Who wants more Chinese-made Spydies? I know I do.

[j3jymann]

Now, I'm not going to lie... I remember when the tenacious was first coming out and there was quite the hubub and people being upset about a spydie being made with byrd chinese steel. I quite agreed with them too, I wasn't too happy about seeing it, not because of the specific knife itself but because I did not want to see spyderco heading in that direction.

I ended up buying a tenacious myself though because I lost my Ocelot and needed a replacement for it and didn't have the money to really spend, I had seen several rave reviews of the tenacious by that point and figured "what the ****, it doesn't cost that much so even if it's crap it's not a huge loss"... and bought it.

My tenacious has performed exceptionally well, I use it HEAVILY almost every single day. I do not believe in abusing my knives and using them as screw drivers, to pry stuff, or anything like that but my knife gets plenty of work. (breaking down entire floors of office furniture cardboard boxes, cutting zip ties, rope, carpet, and still wanting it sharp enough that it can easily pop through the shrink wrap we use to wrap up crates of boxes)
I end up touching up the edge on my knife every 1-3 days but I knew what I was getting into with the blade steel and I kind of enjoy working to keep my blade sharp anyway, it's rather enjoyable and not nearly as laborious as it might be if the blade was ZDP or some other metal with incredible edge holding capabilities that spyderco offers.

So you could say that I'm a convert, I'm quite happy with my tenacious and while I don't own a persistence and am not interested in getting one I think it's a fine blade for spyderco to come out with.

That being said, I DO NOT personally want spyderco to come out with any more chinese made products. I feel that the lower end knives they offer (not only the byrds but the tenacious/persistence line, AND the native) are plenty of cheaper knives. While I do not collect knives myself I will happily purchase higher end knives that I plan to use. I've got a spyderhawk H1 in the mail right now and a Police in G10 is next on my list.

I understand perfectly well that people want to collect knives, have more than one knife on them to use, and all that other hoopla but manufacturing a bunch of cheaper knives to satisfy people that want to collect but don't have the money to really afford it is something I really do not want to see spyderco do.

You already have some good sized medium knives (the tenacious and the native) one smaller end knife (the persistence) and many micro knives (ladybug, honeybee) in the spyderco name brand knives. Not to mention the staple of new users... the endura and the delica. AND then on top of that you have the entire byrd line.

I really like spyderco because (one of many reasons) they have taken very upper end quality knives and manufactured them at a reasonable price. There are way too many knife companies out there that produce $10-$40 crapknives. Let spyderco excel at what they really do well. High end, high quality knives (often working hand in hand with custom knife designers) that Sal somehow manages to make production for very reasonable prices.

[LorenzoL]

nice? Yes. Nicer than its american/japanese/taiwanese counterparts? Not quite.

+1

[Arcitecht]

I really like spyderco because (one of many reasons) they have taken very upper end quality knives and manufactured them at a reasonable price. There are way too many knife companies out there that produce $10-$40 crapknives. Let spyderco excel at what they really do well. High end, high quality knives (often working hand in hand with custom knife designers) that Sal somehow manages to make production for very reasonable prices.
Reply With Quote

I pretty much agree with this. While I love my Tenacious, I would hate to see some of the other models (esp. the higher end collabs and upper-mid range knives) be sacrificed so Spyderco could produce more Chinese blades.

And I think that, as it is, there are plenty of <$75 Spydercos out there. For instance, the Delica, which is only gonna run ya 10-15$ more than a Tenacious, or the Dragonfly, which is even less. Heck, you can even get an uber performer like a Stretch, Manix, etc right around the 75 dollar mark.

[ChapmanPreferred]

It would be my preference for Sal, Eric and the team continue to monitor the market carefully and continue to make sound business choices based on their research. If there need (based on materials requested and cost effectiveness (read strength of the dollar)) to be more models from a certain manufacturing point, no matter where that is in the world, that they will proceed appropriately.

I want Spyderco to thrive and stay around for my grand kids to enjoy. My wee grandbabies will have access to granddad's collection of knives without doubt. However, I want them to get to experience new models that they can introduce to old granddad. :)

[tkdiver1]

Not for me!

[Blerv]

This is for the Spyderco team to decide. I don't want to get into their marketing strategy/political stance nor are they asking.

I think they have a great selection of budget blades from the Byrd line to those they feel are worthy enough to wear a round hole. There are more to come as well (Kiwi slipit). The Grasshopper was just released. They are going to go FFG with many of the Byrds in the future including a VERY cool looking G10 Catbyrd.

