2004 Model Survey

Sal,

I can tell you about the knives I have purchased and which ones are popular with my family.

First off I own 5 of your knives. Endora, 2 delicas , meercat and pride. I use/carry them at differant times. I do have other brands that I can/do carry also. It just depends on what knife I grab in the am, and what I plan on doing.

Each kid of mine is a knife carrier. They all have a assortment of brands that they carry.

My son Bryson, uses your spyderco multi tool/ wrench every day. His coworkers are constantly commenting on it.

My son John carries a native, 40/60 combo. He has stated he would of liked it in plain edge only. His camping knife is a police model and his rock climbing knife is the one with the snap clip on the back of the knife

My daughter Danielle carries a meercat.

Me, especially when I am in my office, I carry the Pride.

In todays times carrying a edc that is a smaller knife, just makes sense.
I think that there is going to be a large market of knife people who are going back to the Non-tactical look.
Something that when you pull it out doesnt scare the dickens out of the general public.

I tried to give you a look at my opinion and buying habbits. I probably dont agree with some of the younger buyers asfar as edc's.
For example, My kids like the tactical look. Every knife they pick out in Blade is usually tactical looking.

As side note, the lock on my meercat has failed me twice and given me a decent cuts. If you hold the knife in just the right way the handle moves and the lock unlocks.

I hope this helps you . Been a fan of your company for a long time. In 1977, I remember seeing your knives at Booths at the fishing show in Denver
 
The Endura, Delica, and Police lines...

They should be kept. Especially the steel gripped ones. One of these knives have almost always been clipped to my pocket since as long as I can remember. They are Classic Spyderco.
Please leave them. They are go anywhere do anything knives... The steel handled ones ride in the pocket easier than anything else I have ever carried.

I'd drop some of the more funky useless knives... like that meathook.
 
I think sales should be the primary guide to which models need to be cut.

However, I also think that Spyderco should "look at the forest" and eliminate some models to move towards continued prosperity in the future. Towards the same goal, Spyderco needs to keep some models that may be not currently be the best of sellers.

Let's face it - the FRN handled lockback Spyderco will not always be as popular as it is now. Especially with all the new models from competitors that offer more "features" for the same price.

IMHO, what Spyderco needs is more compression lock knives. Especially a consumer priced, delica-like compression lock.

I would immediately eliminate the poorest selling Delica, Endura, Rescue, and Native variants with the eventual goal of transistioning to compression/ball/etc locks.

I would either eliminate the Kitchen knives, or I would replace them with higher-end knives. There are lots and lots of brands of cheaper priced kitchen knives out there - why not use the Spyderco brand reputation for quality, and make some higher end knives?

I would eliminate the SpydeRench. Yes, it is very cool. But, it is trying to compete in a market that is oversaturated with products.

Either the Ladybug or the Jester needs to go. Even though I love the ladybug, I think the Jester is a better knife.

The Meerkat is a cool design, but seems to be more of a novelty knife than anything. A simple lockback seems to be far superior to the somewhat ackward phantom lock. I'm afraid I would eliminate it as well.

The Matriarch is a cool design, but I also agree that it has been replaced by the Spyderhawk. The Civilian needs to stick around.

The Vesuvius should be eliminated. The Salsa is a better design and seems to be in a similar market.

The Bob Lum Tanto should probably go.

As should the Progrip.

The Gunting is a keeper. I've bought 2 myself. It might be hard to manufacter, and it might be a little slow sales-wise right now, but given half a chance, I'm sure it will take off.

The Lil Temperance is a sweet knife, but is IMHO too expensive. I know it is MBC rated and all - but I think that the knife could be simplified and be just as good. Especially the contouring of the G-10 handles. I love the trailing point, but if it doesn't sell, then it should go. Change over to one blade style, simplifiy the handle, change it to VG-10, and shoot for a $100 MSRP.

Other than that, I would like to see a couple new Custom-collaborations.

