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3Coil Design's Crane Knife Portable Scalpel and Puna Multitool

Also: How important is symbolism in product design?

By Rain Noe - December 12, 2017

in Tools & Craft

Most designers have an X-Acto knife either well within reach, or in a drawer nearby. London-based design firm 3Coil uses scalpels instead, finding the blades tough, handy and "incredibly useful around the studio," so decided to design their own version.

They came up with the Crane Knife, an elegant and portable folding design:

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The "Crane" was the first knife we made, and it proved so useful in our day-to-day lives, we never left home without it. We thought that its small size would mean it would only be used as an emergency back-up, but the more we used it, the more we realised its small size was its main strength – and it is now our 'go to' tool for all jobs requiring a sharp edge.

Their folding design solves my biggest gripe about the standard X-Acto, which is that there's no easy way to put the blade away. The Crane's convenient folding form factor is a great idea and allows you to safely keep the knife in a pocket.

Next 3Coil designed the Puna multi-tool, whose functionality is better demonstrated by video:

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While the Puna will have utility for some, here we see where the X-Acto has the edge: It's easy to change the blade on an X-Acto with just your hands, whereas the Puna requires you to unscrew the mini-screwdriver, remove two screws, swap the blade, then retighten the two screws. That's five screwing steps for the Puna versus two for the X-Acto. I know it seems minor, but I find that when there are added steps between using a dull tool and a sharp one, I'll often subconsciously put off getting to sharp. (The Crane blade is swapped via a pair of pliers, by the way.)

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A more pointed (no pun intended) issue may be the assault rifle form factor of the Puna, which could prove divisive in the U.S. market. For some Americans, assault rifles are viewed as a locally commonplace tool and part of their hobby. For others it is a symbol of evil. Debate between the two camps is typically both unmeasured and unproductive.

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So my question is, do you think that by choosing this form factor, the designers have reduced potential sales? That there are people in the latter camp who might find the Puna useful, but will reject it out of hand due to the symbolism?

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In any case, the Kickstarter campaign for both the Crane and the Puna is underway, and at press time they were at $67,812 in pledges towards a $106,720 goal, with 37 days left.

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Comments

Adam Brackney

6 years ago

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I am a knife maker/designer and have also come up with an X-acto alternative. My "BUDDY" blade is sort of like a beefed up X-acto that never needs blade replacement. East to sharpen, ergonomic, and tough. http://workerman.storenvy.com/products/22391430-buddy-blade-natural-tan

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Bobtato Smith

6 years ago

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Everyone who makes models in the UK uses Swann-Morton 10A scalpels rather than X-Acto knives. Swann-Morton themselves actually make a really good retractable handle for this market (it's also more comfortable to use than the standard handle), but most people aren't aware of it, or at least, I've only ever seen one person who used one and he heard about it from me.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Swann-Morton-Retractaway-Premium-Knife/dp/B01D08DE5Q

The older model has a cool black patina, but the new blue-painted version has a stainless steel tang which is unlikely to ever break.

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Juan Cano

6 years ago

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My father in law used scalpel in his workshop, but when I went to a Medical supply store to buy more (his stash which was like 30 years old had run out), they told me I needed to be a Doctor to buy them. Maybe online it's easier.

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- David Appleman
  
  Juan Cano
  
  6 years ago
  
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  Amazon had a wide selection of blades and handles, ebay has even more.
  
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  - David Appleman
    
    David Appleman
    
    6 years ago
    
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    They're very popular in sign shops.
    
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