Sal, Can You Remind Us Of The Ladybug's Origins?

[Eli Chaps]

Sal,

Several years ago I gave my son in law an Endura. He and my daughter now have several Spydies that they use hard and often. I recently gave my daughter a Ladybug and after a couple weeks of use, she just text me how much she loves it. I was telling her how someone, I thought a Japanese smith, asked you for a smaller Endura and she thought that relationship was awesome.

Can you tell us that story again Sal?

[sal]

Hi Eli,

We had brought the Endura and Delica into the market. One of the Sakai brothers, I think it was Sumio, asked for a miniature Endura. I said OK so we made a mold for the knife and brought it out into the market. It worked out OK, but by then we'd learned that just making a knife smaller doesn't retain the ergonomics of the larger model.

Later. I was asked to design a knife between the Delica and the Ladybug, so I designed the dragonfly. Then I redesigned the Ladybug to be more ergonomic and user friendly. That's the model we make today.Then I wanted a heavier duty small knife with a thicker blade full flat ground. That was the birth of the Manbug. I've tried a few blades for the Manbug. Now 'm planning a Leaf blade version.

sal

[Eli Chaps]

Hi Eli,

We had brought the Endura and Delica into the market. One of the Sakai brothers, I think it was Sumio, asked for a miniature Endura. I said OK so we made a mold for the knife and brought it out into the market. It worked out OK, but by then we'd learned that just making a knife smaller doesn't retain the ergonomics of the larger model.

Later. I was asked to design a knife between the Delica and the Ladybug, so I designed the dragonfly. Then I redesigned the Ladybug to be more ergonomic and user friendly. That's the model we make today.Then I wanted a heavier duty small knife with a thicker blade full flat ground. That was the birth of the Manbug. I've tried a few blades for the Manbug. Now 'm planning a Leaf blade version.

sal

Thank you sir. Among your many masterpieces, the Dragonfly is a personal favorite. I'll watch for your new Manbug.

[ladybug93]

i remember wanting the ladybug for months and then seeing the endura in cliffhanger. i had to have it. i was just a kid, so the endura wasn't realistic for me. the ladybug was my first pocket knife, hence the name. today, i carry a ladyhawk on me always and a pacific salt often. still great designs.

[Eli Chaps]

i remember wanting the ladybug for months and then seeing the endura in cliffhanger. i had to have it. i was just a kid, so the endura wasn't realistic for me. the ladybug was my first pocket knife, hence the name. today, i carry a ladyhawk on me always and a pacific salt often. still great designs.

Excellent.

[sethwm]

Sal,

How long does it take for a knife to go from prototype to production?

[Bemo]

I love the back story on knife designs. I would love there to be a sticky thread that's along the line of Story Time with Sal. Could be origin stories of different models, other interesting tidbits of working with designers, anything. Would just be fun to memorialize some of these stories.

[Eli Chaps]

I love the back story on knife designs. I would love there to be a sticky thread that's along the line of Story Time with Sal. Could be origin stories of different models, other interesting tidbits of working with designers, anything. Would just be fun to memorialize some of these stories.

I would love to see Eric and Michael Janitch produce a Sal Glesser documentary. Absolute legend in design, character and experience.

I love the idea of my granddaughter being able to one day watch a "movie" of the man who was behind so many of the knives her grandpa left her.

[Doc Dan]

A leaf blade Manbug? Who do I write the check to?

[Eli Chaps]

A leaf blade Manbug? Who do I write the check to?

Cutlery Shoppe.

[Doc Dan]

A leaf blade Manbug? Who do I write the check to?

Cutlery Shoppe.

I wouldn't doubt it.

[Doc Dan]

Hi Eli,
I've tried a few blades for the Manbug. Now 'm planning a Leaf blade version.

sal

I am fully on board with this!

[40mm]

I love hearing the history of how and why certain designs came into being as well! A history sticky would be awesome. Sal, would you share a little more about the Dragonfly design? It’s most interesting to me especially now knowing that you were asked to design something in between a delica and the ladybug. The Dragonfly is such a departure from those two designs that I’d love to know how it came to be!

[cabfrank]

How about the long awaited clip on the leaf blade Manbug?

[bearrowland]

I love Spyderco history!