Pitting on Locking Bar? Normal or not?

[Guyon]

It's also possible that each knife has a very tight F&F timeframe and details like sanding the other side would add to the bottom line (and be passed to the customer). It's a stretch of course but one of those details, along with the costs associated, that separate high quality production from customs.

It may well be a cost cutting measure, but that possibility is the very thing that turned me off. If this is the case, it speaks to a manufacturing shortcut, and regarding your distinction between production and custom, the separation doesn't hold water in my experience. I have quite a few production folders from different makers: Benchmade, Buck, CRKT, ESEE, Hogue, Ka-Bar, Kershaw, including multiples of many of these brands and probably a few others I'm forgetting. I also own ZT's and Sebenzas, though granted, these are more expensive knives. Regardless, I've not seen such rough parts on internals in any of the brands I've named.

I have a very limited understanding of Japanese culture but see a high level of pride and at times pragmatism. What might be common sense to us (adding washers, screwed construction, polishing lockbars/liners, sanding the opening hole, etc) might not even be on their radar. Maybe it's how they have made lockbacks for almost a hundred years? The insight provided on many occasions by Sal is always a welcomed glimpse into their blade-making culture. :)

Now this is an interesting idea to me--the notion that there could be a cultural rationale for a certain "technique." If so, like you, I would love to hear confirmation from Spyderco. As I posted before, however, none of my other Seki City knives exhibit such finish.

FWIW, this type of finish on the internal part of the lockbar is what I'm used to as well in my Kiwis and some other spydies.

Just checked my Kiwi4. Looks the same as the OP's knife.

Looking like a pattern. Thanks for the confirmations.

I'm not araneae, but he appears to be responding, albeit quickly, to your question. He has seen this level of fit and finish, and it doesn't bother him so he would keep the knife. It's difficult to imply tone from an internet post, so I find it's best to not assume the worst.

Perhaps. You could be right. I was reading the thread chronologically and saw the "Yes" as a response to Blerv's "Is that a shot from the inside of the knife?", followed by araneae's distinction between himself/herself and "some people." The curt nature of the response could disguise possible well-intentions, and only araneae knows if s/he meant to jab or not. You're correct that I was wrong to make assumptions, and I can see where I may have misinterpreted.

You mentioned that for you, this was more of a form knife, so I can see how this F&F might be a let down. Hopefully your dealer gets back to you with good news.

Thank you for the measured reply. Yes, I can return the knife for a refund. I am disappointed because I waited for so long for the knife to come out, and even moreso because this thread suggests the finish to be normative rather than indicative of a lemon. If it were an anomaly, a simple exchange would be an easy fix.

[The Deacon]

Yes, I can return the knife for a refund. I am disappointed because I waited for so long for the knife to come out, and even moreso because this thread suggests the finish to be normative rather than indicative of a lemon. If it were an anomaly, a simple exchange would be an easy fix.

Yes, I'm quite sure the bottom surface of all the Kiwi 4 lockbars will have that type finish. If you can't live with it, then returning your knife for a refund would be the most sensible move. Otherwise you will almost certainly wind up wasting your time and money, as well as your dealer's, sending yet another one back.

If you don't already have one, and still want a slim 3" wharncliffe, you might consider grabbing one of the discontinued Des Horns before they disappear.

[Blerv]

Yea most those were just guesses to be quite honest. I don't know if it's intended as a cost savings method or simply skipped because it's not "necessary". Until it's confirmed they are just guesses.

I do know the Kiwi is made by Moki and any knife etched "Seki City" is not. They happen to be in the same country but that doesn't mean their practices are similar. Ford and Chevy do things strangely different at times.

[Guyon]

If you don't already have one, and still want a slim 3" wharncliffe, you might consider grabbing one of the discontinued Des Horns before they disappear.

Quite nice! That's a lovely wharncliffe styling. Consider one grabbed. Seriously. I just ordered one.

I do know the Kiwi is made by Moki and any knife etched "Seki City" is not. They happen to be in the same country but that doesn't mean their practices are similar. Ford and Chevy do things strangely different at times.

