Nothing New Under the Sun

Many times throughout the day one will hear of some new or improved product. If you have had something for more than a few months, it is outdated. It is time to toss it out and get the new version. If you’ve had a computer, a video game system, or cell phone for more than six months, then it is antiquated.

Knives are no exception to this phenomenon. Almost on a continuous basis, knife manufacturers are producing new knives that are a cut above the rest. The old ones just don’t compare to the new ones. Whether it be a new metal, a new gadget, or a new design, these new knives are just so much better than the old ones.

There are two old sayings that we, in our rush to get the newest and best, all tend to forget. One says, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Another, from the Bible, says, “There is no new thing under the sun.” How true are these sayings?

How new are the new video games really? Without a doubt, the speed, graphics, interactivity, and such are far more advanced than those that my generation played with as kids, but have you noticed that the video games as a whole haven’t really changed at all? Some of the most popular games being sold today such as: Mario Bro. (and all their spin-offs), NFL Football, NBA Basketball, MLB Baseball, The Legend of Zelda, Tetris, and many more have been around for more than 20 years. In fact, the second highest grossing video game of all times (Super Mario Bros.) which has sold more then 40 million copies, has been around since 1985.

I find that knives tend to follow the same trend. There is no question, with all the advances in technology, that the knives of today are much better than those of yesterday. But another trend I find is that when people purchase a knife, they look for something that not only is good quality, but also has a look that makes everyone say “wow” when they see it. There are some great quality knives available today by such makers as Case, Kershaw, Gerber, Victorinox, and many more, but the designs I find sell the best are those that would be classified as fantasy daggers or medieval weapons such as the Iron Reaver Claw, the King Arthur Dagger, the Dragon Fantasy Dagger, the Medieval Flail, the Sword of Sparta, and others. The interesting thing about these knives is that they are based on designs that are centuries old. So truly, there really is nothing new under the sun.