Which Categories are HOT? & What’s Next?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
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Which categories or types of custom knives do you feel will be “Hot” or the most popular over the next couple years?

Stock removal fixed blades seems to have done very well over the last couple years as have ABS forged knives perhaps to a lesser degree.

Slipjoints seem to be “Hot as Fire” as are some of the higher end folders form makers such as Walker and Lake to name a couple.

• Any other categories that have really come on strong the last couple years?

• So which categories of knives do you see as the next champions?

• Do you see any fading over the next year or so?

• Any sub-categories deserve mention?

Thanks for your participation.
 
EVERY maker that I talk to, is starting to build slipjoints.

ABS Hunters seem to have slipped off the radar.
 
ptgdvc said:
EVERY maker that I talk to, is starting to build slipjoints.

ABS Hunters seem to have slipped off the radar.
Click to expand...

Slipjoints are OK, but it is the multiblades that are on fire.

Odd shaped tacticools are still hot.

I think that daggers are going to do it next year or so....gonna be the bowie of the late 2000's.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
ptgdvc said:
ABS Hunters seem to have slipped off the radar.
Click to expand...

Perhaps here in the exchange section, :eek: however haven't particularly noticed that in the broad market.
In fact, I have seen some good movement recently in ABS Hunters.

Kohai999 said:
I think that daggers are going to do it next year or so....gonna be the bowie of the late 2000's.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I agree, we are seeing more and more excitment towards them.
 
I think that we'll be seeing more large camp style choppers, and large camp and kitchen knives
Just a hunch.
 
Kohai999 said:
Seeing more makers showing the skills to do them right, too, which is key. They are a total PITA to get right.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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You're right STeven. Some extraordinary examples at the Blade Show this past year from Don Hanson And Jason Knight just to name a couple out of probably a 1/2 dozen that really caught my attention.

Then there's the beauties we have seen here on this forum over the last six months. I have never really been a dagger fan, but how can you not be with these examples. :thumbup:

Walking Man said:
I think that we'll be seeing more large camp style choppers.
Click to expand...

Yes, choppers are also very "HOT" and should remain that way with the popularity of cutting competitions.
 
Tacticool multiblades.
 
I don't know how relevant / important that's going to be, but I expect we will see more and more older pieces coming from the woodwork (old collections). Not sure what it will do overall...
 
Joss said:
I don't know how relevant / important that's going to be, but I expect we will see more and more older pieces coming from the woodwork (old collections). Not sure what it will do overall...
Click to expand...

I hope we do Joss.
IMO, it's good for everyone involved to keep these older examples circulating among collectors.
 
Along with the choppers I have noticed alot of fighters. I dont know if I would consider them "HOT" but they certainly are not cold. I see more people succeeding in making quality ones, especially subhilts.

Maybe others wont agree but I kind of see the nessmuk style coming back to some degree, some of the older blade styles. Anyone else notice this?
 
STeven, Kevin,

What are you guys basing the prediction of the "rise of the dagger" upon? Don't get me wrong - I'm not presenting an opposing view - just wondering what you guys are relying on to support that conclusion.

You'll always see daggers at Blade - particularly on the table of ABS MS testers such as Jason Knight. For a great majority of Master Smiths, their test quillion dagger is the last dagger they make. And even for those who make a couple more, such knives are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the minority as compared with bowies, camp knives, hunters and even folders.

STeven correctly points out that these things are a PITA to pull off properly (one of the reasons it is a MS requirement). They take longer to make and are pretty much only produced in fully decked-out trim - the result being that they are, as a group, pretty darned expensive knives. Don't see too many "field grade" daggers out there. :) The larger the average price of any particular group of knives, the smaller the buyer base. So where is this increase in popularity going to come from?

Roger

PS - Like Peter, it seems like every second maker I talk to is getting into slippies.
 
RogerP said:
STeven, Kevin,

What are you guys basing the prediction of the "rise of the dagger" upon? Don't get me wrong - I'm not presenting an opposing view - just wondering what you guys are relying on to support that conclusion.

