Why so Few Spyderedged Outdoor Fixed Blades

[JD Spydo]

I've owned the two FB-05 Temperance 1 models I brag about a lot for well over 4 years now and every time I use them I love them even more. Just got another PE version from a great Spyder brother recently that's seeing a lot of kitchen detail :) To tell you the truth I actually miss that model of the Temperance not being in the line up. Because I like it considerably more than I do the FB-01/02 Moran model and that's saying a lot because I think highly of that Moran outdoor fixed blade also.

OK with that being said I still have an issue that truly needs to at least be talked about. Many people here in Spyderville don't realize it but the FB-05 Temperance 1 model is one of the very few OUTDOOR FIXED BLADE Spyders you could get ( or at least you could at one time) with a full Spyderedged blade. I just realized today when I was touching up my SE version of my TEmp 1 model it sort of dawned on me that Spyderco didn't really make a lot of outdoor fixed blades in Spyderedge :confused: .

That perplexes me greatly because the more I use my FB-05 TEMP 1 SE the more I really appreciate a fixed blade SE outdoor model. OK I do realize that many of the kitchen spyders are fully serrated SE fixed blades but it's just not the same as having a bull of a knife like the TEMP 1 with a Spyderedge. I got out my old Spyderco catalogs and couldn't hardly believe that they don't even offer the Moran or any of the other past great outdoor fixed blade Spyder models in SE

What really makes me confused is that you can't even get the new Temperance 2 in SE ( at least as of now anyway) :confused: Not even on a special order basis :confused: I now wish I had not traded away the other Temp 1 SE models I use to own because I had a few of them at one time I got in trades. But my urgent question is this>>> Why isn't there more Spyderco outdoor fixed blades offered in SE? Because after all Spyderco is truly the king of serrated blades. I can only imagine what a Temp 2 would be like with a full Spyderedge. They would have to change the name of the model to the NILE CROCIDILE :cool: This truly makes me curious as to why????

[bohica1998]

What about the Jumpmaster? I realize that it's only one example, but it IS an SE fixed blade.

[yablanowitz]

Were I to hazard a guess, it could be summed up in two words: low demand. It's just my observation, but knife people seem to view "outdoor knives" in three catagories. Those are Axe Replacements (big choppers), Baton Fodder (pretty much everything too short or light to chop effectively) and Skinners. Serrated edges don't fit well in any of those catagories. While I agree that a full serrated Temp II would be the next best thing to a chainsaw, I'd hate to see Sal stuck with 580 of a 600 piece run.

The outdoorsy folks always seem to want a knife they can sharpen on a flat river rock if they have to. Never mind that 999 out a thousand never will, nor would they need to if they picked edge holding over ease of sharpening, but it doesn't sound as "mountain man" to them, so it isn't happening.

[JD Spydo]

What about the Jumpmaster? I realize that it's only one example, but it IS an SE fixed blade.

Yeah you're right about that one. It is a full SE blade. However it's not an outdoor hunting/fishing/camping type knife like the Temperance 1 is. I'm primarily focusing on fixed outdoor blades. And it does surprise me that they haven't at least done just a trial run of maybe about a 100 Moran FB-01/02 fixed blade models in SE just to see how fast they would move.

Well I guess that SE Temp 1 has some collector potential because they sure are getting tough to find. And I''m sure that most (about 90%) of the Temp 1 models got used because they truly were designed to be used hard. And believe me they can take hard use very well.

[JLS]

JD, while I love the old FB05 Temperances myself, you may be overlooking what I see as it's natural successor.

The Aqua Salt is available in PE or SE and while it's not my favored flat grind, it is quite the cutter. Since it's also H1 and FRN handled, it will survive the outdoors just fine. The handle is well contoured and has VERY aggressive traction on it, so it will stay in your hand until you let go. My only gripe about it is the sheath - it's serviceable, but not what I wanted. I made a Kydex replacement for myself and there are many who will do a replacement or supplemental sheath for about $30. All in all, given the street price of $75 or less, it's a fantastic knife. It just lacks some of the style we often look for.

I think yablanowitz nailed the reason - low demand. I will finish the edge on an outdoor knife with a coarse stone and it will slice more aggressively that way. Out of all the Spyderco fixed blades I have, the only other one I'd like to see SE on would be the Moran. I would keep it as a dedicated defensive blade and would probably (and hopefully) never see how effective it would be. That being said, I have either 5 or 6 Morans and would only buy one SE model.

[psychophipps]

I think it can be summed up in a single word, "Maintenance". If I'm out in the trees where "The Sticks" grow, the last thing I need is a knife blade that is a pain in the...err, more troublesome to put a good edge back on. Plain edge knives are king in outdoors circles because they're easy to make, easy to maintain the edge on without needing tools more specialized than a good stream rock, and can serve the duties mentioned above much better than a serrated blade.

[MCM]

Final answer,,,,,,,Not easy to sharpen in the field.

