Forum Knife 2009

[gac]

Is an official announcement set for Wednesday? Or is that more guesswork?

[ClockWork]

With the new revelation, could it be an FRN version of the Para, but with a front lock as opposed to a compression lock? Remember, it is a stock design, with non-stock features in addition to the engraving. Well, changing the lock on the Para is certainly non-stock. It fits everything else, as it is made in Golden, is an in-house design, is under 4 inches, and is FFG.

That seems very very improbable.



I still think its the FRN Native4

:o meh....

[Brad S.]

Just wanted to say something. A lot of yall have been guess and or dreaming about frn knives that have never been FRN before. I just think it should be noted that making a mold for injection molding (how frn handles are made) is extremely expensive!!!! So I think it very unlikely that we will see spyderco make a knife in frn that wasn't already planed to be FRN. It simply doesn't many sense to spend $350,000 on a knife you only plan to make 600 of.

So I think its morelikely that we will see some version of the native, with a different grind and a lesser used frn color. Maybe a wave. But to make or modify an existing FRN mold simply wouldn't be cost effective (again that is unless spyderco already planed to do so. In which case I suspect the model or similar model will be mass marketed)

[SecSpyral]

Just wanted to say something. A lot of yall have been guess and or dreaming about frn knives that have never been FRN before. I just think it should be noted that making a mold for injection molding (how frn handles are made) is extremely expensive!!!! So I think it very unlikely that we will see spyderco make a knife in frn that wasn't already planed to be FRN. It simply doesn't many sense to spend $350,000 on a knife you only plan to make 600 of.

So I think its morelikely that we will see some version of the native, with a different grind and a lesser used frn color. Maybe a wave. But to make or modify an existing FRN mold simply wouldn't be cost effective (again that is unless spyderco already planed to do so. In which case I suspect the model or similar model will be mass marketed)

I always thought that FRN was fairly inexpensive. It's the mold that takes so long to harden right? So in reality you're probably right, it is probably from a mold that is already available. It might not be FRN, it could be stainless too.

[knife_junky]

Ok gotta ask FRN??? Please enlighten me thanks..

[The Deacon]

Just wanted to say something. A lot of yall have been guess and or dreaming about frn knives that have never been FRN before. I just think it should be noted that making a mold for injection molding (how frn handles are made) is extremely expensive!!!! So I think it very unlikely that we will see spyderco make a knife in frn that wasn't already planed to be FRN. It simply doesn't many sense to spend $350,000 on a knife you only plan to make 600 of.

So I think its morelikely that we will see some version of the native, with a different grind and a lesser used frn color. Maybe a wave. But to make or modify an existing FRN mold simply wouldn't be cost effective (again that is unless spyderco already planed to do so. In which case I suspect the model or similar model will be mass marketed)

Pretty much agree with you Brad, figuring the two major contenders are a regular "old school" C41 with different steel and/or color and/or grind (IIRC Sal once said there'd be a S125V sprint run of them), the Native 4 in FRN (again Sal said that is planned, and will be built in Golden). Long shot for me would be the Meerkat (originals were made in Golden, perhaps the got the tooling back) and really long shot an FRN Stretch because the molds have not yet been sent to Seki.

I always thought that FRN was fairly inexpensive. It's the mold that takes so long to harden right? So in reality you're probably right, it is probably from a mold that is already available. It might not be FRN, it could be stainless too.

FRN is inexpensive, but the molds are very expensive, on the order of $30,000 to $40,000.

Ok gotta ask FRN??? Please enlighten me thanks..

Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon

[Agent Starling]

i'm patient....Wednesday's right around the corner...whether we'll find out anything for certain remains to be seen... :D

Agent Starling

[BuffaloBill]

....I can wait a couple of days.... :eek:

it could be a couple of days in pluto time. not neccessarily earth time haha

[catamount]

It's the mold that takes so long to harden right?

The molds are made out of hardened steel for durability. the pattern has to be cut into the steel by a highly skilled moldmaker.

[Brad S.]

exactally folks, Once the mold is made, its a cheap process, and very cost effective. A well made mold can make thousands of parts. It would not suprise me if the Native today is still made on the same mold as the native 15 years ago. But the inital cost is quite high, even more so if you want the mold to be american made (American made molds can reach the millions for complicated molds) thats why the Bali-yo or example is quite expensive.


FRN= Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon.
Its a nylon based polymer with short fiberglass fibers imbedded in it to make it stronger... and lighter.

[Willamette]

Since the forum knives in the past include 2 versions of the native (one for BladeForums and one here), how likely is a three-peat? I'm thinking with so many great models currently in the lineup why choose a previously selected one? Not that I'd be disappointed with a Native.

Oops, just re-read all the posts and realize now that 4 s ter already made this observation.

[TazKristi]

Hmmm... FRN is correct, purple to be exact.

[angusW]

Revelation. So it is FRN and it's purple. I guess it could be a model that didn't have purple before since that would only be a ladybug 3?

I think that would narrow it down to:

Centofante 3/4
Delica 4
Native
Dragonfly
Endura 4 / Emerson Opener
Ladybug 3

What was the blade material narrowed down to?

[Killdozer]

Purple? and because of the FRN mold cost likely a model that is already out... or about to come out in FRN... Stretch?

[Josh K]

I'm pulling for purple ladybug. :D

[Jay_Ev]

Guessing purple FRN Drago... no wait Delica. :)

[gac]

Purple? That was a big reveal.

I myself would prefer a Delica just because I do not have one.

[JediKnight86]

OK, since I was way wrong before my new guess is purple Delica/Endura possibly wave, Native 4 or Stretch 2.

[jabba359]

I hope the purple is like the darker purple on the prototype ladybug, and not the lavander purple on the production ladybug.

[JediKnight86]

I hope the purple is like the darker purple on the prototype ladybug, and not the lavander purple on the production ladybug.

AGREED. aka INDIGO