Idea Submission for a new Spyderco design

JTCasimir · #1

I have an idea for a new Spyderco design.

I have done some searching on the Spyderco forums for pertinent threads, but I didn't find any so far.

Have any of the other forum members submitted design ideas?

Do you think it would be best to contact Spyderco directly with a design?

Any help would be appreciated.

rycen · #2

Yes and yes.

WalzAaronFFG · #3

If I remember reading correctly, the Spyerco Junior that is coming out is a forum member's design. Dylex is his name I believe.

dgulbra · #4

Its actually dialex, and I believe he has designed a few

razorsharp · #5

hmm I must send in some of my designs, I spend ages refining ergonomics and making, imo, appealing deigns :rolleyes:

Stefan Roth · #6

I send one in, it was turned down.

chuck_roxas45 · #7

I'm thinking that there are only a few designs that Spyderco decides to make that are submitted by our regular forum members. Dialex has his own site and has a lot of great designs. Other than renowned knife makers, Dialex's designs(adventura and now junior, IIRC) have been the only designs produced from a regular forum member's designs.

But you never know, so I think the "there's no harm in trying" rule applies.

The Deacon · #8

chuck_roxas45 wrote:I'm thinking that there are only a few designs that Spyderco decides to make that are submitted by our regular forum members. Dialex has his own site and has a lot of great designs. Other than renowned knife makers, Dialex's designs(adventura and now junior, IIRC) have been the only designs produced from a regular forum member's designs.

But you never know, so I think the "there's no harm in trying" rule applies.

There was also the Lava designed by Chad Los Baños (aka Daywalker).

But you're right about there being no harm in trying.

chuck_roxas45 · #9

The Deacon wrote:There was also the Lava designed by Chad Los Baños (aka Daywalker).

But you're right about there being no harm in trying.

Oh, my bad. I plumb forgot about daywalker's lava.

RIOT · #10

My idea is the Delica killer, its a Delica handle with a jester styled blade. To me it would be the ultimate Jelica or the bigger one could be the Jendura LMAO

Even though Im laughing because of the name I really think it could take over the Delica and Endura!

razorsharp · #11

I know mine likely would be turned down, but if i sent in all my sketches, rendered drawings, models and maybe one model made of solid perspex or acrylic (not metal as i don't have a linisher)that shows off ergonomics, then there could be a (distant) chance. Im a bit of a graphics artist as a hobby , ind imo, my designs fit like a glove. :p

razorsharp · #12

RIOT wrote:My idea is the Delica killer, its a Delica handle with a jester styled blade. To me it would be the ultimate Jelica or the bigger one could be the Jendura LMAO

Even though Im laughing because of the name I really think it could take over the Delica and Endura!

I upsized a pic of a jester blade, scaled the blade length to 2 15/16" and put it on a d4 handle when you came up with the idea on a thread a few days ago, made a foam model,but using it with your forefinger on the back of the blade doesnt feel right, but I refined the blade shape and it was nice :D jestica?? :rolleyes:
jestura??
jest(r)IOT :p

RIOT · #13

razorsharp wrote:I upsized a pic of a jester blade, scaled the blade length to 2 15/16" and put it on a d4 handle when you came up with the idea on a thread a few days ago, made a foam model,but using it with your forefinger on the back of the blade doesnt feel right, but I refined the blade shape and it was nice :D jestica?? :rolleyes:
jestura??
jest(r)IOT :p

lets see some pics, im not all that fancy with photoshop, but i would really love to see what the Jelica would look like.

I do however understand that the Jester blade might not line up perfectly with the human hand but still I want to see it. I guess im in denial about the whole thing to tell you the truth, I think it will work.

Its got the same belly of the Delica with a curved inward spine on the top plus jimping, how could it not work?

all in all someone with some decent skills could recreate the design with shaving down some of the regular D4 blade and adding jimping to the tip. WISH I had skills!

WalzAaronFFG · #14

dgulbra wrote:Its actually dialex, and I believe he has designed a few

what he^ said. My bad Dialex.... i'm still new here

BAL · #15

I had an idea for two Yojimbo's duct taped together. If would be called the Yo-Yo and you could throw it and it would come back to you.

kens73 · #16

BAL wrote:I had an idea for two Yojimbo's duct taped together. If would be called the Yo-Yo and you could throw it and it would come back to you.

That's great comedy! LMAO :D

#17

Interesting thread. The concept of submitting ideas for knives is varied. We usually get 2 -3 submissions per week.

I guess there are 4 types of submissions;

#1 is where the person posts drawings of their idea on a public forum. this is the least effective. Once the idea is shown in the public domain, it limits what can be done. Patentability is limited. The design is now public so any "newness" is gone. Our competitors now can see the design. Also copycats can get a good look at the idea. We usually avoid designs in category #1.

#2 is where someone sends an "idea" to us. Usually done with words or a sketch. eg: "Put a tanto blade on an Endura", or a sketch of their idea. Unless the idea is exceptional, or patentable, we usually don't do much with those because we have to do all of the design, model-making prototyping engineering, etc. There are only a few of us in R&D/design and time is limited. If we're going to do all of the work on a design, we might as well work with one of our own.

#3 is where the person has done a lot of work on refining and developing the design., they've made cardboard or plastic models and they know the knife will actually fold and the blade will fit into the handle. They know the ergos are at least close. They've fitted locks so they know it will fit into the model and they submitted farily accurate drawings to size and shape, thickness, sizes, etc. Examples of this type of submission would be from Dialex and Jason Breeden. They obviously put a lot of thought and work into the design before we see it.

#4 is a working knife model that is made by a custom knife maker or the designer has hired a custom knife maker to make the actual model. This is best as we can show the piece at shows and meets and get feedback from customers. This is generally how we determine if there is a market for a collaboration design (or even one of our own). We usually show these at SHOT Show, IWA show, Blade Magazine show, the Eugene knife show, The USN show and the meets tht we do.

Often we will work with the maker to refine some area of the design that we feel needs more attention. the makers will usually cooperate and make those changes. Most of our collaborations designs come from category #4.

Hope that helps.,

sal

SQSAR · #18

Great insights. Thanks Sal.

chuck_roxas45 · #19

That's the word from the man, himself. Thanks Sal. I guess I have to send in my prototype then.

Kidding. :D

razorsharp · #20

hmm, Might have to get a linisher and get a nice slab of 440c or something to make a working knife, Im all about the ergos, whose gonna use it if it aint comfortable :rolleyes: