For better or for worse, the knife manufacturing sector is as prone to buying into trends as any other.
Popular models come and go but it’s the trends more than the design of a single knife that color the industry.
With that said, here are 5 common features that have been growing in popularity. Don’t be surprised if you thumb through a catalog and see some of these.
A Cleaver-Style Blade
Cleaver-style blades, or as they are commonly called, “pocket cleavers,” are growing in popularity.
At its most basic, a cleaver-style blade is one that’s high, flat, with a blunt point or no point at all, and designed for slicing and chopping rather than piercing.
One only needs to look at models like the CJRB Maileah, CRKT Pilar, and Gerber Tri-Tip Cleaver to see the rise of this design.
And it is not without its merits. The cleaver design has a really strong tip (since there usually is no tip), and a very durable design that can handle a little bit of abuse – and they are highly utilitarian.
A Hawkbill-Style Blade
Like pocket cleavers, hawkbill-style blades, also sometimes referred to as talon style blades, or simply as karambits, are growing in popularity.
Unfortunately, this is probably because they look cool. There’s no inherent advantage to a blade like that, which is inwardly curved, except for making draw cuts – which is why the classic linoleum knife has this profile.
Worse, it’s harder to sharpen a blade that’s curved inward and you will not be able to do it on a stone.
But, despite these shortcomings, the trend continues upwards and shows no sign of slackening.
A Button Lock
Button locks are also growing in popularity and tons of knifemakers are releasing models that have them.
Unlike the talon-style blade, there really are no shortcomings of the button lock. It is strong, one of the strongest folding knife lock designs of all, and it is very fidget friendly.
But most importantly, button locks are also intuitive and easy to use, and they’re also safer. With a button lock, your fingers never need to come into the path of the blade when closing the knife. That alone is worth the investment.
Fidget Friendly Features
Just what qualifies as a “fidget-friendly feature” is up for debate, but regardless of how you qualify them, they are becoming more popular.
Some popular ones include button locks, bar locks, flipper tabs, and small, square, stocky profiles that lend themselves to being toyed with.
The Return of the Slipjoint
Lastly, the slipjoint is making a momentous comeback. If you think you’re not familiar, you probably are and just don’t know the name. Most classic pocket knives were made with slipjoints – they don’t lock, a spring bar just holds the blade open or closed under pressure.
The rise in popularity of companies like Rough Ryder and GEC, as well as popular models like the CRKT Venandi and Kershaw Federalist are a testament to this.
But the reason for it is interesting. It could be the timeless design, it could be nostalgia, or it could be that users are afraid of running afoul of the law when carrying a locking folder in areas where it might be verboten.
Either way, look to the industry to start serving more slipjoints in the coming years.
Get Your Next Folding Utility Knife at White Mountain Knives
Interested in learning more about the trends that are taking over the knife industry, or just want to pick up a new folding utility knife? Visit White Mountain Knives and take a look at what’s in their catalog – you’ll see many of these trends represented and you won’t be disappointed.
For more information about Small Gerber Knife and Swiss Army Knives For Sale please visit:- White Mountain Knives, LLC
