What are some of your bold predictions in the world of kitchen knives?
I’ll start..
Wakui will reach unicorn status in the next decade.
I’ll start..
Wakui will reach unicorn status in the next decade.
Bold Predictions
- Thread starter jacobwilder5
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Lasers and moderate heel heights will be back in style by 2030
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I might be from the future then
tostadas
Hobbyist / Craftsman
Sesame street will introduce us to the ideal shape that's somewhere between rectangle and triangle.
nvm, the answer is always gonna be rectangle.
nvm, the answer is always gonna be rectangle.
M1k3
Senior Member
All those "about to retire" makers, will actually retire....
21st century steel will make people stop buying carbon steel.
M1k3
Senior Member
Ceramic?
spaceconvoy
Senior Member
stone makers will start making more mixed grit synthetics to simulate natural stones
stainless will make a comeback, not even necessarily fancy 21st stuff but the solid classics like ginsan and aeb-l
custom makers will up their game and produce more stainless knives
chinese manufacturers will become more prominent in american and european markets
relatedly, we'll see more production cleavers with better steel that don't cost a fortune
flatter profiles, no more pizza cutter tips
this is the world I'd like to see at least
stainless will make a comeback, not even necessarily fancy 21st stuff but the solid classics like ginsan and aeb-l
custom makers will up their game and produce more stainless knives
chinese manufacturers will become more prominent in american and european markets
relatedly, we'll see more production cleavers with better steel that don't cost a fortune
flatter profiles, no more pizza cutter tips
this is the world I'd like to see at least
I kind see mainstream consumers will start to care more about steel while in enthusiasts space steel will be less relevant as long as it is good.
Not sure how authentic is the steel, but you can buy S35VN cleaver for like 300 cny on TaoBao, **** grind tho
Regenerative biomechanical chef knife that also tells you your knife skill sucks
3d printed knife with superb edge retention and sharpness. It does not cut into human flesh and nails as it has AI.
It is self polishing.
Consequences are terrible:
Cannibals will have to look for alternatives to cut their meat.
Knife nerds will buy any good old knife they can get their hands on so they can keep sharpening for fun and peace of mind.
People who invested half their life's income into natural stones will be crying like babies.
It is self polishing.
Consequences are terrible:
Cannibals will have to look for alternatives to cut their meat.
Knife nerds will buy any good old knife they can get their hands on so they can keep sharpening for fun and peace of mind.
People who invested half their life's income into natural stones will be crying like babies.
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Not sure that I'd like to live in that world. Wait a second, we already live there...
I don't see that. Mainstream consumers will continue to care about price only.
+1 on cleavers and nakiri growing in popularity. Already seeing far more usage by IG food influencers that pop up. Seems Americans are slowly realizing they're not just bone cleavers meant to take apart a pig.
To the average consumer this already exists.
Lurkernomore
Well-Known Member
Wholesalers that add no value but sales and marketing will die.
Prices will increase while quality will deteriorate.
Online only basement operated retailers can also die, there’s just too many.
Prices will increase while quality will deteriorate.
Online only basement operated retailers can also die, there’s just too many.
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- The advancements in steel and abrasives will become more mainstream. K390 or an equivalent will be the ZDP-189 of the future (already is with Spyderco). I don't think paper steels are going anywhere but I do think there will be a handful of "super steels" that become fairly ubiquitous.
- Within 15 years there will be a 25-50% reduction in independent smiths (Western and Japanese) and an increase in OEM offerings. This increase will not directly correlate to the reduction in smiths as people around the world eat more and more prepared items (watch what is happening in your grocery stores).
- The global trend toward an increase in plant-based foods will continue and drive nakiri growth. Sadly, most of them will have a big W or a couple stick men on them and "specifically engineered food release" scallops on them.
- Smaller knives will see a boon. It may just be a trend and die back off but there will be a surge in demand for sub-210 knives of different flavors.
- Someone will invent and market a DIY, mix-and-match wa handle kit.
- A small shop will open in Philadelphia specializing in cleavers and charcuterie with trombone lessons and repairs in the back. The sign will read, "Hanna and Son".
- Mike will find a badass cook. Sometime. I mean, it could happen. Maybe. Ya know...
- Ryky will become the CEO of Dalstrong.
- The r/chefknives thread will still be going in five years.
- Within 15 years there will be a 25-50% reduction in independent smiths (Western and Japanese) and an increase in OEM offerings. This increase will not directly correlate to the reduction in smiths as people around the world eat more and more prepared items (watch what is happening in your grocery stores).
- The global trend toward an increase in plant-based foods will continue and drive nakiri growth. Sadly, most of them will have a big W or a couple stick men on them and "specifically engineered food release" scallops on them.
- Smaller knives will see a boon. It may just be a trend and die back off but there will be a surge in demand for sub-210 knives of different flavors.
- Someone will invent and market a DIY, mix-and-match wa handle kit.
- A small shop will open in Philadelphia specializing in cleavers and charcuterie with trombone lessons and repairs in the back. The sign will read, "Hanna and Son".
- Mike will find a badass cook. Sometime. I mean, it could happen. Maybe. Ya know...
- Ryky will become the CEO of Dalstrong.
