Any future for tip-up + G10 at Spyderco?

[Carlos]

While I don't want to open a tip-up vs. tip-down argument, it is enough to say that most knife knuts seem to have a strong preference for one or the other.



Since my recent purchase of a full-size Wegner I have come to prefer tip-up, and when I went looking for other medium to full-size Spyderco folders with G10 handles and tip-up carry, I found that I was out of luck. Here is a listing of all the current production G10 Spydercos with their carry orientation:



Military (td)

Starmate (td)

Wegner (tu)

G-10 Police (td)

Chinook (td)

Gunting (td)

Centofane & Cent. Jr. (td)

Civilian (td)





Forthcoming:



Temperance & Temp. Jr. (td)

Vesuvius (td)

Military Jr. (??)

Ayoob (??)





Discontinued but available:



Standard (td)

Harpy (tu)

Navigator (td)





A casual look through the Spyderco brochure gives one the impression of a line-up that has been consciously balanced to cater to both preferences, but in this particular niche of premium (G10-handled) knives, there is a near freeze-out of tip-up. Is there any hope of tip-up on the Military Jr. or other knives forthcoming?



(edited for typos)



Edited by - Carlos on 10/7/00 9:20:58 AM

[sal]

Hi Carlos. The current tendency is to make the larger knives with a tip down configuration because ther larger knives are harder to depoly when tip up.

The new G10 Lum Tanto will be tip up.

We'd like to make them both tip up or down, but this is difficult in many cases. There are many dynamics in the design end. We have plans to ultimately make the Chinooks both tip up and down as well as left/right.

I'll take your request to heart.

sal

[Joel McNamara]

Sal, on a related note, any news about the future of a Spyderco custom shop? Would be nice to have a trusted source who could do tip-down to tip-up conversions (and other mods). If not, any recommendations of good folks you've encountered?

Joel

[Carlos]

Thank you Sal,

I look forward to the G10 Lum Tanto.

My particular preference for tip-up is based on how I tend to grip a knife -- which comes from several years of working as a chef. On larger knives, tip-up placement moves the clip back and out of the primary grip area, and is thus much more comfortable and secure for me in use, if not quite as quick to deploy -- though speed isn't a problem once you adapt your draw technique.

Best regards,

Carlos

(edited for typos)

Edited by - Carlos on 10/7/00 10:47:08 AM

[Clay Kesting]

Carlos,

The prototype of the forthcoming Lum Chinese Folder, whilst not G10 (green Almite), did have the choice of tip-up or tip-down. I hope the production version does also, because mine is certainly going to be changed to tip-up.

BTW don't you love the way Sal just lets little bits of information slip, just enough to keep us all in a permanent state of anticipation <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. This is the first hint I've seen that a G10 Lum tanto was in the works <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.

Clay

The antipodean troublemaker

[Carlos]

Hi Clay,

I've been keeping an eye on that, and have been quietly optimistic -- though as you say we don't know if the production model will be switchable. I do remember Sal saying a long time ago that Bob Lum wanted the Chinese folder to be tip-down...

But at least now I get to dream of a Lum Tanto in G10. Sal, Any hope that it will be "Wengerized" with a steel liner and backspacer? Or maybe "Militarized" with a nested liner and thick G10 scales? VG-10 would be nice too (wink wink, nudge nudge)...

[sal]

Hi Joel. The custom shop concept is really not practical. moving a clip is much more difficult than simply changing handle material. Perhaps there is a custom maker out there that would like the job? We could refer customers to them.

Regarding the "bits of info". It often causes trouble if I "leak" info too soon. you get impatient with delivery.

"It is a puzzlement".

sal

[Clay Kesting]

Yes Carlos, I remember Sal saying that Bob Lum wanted the Chinese Folder to be tip-down. I was rather surprised at the time because the custom versions are tip-up. I'm hoping the production knife has the same clip as the prototype. I really like the way it wraps around the lanyard hole when the knife is tip -up so that a relatively small amount of knife shows. My Native has too much knife showing for everyday carry here (don't want to attract too much attention <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>), so I usually end up carrying a tip-down knife.

Take care,

Clay

The antipodean troublemaker

[sam the man..]

No complaints about the ups and down of the tip carry... <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies
will travel...

[Carlos]

Here is a rumour that I just got from an archived post (July 2000) at the Bladforums' Spyderco Forum: A G10-handled Wegner Mouse. Is this actually in the works as well, or just a fantasy?

[sal]

Carlos. No such rumour or model in the works that I know of.

sal

[Carlos]

Thanks Sal. If you'd like any input for your "puzzlement" on the G10 Lum tanto, I'm sure we'd all be quite happy to make a few thousand suggestions. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Paani]

Don't forget about the G-10 Rookie. It's Tip Up too, and discontinued! Sounds like what your looking for, better run out and get one quick. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> I've got one of the older liner-less ones, and it's a really nice piece.

[lokelani]

Aloha Paani~
I brought some G10 Rookies back to Colorado with me. Wish I could have brought some of the warm breezes <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> But, I love the beauty of Colorado and have already experienced a snow storm. Only a taste of what's to come. BTW, the Chinook is a beauty and it's good to know that it will be made available "tip up" for the customers who prefer it so.
Patti