Why Did The Jumpers Fail?

[OV1kenobi]

Rock and Leaf both.

I have never owned a RockJumper, but when the LeafJumper was introduced I purchased a PE VG-10 version immediately because choils are “meh” to me. Probably no accident that most of my Spydercos are Delicas and Enduras. When the K390 versions were announced I planned on buying a K390 PE as well because I like the knife that much. That purchase was accelerated by the announced discontinuation of the model. I just purchased one on closeout and it should be arriving this coming Tuesday. When my budget recovers at the end of the month I plan on buying at least one SE version.

I have read that some folks didn’t like the blade to handle ratio. It didn’t bother me at all. Aren’t there other more successful models like the Delica and Endela that “suffer” the same?

Did the Endela take sales that might have gone to the LeafJumper?

I really like the model and am sad to see it go.

What are your thoughts?

[vivi]

can't speak for others, but I skipped them to hold out for larger versions.

Size aside, everything else looked nice about the designs. I want more lockbacks with minimal kicks & no index choils, just not into clipped folders that small.

[olditguy]

I have the VG10 Rockjumper and the K390 serrated Leafjumper. I have found that i much prefer having the Boye detent on my lockbacks so I don't carry them often. Same with my Police 4 LW K390. I know, it's a simple thing.

[sal]

Hi Oldtiguy,

Easier to add a dent than to remove one.

sal

[jwbnyc]

I went with the Rockjumper for a handle forward Spyderco. Initially I was disappointed it wasn’t a Sheepsfoot. I got over it. It’s a great design. I like that there is no jimping on the blade. It’s primarily a hammer grip knife. The bias to close is on the light side but adequate, makes for a very smooth action. This is one of the knives, along with the Chaparral and Caribbean, I would recommend to someone with arthritis or operating in conditions where coordination may be compromised. Build quality is excellent. The serrations on the VG10 blades are quite slicey with a little time on the rods. The large lanyard and Spydie holes are a plus. It is my current go to for a medium duty beater. It sees a lot of EDC time as well. I was sorry to see it go.

[Evil D]

I don't get it myself. They improved on a Delica in every way for me.

[SchoonerBum]

I don’t understand either. They are some of my favorite folding knives.

[Coastal]

I was excited about the Leafjumper when it debuted, but the ergos that work so well for most people just don't do it for me. I love the handle-forward concept, but this particular model isn't the one.

That said, I was shocked to read it was discontinued since it gets so much love in this forum. Maybe it didn't go over well with the general public?

[Steeltoez83]

I'm sad but not shocked to see it go. I personally am a fan of the LJ but it's decline in sales means it's gotta hit the bricks. The larger versions, I think it's called the sequoia hopefully have more staying power when they drop.

[olditguy]

I have the VG10 Rockjumper and the K390 serrated Leafjumper. I have found that i much prefer having the Boye detent on my lockbacks so I don't carry them often. Same with my Police 4 LW K390. I know, it's a simple thing.

correction, "dent".

[OV1kenobi]

I was excited about the Leafjumper when it debuted, but the ergos that work so well for most people just don't do it for me. I love the handle-forward concept, but this particular model isn't the one.

That said, I was shocked to read it was discontinued since it gets so much love in this forum. Maybe it didn't go over well with the general public?

Something I did notice that on this forum there was by and large much positivity. In the general public I saw far fewer people reviewing or even mentioning the knife.

[Manixguy@1994]

I gifted my Rock Jumper PE to a rock climber ! Forum member ( Georgia Swashbuckler ) gifted me the SE version and absolutely love it . Ergos in hand work great for me , more hand filling which I prefer . I don’t miss the jimping at all and after two days cutting vines doing Fall clean up It has definitely earned a place with me in the yard . Definitely sad the discontinuation occurred I was hoping to see the Rock Jumper be a solid member in the lineup with more variants . MG2

[benben]

I don't get it myself. They improved on a Delica in every way for me.

This, exactly!

[Halfneck]

The Delica is probably my favorite & most carried Spyderco. I liked the looks of the Jumpers, but not enough to pick one up. When the SE Rockjumper got DC'ed I decided to use some points I had at a knife site & got one for cheap. There were a few things I liked with it better than my Delica, but still more I liked with my Delica.

Have to admit I am tempted to grab a Leafjumper in M390 now.

[benben]

I have the RockJumper and a K390 LeafJumper, both serrated, I think they’re fantastic knives! If I had to pick anything….I do think I’d prefer them with the dent, but that’s minor, I can easily live without it.

My serrated K390 LJ is a top 3 knife for me!

[navin johnson]

I have a rock and a leaf

Always wanted a leaf shaped blade without a choil in a lock back. Handle is fantastic. I detent-ed both. Size was great as a carry in the bottom of my pocket frequently. I did not like the high hump

On paper, I liked everything better than the Endela. I almost always carry the Endela over the LJ. The LJ just did not have the synergy. Could be years of Delicas and Enduras And the familiarity.

[Spyder-fan]

I bought a LeafJumper and just couldn't warm up to the ergos of the handle. I ended up selling it.

[spydergoat]

I'd guess that to some extent, rock climbers didn't adopt it, and the general EDC/knife community dinged it for some of its features: not ultralight, thick, large in pocket, short blade for its handle size, removed gimping, no boye dent, blade shape (rockjumper only), overall aesthetics. I like the design, it's an enhanced badass version Delica wharnie.

[zhyla]

Being discontinued doesn’t mean a knife failed.

That said, Spyderco’s lineup is pretty crowded. It makes sense the market couldn’t sustain something that close to a Delica.

I'd guess that to some extent, rock climbers didn't adopt it,

It’s good for models to have a purpose/niche they’re trying to hit. So I don’t have a problem with this being marketed as being for climbers. But I imagine approximately zero climbers bought these unless they were already Spyderco enthusiasts (and we will buy nearly anything). The price tag alone is a hard sell and the weight is twice what competitors market in this space

[ladybug93]

I don't get it myself. They improved on a Delica in every way for me.

i thought it was basically an improved delica too.

my problem was i decided i wanted to do mods, like add a signet ring and pickpocket. aftermarket add-ons only get made for models after they have developed some staying power. i would've preferred the leafjumper to the delica any day, but it just wasn't going to work for what i was hoping to accomplish. and having to get a delica made me start liking the model more than i thought i could. now i have three. on top of all that, my blade length limit i was expecting to have to live with with my career change ended up being more accepting than i had expected and i didn't need shorter blades. instead of getting the leafjumper, i ended up with the yojumbo, military 2, and two stretch 2 xls, as well as being able to continue carrying my favored manixes. i was planning on the k390 leafjumper so that i could finally try the steel, but then the k390 stretch 2 xl was announced and i'd rather have the larger blade and similarity with the salt model i want to carry.

basically, a whole bunch of factors worked against the model for me, but none of them were the fault of the design. i still think it would be a great knife.