Custom Collaborations - where are they?

[Jimbo]

Hello all. I browse these forums occasionally, though post rarely. So please be patient with my mild frustration with the current crop of Spydies.



I love the look and quality of Spyderco knives and own several, but only of a few models, all Custom Collaborations. I own several each of the full size Wegner, the Terzuola Starmate, the Peter Herbst, the original Chinook and the Bob Lum Chinese Folder. The Herbst is my EDC though I REALLY, REALLY WISH there was something like the Wegner Jr. offered for an EDC. That woudl be my Ideal!



I've been looking for a Wegner Jr. about forever but simply don’t want to pay the hundreds of dollars they are commanding, and then use it for an EDC. Almost the same can be said of the baby Starmate. Someday I have to get each of these, but the price makes it a tought sell. I wouldn’t mind a Tanto folder, either. All 8 of these knives are rarely seen for sale on Ebay or other sites, let alone for reasonable prices. And I think there is a reason: because they have always been EXTREMELY popular Spydies.



So, does Spyderco have any plans for any Custom Collaborations along these lines? I confess I am disappointed that no currently produced Spydies really tickle my fancy or MAKE me HAVE TO have it.



I am sure Spydies are selling like hotcakes. Maybe I’m the only one who isn’t interested in any of the current model offerings. Maybe I am the only one who is frustrated with the perception that Spyderco is over-emphasizing overly small knives? Where are the cool knives with 3” and 4” blades. Not knocking the Military, Police, Native or Delica, but they don’t do it for me like the Wegner and Starmate.



I would love to pick up several new Spydies but I look through the products on the website and I just don’t see anything I would want to buy, let alone take free. I don't mean this to be rude so much as that there is nothing in the Spyderco line-up that makes me HAVE to have it likek my Wegner, Starmate and Lum. I guess I just am not the Salsa/Cricket/Ladybug type.



FWIW, all I have bought lately is the Bill Moran drop point (which is a VERY nice knife) but I’d like some knew EDC folders!)



Are there any Custom Collaborations that I can look forward to buying in the future?



Jimbo

[samosaurus]

Hi! Welcome aboard! How about some in-house designs? There are some new and exciting projects like the Kopa and new Navigator.. The closest I could pin-point for a Wegner Jr is the Pro-grip and Pro-grip Ltwt.. They are fine knives for daily usage! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have knives will travel...

[dialex]

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here.
I am sorry that the current custom collaborations don't appeal to you. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
There are a few collaboration that resisted through the years, and are still being produced (like the James Keating's Chinook or Bram Frank's Gunting). There are others who were reintroduced in a limited run (like the currently available Wayne Goddard lightweight).
Others had to be discontinued in order to make room for other models. Many of us like older models too and the Starmate and Wegner are all time favorites. Yet Spyderco is an innovative company. The beautiful Starmate is now obsolete and - let's face it - it doesn't perform as well as other similar new / updated Spydies (think Military). <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Tim Wegner has his own company now (Bladetech) and you can get there the new and improved Wegner in S30V. With a pear shaped hole instead of the round one, but since you are not quite a Spyderco addict, this shouldn't bother you that much.
I can understand that Spyderco's current offer doesn't hit your spot. From the very beginning they made ugly yet superbly functional knives. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>

[Carlos]

Custom collabs have been dialed back soem at Spyderco. Their model life is shorter, because knife knuts are the primary buyers. So a new custom collab sells well in an intial burst, but typically sales quickly die down. Inhouse designs have more stable, sustainable sales. A small company like Spyderco can't afford to have lots of stock on their shelves. Too often I think, custom collabs have had to be dis'oed and cleared because of sales sliding.

In being more conservative with them, Looks like some of the more exotic custom colabs may only be made in single runs. If you like 'em, get em while they're here.

Lots of new models coming in will always mean lots of older ones going out.

[RAT 54]

Its funny the Spyderco knives that I love the most are the “normal” run of the mill production knives Delica, Endura, Rescue, Ladybug and the Civilian. Funny the all were first made in the same year…..

