Which major knife company is advancing the industry the most lately?

Tsujigiri said:
Kershaw. They sometimes reinvent the wheel, but a lot of their innovations are very useful, and not available from anyone else. Spyderco knives are great, but I don't know if I'd consider them innovative. They seem to make basically the same knife with a lot of different steels. I know that's an exaggeration, but they aren't really innovating anything except blade shapes and steels.
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+1 :thumbup:
 
kershaw is exploring and trying new things.

+1 to kershaw.

And +1 to crkt - they have the MOST new designs every year.
 
All the answers I've seen are correct - and there are some missing. In fact, every knife company can be said to have an influence. If it sells, other companies are bound to have a look at their products.
There is no single company that is innovative and marketleading in every way. Some companies are always looking for the next best steel, opening method, blade shape/geometry, handle shape and material, locking mechanism, heat treat, etc, etc. Even the more obscure companies like Extrema Ratio and Lionsteel are shaping the industry, let alone a company like Cold Steel with its Tri-Ad lock or Emerson with its Wave.

So all fanboi responses aside, there is no wrong answer here (well, almost :D). As in nature, competition is what keeps ALL parties striving to improve.
 
Spyderco and Kershaw/Shun definitely. I own several of each. Both fixed and folders. I think Spyderco excels in the variety of blade shapes, but both are in the same ball park. Benchmade, I can't comment on as I don't own any, but I'm sure they are pretty competitive, just not a big fan on how some of their design points mirroring another company's, but this isn't the thread for that.
 
I think Kai and spyderco are always pushing the envelope. Both are coming out with some fantastic knives with different designers and new steel choices.

BM is behind them IMO but im hearing nothing but good about the m390 they have been using :thumbup:
 
I vote Spyderco as well. They just do so many things well and most important to this thread, they offer products in so many steels. You can get a reasonably priced knife in a super steel before moving up.

I would also nominate ESEE as well. They offer products that once would have been custom only propositions all the while producing very simple and functional designs, and showing everybody what a really good heat treat can do to a common steel.
 
KAI USA Ltd. ZT / Shun for first place, definitely. I used to think Spyderco was exceedingly ugly and plain, but they've seemed to branch out with new steels and offerings lately that have caught my eye. Benchmade seems to come in third, in terms of bringing new stuff to the table.
 
Depends on what you consider in regards to 'advancing' the industry I guess.

What I mean is that some of the companies are doing the same ole same ole which although great can't be claimed as new advances being made.

In recent times Cold Steel advanced the industry with the Triad Lock. While it is true they contract with other companies to make these knives for them the fact is they hold the rights to it and it was introduced into the industry by them. That should count for something for advancing lock technology in the industry.

Spyderco advances the industry in the way they always have by riding the cutting edge for the use of the latest and greatest blade steels and introduction of new models and some work in the way of unique and innovative lock designs. The new Para Military 2 and the new Military M4 and Manix 2 are all examples of their recent innovations.

Benchmade? Yeah I guess for putting out consistent well made products and also pushing the envelope for blade steels and reliable lock mechanisms. The new 710 with the M390 steel is a stand out to me for innovation and design improvements.

Kershaw for new models and innovative designs and their composite blade technology in conjunction with flipper and assisted openers like the Volt, Speedforms and others that always put them at the top of the list for great companies.

And an honorable mention to SanRenMu for making some of the quality knives some of these companies design and for building some of the parts they use by making them a reality to allow these companies to bring them to production for us end line users to enjoy. I'm sure there are other Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, German and Italian companies all worthy of mention here that contribute to the industry in various ways in which they are advancing it but unfortunately I do not know all of them to include them here. I could venture a guess but rather than do that I'll close with the open question and refer to them as the shadows in the industry working behind the scenes.

STR
 
kawr said:
Pretty easy to say Spyderco and Kershaw at a close second. Neither company is shy about being innovative. BM seems too worried about aesthetics at times which some people might prefer.
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Agree. BM is also far to cautious about introducing new steel types. M390 was good, but when you look at the range of steels, some quite exotic, that are in the Spyderco catalog, the BM range pales by comparison.
 
JNewell said:
Agree. BM is also far to cautious about introducing new steel types. M390 was good, but when you look at the range of steels, some quite exotic, that are in the Spyderco catalog, the BM range pales by comparison.
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That is quite true, JN, but some of us old guys like our ration of change in smaller amounts. ;)
 
I am going to have to go with Frost Cutlery.

Cutting Edge Designs
Top Quality
Rockwell Tested
Mystery Boxes


mixed-smiley-003.gif
 
A.P.F. said:
That is quite true, JN, but some of us old guys like our ration of change in smaller amounts. ;)
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I hear you. I am old enough to remember when there were only two steels: steel, and stainless steel. ;) Most folks here have absolutely no idea how lucky they are to have the superb steels and wide range of choices...then again...why is my bank account so low??? :confused::(:D
 
While I can not bring a lot to the table in knowledge I would have to agree with Spyderco. But all in all I have to step away from the "tactical" knives and step over to Great Eastern Cutlery. While the blade steels are simple they are great choices. New twists on old patterns, new scale materials, and amazing QUALITY. I believe they have made the classic brands; Case, Queen, etc. rethink what they are doing and letting get out of their doors. Now I know slipjoints and traditional knives are not everyone's forte but I don't think they can be overlooked.
 
Alright, I'll go out and say it, even though nobody will like it:
Cold Steel

They just do out-of-the-line designs. I mean, knife companies mostly aren't too adventurous because it's hard to recover from a loss. But Cold Steel puts out new designs like no tomorrow. Whereas some companies are stuck putting out the same re-designed blades, most of CS' lineup is a bunch of radically different stuff.
 
I think the other manufacturers should start a mystery box program. You give $1,000 to the company, they throw a dozen or so knives in a box, and you get to try all sorts of new knives you would have never even considered before.

Or with the CRK mystery box you get 20 Sebenza's with random inlays!
The possibilities are endless!
Limited time offer, buy now for only $9,999.99!
 
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