Handsome German Knife  

objectworship,
I like knives. Nice knife.

Why, thank you. It was a good time at the flea market.
"I think it's for whittlin' ", the vendor said, as we made our deal.
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I'd like to see some modern or deco switchblades, although it's tough to argue with the classic Italian stiletto style for elegance + utility...

Actually, the switchblade IS a 50s modern thing. Show 'em if you got 'em?

objectworship,
Sorry, no switchblades in my collection.
I do consider these two (2) Laguiole en Aubrac pocket knives (stock photos of actual pieces) to be excellent examples of form and function. This particular company has very high manufacturing standards.
I trust that you and others know the Laguiole region has many (from good to the best) cutlery makers (similar to Limoge porcelain manufacture). The company associated with Philippe Starck (he designed their headquarters) is another fine maker.
I would also enjoy seeing additional examples of "quality" modern knife manufacturing (ie. Randall Made Astro). I have Model 18.

I like knives too.
The knives Tapio Wirkkala designed for Hackman are decent knives. They would be great knives if they'd used high carbon steel instead of stainless (in my opinion). The shape of the handles is nearly perfect. They're a great interpretation of a puukko for mass manufacturing (and for the american market?). I don't like plastic handles that much, but combined with the brass ferrules, it just works.
It took me a while to find this small one as they're quite $$ on that auction site. I found one locally and met the older gentleman near a coffee shop by golden gate park and he told me the story of how it was his knife when he was a boy scout and sold it to me for a fair price. I had it sharpened at Hida Tool in Berkeley and asked them not to remove too much material, so it's not that sharp, but it makes me happy every time I see it.

racecar,
I know and appreciate this piece. Very nice and extremely difficult to locate at a reasonable price.
I am aware of recent re-interpretations of this design such as the Konstantin Grcic knife.
Your showing is exactly what I had in mind. Thank you.

Several year ago I gave my father the Victorinox Champion (with chisel) mother of pearl pocket knife for Neiman-Marcus. I do not think he has ever used or carried this knife, but I know he values the gift.
The design is stated as classic. This may actually be Victorinox advertising department making this claim.
I like Neiman Marcus gifts and trinkets for the discerning man.

The Crocodile Dundee statement "now that's a knife" is fitting for the Bo Randall Model 18 Attack-Survival knife. Everything is perfect for this piece.

I still want to see some cool switchblades. They remain illegal in almost all states in the US, so there is something of a forbidden romanticism about it. The icon of the Italian stiletto switchblade is prevalent in rock and roll and outsider culture, and its utter lack of mainstream availability keeps it a desirable and collectible item. Several years ago I visited an incredible knife store in Texas that contained a stunning myriad of automatic knives, but beyond that I think a person just kind of has to get lucky in the black or charcoal gray market to even see them. I understand that knife laws are (or were?) a bit more open in Europe. For instance, I once knew a person to bring back as a souvenir, from a high school band trip to Germany, a quite decent and fairly large automatic knife rather unhidden in his suitcase, on the plane. This was before the 9/11 thing happened, of course.
This weapon-object fetishism is (obviously) dicey, as weapons tend to lead to violence. So I don't know that I would exactly advocate for widespread legality, and I'm not strictly sure what the moral is, but I appreciate the aesthetics of these sorts of things, at least, for several reasons

Back in 1996, the first time I saw this image during the book launch of John Pawson's 'Minimum', not knowing what the enlarged abstract image was, the words calmness, serenity and beauty came to my mind. The moment I realized what it was, it was hard for me to believe that I could evoke such feelings and see beauty in something designed to be lethal.
Several years later, I saw the actual thing over the Pasadena Rose Parade in Los Angeles and still I was in awe admiring its perfect form and function. It is hard for me to imagine that in other parts of the globe, the mere sight of it above evokes extreme fear in others.

I would like to take this one home by Claes Oldenburg.

objectworship,
This SIG Sauer Sigtac automatic knife is the latest in edged weapon design. This knife has good form and function and is produced by a highly respected manufacturer.
The Sigtac and "old school" switchblades leave me cold. Morality and legality have no bearing on my low acceptance for this category of knife as a collectible (they serve a purpose that has no meaning in my life). This does not make them "bad".
I remain committed to acquiring a Philippe Starck XXL knife for la Forge de Laguiole. Way cool...

old school classic functional cool

I could go on all day...
My Paul Poehlmann 2P #1 axial locking mechanism stainless steel pocket knife for Gerber Legendary Blades is the "best of the best". I purchased this knife new in 1979. It remains "mint in box".