On the Spot.

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
Just Me
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On the Spot.

#1

Post by Just Me »

Well I received the main collectors SPOT, which is the Micarta handled version in Spyderedge. It is a neat neck knife. It fits nicely in the hand and it feels like it would serve well and not be easily knocked out of one's hand in a scuffle. It would make a good box cutter too.



This knife is near jewelry-like in finish, and the design is top notch.However, when you inspect the skeletonized,inner cut-outs on the handle you hit a wall. The Micarta and the inner faces of the cut-outs are unpolished and actually have a serrated feel thanks to the mannor in which the Micarta was rough machined and left that way. Why on earth did Spyderco Japan leave these surfaces unfinished? Cost? Dang it all anyway. It is an expensive knife already, why not spend another 10-15 minutes and finish it completely and just charge us for the extra labor. The rough edges don't affect form and function, but you can sure feel the roughness and it catches the eye before you feel it. I expected more than half baked on this one.I'll give it a 7 on a 10 scale do to the serrated micarta edges and dull inner handle faces.



End of Rant.

103
Pachucko
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#2

Post by Pachucko »

Does it appear the tip would hang up in a forceful cut?

Are the collector's knives form the production line, or are they pre-production? Maybe yours slipped through the cracks?

Pachucks
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#3

Post by Just Me »

Pachucko,

The tip is not too big at all, so I doubt it. I am happy it has a bit of a plain edged tip, as it comes in handy for normal little tasks. The serrated belly of the blade would do all the work in a forceful cutting task. The belly is very pronounced.

I doub't mine slipped through. I'm betting it was a production shortcut by committee. The outside edges of the Micarta are polished to a gloss. The inside edges are chattered and dull grey/black in color. Fugly shortcut....


Edited by - 103 on 10/28/2002 1:53:49 PM
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#4

Post by Pachucko »

Thanx.

Pachucks
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#5

Post by Cooklane »

Heck, I would just like to find one. None of the websites I shop seem to have heard of the SPOT.
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#6

Post by cmassicotte »

103 - Would it not be worth checking with Spyderco to confirm your hypothesis that that the lack of complete finish is a "design shortcut," whether by committee or not?
I can certainly understand - with out seeing the knife in question - that it would be pretty disappointing to get a knife that was considered ready to ship at 70% ... or even 80%. I have one on order, so I have some personal concern here.
Chuck

There is no right way to do a wrong thing
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#7

Post by Just Me »

cmassicotte,

Chuck-Right?,
Well I had hoped that this forum would serve as just what you proprose; "checking with Spyderco". I'll bet that plenty of Spyderco staffers have read this post. They just have not made comment. My post was not meant to discourage anyone from buying this neck knife. They should, as it is a very functional tool. You gotta love VG-10. However, when it retails for over $100.00 US and fits in the palm of your hand, you'd just assume they would trick it out. I have neck knives from CRT, Junglee, Emerson and Gerber. They did not cost that much and are detailed to a higher degree-and I realize these knives are not made from VG-10. I am very tempted to take file and abrasives to this unfinished zone on the Micarta SPOT. I believe I could personally make it look a lot nicer. It would take me maybe an hour to sort it out. But I won't. If that is the way Sal wants his neck knife to look, then who am I to make it "better"?. If I bought a second one, I would definately detail it. Just for the record,I like this knife.

So; Carlos, Sal, Mike, Joyce, Vince, Joan-can you shed a little light on this nit picking detail please? Am I expecting too much finish detail for $110.00?.

And what does Rico & Java think of their Micarta SPOT?
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#8

Post by knifepunk »

can we maybe get some pics of the spot being held? thanks
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#9

Post by Just Me »

knifepunk,
Trying to digitize my fingerprints eh? Nice try. No Thanks
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java
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#10

Post by java »

RL,

Sorry buddy. I haven't heard from my dealer yet. You can bet I'll make a bee-line to Dallas as soon as word is in though. I'm confused as to why the fine folks in the <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>'s lair haven't responded myself. I would like to think they're checkin' out the stock on the floor and formulating a response. Would be nice if someone said something though. It's also interesting because even the roughly finished folding SPOT at the SOS seemed smooth through out the cut outs. I'll let you know how mine looks as soon as it gets here.

I think Rico's still searching for his Forum Vesuvius. (I'd make a smiley but I know that's a sore subject) Wonder if he ever got that resolved.

