Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
Zipper
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#21

Post by Zipper »

Not really. My passion in most other brands has certainly dried up.
Regarding Spyderco, I tend to like certain styles (PM2, PM3, Shaman, Native) and then just enjoy using those. Steel curiosity has me buying multiples of the same knife. I admit, this practice is opulent, and something I am consciously slowing up. I still venture out and buy Spyderco knives that are outside of my normal purchase lanes. Those knives usually have to be something special (C-60) to have piqued my interest.
I would buy more blades only of different shapes/styles/steels if that was an option. Kind of like buying Mules, but for your favorite folder. Obviously certain models may be prone to fit or finish issues, even with todays engineering methods and subsequent tight tolerances.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#22

Post by Larry_Mott »

It used to, but now i am quite happy with what i got. That plus the fact the whole collecting thing has deteriorated into a flip-fest of endless variations of a handful of knives, that doesn't interest me. Also i am sorry to say there haven't been a whole lot of new stuff from Spyderco i have gotten excited by.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#23

Post by DrHE »

No I will always use, love and strongly recommend Spyderco knives. They are the best designed and best cutting knives I have owned. Do I want more? YES!

Folder wise I have curated my daily rotation of Spydercos which are all keyed to interesting steels (ZDP189, M4, CruCarta,S90v) favorite models (PM2 /Endura) or specific designs I love (Amalgam/Tropen/YoJumbo sprint).

The scales and clips of my EDC collection fit the theme of clothing I normally wear with them. For example a CruCarta with blue Lynch clip with brown work slacks or the amalgam with dark blue clip/screws with jeans. I have a different Spyderco EDC for every occasion.

Fixed blade wise some are EDC like my Reverse lives next to my EDC pistol even when it’s in the Vertx transit bag. Others are the ultimate field use knives like my Zoomer.

There are specialists in the collection too. For example a Pacific Salt 2 SE that’s in a kydex auto deploy sheath specifically for walking the dog (always good to have a knife and this one fits everyone). Or the SpyderWrench that lives in my Jeeps console as a just in case tool.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#24

Post by bearfacedkiller »

I don’t think that I will ever stop acquiring knives and they will always be an interest of mine. I have gotten much more selective over the years and now that I have a good idea what I like my purchases have slowed down. It isn’t the thrill of the chase or acquisition that I’m after.

JOMO- The joy of missing out.

At this point when I get the urge to buy something new I go get a knife out I haven’t carried in over a year. I try to enjoy what I have.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#25

Post by Evil D »

Well, think about this logically. Let's pretend there is literally only one knife design, offered in only one steel type, with literally no variations whatsoever. Would we still be here on a forum talking about that knife?

There are two sides to the hobby for me and I suspect most people:

1. Using them

2. Trying out new things.

If you eliminate #2, it may not necessarily die off because for many of us knives would remain essential tools that we need to use everyday, but without innovation and exploring new designs and materials it loses a very significant part of what makes it a topic of discussion and social interaction.

Without #2 you're left with something like:

User A) Today I cut some cardboard boxes down and then later I filleted some chicken breast for dinner. My Spyderco Knife did an adequate job on both, despite my having absolutely no basis for comparison and no idea how it could be better or worse.

User B) Wow User A that is some hard use man, I would ask how the edge held up but since I only have this one knife design/steel I wouldn't even think to ask about edge performance or any other aspects of use other than it worked or it didn't work.


Do you think there's a forum where carpenters talk about how their day went without talking about their tools?

Hey Mike how was your day? Oh hey Jim I hammered about 500 nails today, you? Oh you know just hammering nails with my hammer. Oh I did pull out a couple nails with the claw end of my hammer, it was exhilarating.


Ya know? Using them is a big part of it, I'm not trying to downplay that, but the discussion would become very bland and routine because there are only so many things being cut and so many ways to do so. I don't necessarily need something new to keep me engaged but yeah it absolutely does make it better and more fulfilling. It's not about acquiring more or fulfilling some need for temporary gratification, it's about the quest to try and experience the next interesting design/material and about pushing boundaries and when you really think about it #1 and #2 are two sides of the same coin. You wouldn't even have collectors without variety because why own 30 of the same exact design without any variations to it? A couple maybe, I do own more than one hammer, but I also don't belong to a hammer forum.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#26

Post by cycleguy »

Spyderco is always on my radar but I don't feel the need to buy more as I have so many. I enjoy watching others getting ramped up over all the new releases and exclusives and even the seconds sale..

I have my favorites (delica, endura, chief, ukpk) and still pick them up on occasion. My last Spyderco purchase was a replacement clip and a bug hat!

Its been another year of letting as many knives go as new ones I acquire; the collection hasn't grown but it did change.

I'm back to being more interested in fixed blades than folders so that has been the majority of recent knives, but overall I'm more interested in exploring and becoming familiar with those I have than getting more.