- The r/chefknives thread will still be going in five years.
1) IKEA and kiwi knives and that similar range will continue to dominate the broad market followed by all the next tier dexter, Vic, whustoff, shun, etc.
2) Individual Japanese craftsmen will continue to dwindle as the older ones retire (eg the knifejapan group, Toyama, etc).
3) larger scale operations in Japan will continue to try and recruit but face issues due to lack of interest (most young Japanese folk don’t want to work a manufacturing job in the countryside). This will lead to a continuation of supply unable to meet demand and eventual subsequent price increases.
4) western makers will continue to proliferate and innovate and that market will grow exponentially but still be more expensive than the Asian manufacturers.
5) stainless knives for home cooks will not increase in quality. The average home cook only cares about price and brand name.
6) simple carbon knives will never go out of style.
7) high end stainless for pros will gain market traction
2) Individual Japanese craftsmen will continue to dwindle as the older ones retire (eg the knifejapan group, Toyama, etc).
3) larger scale operations in Japan will continue to try and recruit but face issues due to lack of interest (most young Japanese folk don’t want to work a manufacturing job in the countryside). This will lead to a continuation of supply unable to meet demand and eventual subsequent price increases.
4) western makers will continue to proliferate and innovate and that market will grow exponentially but still be more expensive than the Asian manufacturers.
5) stainless knives for home cooks will not increase in quality. The average home cook only cares about price and brand name.
6) simple carbon knives will never go out of style.
7) high end stainless for pros will gain market traction
Today’s unicorns will be met with a “who’s that?” when posted on BST.
Many long-time kkf members will kick themselves for selling their $400 knife from a Western smith today who’ll be a unicorn in 2030.
@martinhuber artwork will explode in popularity after being spotted hanging on Taylor Swift’s wall in a TikTok video and he will abandon knife making to become a full time mixed-media artist with a strong Only Fans customer base, giving his current work unicorn status (see point above).
Many long-time kkf members will kick themselves for selling their $400 knife from a Western smith today who’ll be a unicorn in 2030.
@martinhuber artwork will explode in popularity after being spotted hanging on Taylor Swift’s wall in a TikTok video and he will abandon knife making to become a full time mixed-media artist with a strong Only Fans customer base, giving his current work unicorn status (see point above).
Ooh this gave me an idea. Custom 3D printed handles with ergos to fit the hands of the user.
Consumer sharpening will remain an unsolved problem.
NotAddictedYet
I like your post
Mazaki knives made under all kinds of shell labels will continue to dominate all segments the knife market for the next 50 years. The only challenger to his dominion will be one Shehan from Nuevo México.
Master knife makers will be genetically cloned, increasing supply tenfold, thus dropping prices tenfold.
Additionally, Larrin will be cloned by the car manufacturers, but in his spare time he (they?) will invent 20-30 new supersteels for us to choose from.
( @Larrin ... no pressure there. None at all.)
Additionally, Larrin will be cloned by the car manufacturers, but in his spare time he (they?) will invent 20-30 new supersteels for us to choose from.
( @Larrin ... no pressure there. None at all.)
This is true, but I don't see a strong demand for it.
Some people buy new cheap knife sets every couple years, and use a lot of serrated knives. My mother-in-law has three complete sets of dull, cheap knives.
Some people have electric pull-through sharpeners, which work ok if you don't care about using up steel.
Other non-knife people I know, including some very good cooks like my mother, enjoy their dull knives. (You should see how efficient she is with a paring knife, using her thumb as the backstop.)
BrunofromBrazil
Senior Member
I don't know if the future acording to u guys is a distopian future or if its a comic book hahahaha I think things will remain the same for quite a while, mass productions of food will be the one with the biggest and most advanced tech insigths. We will continue using regular knives with better and better steels.
Jnats will become more and more scarse, some unicorns will become more and more expensive, a lot of awesome makers will retire, others will appear. The art form of knives will reach more and more people...
Life will continue, we will regret having sold specific knives, others we will be happy of selling and not selling.
Ceramic knives will continue to exist, good plastic knives will appear...
@daddy yo yo will continue to be crazy about knives, @ZeeVee will continue to be addicted to knives, although he tries regularly to hold back, @aecadiz will forever try to get his collection to be smaller, @OwlWoodworks will luckly get to have his 240 tobi mon hahahaha I hope to find the ones I'm looking for and to try the ones I so desperately want hahaha
Jnats will become more and more scarse, some unicorns will become more and more expensive, a lot of awesome makers will retire, others will appear. The art form of knives will reach more and more people...
Life will continue, we will regret having sold specific knives, others we will be happy of selling and not selling.
Ceramic knives will continue to exist, good plastic knives will appear...
@daddy yo yo will continue to be crazy about knives, @ZeeVee will continue to be addicted to knives, although he tries regularly to hold back, @aecadiz will forever try to get his collection to be smaller, @OwlWoodworks will luckly get to have his 240 tobi mon hahahaha I hope to find the ones I'm looking for and to try the ones I so desperately want hahaha
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icanhaschzbrgr
ill-Known Member
They have been known (under many different names) by KKF members for at least 10 years now. Why do you think that next decade is going be different from the previous one?