I will say the topic of countries and tang stamps should be a topic that we "tread lightly" on. Many people take it extremely personal and ultimately Spyderco is a company with a global selection of makers. There are blades for everyone for any chore and any personal convictions.

Saying things like, "Chinese knives are just as good as anything out of Taiwan" is far from accurate and very brash. It's similar to saying a Manix 2 is just as good as a Sebenza when they aren't even the same classification. Apples to Orangutans.

My thought on the Knife Quality/Price relationship is a funnel. Wide on the top and very narrow on the bottom. While many of the features along the way are the same, and even some of the materials...the work required to push tolerance is exponentially difficult.

The only similarity between pants from WalMart and pants from Nordstrom is that they both have two legs. Both will cover your body so if that is the goal they both are great products. It does not make them the same.


Note: I did draw the comparison between the M2 and Sebbie merely for illustration. Both are amazing knives and the Manix 2 is a world leader in my mind for quality in the "rugged production knife" category. Kudos to the Glesser's and Mr. Reeves and no offense meant.

[chishoik]

I think there is always an absurd degree of snobbyness on this topic... if you disagree with buying goods from China for political reasons, I understand, but a prestigious brand like Spyderco monitors the quality of their products and doesn't allow their name to get tarnished because they market towards a group of people who would not accept a junk knife. Assuming that a Chinese person, who has a far less cushier life than their American counterparts, is going to work less and produce an inferior product by that nature alone is ridiculous and ignorant. Also, you are living in a fantasy world if you think brands that cater towards a clientele willing to part with large portions of their income for a collection of cutlery can keep an identical business model during a recession.

Anyways, is there a smaller version of the Persistence coming out?

[LowTEC]

The reason for a Chinese build, is for a cheaper knife

Spyderco is something special to me. If I wanted cheap I buy a gerber knife at target

Except a chinese made :spyder: is still light years ahead of a gerber in terms quality and performance :D

[SlideTechnik]

I think the product that comes out of China is decent, and I even carry a Tenacious, but I cringe at the thought of spending more of my money on goods produced in China.

If the arrangement wasn't so lopsided, and they weren't laughing uncontrollably at us, I'd probably be more game.

[Blerv]

I personally think any country can generate amazing goods or total crap. We all have the same amount of fingers. :p

Things often don't become more impressive on a 1-for-1 basis with cost. Performance becomes exponentially more expensive as limits are pushed. This is the law of building fast cars as well. :D

There are models for everyone. In an open-forum environment where the company actually listens our voices are empowered (which is a good thing!). Occasionally this can make us a bit snobby or spoiled which I admit to as well.

I won't buy a Tenacious because I don't dig it's design. I will buy a G10 FFG Catbyrd when it comes out! My guess is that it will be a very solid knife. No it won't knock my Manix2 or Superhawk out of rotation. It will be half or 1/5th the price.

Life is about classifying things. Once you put them in categories and philosophies it's not all always about "A vs B" but rather "A for this and B for that"

If it was we would all drive economy cars and be using box cutters/scissors. It's far more efficient.

[araneae]

It would be my preference for Sal, Eric and the team continue to monitor the market carefully and continue to make sound business choices based on their research. If there need (based on materials requested and cost effectiveness (read strength of the dollar)) to be more models from a certain manufacturing point, no matter where that is in the world, that they will proceed appropriately.

Well put.

I have no issues with the Chinese spydies. I wouldn't mind a few more. The Tenacious is truly an awesome deal. My Persistence was in my pocket all day. I do applaud the effort to create some USA made econo-priced models like the FRN UKPK.

[RevDevil]

I'll pass and vote with my dollars. For me the knives in Golden are my favorite, followed by the ones out of Taiwan and Japan. I would much rather save $150> and buy a knife from Golden or Taiwan, than to drop a quick $30 from a PRC knife. Just my opinion nothing more.

[tac]

I've had my Persistence for quite a while now, and have used it a lot at work. I can't get over how GREAT of a knife it is for the cost. I find its finish to be just as good, if not better than other American/Japanese/ or Taiwan made Spydies.

I just ordered a Tenacious.

Do you hope Spyderco makes more Chinese models at the same value prices?
Maybe some new blade shapes?

I am fully aware of the existence of the Byrd knives, but for some reason they just don't cut it for me. The eye-shaped opening hole seems wrong. The quality just feels cheaper. I had a Cara-Cara and Meadowlark, and gave them away.

