If it says "Japan" or "Taiwan" on the blade...

eyewall · #1

Does that mean it's a different factory than Seki-City or Taichung?

bh49 · #2

Moki, which also located in Seki, marks their knives "Japan". As far as I know, Spyderco has more than one maker in Taiwan. I do not know their location. Of cause, at least one of them in Taichung.

Blerv · #3

Taichung markings from that maker are fairly recent too.

Fred Sanford · #4

Some of the early Sage knives had only Taiwan on the blade. I think that then the factory in Taichung wanted people to know where it was made as they were proud of their work (and they should be). The Taichung factory produces Spyderco's that have a fit and finish that is second to none.

From what I have gathered, Taichung is a beautiful area too.

:spyder:

eyewall · #5

Thanks, it seemed reasonable that adding the city was a way of a maker differentiating themselves from others in the same country. I have a Cat made in Taiwan and had a Chaparral made in Taichung Taiwan and I noticed the feel of blade deployment and locking was almost identical, just a bit stiffer on the Chap. That must be a function of the design more than the maker. I was asking because I'm thinking of getting a Caly 3 CF. I know I don't need to worry about quality with Spyderco but was curious.

Water Bug · #6

If it says, "Japan" or "Taiwan" on a Spyderco blade, it is, from my experience, a very good piece.

FroOchie · #7

David Lowry wrote:Some of the early Sage knives had only Taiwan on the blade. I think that then the factory in Taichung wanted people to know where it was made as they were proud of their work (and they should be). The Taichung factory produces Spyderco's that have a fit and finish that is second to none.

From what I have gathered, Taichung is a beautiful area too.

:spyder:

Here here... these Taichung models are phenomenal.

The Deacon · #8

Spyderco uses multiple makers in both Japan and Taiwan. Most, if not all, of the Japanese models stamped "Japan" have come from Moki. AFAIK, they're almost certainly the only maker currently using that stamp. However, it's impossible to say for certain if they're the only one who ever did since, at one time, Spyderco dealt with half a dozen makers in Japan, a couple of which closed their doors when their owners retired. And, as has been noted, all the knives made in Taiwan were stamped "Taiwan" only up until a couple years ago when the maker responsible for most of the current models made there added "Taichung" to their tang stamp. But, AFAIK, all the models made in Taiwan with the exception of the Salsa, S, Cat, Chicago, and SpydeRench are the work of the Taichung maker, whether stamped Taichung or not.