Japanese manufacturer with mark "Japan" - picture heavy (sorry)

[MarcusH]

To my knowledge Spyderco has six different manufacturers in Japan, with only one maker marks their knives with just "Japan" and not "Seki-City, Japan".
Some guys mentioned, that this maker is Moki. I was wondering, if this is correct and which models are/were manufactured by this maker.

I've got these:

Caly 3




Caly jr. micarta




Bill Moran




Tim Zowada




Shabaria




Kopa micarta

[IG-88]

I know the Caly's are produced by Moki, the other I don't know. But seen the lettering on the Zowada is consistent with tht Caly's I would say this might be Moki as well.

[The Deacon]

I'm among those who have suggested that the "Japan" tang stamp means the knife was built by Moki. I based it on purely anecdotal evidence - the fact that the C27 Jess Horn is stamped Japan, rather than Seki City, Japan combined with the fact that Moki sold some of those under their own label, stamped Moki on the tang, rather than Spyderco, and packaged in Moki boxes. Look about 1/3rd down on this page.

If I'm right, and assuming Moki is the only maker that does not use the Seki City stamp, then they're also responsible for all the Jess Horns, all the other versions of the Calypso and Caly, the Kiwi, and the Schempp Persians and Kris. Am sure there are others as well which I've missed, especially if they have any lock other than a midlock.

Also, FWIW, not sure all six makers are still being used. Think Masahiro did just the kitchen sharps and one or two of the smallest shops were so small that they closed when the owner(s) retired. Know for a fact Masahiro stamps Seki City, since some of the earlier Kitchen Sharps were stamped with their name as well as Spyderco's and marked Seki City, Japan. Know the G Sakai knives are stamped Seki City as well.

[MarcusH]

Thanx a lot for this information Paul!

[Orlando De Free]

I believe another indicator of a "Japan" knife being made by Moki is that the words on the tang stamp uses mixed case for their letters, i.e. "Japan" instead of "JAPAN" and "Spyderco" instead of "SPYDERCO".

[MarcusH]

I believe another indicator of a "Japan" knife being made by Moki is that the words on the tang stamp uses mixed case for their letters, i.e. "Japan" instead of "JAPAN" and "Spyderco" instead of "SPYDERCO".

Ah, never thought of that. I guess you're right, all of my knives in this thread are marked "Spyderco".