Low End Spyderco Knives

[PaloArt]

To be honest this seems like trolling only, especially since OP has only 1 post and it is this one.

But in case this was really intentional and you are really trying to get some answers and opinions I would suggest more polite and less arrogant way. Or is it just me feeling that way?

What would be important question TO YOU is - how many Asian production knives from Spyderco you held, owned and used extensively in past few years? How many Chinese manufacturers like Reate, We Knife etc. you had opportunity to play with and use? - answer to this, I think, would be NONE since you wrote what you wrote. Term like tainting reputation are not much applicable here to the manufacturer but to you since your first post is somewhat passive agresive.

Now to answer that question, which has been answered so well by so many before me - Spyderco low budget line of affordable models is actually fantastic quality and sometimes made in better quality then US or Japanese models (yes that is how I feel). I did not see many Chinese models where I would have to pick blade without horizontal or vertical blade play or badly cleaned up G10. I would say that for normal user and even collectors you can find some very good tools with exceptional blade geometry (more important sometimes than ultra high end steels) and ergonomics.

Worth mentioning are specific models - Astute, Polestar and Alcyone, Tenacious etc.

P.S.: you said "I am disappointed every time I look and see a Spyderco knife made in China or Taiwan" my advise would be - THEN DON`T LOOK AT THEM you are probably not the customer looking for such models so take a look at the US made offerings

BTW being born in different country and having such nationality doesn`t make you automatically lesser human (idiots can be found in every nation) therefore establishing company in your native country should not be considered automatically bad quality or worse product just because you are of particular nationality and trying to support your country, employees and family. More important is if you set up high level of quality standards and that is what company making knives for Spyderco did.

[Ramonade]

The M.N.O.S.D. will only get stronger from this.

[JFrame]

I have three Spydercos from the Taichung plant -- the Techno 1, Perrin PPT, and Sage 1... And absolutely no complaints about the quality of any of them.

I'd like to add a Canis to that part of my collection.

[aicolainen]

Politics aside, I like how Nick Shabazz puts it: quality is about effort, not geography.

[JSumm]

The M.N.O.S.D. will only get stronger from this.

"Out of resistance comes strength."

I have only handled the Persistence. It was a gift for a young lad. I was extremely impressed with the quality. And talk about handle forward design. The edge comes right up to the handle. I thought it was a beautifully executed design. The more I think about it, I am not sure why I don't have one. I may be adding to my 2022 list. Maybe a Polestar.

[ladybug93]

yeah... taiwan is not china. that statement alone makes this feel like trolling. on top of that, it's clearly generally accepted that taiwanese spydercos far exceed japanese spydercos, and many would argue they are the best. calling them low end means you've never handled one, never looked at their prices, or are purposely trolling.

on top of that, spyderco's actual budget knives from china are really excellent. they are made with 8cr13mov, which doesn't have as good of edge retention as most other steels spyderco uses, but it's still done really well and fit and finish are top notch, especially for the price point. i own a resilience and an astute from this line and they are both very good. i would argue they are just as good as anything coming out of the golden factory, just with a lesser blade steel. still can't wait for the s35vn resilience.

finally, spyderco does offer chinese made budget knives under a different name. there is a whole line of byrd knives. i've never used on, but they generally are well-liked by their owners.

it would take about five minutes in total to learn most of this, which makes this post seem like trolling. if you're not trolling, welcome to the forum and i hope you are ready and willing to learn some things and maybe even change your very incorrect perceptions about spyderco and the world.

[Matus]

Throwing China and Taiwan in the same bag shows some serious level of ignorance ...

... OP may well be a troll indeed.

[bearfacedkiller]

Spyderco has done exactly what the OP has asked with the Byrd line. They are differentiating their lowest tier from the main brand.

I agree with RamZar that all the Chinese Spydies should be Byrds but Spyderco must think that some of their Chinese knives are of a high enough quality that they represent the Spyderco brand. That is probably a good business decision and they would probably sell a lot less of the Tenacious if it was a Byrd and the Tenacious is a very good seller for them.

[Ranger_Ike]

I feel it’s less about where it’s made and more about WHO is behind it. Yes, some of their knives are made in China, but it’s still up to Spyderco’s standards. They have a name to uphold. And they are passionate and actually care about their products and customers. That kind of company will produce quality regardless of the country.

