Why so many hideous folders?

Status
Not open for further replies.
jdm61

jdm61

itinerant metal pounder
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
47,357
I am thinking that I will eventually have to give in an make some kind of folder. I have a question. When I look through an issue of Blade or TK, 50% of the new folders, particularly the tactical stuff that I see are true abortions and a number of others have what I consider some serious warts. I am a bit of a traditionalist, but I really have trouble finding what I would consider to be attractive and functional looking modern folders. What's up with that?:confused: Here is another question. When you guys buy some of these expensive frame lock folders, do you get a discount because your knife is missing one of the handle scales? :D Seriously.....If you have to release the lock from the side of the knife with the handle scale, why do makers leave it off on the other side?
 
Ummm...because Chris Reeve convinced them that an unfinished liner lock is cool if it's made of titanium?
 
But his stuff is, at worst, very well built but boring and clunky. Reeves knives are not hideously ugly.
yablanowitz said:
Ummm...because Chris Reeve convinced them that an unfinished liner lock is cool if it's made of titanium?
Click to expand...
 
While some may complain about them being back locks, the Demko knives that someone posted in another thread are actually pretty decent looking, so I know that some people do make non-offensive looking folders that still have some degree of tacticool cachet.
 
If I'm reading the question right, the real question is why don't manufacturers make more knives that appeal to you. I suppose it's because different folks have different tastes. If people like the knives enough to buy them, the manufacturers will keep on building them.
 
Older, traditional knife patterns exist because they have remained useful over the decades and centuries. They have withstood the test of time and their simplicity & practicality is pleasing to the eye.

Today's "tactical" knives are mostly designed by people who have never seen combat, nor do they understand the lines of what a useful knife needs to have. Many are designed just to look different than everything else. The end result is a spewing of ugly, impractical knives, that don't belong in either the battlefield or one's pockets. -but people still buy them because they are black, have skulls on them and they say "tactical, battle-ready, hard use" on the blade.
 
CWL said:
Older, traditional knife patterns exist because they have remained useful over the decades and centuries. They have withstood the test of time and their simplicity & practicality is pleasing to the eye.

Today's "tactical" knives are mostly designed by people who have never seen combat, nor do they understand the lines of what a useful knife needs to have. Many are designed just to look different than everything else. The end result is a spewing of ugly, impractical knives, that don't belong in either the battlefield or one's pockets. -but people still buy them because they are black, have skulls on them and they say "tactical, battle-ready, hard use" on the blade.
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Couldn't have said it better myself!
 
CWL said:
Older, traditional knife patterns exist because they have remained useful over the decades and centuries. They have withstood the test of time and their simplicity & practicality is pleasing to the eye.

Today's "tactical" knives are mostly designed by people who have never seen combat, nor do they understand the lines of what a useful knife needs to have. Many are designed just to look different than everything else. The end result is a spewing of ugly, impractical knives, that don't belong in either the battlefield or one's pockets. -but people still buy them because they are black, have skulls on them and they say "tactical, battle-ready, hard use" on the blade.
Click to expand...

How about you post up some examples of what you LIKE and also some examples of what you find hideous?
 
Aerian17 said:
How about you post up some examples of what you LIKE and also some examples of what you find hideous?
Click to expand...

Guess which category I feel this to be?
Marketed as "The Ultimate Tactical Folder for Reality-Based Personal Protection"
KNIFE_JWRB_300X300.jpg
 
I think the OP should give some specific examples of knives he doesn't like as well. I'm not a fan of hyped up marketing, but I'd take a Hinderer or Reeve any day over a stockman or a bowie.
 
flipe8 said:
I think the OP should give some specific examples of knives he doesn't like as well. I'm not a fan of hyped up marketing, but I'd take a Hinderer or Reeve any day over a stockman or a bowie.
Click to expand...

I'd like to know as well. There are a lot of ridiculous and ugly "tactical" or "modern" folders, but also a lot of good-looking ones (to my eyes). Right now I have a thing for traditionals, though.
 
I'd sure like to see more slim, light modern folders with clean, simple designs, because I don't need or want to carry a tactical pocket-brick. I think Kershaw really nailed the genre that interests me with the Gentleman's Folder in VG-10 and micarta.

Just my mileage, I reckon...
 
Here's something with graceful lines that is both modern and with ties to earlier designs.

Spyderco's Bob Lum Chinese Folder. -it is based off-of a traditional Chinese design but modernized slightly in shape & material (titanium).

spyderco_C65TIP.jpg
 
popedandy said:
If I'm reading the question right, the real question is why don't manufacturers make more knives that appeal to you. I suppose it's because different folks have different tastes. If people like the knives enough to buy them, the manufacturers will keep on building them.
Click to expand...

Bingo. To me, the majority of one handed opening, locking folders that come out are idiotically designed and/or ninja bait.

But, clearly they sell like hotcakes. De gustibus, I guess.
 
CWL said:
Guess which category I feel this to be?
Marketed as "The Ultimate Tactical Folder for Reality-Based Personal Protection"
KNIFE_JWRB_300X300.jpg
Click to expand...
Judging by CWL's first post ,I'd venture to guess he doesn't like the Boker RBB Jim Wagner folder. I on the other hand, think it's an very cool looking knife, and have the plain edge version as well the as somewhat larger fixed blade RBB version. Can you say "badass" CWL ? Sure, I knew if you tried really,really hard you could.
 
Larry Turko said:
Judging by CWL's first post ,I'd venture to guess he doesn't like the Boker RBB Jim Wagner folder. I on the other hand, think it's an very cool looking knife, and have the plain edge version as well the as somewhat larger fixed blade RBB version. Can you say "badass" CWL ? Sure, I knew if you tried really,really hard you could.
Click to expand...

Do you own the original versions? -You know, the ones with the "stab depth gauge" painted on the blade so Operators will know how deep to stab their Tangoes in order to de-animate them? You know why it's no-longer on the newer versions? Because it was so stupid that people laughed at Jim for putting it there.

RBB-04.jpg
 
jackknife said:
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Couldn't have said it better myself!
Click to expand...

Carl, I'm shocked you would way that. I could have sworn you had one of those special run peanuts with the skull shield and the tactical damascus blade designed to confuse the eye of the enemy. I'll bet those chicken nuggets never see it coming :)
 
CWL said:
Do you own the original versions? -You know, the ones with the "stab depth gauge" painted on the blade so Operators will know how deep to stab their Tangoes in order to de-animate them? You know why it's no-longer on the newer versions? Because it was so stupid that people laughed at Jim for putting it there.
Click to expand...

I'm laughing at that, how ridiculous.

How about this knife?

recon1-new-version.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top