SS Handles on the way out?

[joe58]

Hi - In browsing through the online Spyderco catalog, one thing that stood out to me was the scarcity of models available with stainless handles.

Is this in response to the market wanting the "newer" materials for scales, lighter weight, or what? Just seems there no love for the trademark Spyderco "look". Especially since about every maker out there now has a Spyder hole for opening.

I've always been a fan of the stainless handles and I'm happy that I have several salted away, as it looks as though before too long it seems, there won't be any offerings with stainless handles, or perhaps just one or two like now. I like the slim fit in my pocket and the extra weight seems right to me. I know my knife is there. And they are bulletproof. Hard to explain.

Take care!

Joe

[Blerv]

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/list.ph ... ss%20Steel

Generally heavy and slick handles aren't preferred. I like the thinness they can offer but often that translates into less comfort in hand. There are also a number of Titanium handled knifes which have a somewhat similar look.

[CarbonFiberNut]

to me, the Zytel original Endura will always be the standard-bearer for the Spyderco "look". I never really liked the SS knives, and with so many better options (TI for pure-metal scales, all the great resins and composites...), I am not surprised to see their popularity waning.

[Fresh Eddie Fresh]

The stainless steel handled knives seem like they would be great as presentation pieces, since they can be engraved.

[Jay_Ev]

Hi - In browsing through the online Spyderco catalog, one thing that stood out to me was the scarcity of models available with stainless handles.

Is this in response to the market wanting the "newer" materials for scales, lighter weight, or what? Just seems there no love for the trademark Spyderco "look". Especially since about every maker out there now has a Spyder hole for opening.

I've always been a fan of the stainless handles and I'm happy that I have several salted away, as it looks as though before too long it seems, there won't be any offerings with stainless handles, or perhaps just one or two like now. I like the slim fit in my pocket and the extra weight seems right to me. I know my knife is there. And they are bulletproof. Hard to explain.

Take care!

Joe

With the exception of the Balance, it doesn't seem like Spyderco is designing any new or recent knives with stainless handles as an option. Most of the ones in the link Blerv provided are stainless handled versions of older, or should I say existing designs, not new. So I would agree that it does seem like they are on their way out.

[BAL]

I guess that it is the old preference thing and more people prefer other choices.
I personally don't like the stainless steel handles although I have a few. They are
heavier, scratch easily, and seem to be colder and slicker to handle in the winter.

I think that they look nice and it's true that they can be engraved on, but you can
also do that to a blade. To me, there are other choices that are light and have
more of a grip. Hopefully, there will always be a few around for those that prefer
them, and someone somewhere can probably make an aftermarket SS handle.

[Donut]

I would like to see some textured SS scales.

[[ENFORCER]]

TAGI, MT ATWBGFGAVAL.

Good idea.

[WireEdge Roger]

I agree, Donut. The acid etched scales on the Spin and Cricket were nice.

[CarbonFiberNut]

]TAGI, MT ATWBGFGAVAL.

Are you going to keep acting like this until you are banned, or what?

[JD Spydo]

IN one way I'm sorry to see stainless handles disappear from the Spyderville landscape>> but in other ways maybe it's time for one era to be left behind.

One good thing that I think could result from this would be to see the Harpy brought back in G-10 and Carbon Fiber :cool: But on the other hand I don't think I really want to see stainless handled Spyders completely vanish. The stainless handled, Spyderedged Police model is really the quintescential icon of Spyderco in many ways. It's one of the first models I cut my teeth on.

My very first Spyder ever was a stainless handled GIN-1 Mariner model from 1995. I still like that knife and the Police.

Another stainless model that I loved was the truly unique stainless handled Caly Junior>> it was the only Caly Jr. that was hollow ground and was also available in Spyderedge.

And who will ever forget the stainless handled Cricket that so many people have adored over the years. But in many respects progress moves on. Many materials like G-10 are safer, grip better and look better over years of usage. The market will ultimately dictate what Spyderco does over the long haul.

