Stok

[vivi]

I can't remember a new release ever being ignored this much. No one on the forum has tried one?

Maybe it's super popular in China.

People seem much less concerned with where the Astute, Tenacious etc. are made.

[ZrowsN1s]

Maybe it's super popular in China.

I can't throw too much shade as I bought a cheap China made knife from CRKT a week ago. But generally speaking unless it's an exceptional design, Chinese manufacturing is a non starter for me. And if there is an option to buy local, I always do.

[Doc Dan]

I think being made in China was the killer of this one, the situation being what it is.

[ladybug93]

i don't understand the principle that stops someone from buying chinese products, but doesn't stop them from supporting a company that does business in china.

i'm not trying to go off topic or political here... i just don't get it. if you don't want to buy chinese products from an american company, then why buy any other product that company makes in the various other countries? buying 30 knives from golden and none from china isn't going to shut down spyderco's chinese business.

[Bolster]

i don't understand the principle that stops someone from buying chinese products, but doesn't stop them from supporting a company that does business in china.

i'm not trying to go off topic or political here... i just don't get it. if you don't want to buy chinese products from an american company, then why buy any other product that company makes in the various other countries? buying 30 knives from golden and none from china isn't going to shut down spyderco's chinese business.

I don't know how a response to the above doesn't go political, but virtually everything is nowadays, so politics can't be avoided completely. I mean, what if COO really is the reason Stoks don't get much notice? A realistic person can't ignore the impact of COO just because it's political. (Complicated by the fact that COO is confounded with steel type.)

Anyway. To the question: I would imagine that if fewer Chinese items were purchased by consumers, a company might adjust its proportion of Chinese products accordingly. Similarly, if fewer American items were purchased by consumers, a company might likewise adjust its proportion of American products accordingly. In this manner, consumers essentially get to vote. (Which is democratic & political!)

I have tried to be delicate and even-handed in my response, so hopefully the reference to politics doesn't get my post zapped. But if the question is "Why haven't Stoks gotten at lot of press," I don't think we can entirely overlook the elephant in the room. The following question was about folders but may apply to fixies as well, or perhaps even more so.

[Dazen]

Made in China is the exact reason I didn’t pick one of these up.

[Bolster]

... double tap on edit, sorry ...

[Flash]

Zero interest. I like small fixed blades, but there are a bunch of other options that are more compelling to me, including the Enuff 2.

My opinions on it exactly.
I would have been all over it like a cheap suit if it had the neutral ergos and full handle size of say an Esee Izula 2 or similar and they used a more interesting steel. That’d been an instant hit I reckon.

Basically A Bow River with a 3” ish drop point blade in any other steel would’ve made it more appealing.

[skeeg11]

I joined this forum with the expectation of a higher standard of objective evaluation of knife design, steel, and performance. Silly me.

[kennethsime]

Zero interest. I like small fixed blades, but there are a bunch of other options that are more compelling to me, including the Enuff 2.

My opinions on it exactly.
I would have been all over it like a cheap suit if it had the neutral ergos and full handle size of say an Esee Izula 2 or similar and they used a more interesting steel. That’d been an instant hit I reckon.

Basically A Bow River with a 3” ish drop point blade in any other steel would’ve made it more appealing.

Agreed 100%. I think it's just a crowded marketplace. Spyderco steers more tactical/edc, and likes new + innovative designs.

[ZrowsN1s]

i don't understand the principle that stops someone from buying chinese products, but doesn't stop them from supporting a company that does business in china.
............

I brought this up a few years ago. I expressed not wanting to support businesses that did business there. But Sal responded with what was I felt a reasonable explanation for their doing business there, if I didn't fully agree (you'll have to track down that thread, dont remeber title or what specifically was said).

But presently the reasons, as I see them, to continue to support Spyderco the company, but not buy their Chinese made products are....

If I/we stop buying Spyderco, the company goes away. I like Spyderco, and I don't want that. They manufacture there because the market demands cheaper products. As long as people keep buying them, they'll keep making them. For Spyderco to not cater to that part of the market when demand is there would be potentially a finacial disaster for them. Other companies would fill the void with the same product from the same country. Wouldn't solve the problem and we'd lose a good company.

Boycotting the specific product reduces demand, and removes financial incentive to continue to make the product. The trick is to not just boycott Spyderco though, otherwise another company will step in (I added to the problem with my CRKT purchase, it was a sweet design though).

You can reduce demand for any product without targeting a specific company in this way. As long as demand is there, the product will be made.

[ladybug93]

i don't understand the principle that stops someone from buying chinese products, but doesn't stop them from supporting a company that does business in china.
............

I brought this up a few years ago. I expressed not wanting to support businesses that did business there. But Sal responded with what was I felt a reasonable explanation for their doing business there, if I didn't fully agree (you'll have to track down that thread, dont remeber title or what specifically was said).

