Schempp knives..

[twinboysdad]

Really looking forward to the Frontier, as previewed at the Amsterdam Meet. I'm not quite sure why it's part of the Ethnic Series, seeing as the Bowie design is quintessentially American, but it looks so great I'm certainly not going to quibble.

Not all spydie-lovers are American, and the bowie is to us what the Navaja is to Spain. Both are ethnic as ****. But the bowie is southern by the grace of God :D

[Prof68]

Not all spydie-lovers are American, and the bowie is to us what the Navaja is to Spain. Both are ethnic as ****. But the bowie is southern by the grace of God :D

It's a fair enough point. And if we go by Oxford's definition of "ethnic," you may be right:

"Of or relating to a population subgroup (within a larger or dominant national or cultural group) with a common national or cultural tradition."

But while the Bowie has southern origins, it has become common enough everywhere that I doubt most people refer to it as "ethnic" in everyday usage. The same holds true for tanto designs these days.

My minor point was that a Bowie just doesn't seem quite consistent with the other designs in the series (all of which, by the way, are based on the "other than American" principle). But since I can hear the virtual chorus of "Who the **** cares?" starting up, I'll move on.

Can we at least agree that we'd both like to get our hands on a Frontier?

[twinboysdad]

I totally see your point, what ethnicity would you like to see a knife made honoring next? Also re: the ethnics, Schempp did not design the Chokwe or Hungarian

[gbelleh]

Schempp also didn't design the Nilakka, Puukko, Shabaria, Lum Chinese, Jot Singh Khalsa...

[Prof68]

I didn't mean to imply that Mr. Schempp designed any of the others that have been mentioned. (As an aside, the Shabaria and Chokwe are two of my favorites!)

Anyway, for future Ethnic Series models, I'd give my eye teeth for a Japanese higonokami, but with a locking system of some sort.

[Ed Schempp]

Thanks for the comments on my designs, it has been a wonderful learning experience redesigning historical pieces.

Many of the early Bowies were made in Sheffield England. Several great early American knife makers made these designs more functional ergonomically. The Bowie knife regardless of origins has been embraced by U.S. Traditionalists. Therefore the Frontier, a coffin handled, "s" guarded knife with a clip point blade. Like Master American Bowie makers I strived to make a better cutting tool, more ergonomic with modern materials. Lightening strike Carbon fiber, phosphorous Bronze, and S30 V are state of the art but give a traditional design...Take Care...Ed

[Prof68]

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Mr. Schempp. I hope it's clear from all the posts that you have a considerable fan base in the Spyderco world.

Best,
Mark

[Evil D]

I'm not a big fan overall. My biggest dislike is the extreme use of blade real estate for choil, it's to the point on some models that you lose an entire inch of blade to the choil, and I personally think that's overkill for an effective choil. I do like some of the styling cues he uses and they're definitely unique. I just keep looking at the Tuff wishing it had edge in place of that choil. I do really like the Persians though.