BTW - Just for S&Gs, here's a website for anything you could ever want to know about Rock, Paper, Scissors:

http://www.worldrps.com/



"A hole-less knife is a soul-less knife is a whole less knife" Neo-Javanese proverb
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#11

Post by Just Me »

Hi Java,

RC, RL, Sharp1, 103-whatever, what is in a name anyway!

I actually spoke with Joan, in passing, about the Collector's Vesuvius..seems there are some bugs that need to be chased away by the Orkin man prior to releasing these special gadgets to us picky collectors. Probably a back burner issue considering all the other cool knives in work.Big Guess by me. I know nuttin'.

The Micarta lined cut-outs on the VG-10 Spot are not tree chopping rough, but I noticed it within 10 seconds of grasping it. While not trying to make a big deal about it- I am wondering/posting to see if that is the way they are supposed to be purveyed. Diamonds in the rough ain't bad.

So were you born in 51? Just a guess...
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#12

Post by Just Me »

BTT: Carlos, Is your SPOT SPOT-ON?
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java
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#13

Post by java »

RCLhoosiersharp103daddy, <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sorry about the RC. Got ya confused with a Harley rider at work with the RC moniker.

That's interesting about the Forum V. Maybe I can add V 068 to the numer 266 I have now. Mike mentioned the same thing to me about a normal V I purchased. Hope the Orkin dude doesn't dally amidst all the shiny stuff in there. Sal says all things come to those who wait but this IS a bit long on a previously intro'd model.

No word on the SPOT here. If nothing else can it be touched up with light Dremel work??

Smack dab middle-o-the century but close enough all the same. What gave my father-time look away??? Where abouts on the left coast are ye hiding, lad? NoCal is my old stompin' ground - miss the weather and the coastal scenery something fierce.

Gotta run ta lunch now. Chinook just hit me with an e-mail about going to Bandon for the candy and cheese and threw in a bit about a guy catching a 71 lb Salmon on the Rogue. BAM! Kicked my appetite up several notches!!
Back at ya later, 103

‹m› ‹(•¿•<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>› ‹m›






"A hole-less knife is a soul-less knife is a whole less knife" Neo-Javanese proverb

Argh! WTF happened to my emoticon-thingy. Kilroy looks like he's got a cancerous growth secon face growin' outta his face! Ai! Back to the Internet for the Complete ID-ten-T manual.....lessee now....how do you spell HTML???

Edited by - java on 10/30/2002 11:49:29 AM

Edited by - java on 10/30/2002 11:56:44 AM
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Carlos
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#14

Post by Carlos »

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:<hr height=1 noshade>BTT: Carlos, Is your SPOT SPOT-ON? <hr height=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2>

Mine is the same as yours. It is pretty noticeable.
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#15

Post by Just Me »

Thanks Carlos. At least I am not the lone holder of said "Spotty" workmanship. Whew!

Java,
Yes, a dremel, wet or Dry paper, wet sanding and a little file work would do it. But then you'd be changing the "original" and that makes it less collectable, as, of course, you might guess.

The edges of the Micarta actually stick up higher than the inside faces of the steel cut-outs. I guess that is what makes it the most anoying. These rough edges just beg to be honed down flush. But I shall resist.

RE: Your age -Well, I was off by one year. IMHO folks born after 52 usually don't have a grasp on the language; and you do! Sad but true.Something in the sugary cereals about then caused brain fade or something.

Also, you leave little hints in each missive. So I guess your being articulate and having the energy (Java Powered) of a Star Child from the age of Aquarius made it a fairly easy guess. Do you work at TI?

I live in the infamous South Bay Area of So Cal. I would live in the Nor Cal zones if for nothing more than the beauty and intellectual stimuli and advanced culture up there. Only trouble is that they are such poor drivers up there and the freeways such a mess, and the living costs so high that it would not make much sense to make that move. I may not survive all of that. At least in SoCal you can find a groove and hide away in a micro neighborhood and avoid the freeways once you get dialed-in. Hang near the shore and the smog is not a concern.

And Chinook!! Dang him. He was a valley boy who transformed into Northwest Man. Now he lives off the land. One of the few citizens actually required to carry a Spyderco in each pocket by local ordinance...

One of these days I too will escape!!

Got Cow Jokes?
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#16

Post by cmassicotte »

103, java,

Mine won't be a 'collectors" edition so I will probably polish it up when I get it - which will probably be quite some time in the future, as I am just ordering mine from a dealer - well not "just a dealer - GlassHartt - but I would not expect her to get one in for a while.
The funny thing about this is that if I had not read this thread and had received one as described, I would have sent it right in to Warrantee and Repair for polishing.
I wonder - could it be possible that a "batch" got out without the final polish and finish inspection? And I also wonder why we have not heard something from the folks at Spyederco about this.