But presently the reasons, as I see them, to continue to support Spyderco the company, but not buy their Chinese made products are....

If I/we stop buying Spyderco, the company goes away. I like Spyderco, and I don't want that. They manufacture there because the market demands cheaper products. As long as people keep buying them, they'll keep making them. For Spyderco to not cater to that part of the market when demand is there would be potentially a finacial disaster for them. Other companies would fill the void with the same product from the same country. Wouldn't solve the problem and we'd lose a good company.

Boycotting the specific product reduces demand, and removes financial incentive to continue to make the product. The trick is to not just boycott Spyderco though, otherwise another company will step in (I added to the problem with my CRKT purchase, it was a sweet design though).

You can reduce demand for any product without targeting a specific company in this way. As long as demand is there, the product will be made.

i get all of that, but i seriously doubt your support of spyderco doesn't effect their continued production in china, even if you don't buy chinese models. the money you send them likely contributes to new budget models and/or the shipment of american steels like m4 and s35vn getting sent there for the tenacious and other models.

i'm not suggesting people stop supporting spyderco over chinese production. i'm just saying i don't think it's a logically consistent stance to take. but everyone is obviously free to spend their money how they want... i'm just sharing an opinion.

[ZrowsN1s]

I guess my logic was, if they take the money I give them for their US and other models, and use that money to manufacture knives in China.... and no one buys them... they wouldn't be likely to take the money from the next knife I buy from them and use it to manufacture knives people have demonstrated they won't buy.

If there's demand, they'll keep making them. If there's no demand, they won't. (In my opinion) I aim to do my part to reduce demand.

[Halfneck]

I handled them at BLADE and I liked them, BUT I'm not a fan of the steel. Lots of other options in that price range with steels I prefer like Nitro V or Sandvik 14.

[aicolainen]

My primary reason to avoid Chinese products isn't to hurt China, they're in a rough spot already.
I just want to do my part to support production in other parts of the world. The Chinese has proven they can make good knives, so it isn't even a quality issue, but supporting longstanding knifemaking traditions and skills in other parts of the world becomes ever more important as Chinese manufacturers captures more market share. Both to keep the traditions alive and avoid becoming increasingly more dependent on China.

The steel. I don't have a lot of experience with 8cr, if any. I've tried some that are supposedly chemically similar, and while it wouldn't be my first choice for many things, there are always some areas where price is a significant part of the equation. If the price is right, I'm not going to dismiss 8cr just for being 8cr.

The COO doesn't dismiss it outright, I'm not sure the price is quite right, but more importantly it's the design that doesn't speak to me. I'm the guy who always asks for smaller versions of everything, so I guess I should like this offering, but I don't. Maybe getting it in hand would sway my opinion, but that's not likely to happen unless I order one and I already spend enough money on the stuff that appeals to me on paper. The incentives just aren't there to brute force myself into liking the Stok.

[Tristan_david2001]

I joined this forum expecting a higher standard of objective evaluation of knife design, steel, and performance. Silly me.

Haha! Good one.

[SchoonerBum]

I can't remember a new release ever being ignored this much. No one on the forum has tried one?

I would have thought that the Stok would be right up my alley as I love small fixed blades but the design just didn't speak to me when I first saw it. I might feel differently if I had a chance to actually handle one, but for now I'm quite happy with my Subway Bowie as a small fixed blade. I might have tried it anyway if it were offered as a salt, but as is I just didn't find it enticing enough to buy.

[AutoRock]

I can't remember a new release ever being ignored this much. No one on the forum has tried one?

For me, it would be the handle - it's too thin, too narrow, and it has a choil. I really like small fixed blades, but I have owned enough of them to realize that for me, comfort in long-term use always trumps compactness and ease of carry. So my preferences are always for wider, thicker, more rounded handles with a sharpened edge that comes right to the handle. The Mora Eldris is perfect for me - which is a fairly different beast (well, beastlet) from the Stok.

Having said that, the blade shapes on the Stok look very handy. I particularly like the sheepsfoot-y drop point model. I just wish it was mated to a different handle.

[Tristan_david2001]

For my use I don’t have much interest in small edc fixed blades, I like fixed blades as harder users. slim handles and 3” blades I prefer locking folders for because the convenience of being able to fold it up to a more compact size and clip it, or bottom of pocket carry it safely. And a harder use 3” blade knife i would still prefer be a folder. If I’m belt carrying a fixed blade it might as well have at least a 4” blade.

[cycleguy]

I enjoy fixed blades more than folders … handled this little gem at the SFO … and very much wanted to add the drop point to my stash.

Unfortunately place of manufacture is counter to my collecting rule and my general spending rule. And, the steel isn’t much of a draw either.

This one deserves better … a Golden M4 version would rock!!!

CG