- Joined
- Sep 28, 2008
- Messages
- 864
Foot in mouth for mystery boxes.... but frost isn't the only one to do this as previously mentioned. It should be repeated though as by philwar... all innovation is innovation and can only help the industry overall
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Which major knife company is advancing the industry the most lately?
- Thread starter Artfully Martial
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
In my humble opinion it's the Kershaw group. They've brought composite blades and they've got that new Vanax75 to use pretty soon. Ken Onion's designs are still fairly recent and almost always innovative. Then they've got the Strider/Hinderer/KO/G&GH designs in ZT. Not to mention the G&GH designs in the main Kershaw brand. Now they're starting to use IKBS too. So I feel like Kershaw is the one bringing every angle of the game...designers, locks, steels and so on.
I would like to give a shout out to Benchmade for cancelling the red class of knives. Benchmade's a premium brand and they're best served by remaining that way. As far as I know they've gone back to all US manufacturing which I like a lot too. This, plus their active gold-class work, may in a few years elevate them out of their perceived category with Spyderco and Kershaw, who are both actively pursuing the low-end markets. I also like several of their Gold class models and they've got some designs that are a bit risky by Benchmade standards so they're branching out a bit.
It's interesting to see so few people suggest CRK--not that I disagree.
I would like to give a shout out to Benchmade for cancelling the red class of knives. Benchmade's a premium brand and they're best served by remaining that way. As far as I know they've gone back to all US manufacturing which I like a lot too. This, plus their active gold-class work, may in a few years elevate them out of their perceived category with Spyderco and Kershaw, who are both actively pursuing the low-end markets. I also like several of their Gold class models and they've got some designs that are a bit risky by Benchmade standards so they're branching out a bit.
It's interesting to see so few people suggest CRK--not that I disagree.
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,642
Spyderco, most innovations, best steel, best quality even in the imported designs.
Cold Steel for bringing lockbacks to the forefront and taking chances on knife designs that aren't the norm.
Boker for making quality knives at a myriad of pricepoints but all of very good to amazing quality.
Cold Steel for bringing lockbacks to the forefront and taking chances on knife designs that aren't the norm.
Boker for making quality knives at a myriad of pricepoints but all of very good to amazing quality.
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2010
- Messages
- 384
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2007
- Messages
- 105
For the most part, I agree with most of what has been said.
I would have to put Spyderco and Kershaw on top in terms of pushing the envelope in the use of high performance specialty blade steels, various locks, and other unique features. For example, Spyderco's lockbar insert in the M4 military, their new bushing system in the Paramilitary 2 and Manix 2, their use of different carbon fiber weaves (Bradley and upcoming Lum Chinese), glow in the dark scales for an upcoming Manix sprint, and the framelock/linerlock hybrid of the PPT. Kershaw gets points for their use of exotic steels in their composite blades, their new roller bearing system, their precision cnc work (ex. the canted lockbars in the Speedform and Tilt, and the flush G-10 inlays of the Volt). Not to mention the extreme value of their ZT line. Though their 0500 MUDD was discontinued, it was quite amazing what they achieved with the Hawk lock and the completely sealed pivot. Both companies also seem willing to push the envelope in terms of aesthetics through their numerous collaborations with custom makers as well as their own unique designs... for example, the numerous ethnic inspired Spyderco folders as well Kershaws' innovative blade shapes (composite, faceted, etc).
Honorable mentions in my mind go to Cold Steel and CRKT as they continued to experiment and take risks with some very wild and uniquely styled knives and tools, some fairing better than others, but all really making bold statements and as a result contributing as a whole to the industry. Cold Steel hit it out of the park with their collaborations with Andrew Demko, while CRKT has been upping their game with Ken Onion and others.(I never would have thought I needed a "pocket sword" that blurred the line between folder and fixed blade until those Rajahs and Espadas came out!) CRKT has really broadened the appeal of knives to the general public with some of their designs... from transformer-like multitools, cutesy turtle pendants and gadget like blades that are almost playful like toys.
All four of these these companies have really pushed the quality and value of their import lines and have changed many preconceived notions about the abilities of foreign manufacturing in light of years of knives by Taylor Brands, Frost Cutlery, etc. Not knowing what the future of the cutlery industry may hold, that fact in and of itself might be their biggest advancement
As for traditional folders, in my opinion, Great Eastern has probably advanced the industry the most in resurrecting old and uncommon patterns, using different scale materials while staying "traditional," and generating a lot of excitement and interest among new and old consumers.
I would have to put Spyderco and Kershaw on top in terms of pushing the envelope in the use of high performance specialty blade steels, various locks, and other unique features. For example, Spyderco's lockbar insert in the M4 military, their new bushing system in the Paramilitary 2 and Manix 2, their use of different carbon fiber weaves (Bradley and upcoming Lum Chinese), glow in the dark scales for an upcoming Manix sprint, and the framelock/linerlock hybrid of the PPT. Kershaw gets points for their use of exotic steels in their composite blades, their new roller bearing system, their precision cnc work (ex. the canted lockbars in the Speedform and Tilt, and the flush G-10 inlays of the Volt). Not to mention the extreme value of their ZT line. Though their 0500 MUDD was discontinued, it was quite amazing what they achieved with the Hawk lock and the completely sealed pivot. Both companies also seem willing to push the envelope in terms of aesthetics through their numerous collaborations with custom makers as well as their own unique designs... for example, the numerous ethnic inspired Spyderco folders as well Kershaws' innovative blade shapes (composite, faceted, etc).
Honorable mentions in my mind go to Cold Steel and CRKT as they continued to experiment and take risks with some very wild and uniquely styled knives and tools, some fairing better than others, but all really making bold statements and as a result contributing as a whole to the industry. Cold Steel hit it out of the park with their collaborations with Andrew Demko, while CRKT has been upping their game with Ken Onion and others.(I never would have thought I needed a "pocket sword" that blurred the line between folder and fixed blade until those Rajahs and Espadas came out!) CRKT has really broadened the appeal of knives to the general public with some of their designs... from transformer-like multitools, cutesy turtle pendants and gadget like blades that are almost playful like toys.
All four of these these companies have really pushed the quality and value of their import lines and have changed many preconceived notions about the abilities of foreign manufacturing in light of years of knives by Taylor Brands, Frost Cutlery, etc. Not knowing what the future of the cutlery industry may hold, that fact in and of itself might be their biggest advancement
As for traditional folders, in my opinion, Great Eastern has probably advanced the industry the most in resurrecting old and uncommon patterns, using different scale materials while staying "traditional," and generating a lot of excitement and interest among new and old consumers.
- Joined
- May 16, 2006
- Messages
- 174
Not to be underestimated Kit Rae look how good that knife is no one else makes knives as good as his.