Knife trends you just don't understand?

[CDEP]

Rats...my humor missed again

I got it, just trying to avoid encouraging you...

Don't worry - that video was not easy to make

I DO often flick my flickable knives when sitting on the couch watching t.v.; however, I never open them that way when carrying/using.

An important point! I wouldn't want to train myself as a couch ninja, then forget that I am deploying a blade in public and go all flicky ninja boy. I don't even use flippers to open in public. Living in a city I try to remember that we coexist in fraught times and people are on edge. I like to keep my LAPD interactions friendly.

[wrdwrght]

What I don’t understand, I often don’t like. I don’t understand that, and don’t like that, either.

[CDEP]

What I don’t understand, I often don’t like. I don’t understand that, and don’t like that, either.

This not only sums up this thread, but quite a few others. Well done!

[Matus]

Ok, someone has to say this ...

I have - for a few years now - observed the trend of putting a hole in the blade. Apparently the bigger the better. Like, why would anyone do that?!

[end of joke, please don't ban me]

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

I like to fidget and had a hot girlfriend in middle school

[kontei]

I don’t understand why people carry a keychain knife with a lanyard in their pockets, instead adding it simply to the keychain.

[Mushroom]

This might be controversial but…

DLC - it serves no positive purpose other than cosmetic. Knife will still rust, DLC will scratch with hard use, DLC picks up marks that you need to clean off, tip repair would ruin the DLC and so on.

Again just my opinion but other than making a knife look neat, which I admit it can, it doesn’t do much else.

Not understanding something should never be controversial. There should always room to learn.

DLC actually does serve a positive purpose beyond just being cosmetic. It is true that a knife with a DLC coating can still develop rust but it is also true that the DLC coating itself can and does serve to further protect a knives steel against corrosion. For one, it is literally a film coating a large portion of the blade. That in itself helps prevent some level or corrosion. That level of corrosion can also be influenced by the thickness of the DLC coating itself. Secondly, DLC coatings are “microporous” and have a microstructure that helps retain rust inhibitors and oils significantly better than a satin blade; which serves to even further increase it’s corrosion resistance.

DLC is also more than likely harder than whatever steel it is coating. If something is able to scratch the DLC coating, it most definitely would have also scratched an uncoated blade. Often times, the visible “scratches” are not actually in the DLC itself but are just marks left from whatever material it contacted.

Also, tip repair technically ruins any type of blade coating. I wouldn’t attribute that exclusively to DLC coatings.

Good points but nothing substantial or at least could be argued.

1. Rust yes DLC can hold oils better. Flip side DLC can hide rust in those same pours and under the coating.

2. A scratch on DLC looks bad and no way to hide it. On satin you might not notice it unless the light hits it right, plus potentially you could buff/sand it out if it really bothers you.

3. Tip repair, with DLC the whole spine of the knife would be sanded down, looking bad. With Satin, if it’s a smaller tip Brest you may never notice the repair.


In no way saying your points are not valid but I personally consider DLC 100% looks. If it helps with a few things you mentioned above I consider it a small bonus rather than a reason to pick it over satin.

Ok. You said DLC was for aesthetics only but that’s not true. I thought helping you understand why that’s not true might help to better understand the DLC trend that you have claimed not to understand. I’m not arguing in favor of DLC or trying to convince you to choose DLC over satin; I was just trying to help.

Honestly though, this was a very validating response to my original post on page 1 of this thread. I guess I just still don’t get it.

[TkoK83Spy]

DLC cleans up pretty nicely in my experience. Takes about 2 minutes.

[Spicy Suplex]

I'll admit to fidgeting, though despite owning comp locks and 1 single flipper, I mostly enjoy idly opening and closing a slow backlock, and using the reverse-finger-claw method to close, or dropping the ricasso/choil and then switching to reverse claw close.

Here's an interesting one because I understand it and don't understand it at the same time:

Ultem.

I think it's really neat. To look at. I like the kitschy translucent stuff whether it be the blurple stuff or the Manix blue FRCP, or even as far as those really really awful fully CLEAR scales on etsy that are clearly (hah) unsafe. I like it. And I apologize. I'm cleanly admitting it's tacky, it's just a tack that I like. I think it was born from the multi-colored Gameboy offerings of the 90s for me.

Anyway, what I don't understand is why it's still around. Do some makers get it right and some get it wrong because I just see a lot of breakage. Am I just tricking myself into thinking I've seen a bunch of cracked Ultem across the knife community? Maybe "one is enough" for my cynical brain, so please correct me if I'm wrong here.

[vivi]

This might be controversial but…

DLC - it serves no positive purpose other than cosmetic.

I feel that you're mistaken, William.

DLC provides two functions outside of aesthetics.

1. Reducing light reflections (Obviously not applicable to most, if not all of us here, but it does matter to certain people in certain lines of work).

2. It significantly reduces rust.

I invite you to take a look at this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=87786

Or take a look at the liners from my two Resilience folders. They're not even DLC coated, it's a lower quality coating but the effect is still noticeable:

viewtopic.php?p=1728834#p1728834

I've done a lot of testing with regards to how different pocket knives react to my unusually corrosive sweat. Bead blasted finishes reduce corrosion resistance, DLC and other black coatings enhance it.

I've been making these observations for close to two decades now. My first DLC knife was a Para 2. The stop pin, liners, etc. were coated in thick layers of rust, while the blade was pristine. This is one reason I then purchased a DLC Manix XL, which had all coated hardware and liners. Nothing on the knife ever rusted.

For a while me claiming this in itself was controversial here, but I think it's becoming accepted that I'm on to something. Or maybe Spyderco started coating liners and screws on DLC models for a different reason. Either way, these are my reasons for generally going with DLC versions over satin.

[HolySteel]

Here's an interesting one because I understand it and don't understand it at the same time:

Ultem.

I think it's really neat. To look at. I like the kitschy translucent stuff whether it be the blurple stuff or the Manix blue FRCP, or even as far as those really really awful fully CLEAR scales on etsy that are clearly (hah) unsafe. I like it. And I apologize. I'm cleanly admitting it's tacky, it's just a tack that I like. I think it was born from the multi-colored Gameboy offerings of the 90s for me.

I don't own one, but I also love it. If Spyderco ever does a Caribbean or Native 5 like that, I'm all over it.

[vivi]

2. The obsession with XL'ing (yes I verbed that) every model. Enough already.

Cheers
Erik

Thems fightin words!



In all seriousness I'm happier with big folders designed from the ground up. Like the Yojumbo shares a lot of features with the Yojimbo, but it isn't simply scaled up 25%.

I have no interest in a "lil" anything from Spyderco, but I understand some people prefer smaller knives than I do, or live in an area with more restrictive laws. My palm is wider than a Delica 4 handle, so lil knives don't feel very ergonomic to me.

[vivi]

This may be just me and I might be in the minority on this but I don't see the need to have to put a deep carry clip on every knife you own. Don't get me wrong, I will never complain when a company has them installed from the factory but some knives if the clip is mounted at its highest point with a non-deep carry clip then having that small bit of knife sticking out never really bothered me. I guess some examples for me would be my PM2s and Manix 2 models, I actually like the way they sit in my pocket with the standard clip, and yes I actually do like the stock spyderco clips. I never understood why people talked so badly about them, they seem to offer great pocket retention.

I think some people are convinced others won't be able to tell if they're carrying a knife with the deep carry clips. As someone that's done security at major concerts and sporting events - we know.

Now if someone finds it more comfortable to carry them that way or think they feel better in the hand, more power to them. I feel the opposite, that Spyderco does a good job of factoring ergonomics into their clip placement, but like tip up vs tip down everyone has their own preference that's right for them.

[Spicy Suplex]

I enjoy a deep carry clip generally only when Spyderco has installed it themselves. Had to learn that the hard way but hey, yknow.

For me personally, a deep carry wire clip, like say, the black one on the UKPK, with some dark pants, it'll avoid the passing eye of some random Californian who thinks it's their duty to scowl at me for carrying such a thing. Never cops or security, if anything I'd want them to be aware as quickly as possible or at least feel like I wasn't trying to bamboozle them. But then again I'm not the type that would try and take a knife into a concert.

