Spyderco Forums

When I last commented on this project a few months ago, I was waiting for a natural G10 Manix2 prototype before proceeding. Unfortunately, my source for the prototype has gone through a series of unfortunate events and so I'm moving on. First a recap for new forumites:

In a poll a few months back, 2/3 of voters, picked the Manix2 as their preferred choice for the 2010 Forum knife. Natural G10 was leading as the favorite color.

While waiting there have been new events. (1)The FRN Manix2 will come out this year. (2)The Manix2 has already come out in many variations and colors, and there will be more. (3)The uniqueness of the translucent G10 choice for the forum knife is about to be overrun by translucent FRN choices.

My inclination is to take a step back and put up a poll pitting the G10 against the FRN Manix2. If the FRN wins, then there are an infinite number of colors possible.

What are your thoughts?

That would be cool. Maybe we can vote hollow vs. flat ground as well? Steels? My inclination is to make the forum knife as affordable as possible so (if it's a Manix) I see something like:

-FRN
-154cm or 'lower', what about BD-1?
-Flat Ground because the difference in cost between flat ground vs hollow ground is a lot less than the difference in cost different steels will make.
-Some kind of etching, as unobtrusive as possible in my opinion, how about on the clip? Or on the tang?

That should make it <$50, no?

How about an orange FRN Manix 2 with black FFG blade?

I'm all for a more affordable forum knife. I think the FRN Manix 2 is a great choice. For the forum version, I'd like the following:

- Flat ground
- Keep it 154CM or whatever the standard steel is for the final model
- Keep the etching/logo as discrete as possible

I'm not really sure about color. We could keep it the standard translucent blue that Knifecenter detailed to save cost.

Has Sal or anyone else from Spyderco given word that they are open to a 2010 forum knife?

Personally I would want something other than a Manix2 since we have already had the Blue and the Foliage Green runs.

I would love a Military as the Forum Knife. A bit more expensive, but it should be since it is marking a herald in time for 2010.

Maybe a bright blue or purple, or even some sort of sublime Digi-camo. I would love some sort of a webbed design on it.

Natrual G-10 would be distinct.

I agree, I think something other than the manix 2 should be chosen...

There is the regular, blue, green, pink, soon frn, and soon all black.

Oh wow, this train has really gone off the tracks.....
in that case, I think the 2010 Forum knife should be a Solo II since this is an original Sal design. Whats old is new!

I'm afraid I will keep this train off the tracks. Way back when, a Manix 2 sounded like a great choice for the 2010 forum knife but now that I own four of them and plan to buy the DLC version I think another model of knife should be chosen.

I know this will never happen but an orange G-10 handled Tenacious with VG10, S30V or even CTS-XHP would rock. I think if this was made in Golden as opposed to China then it would be a hot item. Even though the Tenacious is one of their cheaper models and made in China, the people who own it really enjoy it. Imagine an upgraded steel to this already great knife.

But if we are going for the Manix 2 then I say natural G-10. You might also want to put in the poll skeletonized liners or not.

Ooh, this is a toughie. I would definitely like a sub $100 knife for my first ever forum knife. The FRN Manix 2 sounds nice, especially if it were FFG and a good color. I second minimal etching in an unobtrusive place. On the blade face would be fine, as long as it weren't too large of a design. I wouldn't really be interested in a normal G-10 Manix 2, as i already own the normal 154CM version, and would only consider the FRN version because of it's lighter weight (especially if it were FFG).

If not the FRN Manix, then maybe a Stretch 2 in a spiffy color. Burgundy or olive drab would be awesome on a Stretch, I think. White would be cool too, then everyone could just dye it whatever color they want, and all the (dyed) forum knives would be unique. :)

Stretch forum knife would be awesome.

they should do the Orange Dodo, seems fitting

Paramilitary 2 gets my vote.

I'm thinking lime green g10 Native 4.instead of a Spideweb pattern, how about a very large Spyderbug etched on the blade. They could put "Spyderco forum knife " in a circular pattern around the bug, and etch 2010 inside the bug.