[JD Spydo]

JLS>> I'm very well aware of the Aqua Salt. It's on my GOTTA HAVE list and I will eventually own one ( Lord willing :) ). But I put all of my H-1 Spyders in a completely separate category for the most part. And I love H-1 for it's unique properties. I want to see an H-1 Catcherman. And I'm very optimistic about what's coming down the H-1 Salt SEries pipeline. But with that being said I probably wont use H-1 blades for the brutal cutting chores I'm using the VG-10 TEMP 1 for. And YES I would also love an SE Moran. And I'm wondering why they dont' at least make a sprint run of many of these past fixed blade models IN SE. I guess I'm preaching a GOSPEL that few care to hear And I understand their reticence and their negative perception of Spyderedged blades. Because until I tackled some brutal cutting jobs and seen first hand just how great Spyderco's serrations are I didn't have the zeal then that I have now. Seeing and using made a believer out of me. I guess I'll just resign myself to hunting down some SE TEmp 1 models unless something else emerges.

[Kuolema]

final answer,,,,,,,not easy to sharpen in the field.

+1

[JD Spydo]

Final answer,,,,,,,Not easy to sharpen in the field.

Well it's like my late father used to say "Nothing Of Any Significant Worth Comes Easy". With that being said I've learned to use the Spyderco 701 Profiles in the field and frankly I've sharpened some beat up plain edges that were tougher to sharpen than some Spyderedges that need to be touched up a bit. And you and many other very intelligent people here in Spyderville can learn it too. FRankly I don't spend as much time on SE blades as I do PE blades.

That's why I learned to sharpen Spyderedges because I have a lot of use for them. And No I don't accept that as a FINAL Answer. Because there's a reason that Spyderco does sell so many Spyderedged blades. Because they are worth having and using.

But again I say why wouldn't it be a good idea to make SE blades available on a special order basis if nothing else? I personally would pay an extra $40 or so to have an SE TEMP 2. I'm guessing that's about how much it would cost to make it worth while for Spyderco.

[angusW]

The 701 profile sets were created for outdoor use which can do pe or se. There's really no reason not to have a se fixed blade with you when in the great outdoors. I think people are just not aware of the sharpening options and this creates what yablanowitz said. Low demand.

[Blerv]

The aquasalt se is pro. Stock up at $60 b4 they are gone :)

edit: I just saw the previous recommendation on the Aquasalt. My bad.

[Shanklick]

There is no doubt the original Temperance in SE is one of my favorite knives and is one of the only 2 full SE knives I currently own. I'm still waiting for it to need a sharpening after quite a bit of use now. My Aqua Salt is PE but I have my sights set on a SE version to go with it soon. Like many I mostly like PE but I like the benefit SE provides for certain uses and I'll be adding more in the future. I am with you on wanting to see more of them and especially from Spyderco.

[The Deacon]

JD, as with all other "why don't the make it anymore" issues, the answer here is sales. Just because you like something, or I like something, doesn't mean enough other people share our feeling for Spyderco to continue making it. Our personal idea of "perfection" often prompts others to wonder "why would anyone want something like that". The SE version of the Temperance didn't really give Spyderco much incentive to offer serrated versions of other models. It sold only slightly better than the trainer version. On top of that, a fair percentage of Spyderco's fixed blades have been collaboration models where poor sales caused serrated versions to become virtually non-existent even on folders.

[Doc Pyres]

I think it would be cool if there were a parallel Mule series released in SE. It would be great to see how the performance differs on the steels.

[JD Spydo]

JD, as with all other "why don't the make it anymore" issues, the answer here is sales. Just because you like something, or I like something, doesn't mean enough other people share our feeling for Spyderco to continue making it. Our personal idea of "perfection" often prompts others to wonder "why would anyone want something like that". The SE version of the Temperance didn't really give Spyderco much incentive to offer serrated versions of other models. It sold only slightly better than the trainer version. On top of that, a fair percentage of Spyderco's fixed blades have been collaboration models where poor sales caused serrated versions to become virtually non-existent even on folders.

Yeah You're right about that :) And I will admit that sales will ultimately dictate what's offered and predetermine how many of a certain model will be made available for sale. I guess the underlying message I'm trying to convey in this thread is that for some of us SE fans and there is a substantial number of us who would order SE versions of certain models of Spyders if they were available on a "special order basis".

Also I'm pointing out that I personally took the SE TEmp 1 for granted until I used it on a couple of very demanding cutting jobs. Most people don't appreciate what a blade can do until they are forced to use it in many cases.

Another hidden advantage to this option if it were to ever be available is the potential collector aspect of it. Just think for a minute if they were to have made let's say 150 of the Temp 2 in SE. And let's say that out of that 150 SE Temp 2 models they all got used or lost or stolen except for maybe 20 of them. The collector value down the road could be realy colossal.

Hey it's just an idea to chat about here :) And maybe you and YAB are right. But ultimately all of the TEmp 1 SE models eventually did get sold and they are getting tough to find now a days. Still I am surprised that they don't at least do a few of the Morans in SE. I'm sure with so few SE Outdoor fixed blades on the market that they would get sold in a fairly short time period.

[North61]

The spyderedge is very useful for cutting rough material like cardboard or ropes. I have two small fixed blades that are affixed to my wife and mine life jackets for entanglement use. Serrations are very good for this.

For woods living I would use a fixed blade to do wood working, carving and making utensils from wood, kitchen preparation and cleaning fish and possible game. For this use a plain edge is far more versatile. Watching a plain, scandi-edged knife in the hands of a master like Mors Kochanski shows you just how much work a knife can be made to do. No serrations in a fixed, general purpose outdoor knife for me.