[nerdlock]

For me, deep carry clips are sometimes a necessity for some models (NOTORIOUSLY the Para 3), because the stock clip makes it ride high in the pocket, and despite the stock clip's amazing retention, I've had my share of snags and spills with that particular knife. I think Spyderco acknowledges this issue given that the Para 3 LW has a deep carry wire clip.

But I also believe not all models could benefit from a deep carry clip, and one of my pet peeves about aftermarket clips is that they never really manage to replicate the excellent pocket retention of the stock clip.

[spydergoat]

Like some other posts, I don't get the appeal of fidgeting with knives (little dangerous), cleaver blades (kinda odd, not functional), super decorative lanyard (not my thing but do you) and deep carry obsession (definitely not a universal upgrade).

I will add that I don't understand the appeal of the "desert warrior" donut knives, "pocket check" videos can get weird (stranger danger!), and the "immunity" series from that butterfly company is a head scratcher from a marketing perspective.

But I will defend my clear handles (blue frcp Manix was my third Spyderco model) and DLC coating (it does have a function and it's sexy). And the fact that it's okay and entertaining to make posts like this. It's all in fun and there's no need to make this forum so sanitized that nobody's feelings could possibly be hurt because someone doesn't like what they like.

[vivi]

).
I will add that I don't understand the appeal of the "desert warrior" donut knives, "pocket check" videos can get weird (stranger danger!), and the "immunity" series from that butterfly company is a head scratcher from a marketing perspective.

But I will defend my clear handles (blue frcp Manix was my third Spyderco model) and DLC coating (it does have a function and it's sexy). And the fact that it's okay and entertaining to make posts like this. It's all in fun and there's no need to make this forum so sanitized that nobody's feelings could possibly be hurt because someone doesn't like what they like.

Yeah those doughnut knives definitely aren't for me.

I hadn't heard about the immunity series. While reading about them I came across this:

Blade steel is CPM-M4, a formidable semi-stainless that offers truly outstanding edge retention; all variations of the Immunity comes with a coated blade to bolster rust resistance too.

They seemed like pretty standard benchmade offerings. What about their marketing seemed off to you?

Agreed on the last part of your post. IDC if someone is into fidgeting with their deep carry pocket knife with a big sharpening choil, you do you, ya know? It's just pointing out things that don't make sense to you. Doesn't mean anyone here looks down on people into those things or thinks less of them.

[ladybug93]

fidgeting is probably somewhat related to anxiety. i'm a fidgeter and constantly expending "nervous" energy in that manner. i found myself fidgeting with knives because i always had one on me. i got a dragonfly because it's smaller and less threatening, but people still looked at me weird. i tried a squarehead, which works better in that capacity and gets almost zero attention. now i typically fidget with a squiddy balisong trainer. it's a lot of fun, but it does draw looks and questions. usually people ask me if it's a switchblade, which instantly gives me an idea of how much they know about knives. i just tell everyone it's my fidget spinner and show them it's all plastic.

anyway, i find typical fidget toys to be highly unsatisfying. i like the feeling of something nicely machined. i don't think there's anything wrong with fidgeting with a knife as long as you're not making other people uncomfortable and willing to accept the risk of cutting yourself.

[James Y]

I think that deep carry clips are a great option for those who want them. I’ve never gotten one, and I don’t intend to, myself.

I’ve lived in CA most of my life, except for when I spent several years in Taiwan. Ever since I started carrying clip knives (late 1990s), I’ve never had a single person here look at the clip and visible end of the knife handle on my pocket and give me a negative reaction, if they even noticed it at all. This includes my old SS Police, which when clipped, looks like Gumby hanging from my pocket and peeking over it. The only people I know for certain that notice are people who work in law enforcement, security, etc. And I’ve never gotten a negative reaction from any of them yet, either. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen in CA, or won’t ever happen to me, just saying in all the years I’ve carried knives in general (47 years) and clip knives (26 years), I’ve never experienced it.

Jim

[spydergoat]

What about their marketing seemed off to you?

I just don't get why name it these medical terms. Full immunity and partial immunity. Bad/uncomfortable correlations (illness and pandemic and the like) and nothing to do with the knives. The full is only a 2.5 inch blade. Name aside they look decent, if they made a cross bar lock knife with that blade shape in something a little bit larger and a little cheaper, it may be a winner.