The next "pocket clip" level breakthrough?

[DeadForests]

There have been many points in the advancement of the pocket knife as a tool.

Foldability.

Locking mechanisms.

One handed opening mechanisms.

One handed closing mechanisms.

Partical metallurgy

The pocket clip.


With all these advancements, one can think about what the next addition to knife advancement will be. Of course, this is an impossible thing to predict until it reveals itself. What do all knives need, that we just don't realize yet? Discuss.

[Airlsee]

Innovative American manufacturing with friendly pricing and universal availability!

[ladybug93]

[DeadForests]

[ZrowsN1s]

All jokes aside I see the next big breakthrough being in sharpening stones. Higher quality abrasives are the future. The current CBN and Diamond offerings from most companies are good, but they could be so much better. Especially in guided systems or fixed angle systems like the sharpmaker. I see some of the abrasives that freehanders have available to them and I get a little jealous.

Spyderco has a Triple B Handmade collaboration knife in the works. A knife that I couldn't be more excited for. But you know what would excite me just as much? A collaboration between Shawn and Sal to make the ultimate Sharpmaker stone. To bring Triple B's knowledge of next level abrasives to the masses.

[Alexander135]

This is not on the level of a pocket clip in terms of being a breakthrough, but the closest thing that I can think of is internal milling/reliefs of scales.
This occurs now, but I see it as becoming more of a norm in the coming future. With metals, especially titanium, it can reduce a lot of weight and still be very rigid.
I would like to see g10 milled as well; I haven't seen that done yet. There's some FRN that's moulded with reliefs, like the Para3, and sometimes a steel handle is, but I hope it becomes more common for every material reasonable.

Also, I love when companies use inserts rather than metal liners. My favorite thing about metal liners is having nice, durable threads to screw into, followed by the rigidity and flexibility offered by the liner around the pivot. You get a lot of stability for hard use, but that only constitutes 1% of my uses so it's not usually necessary.
The Native 5 LW has a great combination of weight reducing reliefs, and metal inserts for the screws. A model design for future folding knife designs imo.

[Jim Malone]

Airlsee +1

[DSH007]

There's a knife that was released recently by a company called Winterblade (I think ?) that has been causing a lot of excitement in other corners of the knife-loving internet.. it uses high powered magnets that act as a "detent." Not really my thing aesthetically.. and I have my concerns over the practicality of carrying a bunch of magnets around in close proximity to my key fobs, credit cards, etc.. but I've seen a few videos on it and I can't deny that its different in a way that is pretty radical compared to most knife companies' present offerings.. whether or not it's a "breakthrough," I can't say..

[DeadForests]

There's a knife that was released recently by a company called Winterblade (I think ?) that has been causing a lot of excitement in other corners of the knife-loving internet.. it uses high powered magnets that act as a "detent." Not really my thing aesthetically.. and I have my concerns over the practicality of carrying a bunch of magnets around in close proximity to my key fobs, credit cards, etc.. but I've seen a few videos on it and I can't deny that its different in a way that is pretty radical compared to most knife companies' present offerings.. whether or not it's a "breakthrough," I can't say..

The leatherman free series uses magnets, and many people don't like it because it can trap metal particles inside of the tool. But the action on the magnets is quite interesting to use.

[Coastal]

I got nothin.' I have never in my life produced a fundamental advancement on the level of the pocket clip.

Along the lines of Alexander's excellent scale-and-liner-milling idea, I'd like to see thinner blade stock, pretty much across the board. Reduce "every" blade by at least a millimeter. I've started buying slipjoints because they tend to have thinner stock. In fact, why stop at stock thickness? More emphasis on geometry, period! Call me Euclid, if you wish.

[Danke]

There's a knife that was released recently by a company called Winterblade (I think ?) that has been causing a lot of excitement in other corners of the knife-loving internet.. it uses high powered magnets that act as a "detent." Not really my thing aesthetically.. and I have my concerns over the practicality of carrying a bunch of magnets around in close proximity to my key fobs, credit cards, etc.. but I've seen a few videos on it and I can't deny that its different in a way that is pretty radical compared to most knife companies' present offerings.. whether or not it's a "breakthrough," I can't say..

Magnets! What a time to be alive!

