by Matt Crawford
If you’ve ever been to Blade Show in Atlanta, you know the aisles of the world’s largest knife show can be filled with some colorful characters. At the 2024 Blade Show, we were intrigued by the razzle and dazzle of something else entirely: a growing collection of knives that look like something found in a bakery or donut shop.
A trend has emerged in the knife market thanks to Blade HQ, one of the world’s leading knife retailers and a staunch AKTI member. It’s fun, appeals to younger, newer knife consumers, and shows how agile modern-day knife manufacturers can be.
AN EXTRA “S”
Blade HQ markets dessert-looking knives as part of its “Dessert Warrior” collection. According to Blade HQ, these knives feature “delectable finishes and vibrant colors that are straight out of your sugary dreams.” The blades, scales, and internal parts of Dessert Warrior knives are highlighted by hues of cotton-candy pink, frosted blue, and various purples and reds.
The Blade HQ booth at Blade Show 2024 had a similar vibe. We’ve noticed several of our members – it all started with Boker – making these knives for a few years now, but it took us until Blade Show 2024 to get to the bottom of it all.
It turns out the whole movement was hatched on the internet. In 2020. Surprise, surprise.
It started with the e-commerce wizards at Blade HQ noticing people were misspelling “Desert Warrior” while searching for knives in Boker’s popular Desert Warrior collection, which features OD (what’s OD?) green handles and copper-finished blades.
So, Blade HQ decided to have fun with it, mocking up a photo with a dessert-inspired color scheme. Boker laughed, made a few, and sent them to Blade HQ, which promptly sold out of them.
Blade HQ ordered more and sold out of them, and a half-baked idea became a sweet trend in knives.
DOLLARS IN DONUTS
The collection of Dessert Warrior knives has blown up since 2020, with several other AKTI members now manufacturing and selling versions of their knives with wild color schemes on Blade HQ.
Companies joining Boker include CIVIVI, CRKT, Microtech, WE Knife, and Zippo (W.R. Case company). Blade HQ also sells patches, dice, lanyards, shirts, wallets, and other accessories in the color scheme as well.
WHY DO WE CARE?
As the leading cohesive voice of the knife industry, we like to keep up with the latest consumer trends within the knife business. Dessert Warrior knives undoubtedly appeal to a new segment of knife consumers. While they may have been first attracted to the colors and overall sense of fun in these knives, many are likely becoming everyday carry fans who see the enhanced value of carrying a knife.
We’re also keen to promote trends that benefit our industry partners and applaud the smart and nimble manner in which Blade HQ, Boker, and other knife companies have helped push the trend. We applaud innovative ways that inject fresh ideas into the knife industry.
Blade HQ is currently working with Boker, Zippo, and others on a new savory collection of knives – Weiner Warriors, which uses the reds and yellows of a classic hot dog stand. And we’re here for it.
Now, excuse us. We have a donut we need to split with a friend. Luckily, we have just the knife to cut it with.