I guess what I’m saying is that there are lots of different tastes out there. Some knives will appeal to some people some will not. At the end of the day you can’t make everyone happy all the time.

The other thing that strikes me is that if you could still every knife new form Spyderco, then there would not be a heck of a lot of point in collecting them. They would just not be that special. I guess that is a least part of the point of the Custom Collaborations; something a little special and little limited.

Any way just my five cents worth on how I think it works. If I’m wrong about the reason for the customs (or anything else) could someone wiser put me straight? Cheers.


Ian

[samosaurus]

Well, you can't please them all can you? Some custom-collaborations rock! Take the Moran for instance! This little Fixed blade RULES! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Its sexy, got mass appeal and really performs.. Personally, I think Spyderco had scored big on some of their in-house design like the fabulous Calypso, Endura, Military, ATR and DoDo! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have knives will travel...

[J Smith]

I have been wishing for more mid to large size users.Seems for the last couple years most of the models have been way out there and really don't catch my interest.
I hope there is more but 2 I am looking forward to is the C13 Stretch and the Manix(basically a Chinook with a drop point blade).
Please do more in the traditional Spyderco lines with the great fit and finnish with more natural scales and more G10 in earth tone colors.

<img src=http://techhelpers.net/e4u/drink/trink36.gif

[Jurphaas]

Hi Jimbo - welcome to this Forum. you will like it here and there is a lot to learn about Spyderco. The problem you draw is realistic. Carlos tells you exactly how it is. Only the very earliest of collaboration models have been more or less succesful. Most of them have not only dissapointed Spyderco but also the collaborating custom maker. Sal got to the conclusion that In-house designs sell much better and can compete in the market for a longer period of time.
In more than one previous post I've stated that it seems that only when models run out , the public gets interested. Now remember that all over the world there is one economic rule that everyone goes by it says; High demand and little or no availability dictate rapid apreciation. It's just a very competitive market.
Either you're willing to invest or you go empty! Not using an expensive knife for EDC??? What about your car? Except from a house the most valuable inverstment for people, don't you use it?
Collect what apeals to you and live with it.
Cheers!

Clipits work!

[haji]

All my EDC's are expensive. I don't carry a knife to work that's worth less than $150. There are some cool protoypes in the works; I spent a long time with Ed Schemp at the SHOT show (thanks again for time, Mr. Schemp!), and we talked at length about things that might come to fruition. If you don't like what's there this year-although I can't see not digging the Persian-just wait a bit. There's a lot on the way.

[Shards of Narsil]

Hi Jimbo,

I love hunting knives and so The Wegner is a holy grail to me as well. Having recently got a new Goddard, I also found myself wondering in my heart of hearts 'What are the chances of a grey Goddard Jr...?'

Old Spyderco custom collaborations do seem to have something special about them, but the fact is the makers move, new knife knuts don't always know who the old greats are and that together makes it hard to get a remake going, much less sell more than one sprint run to the general public.

To Spyderco's credit, we've got back the Calypso Jr. and the Spur (in-house but you get the picture) plus the Goddard. Some of us are still holding out for a Starmate but basically, Sal's sympathy aside, it has to make business sense.

I agree with Jurphaas: You don't know what you got till its gone. Me personally, I think the public gets interested because knife knuts complain that this or that great knife is gone. Means that there is some point to our complaining, so there's hope <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[HoB]

I think both of the "in house" Sal and Eric Glesser designs are outstanding. Aside from that, maybe the upcoming Manix and Bison will satisfy some of the demand for bigger knives.

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the useful information. Just blowing off steam against the realities of the world. Oh, well.

On the lighter side, I've got enought of my Favorite Spydies to last a lifetime and then some! :-)

I'm a patient man. Spyderco will come up with something new I love, and I'll buy a half-dozen of them.

[samosaurus]

Way to go dude! There a saying that goes : "All good things goes to he who waits.."

Sam

have knives will travel...

[Shards of Narsil]

You like big old school drop-points? How about a 3 5/8" blade in a 8 3/4" overall package like the new grey FRN Wayne Goddard Lightweight?

Get one at a decent price of under $50 and you might help a Goddard Jr. see the light of day <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>