Sal / Spyderco: Any Plans for Future Collabs with Jens Anso ?

[eneyman]

Hi I've been keeping quiet trying to avoid asking the "will this be made, will that be made, please please" type of threads, but I am at the stage where I really do want to suggest it. We have had the Zulu collaboration (an affordable yet quality take on his popular design), seeing as how some other company collaborations on the market don't quite come close to the quality of the Spyderco equivalents, I want to seriously ask/petition for Sal and co to get the wheels in motion on some quality Jens Anso collaborations. I've noticed that the market/demand for higher end production knives by Spyderco has been slowly growing. More guys are willing to go beyond their usual delica/sage/para price points and shell out in the $200-300 range for higher quality Spydercos because ****.. they can't afford or perhaps don't want to spend money on customs, so the next logical option is a high end production collaboration.

Anywho, is anybody else out there interested in some very nice high end collabs of Jens Anso models or am I alone? I am not talking a basic s30v/black g10 typical generic collab either.. I think it would be nice for Spyderco to evolve and really highlight the artistic style of the designer by going outside of their usual materials/colors..(techno pattern, bolsters, stonewashed ti framelocks, nice aged/bronzed hardware etc) lets see some flair, some color, some funk.

Models I think would make for amazing collabs with Spyderco: Funk, Nemo, Mofo, Amok, Rasta, Bastid

Of course, I am talking about having these produced in Taichung with the quality fit and finish we've grown to love from the maker. Who knows though, maybe Anso is only exclusive with the "other" company these days. I simply made this thread because I've grown to admire Anso's work greatly and notice he has quite a cult following. While his custom designs are pricy as ****, they are almost immediately snatched up second hand on the rare occasions they do pop up. For the most part though, it seems that people hold onto and cherish his designs and I figured some of us average Joe's would love to have that connection to his work as well.

[Donut]

I would love to get my hands on an Anso collab that would make a good all-round carry knife.

[xceptnl]

This thread peaks my interest... lets see where it leads.

[SpyderNut]

Another Spyderco/Anso collaboration would be wonderful! I would vote for this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=anso+amo ... 0,s:0,i:70

("This" being the Jens Anso "Amok" model. This particular model is an auto, but I'd be perfectly happy with a non-auto variation). :)

[The Deacon]

Given that Spyderco has already done three collaborations with Jens Anso, I'd say there's at least a reasonable chance there will be more. Whether any will be as "high end" as you'd like is another question. Some makers would balk at the idea of a knife that's too close, in terms of price, to their customs and Spyderco might be hesitant to tool up for an expensive new model with no idea of how well it would sell. Given that it's been disco'd almost a year and that some dealers still have them in stock I'd say the Rock Lobster, while well liked by those who purchased it, wasn't a particularly hot seller.

[kbuzbee]

While I'm completely down with your basic premis I'll take exception with one line:

I think it would be nice for Spyderco to evolve

I can think of very few companies (Apple? a few others...) that have evolved as much as Spyderco and in the process, revolutionized an industry as old and established as knife making. In the process they have created knives at a wide variety of price points using an incredible array of steels, designs and handle materials. Mostly for exactly the reason you cite, to put amazing knives in the hands of us "average Joe's"

Now I'm sure this comment wasn't intended the way I read it but if I were Sal I might be just a little offended. (though I'm sure he wasn't because Sal is a much bigger person than I am )

But to piggy back on to Paul's point, Spyderco knives are tools, meant to be used. We all have our price points for what we consider "acceptable" as a user, for a wide variety of reasons. Some based on means, of course. Others based on need. Someone whose survival depends on a tool will pay more for one that will help them accomplish that goal. Everyone has their own limits based on their requirements.

Practically every knife released goes through one or the other level of criticism...

Why wasn't this knife made in K294 steel with Koa wood scales?

Or....

Why wasn't this knife made in FRN and BD1 so I could afford it?

I can't imagine the amount of thought and discussion that goes into these decisions. I personally think Spyderco does a fantastic job bringing something for everyone, but the higher end models do tend to get beat up on price, it seems. Just look at one of my all time favorites, the Balance. It caught a lot of grief for being $129(ish) for a 1" blade when you can buy a Ladybug for a fraction of that. Or the Air for being more than the Gayle Bradley, a much more substantial knife.

Don't misunderstand, I come down on your side of this discussion and I love my 'higher end' Spyderco knives but when you have new tooling & R&D, collaboration costs and high end materials things get expensive quickly and I completely understand certain decisions being made to try to contain those to keep these designs more accessible.

This isn't a matter of 'evolving'. It's simply a case of finding the "right" combination for any given release and that combination may not be what any specific person is hoping for that knife. In my case, I'm "hoping" the upcoming Super Blue releases are done in Micarta, but I'm pretty sure they will (except the Caly 3 which will be G10) be FRN.

Sorry for the length... I guess I got carried away.....

Ken

[Clip]

Wow that Anso Amok looks quite similar to the new Ulize.

[eneyman]

Hey Ken, yes that's a better way of putting it as you said. Not so much evolving but just working at it, figuring out a way to put out high quality, yet still affordable collabs that do the maker justice and at the same time give knife addicts that wow factor when they hold it in their hands.

[duvaldrummer]

I would love to see an Anso/Spyderco Funk!

[Blerv]

Hey Ken, yes that's a better way of putting it as you said. Not so much evolving but just working at it, figuring out a way to put out high quality, yet still affordable collabs that do the maker justice and at the same time give knife addicts that wow factor when they hold it in their hands.

Collaborations are still a fraction of the custom price without being a fraction of the quality.

If something akin to the Cento3 and Bob Moran is more ideal that is easy assuming Spyderco will make an injection mold. FRN is far cheaper than steel/g10 and exotic materials. It's a quest of making a collab that has legs for mainstream sales. Hopefully the Pingo sells very well.

[kens73]

Yes!!! Spyrasta!!!:d

[JacksonKnives]

I'm ashamed to admit that I was really, really happy to see the Rock Lobster discontinued--at the reduced price, I couldn't resist buying one anymore. If they had stayed in the original price bracket, I never would've sprung for one.

They're great designs, and I hope the next collab. comes at a better time for manufacturing cost/exchange rate/etc. so it can be more affordable.

I will say, though, that I'd be much more likely to buy a future collaboration if it utilizes the compression lock...

[Cheddarnut]

Collaborations are still a fraction of the custom price without being a fraction of the quality.

If something akin to the Cento3 and Bob Moran is more ideal that is easy assuming Spyderco will make an injection mold. FRN is far cheaper than steel/g10 and exotic materials. It's a quest of making a collab that has legs for mainstream sales. Hopefully the Pingo sells very well.

Pingos sold out at my dealer, thats a good start!

[xceptnl]

Pingos sold out at my dealer, thats a good start!

I'm proud to say I contributed. This is the first new spydie I have ever purchased as a new pair.