For 2022 I put all my disposable income into precious metals - gold, silver, firearms, and knives; and upgraded outdated tech nology - inet service, modem, laptops, and phones.

2023 funds will likely go into vehicles and home fix up... but pretty certain there will be a Spyderco or two! ;)

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So many knives - so little funds!!!
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#27

Post by Jim Malone »

It used to be. Anticipating what new exciting models would come out ( especially MBC models) buying and carrying them. Now with the rehashing of the same models and the skyrocketting prices there is no incentive no more to buy models. Why would i need 16 knives of the same model? I was really anticipating the lil temperance 3 hoping it would be affordable in VG10 and FRN but after seeing the price i can't get myself over the price in Europe. I don't really care about steel performance because i am a carrier more then a cutter. If my S30V or VG10 gets dull i sharpen it. And with 75 Spyderco knives i have plenty to last a lot of lifetimes. Still anticipating the Temperance FB Sal told us they where making but if the price is comparable to the Lil Temp 3 LW i won't be able to aquire it. To my deepest regret.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#28

Post by Water Bug »

I'm quite passionate about Spyderco knives as well as knives in general, and I'm quite happy with the knives I currently have. I don't feel the need to keep buying new knives to maintain that passion.

Now, there are knives on my "wish list" that would be nice to have and I'm very pleased when I happen to come upon them, but I won't lose my passion for Spyderco, or any other brand of knives, if I don't find them. So, I'm content with what I have.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#29

Post by JRinFL »

New and different is a vital part of collecting. It’s in the genes, so to speak. Now, I didn’t start out to be a collector, but I sure ended up being one. Some would say I’m not a collector as I have no single theme in my collection, but I lack a better descriptor. Perhaps accumulator? Hoarder?

The high prices, dwindling collaborations, and new models has slowed down my purchases. As others have said, too many of the same in a new coat. I know that some collectors like to have a full set of a particular model of every version, but that’s not me. If I did, I could expand my collection of traditional knives for a lower cost.

TL;DR - The lack of new has dampened my passion.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#30

Post by wrdwrght »

To the question, not necessarily.*

My fascination with Spyderco now has less to do with well-conceived and -executed product than with the kindness of the producers (and their insistence on same from us) in an unkind world.

If that kindness goes away, so do I.

But I’ll be left with a bunch of mighty-interesting knives to supply generations of my descendants.

*The next new model may not catch my interest unless it has a history I can ponder by getting earlier versions. I’ll get a Hunter one day to understand the why of a Stretch.
Last edited by wrdwrght on Thu Nov 24, 2022 1:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#31

Post by RustyIron »

James Y wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 4:32 pm
We're all into this knife hobby for different reasons, so no judgment here.
"Hobby" is just a nice way of saying "compulsive hoarding disorder." It's not a choice, it's a disease, so thank you for not judging. It's not our fault.

For me, the illness is in remission, so I don't NEED to acquire more. I'm content with what I have. But if a shiny bauble catches my eye, I'm liable to relapse as the wallet is whipped out so fast my thumbnail is smokin'.

The new knife needs to be perceived as "better" than what I already have. The recent Spyderco lineup as been so good, and the bar raised so high, that it's not often that a knife catches my eye. The Stretch 2 XL was one, but enough time passed between the announcement and the release that I was able to overcome the urge to get one. The Manix 2 in 15V. I'm not obsessing over it, but I'll probably get it anyway.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#32

Post by Tristan_david2001 »

To add on to my perspective, being passionate about spyderco knives feels somewhat integral with acquiring new and different models(which is what I’m speaking of, rather than wanting more for the sake of quantity or collection building) is because spyderco is constantly working towards, improving(cqi) and creating new models for many different applications, which keeps the market invested in their company. Which is why I’m interested in looking at their new catalog releases, i wanna know if somethings been released that really strikes me enough to wanna acquire it, or If I discover a past released model for the same reason, I’ll be excited to acquire one.
tastes change, and new designs continue to improve and be made.
Last edited by Tristan_david2001 on Sat Nov 26, 2022 3:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#33

Post by Jim Malone »

I always wonder how many sales Spyderco makes on say a PM3 in an "exotic" steel compared to selling the same model in a basic version.
I really wonder if a regular guy who needs "good knife" goes to a knifestore and decides to spend 100 bucks more to buy a blue handled S90V instead of the black S30V version because it's "better".i was pretty annoyed i had to buy the S90V version of the UKPK and pay premium because the basic UKPK was sold out for months because i went to a country where my EDC Spyderco's are illegal. I know there are a lot of steel junkies on this forum but is the basic knifebuyer really interested in these supersteels ?
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#34

Post by Evil D »

Jim Malone wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 4:00 am
I always wonder how many sales Spyderco makes on say a PM3 in an "exotic" steel compared to selling the same model in a basic version.
I really wonder if a regular guy who needs "good knife" goes to a knifestore and decides to spend 100 bucks more to buy a blue handled S90V instead of the black S30V version because it's "better".i was pretty annoyed i had to buy the S90V version of the UKPK and pay premium because the basic UKPK was sold out for months because i went to a country where my EDC Spyderco's are illegal. I know there are a lot of steel junkies on this forum but is the basic knifebuyer really interested in these supersteels ?


