New knives new profits: gun dealers can carve out impressive sales in this strong segment of the marketplace!

Shooting Industry, Sept, 2003 by Dexter Ewing

The knife market continues to post strong growth, despite a questionable economy. Knife makers report strong sales and have responded with an impressive array of new offerings. Many of these were unveiled at the 2003 Blade Show & International Cutlery Fair in Marietta, Ga., in June.

The show is a great barometer to gauge the various trends in the knife industry, and provides gun dealers solid research on what knives are selling. In turn, companies are actively seeking gun dealers who are willing to offer today's innovative knives in their gun shops.

Tactical Folders Rein As Top Sellers

Tactical folders, a trend started in the early 1990s, are still a strong segment of the knife market. They make up a large portion of the knives produced by manufacturers.

Most, if not all, of the new tactical folders introduced at the Blade Show are custom collaborations, another hot trend in the market. Established custom knifemakers continue to lend their design expertise to manufacturers. The results are high-performance production knives bearing the knifemakers' signature design characteristics, but without the custom price tags.

For gun dealers, the bottom line is custom collaborations are guaranteed sellers.

Benchmade Knife Co.'s new Model 520 Axis Lock is a stout-working knife based on a Mel Pardue design. Another Pardue design, the Model 530, is a slim and lightweight folder that has the company's exclusive Axis Lock.

Kershaw Knives' Ken Onion designed Bump is a curvaceous folder with an assisted-opening mechanism.

Spyderco's Para-Military model is a scaled-down version of its popular Military folder. This one features a S30V steel blade, G-10 handles and the company's Compression Lock. Another new Spyderco model is the ATR (At The Ready)--a Titanium-handled folder that is an all-business work knife with a S30V blade and integral Compression Lock.

Columbia River Knife & Tool's E-Lock folder showcases Allen Elishewitz's design, function and incorporates his blade-lock design.

Timberline Knives' Greg Lightfoot-designed Pistol Grip folder has a unique look with a curved and finger-grooved handle. It has a blade of AUS-8 stainless steel, steel bolsters and Zytel handles.

Meyerco USA unveiled its newest Blackie Collins speed-assisted tactical knife, the A-OK. It combines the rapid-opening feature of the speed-assisted line and a liner lock. The A-Ok has injection molded, glass-filled handles and a 440C stainless-steel blade.

Surefire debuted its Edged Weapons Division at the show. The company's first offering, the Alpha, is a radical Steve Ryan design with aluminum handles, G-10 inlays and a S30V blade. A flipper protrusion speeds blade opening and serves as a hand guard.

Camillus Cutlery unveiled a monster knife in the Gibbs Maxx folder, which features a 7 1/4-inch D2 steel spearpoint blade. It has Titanium handles and an integral lock.

Masters of Defense displayed it new Triton OTF (Out The Front) automatic knife. Knifemaker Jeff Harkins designed the knife. The dagger-style blade comes straight out of the handle.

Imperial Schrade's Black Ice folder is part of the Q3 series, which feature bold new shapes, designs, colors and materials. The Black Ice is contoured with polycarbonate 4 1/4-inch handles. The black handle insert offers a soft, tactical look. The locking, stainless taper point 1 1/2-inch blade is pierced for one-hand opening.

Emerson Knives is producing its CQC-10 folder exclusively for Heckler & Koch. With G-10 handles, this stylish knife has a 154CM Black T-coated blade that measures a little over 3 1/2 inches. Emerson Knives also displayed its Hard Wear line of affordable lockback folders: the Reliant, Endeavor and Traveler.

Boker presented two new tactical folders at the show: the AK-47, with a blade design inspired by the AK-47 bayonet, and the ATF (Advanced Tactical Folder). The AK-47's 440C blade is a modified clip point. Its handles are aluminum with G-t0 inlays. The ATF is a heavy-duty knife with a dagger-shaped S60V steel blade and symmetrical aluminum handle.

United Cutlery's The Fast And The Furious folders feature 3-inch stainless steel faux Damascus-etch blades, anodized 6061 aircraft aluminum handles, stainless-steel pocket clips and laser-etched graphics.

Buck Knives displayed its Tom Mayo TNT folder, with its integral lock Titanium handle and S30V drop-point blade. It's a clean, straight forward, working knife with a clean and thoughtful design.

Lone Wolf Knives' monstrous Harsey Tactical Folder will tackle tough cutting chores with confidence, thanks to its 4 3/4-inch S30V drop-point blade. The handle is contoured micarta for a non-slip grip.

Cold Steel's Ti-Lite will attract fans of the traditional stiletto folder. It has a 4-inch dagger-style blade of AUS-8 steel, double integral hand guards and a contoured and rounded symmetrical Titanium handle. A series of holes in the handle enhance it appearance as well as save weight. The Ti-Lite was designed in conjunction with knifemaker Phil Boguszewski.

Tapping the knitemaking expertise of Walter Brend, Cutters Knife & Tool introduced the Brend Model 2 folder. It's as every bit as tough and stylish as its custom-made sibling. A 4-inch recurve drop-point 154CM blade is the heart of the design along with a sturdy Titanium integral-lock handle.