The next "pocket clip" level breakthrough?

[DeadForests]

The main problem with ceramics it seems, is the lack of a great way to sharpen them. Also, it seems to be high cost and for a lot of ceramics Ive seen, toughness is generally lacking. There might be exceptions to that toughness problem however, but maybe they are a niche.

[cabfrank]

I thought that too. I mean, eventually, maybe a long time but eventually, it will have to be sharpened. Then what?

[DeadForests]

I thought that too. I mean, eventually, maybe a long time but eventually, it will have to be sharpened. Then what?

I can see two roads, either they make ceramic easy to sharpen with advancement in material sciences behind the ceramics... or they make a cheap way to make it to the point where it is a disposable tool.

[cabfrank]

Both sound challenging, but this is relatively new, so we will see.

[Haunted House]

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.

I’m with ya on that. Spyderco dropping all these cool advanced steels, they should have abrasives that are optimal for them.

No need to re-invent the wheel- just 3 new sharpmaker rods in course, medium and fine, made of the appropriate abrasive like diamond, venev, cbn, etc.
I’d love to see BBB collab with Spyderco on it!

[Haunted House]

Not exactly new in the world of knives but new to me- button lock flippers. Man. To me it’s an absolute game changer.
I picked up a Protech Malibu recently and it instantly became my new favorite opening & locking mechanism. Maybe my love for it will fade in time, but… I can foresee button lock flippers becoming the next big thing.

I also think there’s a big hole in the market for fixed blades with “super” steels ran at optimal HT. Something like Magnacut at 63-64hrc, Cruwear @63-64hrc, etc.
Might be the next big thing in fixed blades.

[DeadForests]

Not exactly new in the world of knives but new to me- button lock flippers. Man. To me it’s an absolute game changer.
I picked up a Protech Malibu recently and it instantly became my new favorite opening & locking mechanism. Maybe my love for it will fade in time, but… I can foresee button lock flippers becoming the next big thing.

I also think there’s a big hole in the market for fixed blades with “super” steels ran at optimal HT. Something like Magnacut at 63-64hrc, Cruwear @63-64hrc, etc.
Might be the next big thing in fixed blades.

I also sort of see the button style compression lock as an overall upgrade to the compression lock in terms of accessibility. There might be a reason why it isn't considered to be superior to the compression lock standard that I am not thinking of.

[electro-static]

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.

I own two of those knives and they don’t have fine edges. I think that the true advancement will be a way to bring them to shaving sharp after they dull, and the capability to mill the material into more interesting shapes. Presently Maxamet is more well suited as a blade material, as you can re-sharpen it.

[DeadForests]

You know, this is a somewhat frustrating topic to think about. I wonder how many knife designers and creators spend hours on this very idea. The idea that something is missing from all pocket knives, that we have not yet discovered. Before the pocket clip was invented, it was something that was either modified on, or was non-existent in large scale production. If you didn't think about it too much, a user back then wouldn't even know they were missing out on what a pocket clip could offer in their carry and usage experience.

Meditating on using a knife, opening it, cutting, closing and putting away, what is lacking? I doubt we have reached the apex of the design of what a pocket knife is, but thinking of what could be lacking is quite difficult.

My best guess would be that it is currently something that is being modified onto pocket knives. The only thing I can think about in this area, is the fact that a LOT of people modify the spydiehole onto pocket knives. For good reason. Perhaps the spydiehole is the next pocket clip evolution and all knives will use it, or some form of it in the future. It does seem to be a pretty optimal way of doing an opening mechanism.

But that idea is boring, there has to be something that no one has really mentioned yet that would be a welcome edition to all modern day knife designs.

[dlum1]

Nickel titanium

It exhibits shape memory and super elasticity. It's already used in fishing rods where durability, weight, and corrosion resistance is essential. I use them in rod building for both saltwater spinning and fly rods. The guides can be folded over without breaking and spring back to their original shape. They also don't rust. Seems like a decent wire clip material for salt series knives if looking for something over standard titanium.

Edit: I see now that I read the title a bit too literally...

[JRinFL]

Nickel titanium

It exhibits shape memory and super elasticity. It's already used in fishing rods where durability, weight, and corrosion resistance is essential. I use them in rod building for both saltwater spinning and fly rods. The guides can be folded over without breaking and spring back to their original shape. They also don't rust. Seems like a decent wire clip material for salt series knives if looking for something over standard titanium.

Edit: I see now that I read the title a bit too literally...

You know, it’s still a good idea. It could be a good upgrade to the existing wire clips.

[cabfrank]

It does sound good.

[JD Spydo]

Overall I've been very impressed with many of Spyderco's newer innovations in the past 5 years or so. But when it comes to pocket-clips I still think that the clip they had on the GUNTING model was the best one that they have ever come up with.

That was one awesome clip and every time I ever carried one of my GUNTING models I never had any problems with that clip at all.

If there is no way for that model to return then I do hope they have a new type of clip in their product pipeline.

[Bemo]

Not exactly new in the world of knives but new to me- button lock flippers. Man. To me it’s an absolute game changer.
I picked up a Protech Malibu recently and it instantly became my new favorite opening & locking mechanism. Maybe my love for it will fade in time, but… I can foresee button lock flippers becoming the next big thing.

I also think there’s a big hole in the market for fixed blades with “super” steels ran at optimal HT. Something like Magnacut at 63-64hrc, Cruwear @63-64hrc, etc.
Might be the next big thing in fixed blades.

I picked up a Civvivi version recently and enjoy it. I believe Sal said recently that he had designed a true button lock and had hoped to bring it to market but the factory issues the last couple years seems to have shelved that project like so many. Don't you get the idea that the Spyderco archive of designs could be mined for a couple decades?