That's also good info. I did not realize there are multiple plants producing the "Seki City" knives. Thanks.

[Blerv]

I'm sure Paul will chime in but as I understand it there are at least two makers in Japan that make Spyderco knives. G.Sakai and Moki. Of those, Moki only etches their knives "Japan" instead of "Seki City".

IMHO, both high quality makers but different approaches. Moki does the Kopa, Kiwi (original and your knife), Caly, Persion and some others like the Khukuri/Barong/Kris, Massad Ayoob and others.

[Donut]

I looked at my small persian, caly 3's, and forum Native 5.

It looks to be pretty common, but most of my Japan lock backs don't have a large section where the spring sits on the lock bar. The ones I'm looking at, the spring sits on unfinished steel and almost immediately after the end of the spring, it changes height and it is finished after the change in height.

[The Deacon]

I'm sure Paul will chime in but as I understand it there are at least two makers in Japan that make Spyderco knives. G.Sakai and Moki. Of those, Moki only etches their knives "Japan" instead of "Seki City".

IMHO, both high quality makers but different approaches. Moki does the Kopa, Kiwi (original and your knife), Caly, Persion and some others like the Khukuri/Barong/Kris, Massad Ayoob and others.

There are three now that Masahiro has started making the K04 and K05, which are stamped "Seki-City Japan", again. At one time there were more, but one small shop closed when the owner retired and one or more others may have ended their association with Spyderco for other reasons. Seki is the knife making capital of Japanese and, like Sheffield, Toledo, and Solingen, is home to many knifemakers.

Spyderco does tend to turn to Moki for "gentlemanly" folders like the C27 Jess Horn, Kiwi, Kopa, and Schempp Persian, but the Micro Dyads and the bolstered Stretch I was carrying yesterday show that G Sakai can produce knives with exceptional fit and finish as well.

[araneae]

Yes. I don't really care what the parts I don't see look like. I guess some people do.

.

I fail to see how the response quoted above adds value to this conversation or to my question, other than to deliver a passive-aggressive swipe in my direction.

Again, thanks to those who offered up thoughtful responses.

There was no dig against you intended. I replied to your question and stated my thought on the issue. We have varying opinions clearly. It can be difficult to determine tone at times and it is usually best to assume the positive, just as I assume that you saying thanks for the "thoughtful responses" wasn't a passive aggressive dig at me.

[Guyon]

I looked at my small persian, caly 3's, and forum Native 5.

It looks to be pretty common, but most of my Japan lock backs don't have a large section where the spring sits on the lock bar. The ones I'm looking at, the spring sits on unfinished steel and almost immediately after the end of the spring, it changes height and it is finished after the change in height.

Thanks for checking. I see what you mean, sort of. I looked at several other knives, including a Caly 3 and 3.5. If I squint just right, I can see that the metal is maybe a little less finished below the spring, but it's nothing like the picture in post #1 here. Like you say though, there's little to none of that section showing on these other models.

There was no dig against you intended. I replied to your question and stated my thought on the issue. We have varying opinions clearly. It can be difficult to determine tone at times and it is usually best to assume the positive, just as I assume that you saying thanks for the "thoughtful responses" wasn't a passive aggressive dig at me.

Already addressed above, but see below as well. Thank you for the clarification. In my experience, brevity can lead to confusion regarding tone.

Perhaps. You could be right. I was reading the thread chronologically and saw the "Yes" as a response to Blerv's "Is that a shot from the inside of the knife?", followed by araneae's distinction between himself/herself and "some people." The curt nature of the response could disguise possible well-intentions, and only araneae knows if s/he meant to jab or not. You're correct that I was wrong to make assumptions, and I can see where I may have misinterpreted.

I'm sending back the Kiwi 4 today, and I appreciate this dealer understanding my pickiness. However, I picked up both the Des Horn wharncliffe and a Kiwi 3 stainless slipjoint at nice prices--really just a few dollars more than I paid for the Kiwi 4. These will be my first Spydercos from Taiwan and China, respectively. I look forward to seeing what those plants can do.