Count me in as liking the engraving. I wouldn't recommend trying to erase. It would likely ruin the blade and I suspect even if successful would also reduce the value of your knives.
I don't have a problem with the names on those Spyder models. I might not want to have "Bodychopper" or "KillerDiller" on a knife that I might have to use in self defense. Don't need to defend my forward thinking preparedness; knowing that the prosecutor will be calling it self-fullfilling violence tendencies.
Butt I have both the blue Native versions with and without the forum laser engraved logos. Nice and clean without, unique and numbered with. I finally ordered a forum Spyderhawk and they only had one without the forum lettering. They (Spyderco) had buffed off the laser lettering since not all forum engraved items were sold. I haven't received it yet butt I think it will look fine.
Anyway, It seems that the laser engraved lettering might be buffed off quite easily. The diamond engraved earlier Militaries might be a different story.
As for me I do not like any kind of letters, words, setnences, stories, novels, pictures or other stuff on my knives. Exept for a steel brand and manufacturer near the handle. All this "design", IMHO, makes knife look like safe queen.
I can do fine without names or titles on my tools. Unless they are meant for presentations it seems unnecessary. The Police model was made for a time without Police on the blade, but due to customer-demand, it was brought back. Apparently we in the forums do not always reflect the desires of the larger buying public. (Another example is a forumite preference for plain-edges, which isn't shared by other ELU's).
I don't mind "Police" on my Police models...But since I'm a retired Deputy Sheriff, I wonder why there weren't any "Deputy Sheriff" models put out by Spyderco...
dynaryder> I showed a cop last year my Millie and Calypso. He didn't bat an eye at either. The word Military never fazed him in the least. Only problem was he couldn't figure the liner lock and handed it back to me opened...handle first of course.
Count me IN on lettering!!! Take Care.
I have thought about having the lettering bead-blasted from one or more of my Ronins. The Ronin appears very innocent to those who do not understand the true nature of the design, and most people seem to think it is a utility blade. I sometimes travel to areas where "weapons" are viewed with suspicion by authorities, and the name "Ronin" does connotate weapon.