My Spyderco Story

[da1cyclist]

I’ll do my best to keep this concise, but I thought it might be fun and maybe even meaningful to share my how I “found” Spyderco. I hope others will chime in below with their own stories.

I grew up on the campground my grandparents owned. My grandfather was the quintessential “tool guy.” He instilled in us the importance of buying quality, using them often, and understanding the value that comes from living with well-made things—whether it was utility tools or toys like boats and motorcycles. Scouting only deepened my appreciation for pocketknives and sparked a lifelong fascination with tools that serve both purpose and personality.

My professional journey led me into the bicycle industry. I raced at a moderately high level in my early 20s, which cemented my appreciation for performance, specialization, and the pursuit of marginal gains. For the past 13 or so years, I’ve worked on the wholesale side of the bike world, mainly in technical sales where I’ve been fortunate to touch product development, in-house manufacturing, and strategic positioning. The work has always been at the intersection of storytelling and utility.

As the outdoor industry continues to shift post-pandemic, I found myself reflecting on a quote by Oscar Wilde:
“If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment.”
That line struck a nerve; I’d been carrying what I now know to be a somewhat unique model from "the other guys" for years, and found myself diving deeper into knives on YouTube, Reddit, and forums, not just as a curiosity, but as a kind of rediscovery. A new hobby. A rekindled obsession. I was drawn less to the specs and more to the stories—why a knife exists, who it’s for, how it solves a problem, and what values it represents.

[da1cyclist]

Despite having lived in Colorado since 2007, Spyderco had somehow stayed just off my radar, aside from the familiar sign off Highway 93 that I’d passed countless times, always thinking, “I should stop in sometime.”

Last fall, I finally did. I saw something pop up about a factory sale and told my wife, “Let’s grab brunch in Golden tomorrow and check it out.” Famous last words. We showed up right at opening and found ourselves at the back of a several-hundred-person line. No brunch that day—but what a great atmosphere. The excitement, the camaraderie—it was like a festival of the knife-obsessed.

That day I picked up a Salt Manix, a Crucarta Manix, a Mule Team, and a few others that turned into holiday gifts. And just like that, I was hooked. After reading more on the forum and learning about the Glasser family, it felt like I’d stumbled into something special. Not just a brand, but a philosophy. Not just a company, but a culture. I was sliding up the “slope of enlightenment” on the Dunning-Kruger curve—and loving every minute of it.

A few months later, on a snowy winter day, I literally slid into the Spyderco parking lot. I hadn’t planned much—just wanted to look around. I asked about the Rex 121 Sage 5, and when the employee (who was fantastic, by the way) said it was the last one in stock, I was literally and figuratively sold. It’s now one of my favorites, and using it helped me appreciate the genius of the Compression Lock—something I wrongly assumed wouldn’t appeal to me.

Since then, I’ve added a Sage 6 (among others) to the mix and, the more I use it, the more I’m convinced it’s one of the best locking mechanisms I’ve ever handled. I could write an essay just on that knife.

But for now, I’ll just say: thank you. To the Spyderco team. To Sal and the Glasser family. You’ve created more than tools—you’ve created objects of meaning. Things that speak to people. Things that earn their keep.

In another life—or maybe even this one—I’d love nothing more than to contribute to that mission.

Thanks for reading,
Jeremiah

[TazKristi]

Hi, Jeremiah:
Welcome to our forum. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us! Your kind words are appreciated.

We hope you enjoy your time with us.

Kristi

[Naperville]

@da1cyclist Spyderco knives are great aren't they? The forum is great too! There are experts in everything Spyderco here.

You have a great start on a collection. I mostly collect Spyderco Native Chiefs but I do have a few others and some fixed blades too.

[vivi]

welcome!

sounds like you're off to a good start with the models you chose. I think Spydercos Salt lines is one of their coolest offerings - totally rust proof knives.

what kind of bikes did you race?