[JD Spydo]

I would like to see some textured SS scales.

That's an interesting thought Donut :) A few years back at one of the Atlanta BLADE Shows I attended I bought a Spyderco ATS-55 Police model that a guy had filed a gun stock type pattern into the stainless handle and it helped out in the "GRIP" department quite nicely.

If my memory serves me well I think I traded that knife to Dr. Hannibal Lecter during our hayday of trading and I remember he liked it quite a bit. It would be interesting to know what happened to it.

But this guy who filed the stainless Police handle did a superb job on it. Albeit the new generation of G-10 and Carbon Fiber are hard to beat in many respects.

I've often wondered why Spyderco hasn't done something like that to their stainless handles? But if this thread is correct we are more than likely seeing the last of the stainless handles here in the next 2 to 3 years>> It's a likely bet I'm sure.

[Evil D]

If I could get stainless with a fine machined pattern to add grip, I might be more inclined to buy it. Weight is another issue, but not always a bad issue depending on the knife. Some knives just belong in SS, like the Police.

[[ENFORCER]]

Are you going to keep acting like this until you are banned, or what?

Hey, first off, I am not going to get banned here, second, just because I'm not a moderator doesn't mean I can't access the administration/moderation panel.
If you "people" keep trying to harass me because of my style of posting, I will not be very pleased

I've done nothing to any of you, so, it's common courtesy to not poke a sleeping tiger, you know?


Now, to prove to you "people" what I was saying...

TAGI:
That's a Good Idea
MT:
Mill Them
ATWBGFG***:
And That Would Be Good For (getting?).... (something I don't remember)

Haha, I can't even process my own acronyms... :D

[Donut]

I like all the comments about the weight.

So, here's a newbie solution to that problem. Do a layered scale, skeletonized liners like we know with a thin steel scale ontop of it. I'm not sure if they'd have to use exposed hardware to do that, though.

[The Deacon]

Spyderco has always been very responsive to customer preferences so, as a general rule, things only get phased out if there's low demand for them. A major attraction of stainless handles has always been that they provide the best canvas for engraving. Perhaps there's less interest in that, and thus in stainless handled knives. With collaboration models, the preferences of the designer also come into play. Still, IMHO, Spyderco still offers a fair number of knives with stainless handles.

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

I quite like SS handles. I'd like to see more...

[Evil D]

]Hey, first off, I am not going to get banned here, second, just because I'm not a moderator doesn't mean I can't access the administration/moderation panel.
If you "people" keep trying to harass me because of my style of posting, I will not be very pleased

I've done nothing to any of you, so, it's common courtesy to not poke a sleeping tiger, you know?


Now, to prove to you "people" what I was saying...

TAGI:
That's a Good Idea
MT:
Mill Them
ATWBGFG***:
And That Would Be Good For (getting?).... (something I don't remember)

Haha, I can't even process my own acronyms... :D

Aaaaand you're out. Good game. I love the part about "I'm not gonna get banned here" LOL.

[LC Kid]

Hi Folks!


Between my oldest Spyderco models I have a Delica and an Endura, both in Smooth Stainless Steel finish, and both of them really loved and had a lot of pocket time.

But since the new materials made it through the market you just can't deny the advantages in lightness, strength and durability.

And being quite objective, my old SS Spydies never ever had a really trustable grip, and that was the clue reason for me to put them back in the drawer.

The only one SS knife that I have bought in the last 10 years was a Kiwi from NGK, hand engraved my Mr. Robert Valade:And the only reason I had to buy it was the engraving :rolleyes:

[v8r]

i think too many people get caught up on if the handle material is grippy or not. I have never had a issue with my SS handle knives being slippery. Most Spyderco SS models have a great handle design that makes them slip resistant. SS handled knives can also be refinished fairly easily to look almost new. Try that with your G10 handled knives.