We'll be looking into UK springs next week.
sal
Stiffer springs in the ukpk lightweights
Thanks Sal. Now that you're involved I suspect we'll be getting this straightened out quickly.
My G-10 UKPKs are excellent. I ordered an FRN version whbn they first came out but found the resistance to closing somewhat less than I'd prefer, even with the choil safety feature.
Mention was made regarding plans to revise the UKPKs and I've been inquiring (on here) for several months about the arrival of knives with the split spring, but I never received a reply. Then, when mannOmann posted that he had received a UKPK FRN with the split spring, I assumed the changeover had been made.
BUT, when, about two weeks ago, my local dealer ordered one for me and specified the new spring the person at your end said she knew nothing about the springs. The dealer placed the order anyway and when the knife arrived (about a week ago) it had the old style spring.
What does my dealer have to specify when he tries again to order a knife with the split spring? I'm very confident that the split spring version will be just fine-if I can ever get one!
My G-10 UKPKs are excellent. I ordered an FRN version whbn they first came out but found the resistance to closing somewhat less than I'd prefer, even with the choil safety feature.
Mention was made regarding plans to revise the UKPKs and I've been inquiring (on here) for several months about the arrival of knives with the split spring, but I never received a reply. Then, when mannOmann posted that he had received a UKPK FRN with the split spring, I assumed the changeover had been made.
BUT, when, about two weeks ago, my local dealer ordered one for me and specified the new spring the person at your end said she knew nothing about the springs. The dealer placed the order anyway and when the knife arrived (about a week ago) it had the old style spring.
What does my dealer have to specify when he tries again to order a knife with the split spring? I'm very confident that the split spring version will be just fine-if I can ever get one!
-
The Deacon
- Member
- Posts: 25717
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Upstate SC, USA
- Contact:
Wonder if your dealer ordered from Spyderco, or from a distributor. If the later, it may just be a case of them still having old stock on hand. What's the date code on the box (two letters, fairly large, and generally to the right of the barcode)?
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
Hi Paul,
Thanks for trying to help. He definitely orders directly from Spyderco. The letters are: DK. To what date do they correspond?
This has become a bit of a tempest in a teapot and, until Sal got involved, I was resigned to just letting it go. It's not as if I don't have another Spyderco to carry, or even another UKPK, for that matter!
I suspect that having gotten Sal's attention I'll be able to get the new design when my dealer next tries to order it. On the other hand I imagine Sal has a few other matters on his plate!
Thanks for trying to help. He definitely orders directly from Spyderco. The letters are: DK. To what date do they correspond?
This has become a bit of a tempest in a teapot and, until Sal got involved, I was resigned to just letting it go. It's not as if I don't have another Spyderco to carry, or even another UKPK, for that matter!
I suspect that having gotten Sal's attention I'll be able to get the new design when my dealer next tries to order it. On the other hand I imagine Sal has a few other matters on his plate!
Those Letters correspond to month and year. So your FRN UKPK birthdate was April 2011. So you definitely received older stock from your supplier.
My two that I was comparing above were April 2011 as yours and March 2012 with the new one.
It's sounds now as if I was mistaken in my assessment of having something "new", I definitely have two different springs in each of my UKPK's....one split, one not. There's definitely a difference though in the split spring version and the non. I'm pretty happy with the spit version.
If Sal and the Spyderco can improve on that even more so with the slip-it line that will be even better. :-)
My two that I was comparing above were April 2011 as yours and March 2012 with the new one.
It's sounds now as if I was mistaken in my assessment of having something "new", I definitely have two different springs in each of my UKPK's....one split, one not. There's definitely a difference though in the split spring version and the non. I'm pretty happy with the spit version.
If Sal and the Spyderco can improve on that even more so with the slip-it line that will be even better. :-)
-
The Deacon
- Member
- Posts: 25717
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Upstate SC, USA
- Contact:
Given that there are three blades shapes, two of them available in four colors and each of those colors available in up to three edge types, plus the sheepsfoot Rescue version, it's very possible that Spyderco has not made new runs of some of them since the spring change.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
Thanks mannOmann and Deacon. The knife came directly from Spyderco to my dealer (shipped 4/12/12) but I agree the combination of colors and blade shapes could be a factor here. I'll ask my dealer to try once more allowing Spyderco to choose the color and maybe even the blade shape. My preference would be drop point in grey or black, plain edge but I can be flexible on everything but edge type. Let's see what happens and I'll report upon receipt of the next knife! I'll also ask the dealer not to place the order if he can't be assured of receiving a split spring model. In the meantime I have a knife I don't want (already having two other UKPK lightweights) but, at its relatively low price, I guess I can live with that.
