Do you value inhouse designs higher than collaboration models?

[archangel]

As we all know, Spyderco has two pillars: Sal's and Eric's designs (honestly I don't know or can't remember right now if there are more inhouse designers), and knives created as collaborations with other designers.

Every now and then, people ask for your favourite few Spyderco knives. I can't say if I always named the same. Though I absolutely love many inhouse designs, I also cherish most if not all of the collab knives I own. To answer my own question: I can't say which group of my Spydies I like more. There are gems in both. I am super happy that Spyderco does both.

Do you have a preference for the inhouse designs?

[archangel]

This thread was meant to be opened in the General Discussion section. D'oh...

Kristi, would you please move it there?

[Josh1973]

I had to vote no. Love Spyderco in house designs. And I take nothing away from Sal and Eric. But their collaborations with Paul Alexander and other designers just opens more doors and possibilities.

As much as I dislike CRKT blade steel choices sometimes. Their collaborations with designers such as Brian Tighe, Ken Onion, And my personal favorite. Kit Carson (RIP). Are the reason I still purchase some of their stuff occasionally.

Without collaborations. the knife world would get boring and stale.

[Mushroom]

I can't say that I have a preference but I've also never really thought of it that way. I don't really base the merit of a design solely on the designer.

I definitely like and appreciate both Sal and Eric's models but the number of designers that Spyderco collaborates with introduces a great level of variety to their catalog that I really enjoy.

My favorite Spyderco knives consist of models from Sal, Eric, and other designers they've collaborated with. In the wise words of Sal, "all good just different."

[archangel]

Push - thanks Kristi for moving this thread!

[TomAiello]

..honestly I don't know or can't remember right now if there are more inhouse designers)

Mike.

https://www.spyderco.com/?s=janich

[SG89]

Eric is the best

[aaronkb]

Love my Glesser knives, but there’s also good reason that knives like the Kapara and Spydiechef are so popular and I’m dying to see what BBB and Spyderco have come up with. I think the in-house deigns are more consistently good (not that “good” is objective), but some of the outside designers bring a lot to the table with some major gems.

[Airlsee]

Sal and Eric are two of my favorite designers for sure. What I love about collaborations though is that it's like a greatest hits, there are countless models submitted to Spyderco that never get mentioned or thought about on the forums, much less see the light of day.

The world is full of great knife designers; collaborations allow Sal and or Eric to choose designs and bring them to us in an exceptional build quality and at a fair price.

TLDR; I voted no. I love many of Sal and Eric's designs and also love that they bring us amazing collaborations.

[archangel]

..honestly I don't know or can't remember right now if there are more inhouse designers)

Mike.

https://www.spyderco.com/?s=janich

Of course!! Stupid me... Thanks for pointing this out!

[Sharp Guy]

Eric is the best

You're just a smitten groupie :rolleyes: :D

[Sharp Guy]

I really like most of the in-house designs I also like a lot of the collaboration models. In fact, each year I look forward to seeing what new collabs are coming

[SG89]

Eric is the best

You're just a smitten groupie :rolleyes: :D

You know you love his designs too!

[Sharp Guy]

Eric is the best

You're just a smitten groupie :rolleyes: :D

You know you love his designs too!

Haha...I'm not ashamed to admit that I do. I thinking about it I think I like the designs of both Glessers equally

[James Y]

Off the top of my head, I own a couple of early collaborations (Tim Wegner Hunter and Jess Horn LWT).

But the Spyderco knives I carry and use the most by a long shot have been, and still are, Sal and/or Eric designs.

Jim

[bearfacedkiller]

I prefer Sal’s designs but they have done some great collabs.

The GB1 and GB2 are exceptional.

The Street Beat is amazing.

The Military is still the best knife Spyderco has made.

[TkoK83Spy]

I like both, Sal/Eric's as well as many of the collabs. I have no problem either way, as long as it appeals to me!

[Evil D]

I'm a little indifferent. It comes down to the design. Some models I do feel are kind of special due to comments I've seen Sal make regarding how he feels about them, but then my own tastes also come into play and to be fair Sal/Eric have also done models I didn't care for at all so I don't automatically love a design because of who designed it.

[benben]

I do value and appreciate Sal, Eric's, and Mike's inhouse designs, and would be perfectly happy with them for all of my knife needs and uses! But I've got to say.....a C49 Tim Wegner Jr. is what brought me here from day one, and if the possibility of a modern version of the C48 full size Wegner were to ever come to life, I'd choose that knife over the highly anticipated Ayoob in a heartbeat, I'd buy three!!

You guys know how it is....you get a certain model that's near and dear to you, it's the Wegner for me, and I really don't like liner locks!

[ladybug93]

i would have to say both. sal and eric have some of my favorite designs, but i love my yojimbo and some other collabs are really speaking to me lately (ikuchi and spydiechef). i just love and appreciate unique and functional designs. i really don't care who comes up with them, but i'm obviously here because of sal and eric.