Kind of an odd question Allen, considering that 1989, the year before Spyderco's first US built model was introduced was the last time all Spyderco's models were produced in a single country.
Bolstermanic wrote:I'm an old guy, too, into knives since before time, and I don't recall anybody saying that. The Japanese were always regarded as having a long tradition of excellence in swords and edged weapons.
I think you're arguing that the Chinese have the potential to make top quality knives. OK, no argument there, ANY nation has the potential, but I'm more interested in the "here and now" and proven track records of quality.
Well, you could argue it already has been. The Tenacious uses a linerlock (the least expensive type of lock, with an inconsistent reputation overall) and 8Cr13MoV steel (a lower graded steel in Spyderco's current lineup) and posters to this thread have already commented that the Tenacious has lower fit and finish overall. The Tenacious was designed to be inexpensive, and competitive with other inexpensive knives; Sal himself says as much. When you design for low cost, more compromises are inevitable.
Again, if Chinese-made is top quality, why isn't Spyderco using China to make its best, most expensive knives?
My recollection is more like Shike's. Sure, there was an acknowledgment that "in the old days" the Japanese made some darn fine swords. But the general consensus was that anything and everything coming out of post war Japan was crap.
As for the liner lock, you may be right, but consider some of the highly regarded Spyderco knives, past and present, that use it - the three Terzuolas, the Swiss made CF Walker, and the Military, to name a few.
As for the rest, I look at the Tenacious as an attempt by Spyderco to break into a segment of the market that it now does not have a share of. A product "good enough" to wear the Spyderco name, rather than being consigned to the Byrd line, yet priced inexpensively enough and available in large enough quantity to be attractive to the large chain stores. Since volume production
requires a steady and plentiful supply of steel and 8Cr13MoV is the best that's locally available, it was the obvious choice for the Tenacious. I hope it works for them. If it does, it will provide a steady income stream, have minimal impact on the sale of the rest of Spyderco's models, and create even more name recognition for the brand.
Have to wonder if there is still anyone too naive to realize that, if it's under five years old, a fair percentage of their Toyota, Nikon, Sony, Yamaha, or other Japanese brand item was actually made in China?
:) 
