Innovative Designs and Usability

[Qboy]

Hi all:

I have collected Spyders for years and I have a healthy collection, including duplicates of a number of knives, including Kris, Chinook, Karambit, Waved Endura, Persian, etc. Spyderco has made a remarkable number of unique but also useful knives over the years--and that is what keeps people coming back. Some ideas don't fly--that is natural (though I did just buy a T-mag for $50).

It has been a while since I have bought any Spydies (the T-mag being the exception) and I can't decide whether this is due to lower functionality, high prices on some of the new blades, or simply that I am getting a bit saturated. The new barong and khukuri don't do much for me, and while I love Howard Viele designs in general, the new Phoenix is at a price point where there is too much competition--even getting towards custom knives.

I must admit that I am not the type to buy a bunch of duplicates simply because they are in a new steel. I love my S30V Para but I am not drawn to buy another in D2.

While I don't use all of my knives, I prefer knives that are very usable--and that varies between people of course. I think that the Yojimbo is simply a truly remarkable knife, unique and good. The Karambit is the same as far as I am concerned. The Persian (big and small) is both beautiful and functional. For a big knife, there is nothing in the world like the Chinook II flat grind IMHO.

Bottom line: the new designs just don't really speak to me. I can't figure out why. I love the innovative spydies, but somehow these new knives just don't grab me. It may be that I have simply hit spydie saturation--and I do have a lot. I never thought this would happen, though. I will buy a P'kal at some point--that is a thoroughly unique design but it is far more narrow in terms of usability than any of the spydercos that I love--so that limits the appeal a bit. I don't think I'm alone here. The P'kal does not seem to have inspired the same following as the Yojimbo...

My suggestions: for what its worth, I have some ideas that I think could reach into new territory. How about a Spyderco Burchtree collaboration? How about a Fred Perrin LaGriffe or Shark collab? I have been EDC'ing a Baby Bear by Alan Folts that is fantastic and unusual and perhaps there is something there?

Cheers,

[spydutch]

I'm in for any collaboration as long as they come in full SpyderEdge as well

[cobrajoe]

I'm with you. I love the interesting designs that come out of the spydie factory, and while I can't try them all, the ones I have are simply amazing even if they are specialized.

I'm also with Arend, We need more teeth!

(or I just need to buy more on my own :D )

[bh49]

It has been a while since I have bought any Spydies (the T-mag being the exception) and I can't decide whether this is due to lower functionality, high prices on some of the new blades, or simply that I am getting a bit saturated.
Cheers,

It can be a few reasons:saturation is one of them, elevated expectation is another. I am up to Spydercos only three years.
The first year I was changing my EDC every couple month, until I found C83 Persian and bought Caly3. These two knives brought my expectations to quite different level, set new standard. Within last two years I bought only two knives out of forty, which satisfied my EDC needs about as much as Persian and Caly3. These were mini Persian and Lum Chinese, which are not new models. But I do not expect Spyderco to produce every years a new knife on the level with Caly3, I believe it took a long time and a lot of feedback to finalize this design. Still, every year I can find few very nice knives.
I also little disappointed with FG on new Schempps, along with 3" cutting edge on 4" Barongs blade, but I cannot wait for new Native4. New for 2008, Sage was not bad at all, excellent fit and finish, beautiful CF, solid lock. Orange UKPK is great. In addition to that new Kopas are keeping me happy as well. :)

[wescobts]

Very interesting Qboy, I can see your point. :cool:

[drf]

I am sort of in the same boat Qboy. I have reached a point in my collection where I really don't want anything I can't use. Although I have only 25-30 spydies they all get carried at one time or another. Well all except my green lum--I just can't bring myself to put it in my pocket. I got rid of my dodo and yojimbo-they just sat in a drawer. I traded away my captain and civilian for other models I would use. I like the new models, but I have enough knives right now.

[The Deacon]

Most of us have fairly specific ideas of what we like and don't like. Some would have Spyderco build infinite variations on the hawkbill theme. Others, infinite varieties of SD folders, or "hard use" folders, or "LBKs", or serrated blades, or whatever. And believe me, I'm as bad as everyone else. As far as EDC is concerned, the only things likely to break into my rotation are - you guessed it - variations on the models I already carry.

So yes, of late there's been little which truly excites me. The multiple variations on the Delica, Endura, and Military leave me cold. The last few Sprint runs have ranged between Ho-hum and WTF?? for me, it's been quite a while since one made me go WOW!!!. As for the new stuff, wrong handed locks seem to be the order of the day. Slip-its leave me cold.