I've handled the Persistence and Tenacious and they are just RIGHT. No burrs in the Spyder hole. Comfortable in hand. Performing blade-steel. And affordable.

I won't lie I can't always afford to buy knives for $75+ dollars. Not only that, they're good knives to recommend to people who need a good quality, cheap knife who find spending $100+ on a knife ridiculous.

All thoughts are welcome.

Well Soup, it looks like most of the forumites are lining up against you. Seems like if some of these folks had their way, Spyderco would never have made a Tenacious or Persistence at all, at least not in China...and consequently a lot of other folks would never have purchased their first Spyderco knife...possibly including myself.

I have no opinion on whether Spyderco should or should not make more knives in China, basically that's up to the Glesser's. But I'm sure glad they decided to make the Tenacious there. :)

[jabba359]

Well Soup, it looks like most of the forumites are lining up against you.

I wouldn't say most. I went through all the posts and read who said what, took notes, and tried to interpret what they were saying. While the numbers over-simplify what people said (and under what circumstances they would or wouldn't want China-made Spydies), it looks like this (and I'll also count myself as being a "yes"):

Should Spyderco build more knives in China?

Yes: 11
No: 13
Undecided/no opinion/unclear: 8

So a slim majority says "no," but that answer could swing either way depending on if I misinterpreted a post or if the unclear posts indicated one way or the other.

I will mention that many of the "yes" answers (myself included) aren't for going all out and shifting vast quantities of models over to China and I don't imagine that Spyderco would do that. What it seems is that some of us are willing to purchase knives made in China that wouldn't otherwise be available due to manufacturing capacities or costs of Golden/Taiwan/Japan.

While I prefer my knives from Golden, they can only build so many models and designs. If China offers the chance to have, for instance, the Cat and Chicago back, I'd rather have that then no Cat or Chicago at all. In the end, it might be made in China, but the sales still profit Spyderco in the good ol' USA.

[gundude73]

i have one chinese spyderco, honeybee, and the F&F is great, it came razor sharp as my other spydercos have. but i still prefer to buy American, but that is purely personal preference.

[chuck_roxas45]

I'd like more Chinese Spydercos but not at the expense of other models from Golden or Seki City. If the Cat was produced in China, with the same f&f and quality as the Tenacious, I would want one, at least.

[HotSoup]

Good thread.
I hope no one interpreted this as me saying that I want a major shift into Chinese-made economy knives. No. I appreciate all the high-end Spyderco models.

I'd just like to see a couple more models added to the Tenacious/Persistence family that is going to attract new buyers into the company, and give people more options for high-quality beaters/ blades to practice sharpening on etc, etc.

As for ideological opposition to knives made in China, well I won't comment. I personally have no opposition to it.

I think one problem with asking an opinion on a fan-forum is that many here are long-time collectors who invest lots of money into the knives, while Joe Blow in the workshop probably doesn't want or NEED 100+ pocket knives. The bottom line for him is getting something reliable and affordable. Thats always been my problem with selling pocket knives to customers at my store.

1/100 people will be convinced that the $100 Spyderco is a better choice than the $20 Swap-meet China clone with mystery steel. In the end, I make WAY more money from cheap knives than I have anything high-end. Having a $30 Chinese Spydey to compete with the crap out there, is a smart move. I'd also personally feel better if the customer was walking out the store with a Spyderco in their pocket, despite it being an economy-class China doll.

[TrojanDonkey]

No. We need more American jobs.The Tenacious and Persistence are enough.The Byrds are out there if you want cheaper knives.I don't want to see much momentum in Spyderco going chinese-Taiwan and Japan maybeI wish more models were made in Golden,especially during a recession.

[2cha]

No. We need more American jobs.The Tenacious and Persistence are enough.The Byrds are out there if you want cheaper knives.I don't want to see much momentum in Spyderco going chinese-Taiwan and Japan maybeI wish more models were made in Golden,especially during a recession.

Ditto, (though I think I may have responded to this thread earlier), I just went on a diatribe but managed to push delete before send.

I am super pleased that Spyderco has come out with the more affordable UKPK line made here.

[Fred Sanford]

I have no interest in any China made knives. As it is I am trying hard to not buy anything but USA made knives anymore. I'm tired of our economy going to crap because the population just keeps buying crap that is imported. The only way to stop that is to not buy what they import.