What are you excited about from Amsterdam?

[Stugots-II]

I like many more but these are on my hit list...not to mention there are still plenty more from the catalog already.
-Yojimbo 2
-Lum Tanto Sprint
-Techno
-Chaparral
-Native 5 Fluted Ti (also like the G-10)
-Junior

[jezabel]

There's some awesome craftsmanship and real neat grinds amongst those proto pics, yet there's nothing that really has me excited. I feel like I have liner lock over load after viewing those pics. The Najava's blade and Valotten's bolster work are stunning, but for some reason I cant help wishing they had a mid/ back lock.
The Tuff still appeals to me even with the RIL, though I'll be much less enthused about it if does not come out sporting 3V. The Yo2 is bound to end up in my pocket at some stage.

Jez

[Beanie-Bean]

Revised list after additional pics were posted for Amsterdam 2011:

Yojimbo 2
Balance SS
Chaparral (already on pre-order)
Dragonfly 2 H-1
Native 5 (already on pre-order)
Manix 2 FRCP (already on pre-order)
Dyad Sprint
Squeak
* Ayoob Sprint
Lum Tanto Sprint
* Szabo
* Junior
* Navaja
SpyLeone
Tuff
Vallotton Folder
Techno
Carpenter
Manbug

*Maybe. Everything else will already cost a fortune.

[Jazz]

There's some awesome craftsmanship and real neat grinds amongst those proto pics, yet there's nothing that really has me excited. I feel like I have liner lock over load after viewing those pics. The Najava's blade and Valotten's bolster work are stunning, but for some reason I cant help wishing they had a mid/ back lock.
The Tuff still appeals to me even with the RIL, though I'll be much less enthused about it if does not come out sporting 3V. The Yo2 is bound to end up in my pocket at some stage.

Jez

Mid back locks rule. I agree - I really don't like liner locks at all - just don't feel safe.

- best wishes, Jazz.

[monsterdog]

LionSpy
Dialex Jr.
Techno
Yo 2
Dragonfly H1

[Sequimite]

Dragonfly H1
Yo 2
South Fork
Vallotton
Techno
Dialex Jr

[Llano Jim]

I like the Southfork and the fluted Millie.

Jim

[2cha]

So many beautiful knives coming out, and my conscience won't let me buy them,... Tuff, Pukko, Vallontton, Szabo, Navaja, pretty much the stars of the line-up all made in Taiwan. I wish I knew more about the particular manufacturer--how treats employees and the planet. My moral convictions about keeping my money in the US or at least in democracies where workers are treated well and the planet isn't poisoned as much are really strained by high quality and absolutely stunning knives coming out of Taiwan.

[Sequimite]

all made in Taiwan. I wish I knew more about the particular manufacturer--how treats employees and the planet. My moral convictions about keeping my money in the US or at least in democracies where workers are treated well and the planet isn't poisoned as much are really strained by high quality and absolutely stunning knives coming out of Taiwan.

We have this discussion every few months. Taiwan is a democracy; my nephew went there to work because he could make more money in Taiwan than in the US; they are one of America's staunchest allies.

I take it you buy no Spyderco Japanese knives because you don't know those manufacturers well, that's your right. But please don't go trashing another country without at least learning something about it.

[Chucula]

the new line up is impressive. I was planning to try out the FRN manix 2 but the Des Horn knife looks amazing. I also think I might get a SS balance, dragonfly 2, and the pukko (puuko? pukoo? pukuko?)

[defenestrate]

-SS Balance (would like the CF but price point will likely dictate unless I start buying knives as collectible investments)
-Valloton
-Junior
-Tuff
-Szabo Folder
-Navaja
-YoJimbo 2
-Chapparal
-Manbug
-Native Fluted Ti (the Military looks cool too)

I am pretty sure that if things go well I will be getting the above but the list could well expand.

[2cha]

We have this discussion every few months. Taiwan is a democracy; my nephew went there to work because he could make more money in Taiwan than in the US; they are one of America's staunchest allies.

I take it you buy no Spyderco Japanese knives because you don't know those manufacturers well, that's your right. But please don't go trashing another country without at least learning something about it.

I didn't trash Taiwan. Please don't put words in my mouth. I expressed the high quality of manufacture and in no way indicated any disrespect for the people of Taiwan. I'm happy, however, to trash talk China.