Good luck with all the new models.

-- Rob
 
Here's my cut list

C10P, PS, S-- If you want this kind of knife, get a Police
C11P, PS, S-- Get a SS Native or something a little smaller like a Dragonfly
C12SBK-- We have the Spyderhawk now
C13PS, PSBK-- Use up the materials you have now, and then come out with a revised handle utilizing the same basic blade shape
C45SBK, SBL, SOR-- I'd rather have the D'Allara Rescue
C46GPBK, GPSBK-- Nice knife, but does anyone really use it?
C64JPBK, JSBK, PBK2, SBK2-- It seems redundant when you consider the Dragonfly, Cricket and Salsa
C66PBK, PSBK-- I can't see why someone would buy one when presented with other options in the Spyderco line
C69 GS, GS2-- Please, please, please keep them in plain edge, but does anyone really like this design in SpyderEdge? The kind of person that buys and uses this knife will likely be a knife fanatic and won't much care for serrations on this kind of knife. I could be wrong, just a personal opinion.
C73GP, GPS, GPS2-- It just doesn't do much for me
JGRP, JGRS-- Yes they're cute, but are they really necessary? Why not a forest green instead?
LBK, LBL, LRD-- Given the choice, I'd definitely take a Jester
T01PS-- Plain or serrated, no in-between

There, I cut 31 and it wasn't too painful. There are others that I don't care for, but have definite market appeal.

Now on the positive side, I want to say, keep all the trainers!!! The Endura and Delica trainers are needed as they each represent a size category of knives. The Gunting trainer is a must for any Gunting owner and the Temperance trainer is also a great all around training knife. I also really like my Spyderco kitchen knives and the SpydeRench, though I can see that they aren't that popular.

No matter what, I'll probably be buying more in the future to add to the 15 that I currently have.
 
The Gunting and trainer should definitely stay I believe these tools tool have nowhere near reached their sales potential. I have three so far and would love to get more ! The value to the LEO community of the Gunting is yet to be realised IMHO. It is a slow process for anything new


Steve
 
Sal,
Met you a few times & enjoyed talking Spydies with you! "KEEP THE GUNTING" start advertising it! I teach it here in Miami to a few LEO'S they want to know where to get them!!There is no or very little promo! ONLY BLADEART CARRIES THE G & I THINK THEY SOLD OUT TWICE!!I have 4 G's & people are trying to buy them after the see what they can do! Heard you were going to stop production after this last batch!! Hope not! Also saw the PROTO TUSOK BRAM HAD,I WOULD BUY 3 IN A HEARTBEAT! Am I a Bram student ,yep,If I didn't like him would I still pomote the G & take his Seminars?Yep!!The Gunting WORKS, Spyderco made a great knife ,keep it & "PROMOTE IT"!!See what support can do!!
jim
 
Hi Jim. No plans at this time to stop production on the Gunting. The model had to undergo additional engineering changes so production was stopped. The new model Pilot is scheduled for this month. Once the pilot is finished and everything proves accurate, then we can begin the next run. Bram said he wanted to keep the PS and drop the P version of the live model.

As far as promotion goes, we did a fair amount of advertising and promoted for the first 18 months of production. We learned that promtoing is best done through Bram and his students. The sales staff at Spyderco have a difficult time trying to describe the virtues of the Gunting over a telephone. Even an ad just creates questions that Bram is best to answer.

The Gunting is a new concept and like most new concepts, market acceptance is difficult. We introduced the first Spyderco Clipit in 1981. Dealers in general would not even try them in their stores until 1985. 90% of the sales were done through demonstrations at shows.

sal
 
First of all: you have to keep the Police, the FRN Endura and the FRN Delica, for reasons of tradition.
You cannot kill the Police, the "classic" tactical knife of all times, this would be disrespectful to your history.
I don't own a Police, and I don't particularly need one, but I respect it as a milestone in folding knife history, and I feel that it should be available at all times. Sometimes, I think that you need to make decisions based, not only on sales volumes, but other considerations as well.