Of the rest, the Police 3 is a great knife, but too big for my pocket and only legal on "my side" of the Hudson. The Kopas are cool, but there's that **** near impossible to remove neatly clip. Might still decide to bug Steve to molest one of the Giraffe Bone ones for me. The Phoenix might have seen pocket time if it had a caged ball, the regular ones just frustrate the living **** out of me.

But all is not lost, I do carry the CF Kiwi once in a while. :D

[mark greenman]

I think spyderco's bread and butter lineup has never been better. D4, E4; The waves, the snag reducing serrations on the new wave's; cammo, D2, s90v millies; g10 police 3; the Caly 3's; The entire salt series, ect. As far as mainstream designs go, Spyderco has never been stronger than it is now.


However, as for those with the more eclectic tastes, its true that many of the discontinued models have a stronger pull than the newer unusual models. I for one am quite fond of my Ayoob's, Manix, FRN crickets, and the ridiculously versatile Yojimbo. On the other hand, I'm still itching to handle the Khurkuri, and will probably snag the Captain and Stretch 2. Not to mention the Voldemort selection of Auto's and Balis :cool:

Overall, I envy your dwindling knife lust, as Spyderco will continue to bleed my gun fund for the foreseeable future.

Mark

[kbuzbee]

It has been a while since I have bought any Spydies (the T-mag being the exception) and I can't decide whether this is due to lower functionality, high prices on some of the new blades, or simply that I am getting a bit saturated. The new barong and khukuri don't do much for me,

High prices but I can't go with lower functionality. To me, this is the best, most diverse, highest quality and most interesting lineup Spyderco has ever offered. More I think is, over time, as we find most of our basic knife needs met and and as our criteria become more refined, fewer and fewer offerings actually scream "Buy me".

and while I love Howard Viele designs in general, the new Phoenix is at a price point where there is too much competition--even getting towards custom knives.

It is high but it is a truly excellent knife. It's "the one". If I could keep only one Spyderco... I have several I use regularly and really enjoy, but if I could only have one....

I must admit that I am not the type to buy a bunch of duplicates simply because they are in a new steel. I love my S30V Para but I am not drawn to buy another in D2.

I go the other way here. I think having the same design in a variety of steels makes comparison of qualities a more linear process. It's why I have three Milies. (and why I like the Mule team project)

While I don't use all of my knives, I prefer knives that are very usable--and that varies between people of course. I think that the Yojimbo is simply a truly remarkable knife, unique and good. The Karambit is the same as far as I am concerned. The Persian (big and small) is both beautiful and functional. For a big knife, there is nothing in the world like the Chinook II flat grind IMHO.

I DO use all my knives. If I have a knife I never use, it will, at some point, be sold or traded. There are several "users" in the current lineup that fit most of my criteria: The Sage, the Caly 3s, the Khurkri and the new Native high among them. And of course, the Phoenix.

My suggestions: for what its worth, I have some ideas that I think could reach into new territory. How about a Spyderco Burchtree collaboration? How about a Fred Perrin LaGriffe or Shark collab? I have been EDC'ing a Baby Bear by Alan Folts that is fantastic and unusual and perhaps there is something there?

Interesting suggestions. I'm always up for seeing new designs and collaborations enter the Spyderco fold.

Most of us have fairly specific ideas of what we like and don't like.

Agree 100%. I can list the 6 traits that qualify a knife I will use. More and more, these are all I will buy.

The Phoenix might have seen pocket time if it had a caged ball, the regular ones just frustrate the living **** out of me.

Really??? I LOVE the open ball design and the one on the Phoenix is spectacular. It will be a long time, I think, before anything "I" own will surpass this design.

But all is not lost, I do carry the CF Kiwi once in a while. :D

Still thinking about one of those...

Ken

[Qboy]

I am glad that Deacon chimed in and I also appreciate that my comments have been taken in the constructive way that they were intended.

On my list of most wanted knives, I would put the plain edge Shabaria...perhaps not so functional but it is beautiful and it does look functional if you wanted to use it. I'd love to find a Spyderco Gunting.

The innovations need not be huge. The waved Endura is one of my favorite fairly recent knives. The steel liners give a perfect weight/strength balance. Also not expensive--but its a classic.

I may not be buying a lot of spydies, but I am also not buying many other knives--I have become very picky. I have actually been impressed with a range of custom/semi-custom neck knives--and have bought a number. The spot is just too long for me (total length), however. I bought a couple of the new Guntings (the LLC from Cherusker). The 5.11 versions of the Tarani Karambits are quite good, too (Tarani would be a great choice for a collab IMHO).

The Poliwog was one of the most innovative knives in a long time and I am glad I have it, thought I never carry it anymore...I probably would if the knife were in G-10 and liners rather than the big hunk of steel.

The Lava is also a brilliant knife in terms of design...all around good..and a special design. That is a knife that does many things well.