I think there are many levels between full on steel junkie and average Joe Knifebuyerguy. If you ever go into a really big brick and mortar store like Smokey Mountain Knife Works, where they have "booths" for practically every brand you can think of, you might be surprised how small Spyderco's section is compared to just about everyone else, and the ones with more selection are also generally a lot less expensive. I think it's a lot like any other tool being bought, there are those who know what they're buying and care more about the finer details and there are those who just need a functional tool to fit their budget. Some guys can live just fine in Walmart work boots, other guys want White's or Nick's. I think Spyderco's sprint/exclusive process probably does a great job at balancing the higher prices with lower demand. They probably have a good idea of how big the AFI market really is and have figured out how many they can safely make at a certain cost for them and price to us so they sell them all and don't take a hit. I bet the lose far more money on new standard production models that flop than on sprints and exclusives.
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#35

Post by ChrisinHove »

What, like forever???

(shudders)…
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#36

Post by standy99 »

There will always be the need for more knives the minute a company comes up with the one knife that does everything…

If I’m on the boat I want a Salt.
If I’m on the same boat out crabbing I want a salt serrated. Cutting crab pot lines when you pull up a Saltwater crocodile that’s tangled in your line..
it’s well worth the risk believe me
Image

If I’m day hiking I want a ……
If I’m camping I want a …..
If I’m at work a Delica or a Pingo or a ……
If I’m in the kitchen that’s another whole realm of types of knives

Oddly I have been using a KIRIDASHI a bit lately in the workshop making knives
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#37

Post by TkoK83Spy »

I've been following this thread the past few days. I too, like many others have said...have more than enough and a variety of knives that's will fill all my needs. I'm also taking in a new role at work that will all but end my need for using knives these days outside of limited use at home. I've been pretty logical in that sense the past 6 months and haven't bought any new knives...until about 15 minutes ago

Grabbed the Fluted CF Native on a Black Friday deal. A knife I've looked at many times over the past few years. Nearly $60 off, I couldn't resist.

Now, that is also because I know I'd be hard pressed to find it for that price again, I've been wanting a Native, and especially wanted to see what this Fluted CF is all about.

Other than a new role upcoming at work...price is a major issue these days, across the board not just Spyderco. I'm also a big CRK enthusiast. I don't think I'll ever buy another of those, as much as I think they are incredibly well made knives...they are not worth a mortgage payment to me these days. Very content with the 3 that I have.

Same goes for Spyderco, I've got all that I want/need. My models and steels are set for my liking. There's nothing that will be coming out that will require me to NEED them. Which I'm thankful Spyderco has been slow on that front the past year as I've been trying to take a backseat on the purchases.

Then this morning, that Native onsale...a great steel that I love, and I'm not normally a stainless guy. A new to me handle material that I've heard nothing but great things about. It may not be a NEW release, but will be new to me and is the first time in quite sometime, I'm pretty excited to be opening that red and black box in a few days. Passion refueled, but hope to remain tempered!
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#38

Post by JRinFL »

TkoK83Spy wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 7:31 am

Grabbed the Fluted CF Native on a Black Friday deal. A knife I've looked at many times over the past few years. Nearly $60 off, I couldn't resist.

Now, that is also because I know I'd be hard pressed to find it for that price again, I've been wanting a Native, and especially wanted to see what this Fluted CF is all about.

Now that you will be a high powered executive ( :winking-tongue ) the fluted CF Native will fit in well. Light and classy with an excellent steel if you need to show the little people how work was done back in the day!

Congrats on the new position and the new knife!
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#39

Post by JRinFL »

Based on the flurry of activity surrounding the MAP vacation, I'd so that for many the answer is "Yes!".
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Re: Does your Spyderco knife passion depend on acquiring more?

#40

Post by Foehammer »

Not particularly, I’m quite content with the few knives I own. I have somewhat of an itch to try out new models, but after 5 years of carrying a pm2 there’s been no other knife yet that quite fits the hand, works for me, and just feels right the way the pm2 does. I actually just sold a Manix 2 because I never really used it; it sat largely untouched on the shelf simply because the pm2s lying next to it were always my first choice.

Even with the pm2s, I really only use one of mine, the mildly boring but quite adequate plain s30v version. But every time that knife gets used it just makes me appreciate Spyderco so much; it’s (for me) such a great design both blade wise and ergonomically. And the plethora of steels available means I’ll probably acquire several more just because.
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