You'll always see daggers at Blade - particularly on the table of ABS MS testers such as Jason Knight. For a great majority of Master Smiths, their test quillion dagger is the last dagger they make. And even for those who make a couple more, such knives are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the minority as compared with bowies, camp knives, hunters and even folders.

STeven correctly points out that these things are a PITA to pull off properly (one of the reasons it is a MS requirement). They take longer to make and are pretty much only produced in fully decked-out trim - the result being that they are, as a group, pretty darned expensive knives. Don't see too many "field grade" daggers out there. :) The larger the average price of any particular group of knives, the smaller the buyer base. So where is this increase in popularity going to come from?

Roger
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The demand is going to come because many of the bowie collectors have reached a large saturation in their collections, and daggers are the ultimate, so some degree, like you just pointed out with "fully decked-out trim".

However, guys like Brend, Papp, Salley, and others have long put out fairly basic daggers for carry or collecting.....pretty much under the radar.

I base my "rise of the dagger" on a gut feeling...nothing more or less.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
RogerP said:
STeven correctly points out that these things are a PITA to pull off properly (one of the reasons it is a MS requirement). They take longer to make and are pretty much only produced in fully decked-out trim - the result being that they are, as a group, pretty darned expensive knives. Don't see too many "field grade" daggers out there. :) The larger the average price of any particular group of knives, the smaller the buyer base. So where is this increase in popularity going to come from?

Roger
Click to expand...

I think that Roger has nailed why Daggers have been, and will continue to be problematic. Also, in NY State, simply carrying one is a felony in and of itself. There is no "useful purpose" associated with a Dagger. They are strictly elaborate safe queens. There are no users, save as props for Lady MacBeth. Also, just speaking for myself there are still plenty of great Bowies to buy.

Peter
 
ptgdvc said:
Also, in NY State, simply carrying one is a felony in and of itself. There is no "useful purpose" associated with a Dagger. They are strictly elaborate safe queens. There are no users, save as props for Lady MacBeth. Also, just speaking for myself there are still plenty of great Bowies to buy.

Peter
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1. I see your NY State, and raise you Kalifornia....no shortage of dagger grinds in collections however.

2. As to the lack of usefulness, spoken like a true f'in civilian, Mr. Gill....had you been in 'Nam you would know the usefulness of a double edge....:eek:....seriously...they stick real good.

3. You are fairly single minded when it comes to purchases, so your opinion is not one that I would necessarily consider when it comes to analyzing the market in general or broad terms....didn't you used to collect hunters?:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven,

By "useful purpose", I meant some purpose that does not involve 25 years to life. :p

I completely agree that, when they absolutely, positively have to be dead ASAP, a dagger is the way to go. ;)

P
 
I'm putting my order in with T.A. Davidson. Slippies are hot and so is he. And he's still pretty affordable...but maybe not for long.
 
Well, I'll be making more upscale slip joints, that's for sure. And also, Large Bowies/Fighters that are different from the norm.

I also have a couple large daggers on the back burner :eek:
 
I think names and good design still lead ahead of styles within the same classification.


My OPINION :D on Styles:

The recent volume of fighters suggests they are were/are pretty hot for a while, but not to everyones taste , including mine. For me there can be a lot of repetition in their design and I would think saturation point will be reached quick.

Daggers are great but price wise can be a no go for many. Legality can be an issue in Europe.

Bowies - High end and scarcity are the future driving forces in my mind.

Slipjoints are hot (some makers and definitely multiblades), but they have always been a nice thing to collect, so I don't see interest there waining, but the prices on some makers may stabilise soon. However on a few others we will continue to see price rises as the once reasonable lead times are extended or order taking stopped.

I think hybrid tacticals could be hot one for the future - Don H's forged tactical, the likes of Jody Mullers offerings, dressed up tacticals such as the one RJ did for Coop, have all caught my eye.

I am also looking a scooping some past masters.

Stephen
 
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