Mystery Spyderco sighting

[StuntZombie]

I was thumbing through the Hale Groves Christmas catalog when I came across this picture:



It sort of looked like a Worker at first, with that swedge, but it doesn't appear to have the characteristic hump on the blade. I thought it was still a pretty cool, if a bit random, Spyderco sighting.

[dan31]

Schempp Bowie, folder?

[StuntZombie]

Schempp Bowie, folder?

Ah, I think you might be spot on. It's the only one I can think of without a hump ands wedge like that.

[Ranger_Ike]

That’s a butterfly. Not a spyder.

I believe it’s a 740.

Edited to add picture:

[StuntZombie]

That’s a butterfly. Not a spyder.

I believe it’s a 740.

Edited to add picture:

Ooops, I do believe you're right.

[Ranger_Ike]

Ooops, I do believe you're right.

Easy mistake. The round hole is usually a giveaway. If you are looking at the print version it might not be as obvious. But on the digital version the butterfly is more noticeable.

[ZrowsN1s]

Emerson, Benchmade, many companies have seen the genius of Sal's design.

[ladybug93]

aside from being tip down, that's the best looking benchmade i've seen. too bad it's disco'd. the s35vn resilience looks like it would be a good alternative for a similar knife though.

[Ranger_Ike]

aside from being tip down, that's the best looking benchmade i've seen. too bad it's disco'd. the s35vn resilience looks like it would be a good alternative for a similar knife though.

I agree! Nothing about the design says benchmade. It’s not even an axis lock.

[James Y]

The first Benchmade with a round hole back in the '90s was the original AFCK, which had a liner lock. IIRC, BM was licensed by Spyderco to use the round hole for it.

There was also a later Axis lock AFCK.

Jim

[Sildani]

Yep, Benchmade licensed the Round Hole from Spyderco at that time. My partially serrated AFCK from that time period also has Spyderco’s serration pattern. Honestly, to look at it, it looks like a Sal/Eric design, certainly there’s never been a Benchmade that looks like it since.

[kennethsime]

aside from being tip down, that's the best looking benchmade i've seen. too bad it's disco'd. the s35vn resilience looks like it would be a good alternative for a similar knife though.

I agree! Nothing about the design says benchmade. It’s not even an axis lock.

The 740 Dejavoo is a Bob Lum design, and while it is a great knife, I much prefer the 741 Onslaught. Another Bob Lum design, and one of my favorite pocket knives of all time. The 746 Mini-Onslaught is a really great design also.



Bob Lum was a **** of an artist. I'm glad that Spyderco got to put out a few models with him as well.

[Doc Dan]

I don't think they licensed it. I think they used it without permission. Then, IIRC, Benchmade and Sal reached some sort of "gentleman's agreement."

[yablanowitz]

I don't think they licensed it. I think they used it without permission. Then, IIRC, Benchmade and Sal reached some sort of "gentleman's agreement."

They did license it for the AFCK. It was years later with their Red Class model "Vex" that an agreement was reached. Benchmade certainly lost a few customers over that. I'm one of them.

[Doc Dan]

I don't think they licensed it. I think they used it without permission. Then, IIRC, Benchmade and Sal reached some sort of "gentleman's agreement."

They did license it for the AFCK. It was years later with their Red Class model "Vex" that an agreement was reached. Benchmade certainly lost a few customers over that. I'm one of them.

Yeah, that might be right. I just remember them using it without permission and it angered me and I was into BM at the time. No longer. I just don't do business with folks like that.

[skeeg11]

Sal is a gentleman and I doubt he'll have anything negative to say about Benchmade. What soured me on Benchmade is political and cannot be discussed here.

[StuntZombie]

I always enjoyed Lum's designs, especially with how he was able to implement the opening hole without a large hump in the blade for most of them.

[brancron]

The best Benchmades are the ones that look most like Spydercos!

[Manixguy@1994]

Sal weighed into this subject years ago its a long dead issue to me and respect his comments. MG2

[soc_monki]

Sal seemed to have great respect and a friendship with Les. I enjoy both company's knives, and will continue to.

I also enjoy firearms, and cars, and many, many things. Flowers are nice too.