Lowell, MA- Spyderco Stores?

[tea]

Hello,

I will be travelling to Lowell, MA, in the next couple of weeks to visit friends. I was wondering if anyone could recommend any stores that carry a wide selection of Spyderco knives in the area?
They don't need to be in Lowell, but within, say, an hours drive.

I checked the main site and saw the ones listed- but I'm sure there must be more.

Also, has anyone been to the REI in Boston listed on the main site? I'm sure I'll make it to the city for at least a day or two. Is it worth checking out?

[Fozzy]

Well, I live in Lowell- I'm sorry to tell you there's nothing close that I'm aware of.
If you're going to be around on March 30 (Sunday) there is a one-day show in Marlboro, Ma. which is about 25 minutes from Lowell. That is about as good as it gets within a reasonable distance from Lowell unless somebody knows of something I've missed! :D

http://www.ncca.info/calendar.htm

[bh49]

104 miles away(if you drive really fast you can make it within an hour and only helicopter will be able to catch you) is Victorinox store, in Hartford, CT. Great collection of discontinued :spyder: , but everything @ MSRP :D

[jujigatame]

REI is a nice place to check out, for all that they carry. Other than an honest-to-God knife store, they're one of the few places you have a chance to see what you can call a selection (probably not going to be wide though) of Spydercos and other knives. I haven't been to that particular location so I can't speak to specifics there. It's possible that being in the city proper may mean less knives there. Can't always count on retail having more or varied stock than online.

Lowell is not known for its shopping. My brother went to school up there and, well, aside from the Outback Steakhouse by the highway connector there wasn't anything in town he recommended.

[clovisc]

let's see... that's maybe... 15 hours from new graham? :D

[boxer93]

tea,
I'm in southern NH <1 hour from Lowell and there is not much around here either. Some of the small sports stores will have 1 or 2. I agree with jujigatame on REI. Lots of outdoor stuff, not much in the blade selection that I have seen(Reading MA store). Enjoy your trip to new england.
Chris

[bladese97]

:spyder: :spyder: :cool: :spyder: :spyder: Hey Tea; Welcome to Spyderforums :) For one, travel safely.....As for Stores in Mass that sell the Finest in Cutlery Technology(Spyderco), the only place I knew of that I bought quite a few of :spyder: 's was Amherst Drop Zone, but the owner saddly passed away, so they closed It was realy sad, because he was a good dude, and if I'm correct, he was affiliated with Law Enforcement. The only other place that has a small selection would be Jerek Brothers in Greenfield Mass, but they now sell only to LEO, which is odd, because I've purchased from them as well :confused: Hope you find a few lonely Spyders in your travels :D

[tea]

This is kind of a dissapointing. You would think a state with such lax knife laws would have more options. I guess all the good places are in the south!

I'm going to check out REI for sure. My friend likes outdoor stores as well, so it will be easy to convice the ladies to detour.

Thanks everyone.

[jujigatame]

"Lax knife laws" is relative because they are always subject to tighter municipal restrictions, Boston particularly. Doesn't help that the state general law is vague and sometimes easily subject to interpretation either for or against what you might be carrying.

One other thing about knife stores. At the Chestnut Hill Mall (on Route 9, maybe 5-6 miles west of Boston) there is Stoddard's. They are the oldest cutlery retailer in the country and while they aren't what they used to be they should have a legit selection of Spyders. They used to have Randalls too but dropped out as a dealer for them a few years back. They also have kitchen cutlery (tell your girlfriend "It's a knife we can both use!"), high end shaving stuff and the like.

[Fozzy]

Massachusetts General Laws Annotated Chapter 269 section 10:

(b) Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slung shot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance or a cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.

The knife laws here aren't exactly lax. The are also several cities (Lowell NOT among them) which have strict blade length ordinances.

If you really want to make knives and Spydercos part of your trip, aim to be here around March 30- There are always a number of Spyderco dealers at the NCCA show in Marlboro.

[tea]

My definition io 'lax' was based on the last time I was in Boston.

I randomly went into a surplus store downtown- don't remember where, but definitely a main street- by Macy's maybe?

Anyway, they had cabinets of butterfly knives. I asked the guy about it and he said they were perfectly legal. Seeing a few Spydies as well, I asked about the 'fly. His reply- "Oh no. Those went pretty fast."

I understand a 'no carry law'- Well, actually, I don't understand them, but anyway.... None the less, it would appear they can sell it even if a person can't carry it.

Or did I miss something :confused:

[Fozzy]

Here's the City of Boston ordinance:

16-45 PROHIBITING THE CARRYING OF KNIVES OR SIMILAR WEAPONS.

16-45.1 Carrying of Weapons Prohibited.
No person, except as provided by law, shall carry on his person, or carry under his control in a vehicle, any knife having any type of blade in excess of two and one-half (2½ ) inches, ice picks, dirks or similar weapons that are likely to penetrate through police officer's ballistic vests, or other object or tool so redesigned, fashioned, prepared or treated that the same may be used to inflict bodily harm or injury to another, except:

a. When actually engaged in hunting or fishing or any employment, trade or lawful recreational or culinary activity which customarily involves the carrying or use of any type of knife, or

b. In going directly to and/or returning directly from such activities, or

c. If the knife is being transported directly to or from a place of purchase, sharpening, or repair, and if packaged in such a manner as not to allow easy access to the knife while it is being transported.

(Ord. 2001 c. 10) Penalty, see subsection 16-45.4

16-45.2 Distribution Exception.
This section shall not apply to persons who, through entities or establishments engaged in a recognized retail or wholesale business, are involved in the sale, purchase or repair of knives for trade, sport, hobby or recreation, including without limitation persons engaged in the transportation to or from such entities or establishments.

As far as the laws making sense...

Out of sight, out of mind is probably the best policy.

[misterbigbo]

To get back on topic a bit, I have a knife store to recommend. I live on the South Shore, and though I know it's a hike for you, Sawyer's Cutlery is a great shop. I've bought most of my Spydies from them. They just moved to Hanover, and I haven't been to the new store yet, but you should look them up.

[jujigatame]

Do you know their new address in Hanover?

[tea]

Jujigatame and Misterbigbo,

Thanks for the tips.

[misterbigbo]

Do you know their new address in Hanover?

Sorry it took so long to get to this. Like I said, I haven't been there yet, but it's right across rt. 53 from the Hanover Mall in a plaza with a Casual Male and a Papa Ginos.

[jujigatame]

Thanks much, I'll have to get over there sometime and check it out. Hanover's a better drive for me than Hingham.