There are some extremely nice knives coming from Chinese companies. We Knives, for example. And on the other side of the coin, there are some inferior knives being made in America, Italy, France, etc.

As Toucan said, if you limit yourself because you’ve assumed China means low quality, you are missing out.

Sent from my IPHONE…….

[ladybug93]

Sent from my IPHONE…….

[Ranger000]

This topic has probably been discussed before, but I am new to the Spyderco Forum and wish to vent ....

I am disappointed every time I look and see a Spyderco knife made in China or Taiwan.

I guess I understand that not everyone can afford a Spyderco made in USA or Japan ... and that is why Spyderco chooses to cater to the low end budget buyer ...

But, if they think it is a prudent business decision to do so ... I wish that Spyderco would produce these low end knives under a different name ... becuase to me, these Chinese low end knives "taint" the reputation of quality that Spyderco is known for ... simply ... the chinese low end knives bring down the image of the rest of the line ...

That is just my two (2) cents ....

Please keep the manufacturing origin of all Spyderco knives in the USA and Japan ... and leave the Chinese knives to someone else ...

Hey NASA50,

This forum is like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.......if you don't carry the same tune.....you get suspended or deleted !!

You've been warned.

[NASA50]

First, my post was not intended to be negative, rather the opposite - my thoughts on preserving the quality image of Spyderco. I carried a Spyderco every day, both on-duty and off-duty, during my 32 year law enforcement career - you will not find a bigger fan of Spyderco.

Second, my post, was also not intended to have anything to do with politics nor Governments, only my perception of where quality knives are made.

I thought that Spyderco might be interested in hearing the thoughts of one of their most loyal customers ?

My only point was, I consider my carry knife to be an essential tool that my life may depend on ... sort of like my firearm, tires on my car, etc. ... and as such, I seek the highest quality possible in my knives.

Right or wrong, when I am seeking to add a knife to my collection, first thing I look at is where it is made, and if I see it is China, I will not give it a second look ... but that is just me ...

Sorry, I prefer that my knives be made in the USA or Japan -Home of the Samurai Warrior (even though I bought a Spyderco SpyOpera last night)

But I do not think that should get me suspended from the forum ? I thought it might be something that Spyderco might be interested in hearing ....

[Eli Chaps]

First, my post was not intended to be negative, rather the opposite - my thoughts on preserving the quality image of Spyderco. I carried a Spyderco every day, both on-duty and off-duty, during my 32 year law enforcement career - you will not find a bigger fan of Spyderco.

Second, my post, was also not intended to have anything to do with politics nor Governments, only my perception of where quality knives are made.

I thought that Spyderco might be interested in hearing the thoughts of one of their most loyal customers ?

My only point was, I consider my carry knife to be an essential tool that my life may depend on ... sort of like my firearm, tires on my car, etc. ... and as such, I seek the highest quality possible in my knives.

Right or wrong, when I am seeking to add a knife to my collection, first thing I look at is where it is made, and if I see it is China, I will not give it a second look ... but that is just me ...

Sorry, I prefer that my knives be made in the USA or Japan -Home of the Samurai Warrior (even though I bought a Spyderco SpyOpera last night)

But I do not think that should get me suspended from the forum ? I thought it might be something that Spyderco might be interested in hearing ....

If you're truly avoiding Chinese made due to quality, you're way behind the power curve. China closed that gap a few years ago and is starting to pace the broader field. So if it really is just perceived quality, consider yourself liberated.

[TkoK83Spy]

Just do yourself a favor, buy a Taichung produced model and use it for a month...then check back with us. I bet you'll have changed your mind.

[Ranger_Ike]

You won’t get suspended for having an opinion. You can ignore that comment, it was baseless.

A lot of times people post here as a rant and don’t actually seek advice, and are not open to reasoning. So it’s easy to get put in that box when your first post is critical (And it is OK to be critical). But I think you’ll find most people here just want to help.

I didn’t take your post as bashing.

If you are just against buying from China for political reasons, that’s something I won’t comment on.

If it’s just based on other low end knives from China or Taiwan, I feel you would have to handle Spyderco’s offerings to really know the truth there.

I, truthfully, don’t own any of the Chinese spyderco knives. But I have handled them and they are nice. For me it’s just that I would rather have the upgraded steel and materials. But I understand there are those out there that can’t afford, or just don’t want to pay premium prices. So I get it.