Other definite keepers:
Cricket (ingenious design, extremely useful blade)
Rescue (market leader)
Military (an outstanding knife in every sense)



Let's see what can go:
ProGrip (outdated, not unique any more)
Catcherman (special interest)
Native Stainless (ugly, outdated, FRN is enough)
Vesuvius (not unique in any way)
Lil'Temperance Trailing Point (very ugly!)
Impala (keep only the guthook model as a skinning knife)
Salsa (can't really say why)
K09P Paring Knife (very specialized, useless for many)
K05SBK Small Utility Knife (the large Utility knife is better)
 
Ditch list;

I would drop the Meerkat in at least one of the blade styles, it seems like too much of a novelty piece to make it in the long run.

The Rescue, ditch the smaller variant, the larger has more use as a rescue tool.

The Police and Military are in the same size range, the Police design is dated.. I would drop it with the intention of designing a new one.

Drop the FRN and SS Native to be replaced by the 3D Native, as it seems to be a good improvement on the design.

Drop the Ladybug, the design of the Jester is superior and it also looks better.

Drop the ProGrips, with the new hunters coming in they have no place in the line-up.

The Matriarch can be replaced by the Spyderhawk.

Keep the best selling colour variant of the Salsa, dump the others.

The Spyderench is a little too specialised for the multi tool market, I would consider scrapping it. I would also scrap the Pride, and design a model somewhere between the two, like the SpyderSAK idea that's been tossed around before. Something unique with a non-locking primary blade.

The Chinook and Lil' Temperance seem to have overlapping roles. I would drop the Chinook favouring the LT in terms of performance.

Spyderco has a few fixed blades with the same purpose. I'd get rid of whichever was selling the least.


Keep list;

Don't touch the Ti Salsa or Lil Temperance, they demonstrate serious design innovation and manufacturing, that Spyderco is moving in the right direction.

Leave the Delicas and Enduras well alone, aside from minor improvements. They're loved by all and classic designs. I think if they're to be replaced or updated, Spyderco would need to put a huge amount of thought and effort into getting a worthy model out at the same price point.

Keep the Civilian, IMO no folder can touch it in its intended role.



Good luck,


Matthew
 
I don't fear the discontinuation of models because they will always be found on the forums and Ebay and with some dealers for years and years to come.

In fact I fully support the discontinuation of custom collaborations and feel it makes them more collectible. Especially if it means and new wave of fresh designs!

There are a few that I cringe at the thought of you discontinuing just because I see them (especially the plastic ones) clipped to SO MANY pockets:
Endura
Delica
I think they're staples that have to stay in your line forever (like the Buck 110).

I don't think you need more than one line of Rescue. Keep the upgrade.
The Salsa was fun but you could make it a collectible now.

I'd say keep all the MeerKats. I think it's still in the growth phase of it's popularity. I can see myself buying a couple more myself.
 
Sal,

keep the GUNTING and Drone.....

I have 15 GUNTINGS!!!! for the Museum and 4 working tools... I will buy all from any new model with the new steel which came out...


I You show you at the IWA in nuernberg how the GUNTING works on the dutchman from your company... I hope you remember...

Martin
www.gunting-museum.com
 
Sal,

You've got lots of great input for what to delete from your line. I've got a suggestion for an addition. My current EDC is a Lil Temp (just bought it and it's the best folder I've ever held) in my right pocket and a (heresy) Buck Metro in my left pocket. The buck has a tiny blade when the Lil Temp might strike the wrong tone and it's a bottle opener. How about a model with a Spyderhole large enough to open a beer and a small blade?

WWill
 
Sal,

I beg of you not to discontinue any of the save and serve models... but if you have to let one go then the matriarch is the one to go.

as to the 93mm rescue lineup.... ditch the black one and keep the coloured handles. I for one am tired of black and on the scene of an accident my orange handle rescue's stand out better.