Wow Sequimite, our brains must be in the same place today. I woke up this morning thinking about how we haven't heard anything about a 2010 Forum Knife and I resolved to start a thread about it. I log on tonight to see that you beat me to it! While I had also been rooting for a Manix 2, I'm starting to get Manix burnout from all the models they're releasing. Maybe the Dodo or G-10 Dragonfly (at the expensive end) or at the cheaper end, the FRN Native 4 (assuming they get it done in time) or Spyderhawk would be good alternatives.

So far in this thread, at least ten models (not to mention various color choices) have been put forth as possible forum knife contenders. I can't imagine that the good folk at Spyderco view forum knife selection time as anything more than an exercise in frustration. :D

With that said, I'll be happy with whatever is chosen. A word of unsolicited advice: if it something that you find appealing, buy it the moment it comes out.

They pick what they want, and we will buy it.
Only one request from me....... S90v.............. :o

I have a lesser chance than all other voters.......

But, I think a Dark Blue S90v Stretch would get the job done. :D

Regarding the Tenacious, Stretch 2 and other non-US knives:

Please keep in mind that the easiest way to make a Forum knife for Spyderco is to alter one of their in-house models (like the last-year's Forum Native was). Japan or even China models would at least require much more lead time (Japan) or maybe isn't even possible at all (China, mass production).

So, the Manix2 is a great choice since it it a) US made, b) pretty inexpensive and c) already made in a few variations, so they know what they can do to it --> FFG, skeletonized, FRN in the pipeline anyways. (@angusW, cool reason to reject the Manix2 as a forum knife by the way...only a little selfish maybe?? )

The Para2 would be nice, too, but I'm afraid sales would be limited due to higher cost. Same applies to the Military; we've been there before (Forum Millie 2000)...

Going way above $100 would be an exclusion criterion for lots of forumites, I'm afraid. We don't want that; what we (hopefully) want, is a knife that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to produce AND to buy, so that a) Spyderco can take the risk of making enough of them to satisfy ALL of us this time (if they even want to after all the fuss last year) and b) enough of us can afford it. And all that for a knife that is still high-quality, robust, cool and EDCable.

Although the Manix2 isn't beyond my favourite Spydies per se, I think it is a GREAT choice for a forum knife, and I would buy one :)

If FRN is a good idea depends on the development status of it. If it's close to release (molds are done etc.), it could be realistic. Maybe we could get an exclusive "first run" of them in a color that will be changed for the (later!) regular production. This and FFG would make it really special!

But perhaps we should try to get Sal or Taz to confirm they are really willing to go through all the hassle again before we get carried away...

Sorry for the long rant :o

Dennis

I'd go for a FFG clear FRN version!

Your right......

They will still surprise us in the end though.........

Didn't know forum-knives existed until yesterday so I'm really excited about the idea! :D I agree that the knife should be an inclusive as possible so a low price is essential - also the lower the price, the more Sal will sell, so whatever gets chosen becomes a more viable/profitable idea.

As for steel - Carpenter-BD1 seems affordable (it will replace GIN1 on the FRN UKPK) and it's American and ... and ... it's the thing of the moment! As for grind, I'm wit hthe majority here in wanting FFG - if it's going to be a locker I can't EDC it so it's going to have to do a lot of slicing in the kitchen! :D But *please* no black blades - they are a love-it or hate-it thing and it will stop a lot of people buying.

Scales can be FRN or natural G10 ... but let's have something with a really nice jazzy colour (radioactive green, scarlet, or even transparent) - something that makes people look at it and go 'hey whats that?'

As for the model - I would prefer a UKPK because then virtually anyone in the world can EDC it and enjoy it - rather than it becoming a sad drawer queen. If it has to lock to be bought by US forumites then I the Manix would be great (I don't have one yet) or how about ressurecting the Chicago or Cat designs?

:)