Spyderco Forums

My fault for posting this here and at bladeforums, yet I am just attempting to ask Mr. Glesser if he would PLEASE let me convince him that the public and I would love to see a STAINLESS steel Civilian. Or am I the only one??

Although a SS Civ. would be pretty, it would suck at what it does best, defend. It would be more difficult to hold onto a SS handle after getting blood all over it then the carbon fiber or G-10. When your life is on the line, you want to be sure that you have the upper hand in the fight and ss might not make you feel that way. My 2 cents.

Although it would look good, the Civilian is already pretty heavy with it's solid steel back spacers and full length liner. My guess is that it would be too heavy if it was all SS.

Wouldn't mind seeing one to be sure tho <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

hmmm i personally really like stainless handles, the civilian is a "law enforcement backup weapon" G-10 is ideal for this purpose, especially serrated. but i would hazard a guess that most civilians are part of collections like mine, so it doesn't matter if its slippy when bloody as it won't (touch wood) be used for that purpose, i say great idea, i'd buy one in a flash
mat

Ruxton -- am not sure how much in the way of surveying of customers Spyderco does, but it is my guess that they anticipate that the majority of the knives they sell are going to be used as utility tools, or niche/task specific tools. From my perspective, all Spydercos are user oriented. If am correct, then Toolin and Yog are probably very correct in what they say.

The only use for the Civilian, of which I'm aware, is self defense/fighting. A weapon that one can't hold onto has to be one of the more useless things I can imagine. Think how it would be to die, all PO'd that your knife slipped from your grip. Terrible thought to take into eternity.

I think that if Spyderco would put out an SS handle that was checkered or knurled, it might be an entirely different story. Remember, at first Spyderco didn't want "regular" folks to have the Civilian, simply because it is so weapon oriented. A significant part of it's price, if I recall correctly.

Stare

tell you what
if they make a stainless CIVILIAN, I promise I wont splatter blood on it-

Im gettin my 2nd G10 Civie 2morrow, 1 for carry 1 for collection.
Anyways Im a big fan of SS (love anything shiney <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> )
I rather like the old version of the Civie with the metal handle with kraton inserts.
The Civie is quite a heavy beast compared to its baby brother the Matriarch (which I lovvvvveeee) but I would be interested in finding out just how much hevier a SS version would be with kraton or some form of grips put in.

Seeya
MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

I have one serrated and one plain edge of each Civilian, G-10 and CF. I would love to see a SS Civilian, It'd be a good excuse to own two more. I agree however that a SS Civie would be a knife to be collected and not used, unles of course all you wanted to do was scare the **** out of somebody.

Truce

hmm stare, agree totally it would suck at defence i'm gonna start a thread on how many people use the civilian for its real purpose and how many just stick it in a draw or a glass cabinate(as opposed to someones jugular), it would solve the problem it they did it as a limeted edition like the CF, except more so, say 200, infact on the chance they do RESERVE ME A COPY PLEASE SAL!!!
Mat

Edited by - ruxton on 8/26/2001 4:07:47 PM

Ss civvy? What a great idea.If the ss handle is good for the Police and for the Provenator - and it's good- it'll do the job for the civilian. Especially with a Kraton inlay on one side. I'd buy one. That'd be a perfect companion for my ss. Police pe in my colection and in my pocket as well. Thanks. Hey, Sal: Do it.

Stainless Steel civilian? **** yeah! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
While the civilian is designed for self-defense use, you must admit it would look really cool.
Now, how many have a civilian for collectors purposes (Carbon Fiber, Aluminum?)along with one for self-defense?
So, although i would be too slippy or defense ue, it would be pretty cool. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> ****, maybe you could even add the Kraton inserts for grip if you do want to use it for it's intended purposes.

An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind

Hi Fossilhunter. I really do appreciate the request and all of the support, but a SS Civvie is really not likely. Certainly not in the near future.

The knife would have to have useful grip or it would just be a collector piece. We generally try to avoid a lot of collector only pieces. We made the CF Civvie for collectors, but that was more exception than rule.

The knife would be very heavy. Adding kraton means thicker steel which means even heavier.

Also, we really don't like making a lot of Civvies. They have their specific purpose, but we don't promote them. We don't want to "flood" the market with them.

In another year or so, we'll upgrade the Civvie. We'll make it lighter, stronger, more grip and as reliable as possible.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

sal