Cheaper Assist-Type Folder

[DelicateEndurance]

I recently bought a SOG Escape folder on the cheap, and was quite impressed by it.

Spyderco has a great professional-grade folder, the Assist, but it's very much more expensive.

Could Spyderco come up with something like the SOG Escape? Perhaps based on the Tenacious series? A Tenacious with a glass breaker at a similar price point would definitely be a winner.

[twinboysdad]

On a tool that will be used for the possibility of saving lives, why in the world would you want to skimp on price? Spyderco, as a general rule, operates on a smaller mark up than you would think. The throwdown for the Assist is pretty close to where it should be considering the engineering of the tool. I would say the same thing if you asked about a SD tool. Don't skimp on tools, skimp on beer. Of course, this is just my personal opinion and I could be totally wrong...

[Blerv]

I would get the Cara Cara rescue on a budget. The glass breaker can be found elsewhere and tethered to it. Otherwise I'm not sure there is a rescue tool on the market that beats the Assist. Well, besides the Jaws of Life and some trauma shears.

[DelicateEndurance]

I understand where you are coming from Twinboysdad, but I think there are a couple of good reasons for such a product.

First, not everyone will be willing to fork out a substantial amount of money, whether good value or not. I think, in particular, uniformed personnel generally are not that well paid, and would not purchase and carry professional grade knives unless issued. I have seen far less deserving products being carried by them, including cheap UC folders or (better) S&W type folders. Bringing Spyderco quality at a price point they would purchase it would be a major plus for them.

Second, we lose stuff. Especially if we carry them in a marine environment or go jungle bashing. You can tether it to your person, but if it goes overboard or you lose it in the foliage, it's gone, and we would have to fork out more money to buy a new one. A cheaper folder can be carried for such excursions with less potential loss.

Third, I happen to think that there's a sizeable market for this type of product. I have already mentioned uniformed personnel, but such a knife would be a great EDC for civilians as well. Plus, it's much easier to explain why you have it in your car (in case of an accident) or on your person (sorry, constable, I forgot to leave it in the car).

I see the market flooded by cheap Chinese folders incorporating cheap looking glass-breaker points, and they're selling well. I don't see why Spyderco shouldn't get into that market. Even a made-in-China Tenacious type folder designed and QC by Spyderco has got to be miles ahead of any competitors.

[rodloos]

I wonder how often the glass breaker on these type of knives really gets used? The Rescue is similar to the Assist except lacks the glass breaker, but is often available at $20 cheaper or so than the Assist. It's also thinner and more compact. And the Byrd Rescue 2 is *quite* inexpensive, ~$25 or so.

Don't get me wrong, I have an Assist, and one of the considerations when I bought it was its glass breaker, but I think there is *very* little probability of me coming upon an accident or incident that requires me to break out someone's window. There are also *very* inexpensive (~$3) spring-loaded center punch tools that can be kept in a car for such emergencies.

I'd be interested if someone knows the stats for how many of these type of emergencies come up where the window has to be broken immediately to rescue someone.

[Blerv]

While we are asked to make "shiny footprints" around here I strongly believe a full serrated Byrd will put most hand tools to shame in a rescue situation.

I have a carbide glass breaker on my umbrella. You can get them for flashlights and even as standalone punches for a few bucks. I would rather shop for a performance cutting tool first and fill in the blanks elsewhere. Plus, I don't want my hand 2" from breaking glass anyways.

[TomAiello]

What I'd love to see is an assist in H-1. :)

[Brock O Lee]

I have a Salt 1 SE and seperate spring loaded window breaker

[defenestrate]

The byrd Cara Cara rescue 2 Is excellent. It would be fairly easy to add a glass breaker, depending on what you need. I would trust it to be reliable as well.

[The Deacon]

Am sure there are others who share your desire for a less expensive version of the Assist. The question is, how many? Spyderco devotes quite a bit of time and energy to marketing tools for Save and Serve professionals, so I think they have a fairly good idea of how much interest there would be in an inexpensive version of the Assist and, if there was sufficiently large market for such a knife, they'd be offering it. As it is, between the two Byrd Rescue models, the C14 and C45 Rescues, the Atlantic and Saver Salts, and the Assist, they have the market pretty well covered.

[araneae]

Glass breakers are one of those things that most people will never actually need or use. That said, I can see the added benefit of having one in a rescue knife. I keep a Rescue in my center console that has never cut anything and I hope it stays that way. It would be nice to see Spyderco experiment with adding a breaker to a Byrd rescue- we have seen forumites mod rescues to have a carbide breaker so we know it can be done.

[ASmitty]

On a tool that will be used for the possibility of saving lives, why in the world would you want to skimp on price? Spyderco, as a general rule, operates on a smaller mark up than you would think. The throwdown for the Assist is pretty close to where it should be considering the engineering of the tool. I would say the same thing if you asked about a SD tool. Don't skimp on tools, skimp on beer. Of course, this is just my personal opinion and I could be totally wrong...

I agree with you 100% on tools, but never, ever skimp on beer!

[chuck_roxas45]

Whatever each of us believes will be a viable seller, its not our money but Spyderco's that will be risked in such a venture. Additionally, they are the successful knife company who've made the good business decisions, not us.

[gaj999]

There are also *very* inexpensive (~$3) spring-loaded center punch tools that can be kept in a car for such emergencies.

Yes, but they work a lot better than a non spring-loaded breaker. Use the right tool for the job. An extra piece of gear? Yes. But it's sitting in the console right next to your rescue blade, so it's hardly a burden.

Gordon

[sal]

Hi DelicateEndurance,

I think that I must agree with the comments already made. A Cara Cara Rescue would serve well. Making an Assist in China is not in the plan.

sal

[DelicateEndurance]

Wow. I hadn't expected so much discussion on this. Thanks Sal for your update. :)

[Enkidude]

Cheap is a subjective term.