I've never been competitive but I do own a full carbon emonda I like to ride. Used to use it for bike touring too.

[Manixguy@1994]

Welcome to the Forum and such a great start acquiring Spyderco knives . Enjoy your time on the Forum , glad to get to know you . MG2

[Doc Dan]

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you finally found Spyderco. It wasn't my first but the knife that got me addicted to Spyderco was the Caly3 and after that a Delica.

[JoviAl]

Despite having lived in Colorado since 2007, Spyderco had somehow stayed just off my radar, aside from the familiar sign off Highway 93 that I’d passed countless times, always thinking, “I should stop in sometime.”

Last fall, I finally did. I saw something pop up about a factory sale and told my wife, “Let’s grab brunch in Golden tomorrow and check it out.” Famous last words. We showed up right at opening and found ourselves at the back of a several-hundred-person line. No brunch that day—but what a great atmosphere. The excitement, the camaraderie—it was like a festival of the knife-obsessed.

That day I picked up a Salt Manix, a Crucarta Manix, a Mule Team, and a few others that turned into holiday gifts. And just like that, I was hooked. After reading more on the forum and learning about the Glasser family, it felt like I’d stumbled into something special. Not just a brand, but a philosophy. Not just a company, but a culture. I was sliding up the “slope of enlightenment” on the Dunning-Kruger curve—and loving every minute of it.

A few months later, on a snowy winter day, I literally slid into the Spyderco parking lot. I hadn’t planned much—just wanted to look around. I asked about the Rex 121 Sage 5, and when the employee (who was fantastic, by the way) said it was the last one in stock, I was literally and figuratively sold. It’s now one of my favorites, and using it helped me appreciate the genius of the Compression Lock—something I wrongly assumed wouldn’t appeal to me.

Since then, I’ve added a Sage 6 (among others) to the mix and, the more I use it, the more I’m convinced it’s one of the best locking mechanisms I’ve ever handled. I could write an essay just on that knife.

But for now, I’ll just say: thank you. To the Spyderco team. To Sal and the Glasser family. You’ve created more than tools—you’ve created objects of meaning. Things that speak to people. Things that earn their keep.

In another life—or maybe even this one—I’d love nothing more than to contribute to that mission.

Thanks for reading,
Jeremiah

Welcome to the forum Jeremiah, nice to e-meet you

As to my Spyderco experience, I basically came for the small folders and stayed for the SE fixed blades.

[mikey177]

Welcome to the forum. Living in Asia, I envy you guys that can actually visit the Spyderco HQ in Golden.

I first learned about Spyderco in the late 90s from ads and articles in gun magazines. My first one was a combo edge Endura in ATS-55.

[James Y]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

There's nothing special about my introduction to Spyderco. I first remember seeing Spyderco knives in movies since the early 1990s, but the one that actually caught my attention was a Delica seen in the silly 1997 horror film Anaconda. I has assumed it was some knife designed for the military, judging by the thumb opening hole.

Coincidentally, shortly after seeing the movie, a catalog for a knife dealer from WA state came in the mail (I have no idea why, because I never solicited it), and they sold knives from several companies, including Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, Case, etc., my first time seeing those names.

That same year (1997), I bought my first Spyderco, a PE AUS-8 Delica with the integral.FRN clip, at a local sporting goods store.

Jim

[DerRock]

Well said

[RustyIron]

I’ll do my best to keep this concise,

Meh. Concise is boring. I'm glad you elaborated.

I ride, as well. That's how I spent the morning. I'm also somewhat of a Wilde fan. He said something else that is relevant to the conversation: "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well. If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for. If it is worth attaining, it is worth fighting for. If it is worth experiencing, it is worth putting aside time for." I'm currently waiting for the Manix 2 LW CPM-15V. According to Wilde, it must be worth having.

[sal]

Hi Jeremiah,

Welcome to our forum and thanx much for the kind words.

sal