A) Taiwan is arguably a democracy, oligarchy is more aptly descriptive IMO. I do my research. The degree to which the citizens of Taiwan have any genuine power, and particular the degree to which the native Formosans meaningfully participate in wealth and decision-making is highly debatable and there probably is no right or wrong answer. I've decided how I feel about the issue. I've done so after considerable thought (I really want many of the knives Spyderco has made there,...)
B) That Taiwan is an ally is immaterial, our government has been in bed with just about every scumbag on the list of scumbags at one time or another.
C) The conditions under which people work and the share of the pie they receive are genuine concerns for me
D) I stated clearly that I wish to know more about the particular manufacturer and the conditions of his/her employees and that this information could help sway my decision.
E) Polluting my planet is a genuine concern for me. From what I can tell, environmental standards in Taiwan are far, far below those of US or Japan. If you have different information, I'd love to read it.
F) I am also reluctant to buy Japanese (or other knives manufactured in democratic nations with workers rights and respect for the environment at this time) because I feel both a moral and a finacially self-interested need to keep as much money as possible in the United States.
G) Finally, my comment was carefully phrased to express MY moral concerns, the important word is MY. I am not passing judgment on either Spyderco or others. My morals are my morals--some express disappointment in a knife because it is only available right handed, or tip-up, or with textured scales or only with a hollow-ground blade, I express disappointment because the knives lack a feature--place of manufacture--that I find very important

[yablanowitz]

Hmmm...

I thought this was the Spyderco Product discussion forum, not the political debate forum. My mistake.

Back to the thread topic. The Des Horn is a must have, the Ayoob in G-10 at last, the FRN Dyad in VG-10 at last, a lightweight Manix at last...do you get the feeling these are models as I wish they'd been done in the first place? The Vallotton looks interesting and the South Fork will be on my short list.

[Sequimite]

2cha,

As I said, you are entitled to your opinion. And you are entitled to your own definition of democracy. I wonder what democracies may exist that don't have small groups wielding disproportionate power or which do not have a history of oppressing native populations? Certainly our country does not pass that test.

ROC Marines have stood with our military time and again when we had few allies. My own opinion is that there are few countries outside the US that I would rather buy from than Taiwan.

Sorry if my post rankled; the "democracy" remark set me off and I tried not to let into my post.

[Sequimite]

South Fork will be on my short list.

Can't recall the last time I saw a prototype without a Spyderhole. I suppose it will acquire a small one. I'm very excited about this knife and a little perplexed at the number of Spyderco fixed blades I own and still plan to buy. I never used to think of Spyderco as having much focus on fixed blades.

The custom South Fork knife Phil Wilson shows on his website is 4.5".

[Sithus1966]

Assuming some of them aren't too pricey for me, I'll look to get the following.

Yojimbo 2
Chaparral
Native 5
Squeak
Szabo Folder
Carpenter
Manbug

[2cha]

2cha,

As I said, you are entitled to your opinion. And you are entitled to your own definition of democracy. I wonder what democracies may exist that don't have small groups wielding disproportionate power or which do not have a history of oppressing native populations? Certainly our country does not pass that test.

ROC Marines have stood with our military time and again when we had few allies. My own opinion is that there are few countries outside the US that I would rather buy from than Taiwan.

Sorry if my post rankled; the "democracy" remark set me off and I tried not to let into my post.

De nada. Helped me refine my thinking. I've been wrong so many times that I've learned to become open-minded in my close-mindedness.

[sal]

Hi 2cha,

I'll put in quick 2 cents then get back on topic. They are very concerned with the care of their crew. They have a clean new facility. They are keeping the factory small by design (under 50 crew) so they can better care for their crew and maintain quality. I've met their staff as well as their subs. I believe I understand your values and I think you would approve. I might also add that we are very involved in the mix. eg: on the Puukko, the desert ironwood is from Arizona and the Steel in from Syracuse, New York.

The Phil Wilson South Fork is a very refined mature design for function. The plan is to use CPM-S90V or another hifallutin exotic.

sal

[Sequimite]

The Phil Wilson South Fork is a very refined mature design for function. The plan is to use CPM-S90V or another hifallutin exotic.

sal

That's OK as long as the steel is hifallutin and the scales are dark green.

[Dagon]

I was lucky enough to be at the Amsterdam meeting, and I made a commented slideshow with my impressions about every prototype. If you are interested, you can see it here on YouTube.
For the executive summary, my favourites were the Des Horn, the Techno, Fluted Ti Native and South Fork.