Spyderco Forums

I just received a message from DLT Trading in it they say CQI Version and to note that the CQI Version has black hardware.

Just what is the CQI? Does anyone know? Makes it hard to justify buying again with no explanation of improvements other than black hardware. So strange.

Ceramic detent ball, I think.

wrdwrght wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:40 am

Ceramic detent ball, I think.

That's what the description at gpknives says.

Just placed my order at DLT for one.
Got a free DLT GITD patch.

Ceramic Ball Detent was present in the last release prior to this one. What I am wondering is if there is another CQI that has taken place.

I am also quite curious if another CQI change was made and if so, what? Is the black hardware a cosmetic only change or also functional?

AFAIK the ceramic detent ball has been in all the SpydieChefs made since April 2018. viewtopic.php?t=80881

I’ve really no clue as what’s going on here. I’m going to have to try to find one second hand now because that black hardware is hideous.

The black hardware is to make the knife completely rust proof. Functionally its an improvement but I think it looks weird.

I like the looks of the black hardware. Blue or green would have been better, but I'm sure places like St. Nick's Knives, with their anodization skills, will do something that works well with the black hardware. It's too bad USA Made Blade wont have these, their ano is beautiful and at no extra charge.

Liquid Cobra wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2019 9:17 pm

The black hardware is to make the knife completely rust proof. Functionally its an improvement but I think it looks weird.

I like the looks fine, but I'm not a fan of coatings in general because they tend to wear off. Someone else posted that the hardware was Ti, which made the coating harder to understand. But I've now been informed that it's actually stainless. There are users that have experienced corrosion on the hardware, so it can't be Ti. (This may be old news, but I'm late to the party. )

All that said, has anyone sourced a Ti hardware kit for these? I just did a lazy search and didn't see any, but surely they're out there. Some blue anno would look nice.

Bladeswelove on eBay have blue and bronze titanium screws available. I have no personal experience with them, but I've heard good things.

Ah thx @notsurewhy. I've seen their customized spydies in the past.

The 2018 models hardware screws etc.. were titanium. I know I took mine apart to look at the detente ball which was ceramic and the lock-bar discoloration. The tool I used was magnetized and the screws absolutely would not pick up with it. Not sure where this idea of stainless hardware and screws came from an earlier model perhaps?

Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:16 pm

The 2018 models hardware screws etc.. were titanium. I know I took mine apart to look at the detente ball which was ceramic and the lock-bar discoloration. The tool I used was magnetized and the screws absolutely would not pick up with it. Not sure where this idea of stainless hardware and screws came from an earlier model perhaps?

Perhaps. But stainless is also typically not magnetic. I'm not sure that would be the indicator of stainless vs Ti. And the coated hardware would make more sense if it was added for corrosion resistance.

Has anyone from Spyderco stated anything about Ti hardware? I've really not followed this model too closely until recently.

mb1 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:52 pm

stainless is also typically not magnetic.

Austenitic stainless steel (e.g. 300 series) is non-magnetic but ferritic & martensitic (e.g. 400 series), as well as duplex stainless steels are magnetic. Stainless steel fasteners can be found in both 300 and 400 series steels.

I'm totally fine with the black hardware. So much so that i ordered one

mb1 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:52 pm

Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:16 pm

The 2018 models hardware screws etc.. were titanium. I know I took mine apart to look at the detente ball which was ceramic and the lock-bar discoloration. The tool I used was magnetized and the screws absolutely would not pick up with it. Not sure where this idea of stainless hardware and screws came from an earlier model perhaps?

Perhaps. But stainless is also typically not magnetic. I'm not sure that would be the indicator of stainless vs Ti. And the coated hardware would make more sense if it was added for corrosion resistance.

Has anyone from Spyderco stated anything about Ti hardware? I've really not followed this model too closely until recently.

Stainless not typically magnetic? Come now there are plenty of stainless steels that are magnetic willing to bet more are than not.

That being said I have to admit since I sold mine I have no way of testing now and do concede that they very well could have been a non-magnetic form of stainless steel but why would they do that on a rust proof knife and take the trouble to plate the screws and fasteners to have the identical look and feel of titanium?

Sorry this does not add up. If it is indeed the case all I can say is wow.

Well all I can say is WOW! Really?

Found some confirmation you guys are right the hardware was not titanium check this out. Really shocking.

https://youtu.be/w74VenRksTc

murphjd25 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:18 pm

I’ve really no clue as what’s going on here. I’m going to have to try to find one second hand now because that black hardware is hideous.

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one to detest the black screws.
First time I saw it I thought I'd stumbled onto a Ali Express link :-/

@ekastanis Thanks for sharing.

@doeswhateveraspydercan Yeah man. The magnet test for stainless is something I was taught as a kid by my dad. Maybe it was more prevalent decades ago...who knows. I’m old enough now to have learned there are exceptions to most rules. Thus my sig line.