Chuck

There is no right way to do a wrong thing

Edited by - cmassicotte on 10/30/2002 9:31:34 PM
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#17

Post by Just Me »

Chuck,
They wouldn't send Carlos a unfinished knife . He is an insider. So they must just be like that from the Japan Spyderco Factory. If you were to start whittling away on the cutouts and goofed-then what? It is such an intricate design that you almost need the touch and tricks of a jeweler to finish it off correctly. I am leaving SPOT #103 as is. It functions very well as a neck knife. I have been wearing it all week and it is very unobtrusive. You surely can't notice the rough edges when it is worn inside your shirt.

And I'd bet Linda can get Spyderco items as fast as anyone-maybe faster than most.
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java
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#18

Post by java »

103,

Wow! I honestly don't remember that problem with the SPOT at the SOS show. Called today but our dealer doesn't have Rico's or mine in yet. Good point on the original condition vice collectible value. I'll probably get a couple users from the faire lady myself.

That's interesting you draw the line at '52. I think it's a question of the deterioration of our schools but the Twinkie defense works too. I had some pretty tough taskmasters in my hometown (Morgan Hill) I got beaned with erasers for not paying attention; heard the whistle of the incoming perforated "Board of Education" before it smacked my backside; and wore my right arm out writing quantitatively more but less interesting blackboard comments than Bart Simpson ever will. And then I moved to Oakland and went to a Catholic School. Learning was the only means of self defense against the "penguins". This stuff doesn't fly today. I think somewhere along the way we became too progressive or liberal at parenting and it spilled into the educational arena. Too many Ben Spock babies grew up to question too many things that had worked for too many years. Whoa! Better stop the education rant before it gets too sidetracked here.

Star Child! LOL! Man, the guys at National Semiconductor, that work with me, break out in 5th Dimension choruses about the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius whenever I wax melancholy about the days gone by. That's funny! They also give me the worst time about my driving and if they read your post I'm really gonna take a verbal barrage! Ouch, that'll hurt coming from some the most bizarre drivers I've had the pleasure to share a freeway with! Texas insurance rates are higher than SoCal for a reason but many of the locals blame it on the Left Coast and Yankee influx. Probably right with the growth rate we've got here.

I've been hanging out more than usual here lately and the size of my posts seems be expanding exponentially. Also been causing a ruckus over on the flip side at BF. The Whine and Cheese forum has had me rolling so much my carpet's wearing through. Starting to drift a bit too and that's not a pretty sight to behold. I'm sure S&S is keeping me under strict observation and has a double-aught license to inject at anytime. I'm going to have to drop you a line so we can delve more deeply into things. I've always enjoyed you posts and still marvel at the whole "Now where was I" thread from months back. Whatever became of Hoosierdaddy?? He taunted me and my Gary Fisher Paragon then just skeedaddled outta here.

I'll let you know on the SPOTs whenever they fly in.



Chuck,

The <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>co Silence is seriously sinister! I share your curiosity and your opinion of the faire Lady Glasshartt. She's aces, finer than frog hair, a cut above, and all them other suave and charming things you say about a classy woman. (I didn't say classy dame or none dem udder woids cuz I yem tryin ta make up for the rift what I may have caused over on one a dem udder t'reads).
Keep postin' on and hopefully we'll hear from the <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>co gang soon.



"A hole-less knife is a soul-less knife is a whole less knife" Neo-Javanese proverb
Just Me
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#19

Post by Just Me »

Java,
Guessed wrongly again. Dang! TI/NS. Close though.In your defense, the really scary place to drive, IMHO, is the Orlando area. Blitherin' Bolsters. I cringe at the thought. Nor Cal drivers are sweethearts compared to SoFl.

Are you just being kind to Linda because she could make one quick little call and have a man in blue intercept you leaving the parking lot at lunch? Not that she would, but she could! I just bought some slips from her. Thanks GH. Sal is one the road to NYC and no one is commenting on the SPOT until he gets back? If so, fare enough.

Gotta hit the 405.........
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java
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#20

Post by java »

103,

Sorry to push this back up there but there be daemons afoot today and they seem to be most antisocial.<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

This is but one of the Mailer Daemon responses I got when trying to e-mail ya. 207.115.63.111 does not like recipient.

Drop me a line so's we can hog-tie that there daemon!!
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