[Evil D]

I feel like the pivot lock pin idea was never explored enough. Extrema Ratio had some models with it but I saw some less than great hard use tests that showed it maybe could be done better. It may be redundant, may be a situation where a standard lock can be made stronger than the blade anyway, but I thought it was a neat idea.

[DSH007]

There's a knife that was released recently by a company called Winterblade (I think ?) that has been causing a lot of excitement in other corners of the knife-loving internet.. it uses high powered magnets that act as a "detent." Not really my thing aesthetically.. and I have my concerns over the practicality of carrying a bunch of magnets around in close proximity to my key fobs, credit cards, etc.. but I've seen a few videos on it and I can't deny that its different in a way that is pretty radical compared to most knife companies' present offerings.. whether or not it's a "breakthrough," I can't say..

Magnets! What a time to be alive!

Hah, I knew it wouldn't take long for an "ohh, but the T-Mag.." post.. yes, sure, sure.. it has a magnet and it came first. But, have you checked out this Winterblade at all? Apples and oranges and all that vs the T-Mag, imo

Along with the magnetic detent, I think a lot of the excitement for the Winterblade is over the opening action, which uses the backspacer as a levering mechanism and is also actuated by magnets.. depressed against the choil from a closed position, the backspacer deploys the blade, which is then held open by a magnetic locking mechanism. I watched the Nick Shabazz disassembly video on this thing just now.. it's really pretty cool how it functions.. And it sounds really neat when it's deployed hahah.

I'm not one to fall blindly for internet "hype" over knives and if I'm being honest, this Winterblade does very little for me personally on an aesthetic level. I have no real interest in ever purchasing or carrying one and I don't think i'll ever truly be sold on the whole magnet thing. Breakthrough? Maybe not.. but, I can't deny that this is different in a way that is pushing the boundaries of what other companies are doing right now..

[Danke]

I did try to take a look at the new magnet knife but that site seems just to be links to unboxing videos. Not my bag.

Anyway, my first next innovation thing I would suggest is a self healing pocket clip. Most of us have snagged and bent a clip at the worst time. You have to pull it off and sort of fix it or buy a new one. So some kind of smart material that returns to it's prior state when a condition is met or an easy to apply procedure is done.

Part two is a huge leap in the screw hardware and design. Something that will secure the parts not need Loctite and can be removed easily. Look at all the threads that come up about a stripped pivot or clip screw and imagine how much time the staff at the factory spend on trying to solve problems around the smallest part of the knife.

[Ramonade]

I was also going to metion the Factor from Winterblade co.

Otherwise, some researchers may have just found a way to boost steel's proprieties. If this is a real finding, this might be the next big thing.

[BornIn1500]

I think the Elastic Ceramic will continue to be improved on. Then it will make its way into pocket knives and become a lot more common.

[Soanso McMasters]

The exploration of a variety of steels IS the next revolution, and Spyderco has been on the forefront. What comes after that? I have no idea… but I suspect Spyderco will lead the way.

[apollo]

First before they start inventing they should take a look at there clips in the future in my eyes. They work good and are pleasing for the eyes but some costum makers go even further with clips that disappear in the scales if the blade is open. I would love to see such a thing from spyderco.

For something completely new i would like to see a new revolution in linerd knives, a new scale material something that can replace the g10 so they can be more affordable but not something plastic like frn or frcp.

[electro-static]

I have to agree that it will be a combo on abrasives and thinness. New tougher steels like magna-cut should push edge bevels to thinner behind the edge and stock thickness to being thinner. Better Abrasives will not just benefit users, but makers as well as it will become cheaper to grind harder steels without going through so many belts and bits. I would say that the revolution is already Under-Way as easy and cheap access to quality diamond plates has made sharpening steels hardened above at or above 64 easier to the point where people are complaining about softer steels being harder to sharpen.

I can also see that if a steel designed like magna-cut in the 10V class is made, then that would be a game changer as well as large classes of steel would be made obsolete.

In summary I think the next revolution in pocket knives will be a combo of things coming together: Better Abrasives making knives with harder and tougher steels easier to manufacture and maintain with thin stock, behind the edge thickness, and bevel angle.

There transformations are under way,with the advent of magna-cut, and brands like kizer releasing knives in 10V for $80, as well as a $40 worksharp field sharpener will easily touch up any steel. Hopefully Triple B will release super vitrified KME stone.

[cabfrank]

That elastic ceramic test was impressive. Thanks for the video.