way for me to go and much to learn. For me success would one day be producing a knife of sufficient quality and beauty that I would feel good about taking one or two with me to something like a gun show to use as trading material, or to make gifts for special people. Our homes are known for having amazing kitchens (my wife does all of our kitchen design and she is a very serious cook) and I would really enjoy being able to present each new homeowner with something like a chef's knife that I made.

I truly believe that success is the quality of your journey, and I am enjoying the knife making hobby immensely.
Click to expand...

This is starting to sounds like a new thread, although I think it ties in with the OP very well. Our goals and dreams are in large part going to drive where knife making goes.
 
Brock47 said:
This is starting to sounds like a new thread, although I think it ties in with the OP very well. Our goals and dreams are in large part going to drive where knife making goes.
Click to expand...

My bad, after reading your post I thought it was in that other thread. Man, I need that third cup of coffee to get my brain fully engaged today!
 
Knife making in 2016, is going nowhere, its knife making we've been doing it for centuries and will continue to do it until we become extinct. :)
 
I think forums will continue to drop in attendance in favor of social media. I personally much prefer the forum model but I must be in the minority. Some of the best forums are like ghost towns now.
 
JMJones said:
I think forums will continue to drop in attendance in favor of social media. I personally much prefer the forum model but I must be in the minority. Some of the best forums are like ghost towns now.
Click to expand...

I see that as well..I prefer forums myself as a source of information but social media is not moderated(people tend to like that) unless its some sort of closed group and even then barely at all. I don't even have a twitter or instagram account(not even sure I spelled those right?)..Easier for them to talk on their pocket god that way too.
 
On the more minute side of things, I know that carbon fiber pins, and garolite/micarta pins, have become very popular. I wouldn't be surprised to see even more makers trying them out in 16. I think they look good, and will be interested to see how they hold up over the very long term in both style and function I think they're more than serviceable. I really want to try them.
 
Last edited:
I have noticed in the short amount of time that I've been doing this that people want to know the guy/gal that made the knife. It makes the knife more than just a knife. They are buying a story and that is a great thing for all of us. I met a leather/jewelry maker that made a video on his site of him in the middle of a river making leather/jewelry. The river has nothing to do with how the product turns out but it looks cool and makes a good story and folks eat it up. Anything that is handmade has a neat story behind it and means more to most people. I think the knife making seen will continue to grow in popularity because of social media being able to get these stories out there.
elementfe said:
People are starting to pay more attention to the things they spend their money on. Japan dumped a huge amount of cheap stuff on the American market for a long time simply because we didn't care where and how things were made as long as they were clean and cheap. The novelty of being able to buy piles of food and products was pretty compelling in the fifties and sixties, but we're growing weary of that.
"Made in Japan" meant the same thing that "made in china" does now, but bit by bit their culture has begun to symbolize careful methods drawn from ancient culture. Now, anything Japanese is perceived to have a story behind it, and that's what draws people.
Someone who cares how their potatoes and chicken were grown is very likely to care how their tools were made, and by whom. That's a good thing. Ride it. Steer it!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I believe there is nothing hurting the longevity of "forums" compared to social media, as mentioned here. Its possible, but the formats are too different to say the one will overtake the other in my opinion.

Comparing the first person internet experience of social media to the community version found on forums doesn't add up for me.
 
A good backstory and especially a family tradition of craft means a lot to many customers.. I see craft overall getting bigger and bigger..We have farmed and crafted furniture/metal for years and generations in fact...More and more people want to know more about it. How we do it,everything..The homesteading movement is getting bigger every year.
I see more and more people who actually want crafted items made with recycled materials. Knives included. A knife made with a 100 year old saw blade, handled with 100 year old barn oak practically fly's away on its own. I mean a quality knife of course not a flea market rock ground monstrosity..
 
S.Alexander said:
CURLY Koa is still hot. I think that will continue.

For myself... I will make a folder one of these days. Maybe next year... Hopefully.
Click to expand...

Koa is HOT and when I first started buying slabs of it a few years ago you could get really nice stuff very reasonable......but now it's going for just crazy stupid prices. Glad I got some awhile back.

I've dabbled with a few sketches and designs for a folder and I will probably finish the designing and get at a folder in the near future but I don't think I have a desire to make folders a huge part of my knifemaking. Probably just a few here and there. I'd much rather go towards the kitchen cutlery thing. It seems to interest me much more and I get way more people asking if I'm ever gonna do kitchen stuff than I ever do folders.

Jay
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top