As for Taiwan Spyderco’s…. you can’t handle one and think they are below USA quality. That is a fact.

[Doc Dan]

I guess that it is easier to find a place to make knives in China with an established industry than to find someone in Southeast Asia or India and train them. I have a lot of heartburn about China, but not at all about the Chinese people, who are wonderful. So, I can understand Sal's loyalty to them.

[SSD_777]

Don't forget that there are two Taiwanese Spydero knife makers. The CAT and CHICAGO that I purchased in 2020 were made in Taiwan and are nowhere near the quality coming out of the TAICHUNG facility. The low price of those two models is the ONLY reason I'm not unhappy with them. I definitely got what I paid for, but I never carry them.

[curlyhairedboy]

there's a lot of value in nuance.

[soc_monki]

I am disappointed every time I look and see a Spyderco knife made in China or Taiwan.

I guess I understand that not everyone can afford a Spyderco made in USA or Japan ...

Uh, generally speaking Taiwan made Spydercos are as good or better than Japan made. I’m not sure why you’re lumping Taiwan in with China other than they are closely related countries.

I don’t have any recent Chinese Spydercos. I have an older Tenacious and Ambitious. I don’t think I would call them low end. Nothing about them is terribly low end except the steel.

The newer Chinese designs look like a step up. Maybe you should buy one before saying their existence tarnishes the Spyderco brand.

Let me add that Taichung Spydies are as good or better than Golden made. I may get some flack for that, but my Gayle Bradley 2, Kapara, Amalgam, and Magnitude are, honestly, the best fit and finish Spydercos I've handled, period. The Drunken I handled was absolutely amazing. I love my Shamans, and Chiefs, my Manix 2 XL...but the Taichung knives are just on another level IMO!

Also, Taiwan is a democratic country and are our allies. No shame in supporting them. IMO there's no shame in supporting the Chinese people either, especially the ones building Spydercos. My first was a Tenacious and I still have it and still carry it. My Resilience is a fine knife as well. I have no reservations carrying and using them because they meet the high standards Sal has set.

As Sal said, we may not agree on how a government runs a country (and I think all of us have criticisms of our own government, which we are free to have thanks to the 1st amendment), but that's not a reason to have ill feelings towards the people, who are trying to provide for themselves and their families, just as we are. Sal keeping the same producers for 2 decades shows loyalty and trust, and I trust Sal on his decisions, and having a Tenacious or Resilience in my hand gives me as much pride as my Shaman, Amalgam, or Endura.

To each their own!

[aicolainen]

First, my post was not intended to be negative, rather the opposite - my thoughts on preserving the quality image of Spyderco. I carried a Spyderco every day, both on-duty and off-duty, during my 32 year law enforcement career - you will not find a bigger fan of Spyderco.

Second, my post, was also not intended to have anything to do with politics nor Governments, only my perception of where quality knives are made.

I thought that Spyderco might be interested in hearing the thoughts of one of their most loyal customers ?

My only point was, I consider my carry knife to be an essential tool that my life may depend on ... sort of like my firearm, tires on my car, etc. ... and as such, I seek the highest quality possible in my knives.

Right or wrong, when I am seeking to add a knife to my collection, first thing I look at is where it is made, and if I see it is China, I will not give it a second look ... but that is just me ...

Sorry, I prefer that my knives be made in the USA or Japan -Home of the Samurai Warrior (even though I bought a Spyderco SpyOpera last night)

But I do not think that should get me suspended from the forum ? I thought it might be something that Spyderco might be interested in hearing ....

Glad to read you're indeed just a critical (and experienced) knife user, and not just a troll.
I think your worries about quality is uncalled for, and probably based on outdated data.

That said, I avoid Chinese made goods myself, as far as practically achievable. I guess it's political, but it's not to hurt the hard working Chinese people, but rather to help preserve jobs and production skills in Europe and the US.
I'm tempted by some of the Chinese Spyderco's and wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I could justify the need... but I can't atm.

I also think it's wise of Spyderco to sell these knives under their main brand. From what I've heard they are really well built and shouldn't hurt their reputation. Instead it may serve as a good gateway drug without being hurt by brand confusion when people are looking to buy up.