Sounds very interesting ... I have always been happy with my Mk-I FRN UKPKs and quite like the tension so I'll be very interested to feel the difference in the new ones :)
My spydies: Squeak, Tenacious, Terzuola, D'Allara, UKPK CF peel-ply pre-production, UKPK CF smooth pre-production, UKPK G10 orange leaf-blade, UKPK FRN grey drop-point, UKPK FRN maroon leaf-blade, Bug ... all PE blades :)
I remember there being rumor (lol) of the Squeak being approximately one month behind the USA made models in getting a forked spring. Is experimenting with the tension going to affect that month?
I've been wondering for a while and it is kind of off topic, but is it likely that we'll see the Pink Squeak before breast cancer awareness month?
I've been wondering for a while and it is kind of off topic, but is it likely that we'll see the Pink Squeak before breast cancer awareness month?
-Brian
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
Sal,
I wish I could say "Hi" to Dan for you. We were close friends for a number of years in the '80's and '90's but have been out of touch since around 1998. I agree that Dan is very knowledgeable and I learned so much about craft, knifemaking, and metallurgy from him. I really miss our regular interaction but Dan is traveling his own path and several attempts to reestablish contact have gone unanswered. He is working at Ontario (which you probably know) and he has an interesting statement here:http://www.ontarioknife.com/designers
If I can add this: The New York State Fairgrounds is adjacent to the surviving Crucible steel mill and just a few miles from the former Camillus factory. While attending the state fair in the early '80's I stopped to watch someone (perhaps you?) demonstrating Spyderco knives and recall thinking,"What a strange knife. Why would anyone want a knife like that?" At Dan's urging I purchased my first of what would become many Spydercos (a non-beveled handle, three screw clip, Worker) in January 1989 and I've been hooked ever since. A few years later Dan introduced me to my first FRN model (Delica) reinforcing my appreciation of your products. I drive by the Crucible plant a couple of times a week and, if I'm carrying one of my S30V bladed knives I chuckle about how its blade originated right here in that mill!
I wish I could say "Hi" to Dan for you. We were close friends for a number of years in the '80's and '90's but have been out of touch since around 1998. I agree that Dan is very knowledgeable and I learned so much about craft, knifemaking, and metallurgy from him. I really miss our regular interaction but Dan is traveling his own path and several attempts to reestablish contact have gone unanswered. He is working at Ontario (which you probably know) and he has an interesting statement here:http://www.ontarioknife.com/designers
If I can add this: The New York State Fairgrounds is adjacent to the surviving Crucible steel mill and just a few miles from the former Camillus factory. While attending the state fair in the early '80's I stopped to watch someone (perhaps you?) demonstrating Spyderco knives and recall thinking,"What a strange knife. Why would anyone want a knife like that?" At Dan's urging I purchased my first of what would become many Spydercos (a non-beveled handle, three screw clip, Worker) in January 1989 and I've been hooked ever since. A few years later Dan introduced me to my first FRN model (Delica) reinforcing my appreciation of your products. I drive by the Crucible plant a couple of times a week and, if I'm carrying one of my S30V bladed knives I chuckle about how its blade originated right here in that mill!
Hi Buckthorn,
Thanx for the long time support. Appreciate. Also thanx for the link. I brought Dan to Seki many years ago to meet many of our makers. We got to spend some good time together. I hope he's doing well.
On the split springs; as I mentioned, it is offering its challenges. Mostly in heat treat. Keeping everything the right hardness and prevent warping. We're still experimenbting regularly and I'm sure over time, the concept will evolve. Slip joints are going to be around for a while and one hand open slipits are growing, especially as laws change in many countries.
sal
Thanx for the long time support. Appreciate. Also thanx for the link. I brought Dan to Seki many years ago to meet many of our makers. We got to spend some good time together. I hope he's doing well.
On the split springs; as I mentioned, it is offering its challenges. Mostly in heat treat. Keeping everything the right hardness and prevent warping. We're still experimenbting regularly and I'm sure over time, the concept will evolve. Slip joints are going to be around for a while and one hand open slipits are growing, especially as laws change in many countries.
sal