Spyderco Forums

Here's one that you don't see everyday. I thought I would post this one up again since it has been quite a few years since it has seen the light, and I happened to have it with me today.

This is an original two-screw Spyderco Worker. Sal refers to these as the "1st Generation" Workers, and likely this example came from the first run in 1981. It was formerly owned by Paul Beretta (aka "The Deacon") who very kindly sold it to me many years ago now. It remains the centerpiece of my Spyderco collection.

Here is a thread with pics from when Paul owned it: viewtopic.php?t=27059

Nice. That is a really thin knife.

One old 2screw and the recent sprint run in G10.
The G10 really helps.



While we're at it, here's an old price list.

I really love how "raw" and simple these early knives were.

shunsui wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:35 am

Love seeing that 1982 Price list.

The 1001R and 1001L "Clipit" lock back folding knives were the knives that came to be known as the Worker. Back then they were the only knives in the Spyderco lineup so just calling them "Clipits" sufficed.

It feels good to hear this Worker found a good home! I checked also the link to Pauls thread and it was a nice reading and chance to meet all the old members again. Unfortunately many of them are no longer active in the forums ....

@shunsui Thanks so much for posting the old price sheet! I dimly recall paying around $39 but wasn't sure if my memory was correct. Thanks for confirming.

Back then it seemed more people called it the "Clip-it". Here's a pic of my Three-Screw Clip-it which I purchased around the end of 1981 or early 1982. About 1mm of the needle-like tip snapped off when I was doing something stupid. Two decades later Tom Krein re-profiled the edge giving it a new stronger tip. Then about 10 years ago I refinished the knife to make look new again. Ah memories, this is the knife that started it all for me. It's been places :)

Mako109 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:40 am

This is an interesting example. Are both handle scales of the same thickness? As I recall, the earliest (Gen 1) had the two-screw clip and both scales were thin. The Gen 2 knives had one thin scale and a thicker scale on the side with the clip (and I believe it was a 3-screw clip. Gen 3 had two thicker scales and the 3-screw clip. This knife has a three-screw clip, but the markings on the clip are the "U.S. AND FOREIGN PATS."

The CoPilot wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 1:31 pm

Mako109 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:40 am

This is an interesting example. Are both handle scales of the same thickness? As I recall, the earliest (Gen 1) had the two-screw clip and both scales were thin. The Gen 2 knives had one thin scale and a thicker scale on the side with the clip (and I believe it was a 3-screw clip. Gen 3 had two thicker scales and the 3-screw clip. This knife has a three-screw clip, but the markings on the clip are the "U.S. AND FOREIGN PATS."

The clip side on mine is clearly thicker so must be a Gen 2. Hah, learn something new everyday :) The clip is original.

Mako109 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 1:54 pm

The clip side on mine is clearly thicker so must be a Gen 2. Hah, learn something new everyday :) The clip is original.

That makes perfect sense and explains why the clip has the earlier markings. Those workers with the uneven scales (one thin and one thin) are very cool because they show the transition in the design. If I recall correctly, Sal said the move to thicker scales (particularly on the clip side) was to give the clip screws some more "meat" to fasten into. Yours is a beautiful example and the blade reprofiling by Mr. Krein is well-done as usual.

FYI,

Gail and I had to hock our house to cover the cost of the first run of the Clipit knife, which most said would fail in the marketplace. Talk about "risk" We sold our knives along with our Sharpeners at consumer shows and fairs. It was many years before any stores or dealers ( Brick and mortar ) would try our knives in their stores,

sal

these knives are like jazz. i'm definitely not into it, but i'm glad it existed and influenced everything i love now.

Boy oh boy, that’s slim

sal wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:16 pm

FYI,

Gail and I had to hock our house to cover the cost of the first run of the Clipit knife, which most said would fail in the marketplace. Talk about "risk" We sold our knives along with our Sharpeners at consumer shows and fairs. It was many years before any stores or dealers ( Brick and mortar ) would try our knives in their stores,

sal

Sal:

Thank you for sharing that story! You and Gail were very brave to put everything on the line. But you believed in the products and time has proven you right. I know it was pretty dicey for awhile, though, in those early days. There were definitively no guarantees of success, but we are grateful that you gambled!

Regards,
Matt (The Copilot)

Hey Sal:

Do you recall if you ever set up a booth at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln during those early years?

Matt

Exactly! Pure function. I really wish I who back and grab one of these guys.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:46 am

I really love how "raw" and simple these early knives were.

The CoPilot wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 2:03 pm

Mako109 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 1:54 pm

The clip side on mine is clearly thicker so must be a Gen 2. Hah, learn something new everyday :) The clip is original.

That makes perfect sense and explains why the clip has the earlier markings. Those workers with the uneven scales (one thin and one think) are very cool because they show the transition in the design. If I recall correctly, Sal said the move to thicker scales (particularly on the clip side) was to give the clip screws some more "meat" to fasten into. Yours is a beautiful example and the blade reprofiling by Mr. Krein is well-done as usual.

Thank you CoPilot. You've got a real gem too. I'd say it's a keeper

sal wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:16 pm

FYI,

Gail and I had to hock our house to cover the cost of the first run of the Clipit knife, which most said would fail in the marketplace. Talk about "risk" We sold our knives along with our Sharpeners at consumer shows and fairs. It was many years before any stores or dealers ( Brick and mortar ) would try our knives in their stores,

sal

Dear Sal,

Thank you and Gail for hocking your house to make this knife for me. You shouldn't have, but I'm glad you did. I think several hundred thousand of others (at least) are glad too :)

Warm regards,
Mako109

Hi Matt,

We worked the Nebraska State Fair a few times. I remember one year we had a snow storm the day before were to leave for Lincoln. We live in the high country and we get oddball snow storms. I believe it was 1982. I was pulling neighbors out of the snow and lost the prototype to the Mariner model. I came back after the fair and went to the area every day as the snow melted and on the fourth day, I found the Mariner sticking our of the snow.

sal

What a memory, Sal! Great story!

Growing up in Lincoln I often went to the fair. I would have been pretty young in 1982 (7 years old). Wish I could say I had memories of seeing a guy and his wife at the Nebraska State Fair selling sharpeners and knives with a hole in the blade. Sadly, I was probably more interested in the carnival rides or the fish display at that age.

If you and Gail ever find yourselves in Lincoln again in the future I hope you will look me up. I’m the Preservation Architect at the State Capitol building and would love to give you guys a personal “behind the scenes” tour of the building. Consider that a standing invitation.

Matt Hansen
Lincoln, Nebraska