Spyderco Forums

Thanx All,

I appreciate the comments.

sal

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:00 am

- But, that said: I also think is almost impossible to tell if a comp.lock model sells better actually because of the locktype..
It could also be that for example a PM2 has better sales than a Native Chief due to factors completely unrelated to the lock type, - potentially even despite the lock type (regardless which one).

A nerdy footnote to follow up on this comment, but yes, with statistics you can isolate one variable (such as lock type) from other variables (such as knife model, steel used, handle material, price, etc). This is known as 'partialing the variance.' A regression algorithm can tell you the effect of one variable as all other variables are held constant, provided you have a sufficiently large sample size. Pretty neat.

I've no idea if Spyderco is using advanced statistics to analyze their sales figures, but they certainly could, and it would inform them of which individual components are driving sales at a particular time.

Wasn’t the Lil’ Native offered as a back lock, comp lock, and slipjoint?

I would think that Lil’ Native sales might give a good indication of the market’s preferences.

Hi Bolster,

Other than accounting figures, sales figures and our "seat of the pants" calls, we do not employ statistics with regards to model design.

Though I will bring up a very astute observation and comment made by Jeff, earlier, that slower Golden back-lock sales could have something to do with the "opening arc" of straight spine models with back-locks. I have always felt this was a good question.

One of the reasons that I wanted to make the Polestar in Golden with a mid back-lock, and a "hump" was
to change the "opening arc". I think that if we make the Polestar 2 family in Golden, with Compression Locks, I will design another model with a hump, handle forward, and a mid back-lock, to make in Golden. Something between 3.0" and 4.0" blade length.

sal

kennethsime wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:40 pm

Wasn’t the Lil’ Native offered as a back lock, comp lock, and slipjoint?

I would think that Lil’ Native sales might give a good indication of the market’s preferences.

Exception enthusiasts do the damndest things, like buy one of each!

sal wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:44 pm

....I think that if we make the Polestar 2 family in Golden, with Compression Locks, I will design another model with a hump, handle forward, and a mid back-lock, to make in Golden. Something between 3.0" and 4.0" blade length.

sal

That sounds great!

I'm carrying the Polestar today and I remembered this thread.

I hope the Polestar 2 is moving along the pipeline in Golden.

I hope the fate of the Jumpers didn’t cause Spyderco to rethink this project.

Between when this thread got started and now there's a Golden produced Tenacious. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the Polestar next to the Tenacious except nicer steel and upscale materials. Does a Golden Polestar actually make sense with the titanium handled Tenacious right next to it?

If you can make the Pole Star in Golden and with a Back Lock at that basic price point, I'd get one.

@mikey177 nice job with the bump. I completely forgot about this as well.

I believe the purpose was two fold- the polestar is a great design that doesn't get much love, and there are few backlocks with a "edge all the way to the handle" design.

I agree that the Ti Tenacious models have mostly closed the gap on the "better built" aspect of Polestar vs Tenacious.

I do still think there is a market gap on "edge all the way to the handle" backlocks- with the demise of the Jumpers, Centofante 3 is really all there is.

I know there are some design differences with ricasso/lockbar interface in the closed position on the Centofante vs other lockbacks that allows it to avoid the Jumper issue with a big handle for a relatively small blade. I've wondered why there aren't more Spyderco's with the Centofante approach.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 12:05 pm

Between when this thread got started and now there's a Golden produced Tenacious. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the Polestar next to the Tenacious except nicer steel and upscale materials. Does a Golden Polestar actually make sense with the titanium handled Tenacious right next to it?

It appears that all the Ti Tenacious models are also made in China like the rest of the series, nothing in Golden that I'm seeing.

As much as I like the Rockjumper the relaxed thumb ramp and in a different lock is of great interest if produced in the future . MG2

Scandi Grind wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:33 pm

It appears that all the Ti Tenacious models are also made in China like the rest of the series, nothing in Golden that I'm seeing.

You're 100% right... did I imagine that those were being built in Golden? So strange.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 5:19 pm

Scandi Grind wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:33 pm

It appears that all the Ti Tenacious models are also made in China like the rest of the series, nothing in Golden that I'm seeing.

You're 100% right... did I imagine that those were being built in Golden? So strange.

Probably the Ti. It was unexpected coming from China. Haven't grabbed one yet but almost certainly will.

The Tenacious G10/M4 is of excellent quality. I'm carrying mine today. The only reason I can see for a Golden-made version would be if they were to do a comp lock variant.

CDEP wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 5:43 pm

Probably the Ti. It was unexpected coming from China. Haven't grabbed one yet but almost certainly will.

Yeah I'm surprised. Spyderco the only company on the planet pairing titanium with 8CrMoV13 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Strange combo, I wonder if it's selling.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 6:16 pm

CDEP wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 21, 2025 5:43 pm

Probably the Ti. It was unexpected coming from China. Haven't grabbed one yet but almost certainly will.

Yeah I'm surprised. Spyderco the only company on the planet pairing titanium with 8CrMoV13 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Strange combo, I wonder if it's selling.

They did the Tenacious in CF a while back, so I assume its sales indicated a Ti variant would sell. Good for people who just want easy steel but with a sexy pair of pants.

Deleted. Already answered by Scandi Grind.

sal

I guess I can provide an update? We made prototypes of the Polestar and Alcyone with mid back-locks and "Handle Forward". Eric thought that the models might sell better with Compression Locks, so we made Prototypes with Compression Locks with the edge to the handle, no handle forward. Then we made prototypes of both models with "Cross Bar Locks".

Currently we're sitting on the protos with all 3 locks as there is no capacity available at this time for any of the models to be made in Golden. So I have to ask, what would be the preferred variation for you?

sal

Wasn’t there some issues with the blade of the Mantra 3 coming too close to the finger when closing the compression lock? Maybe I’m not remembering this correctly, or maybe it was one of those YT tempest in a teapot scandals that try to drive clicks.