With the introduction of the spyderhawk you should ditch the merlin as being superfluos.

The police model shouldbe kept, it is a spyderco icon among folding knives for the police crowd and the knife is a wicked Self Defense Tool.... I own all three of the defensive folders (matriarch, civilian and Police) and don;t wish to see any of them leave the lineup.

One thing I do notice on your list of choices sal is there is alot of knives that don;t really fit the spyderco "image"..... the fixed blades, the pride lineup and the huge amount of small knives like the salsa, cricket and such.

I feel your line is diluted to much with to many models that thuer selling points are all the same thing like small size.

Kitchen knives, keep them as they are a great tool..... spyderwrench, ditch that because everyone uses leatherman clone now anyway.
 
Have you something against Dutch people? My ancestors may be stingy, but we're not arrogant.:p :D At least we share a sense of humour, though I understand that German humour is much more structured and sensibly arranged... Want to touch my monkey? :D :D

Back to the point.

I would drop the following:
Merlin
Harpy
Matriarch
Endura SS
Delica SS
Pro Grip Series
Catcherman
Meerkat: Dragonfly seems more efficient and lightweight, though I am torn as the design is neat. How are they selling?
Native: Now that we have Native III, maybe drop predecessors and make SS VG-10 Native III instead. Native SS will sell much more since Delica SS, Endura SS and Pro-grip series are gone.
Spyderwrench


Definite Keepers:
Standard Endura and Delica
Gunting and Trainer
Cricket and SS Cricket
Dragonfly and SS Dragonfly: Maybe upgrade both to VG-10 - this is a very ergonomic knife! Both in VG-10 means no logistical costs incurred in using two different steels.
Moran drop point: World's greatest all-purpose FB! Could drop the trailing point version.
Lil' Temperance: amazing design.
Military
Chinook II

I think the SS models should be streamlined. There are too many choices. Ideally the range would go:

SS Cricket
SS Dragonfly
SS Native III
SS Spyderhawk
SS Military

This would cover all needs and sizes. In my view, the Dragonfly and Native are the safest SS designs as the choils on them prevent slippage. I am not big on the Police design either, and think a Military SS would be a better option if the Police model were discontinued, but I guess you guys sell a boat-load of them(?).

Also, could making two different steels on the same blade design cost more than simply making one kind continuously? If the same steel were used, would the SS - handled version be the same cost or nominally more, say five or ten bucks, given streamlined production?

I have always thought that trading in to a lower grade steel to get a stainless handle was a deterrent. I wonder if sales people tell their customers that they are compromising on the blade when they go to a stainless handle.

Thanks for the opportunity to express my opinions, Sal. It's wonderful to be given a voice like this.

Phil
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser
No plans at this time to stop production on the Gunting. The model had to undergo additional engineering changes so production was stopped. The new model Pilot is scheduled for this month. Once the pilot is finished and everything proves accurate, then we can begin the next run. Bram said he wanted to keep the PS and drop the P version of the live model
Click to expand...

Sal,

I'm glad to hear the Gunting will still be available.

Are there any major improvements in the new run?

Also, are you really going to drop the plain-edged version of the live model?

Thanks!

-- Rob
 
you have to keep one of the small hawkbill blades, the spyderhawk is the size of the matriarch so keep the harpy for smaller people use.
 
I would get rid of the Catcherman if it's not selling.

A folding knife to clean fish is just to hard to get clean when your done with it. I would much rather use a fixed blade.
 
Hi Curator, welcome to the Spydeco forum. Yes I remember. I'm sure Jurphass also remembers.

Hi WWill. Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

Hey Rob. That is the plan for the live plain, we'll watch demand. We've changed a number of things in design and material.

sal
 
For various reasons, I've been out of touch for a while. Therefore, I'll have to think a little more about your question. However, I do know one thing for sure. And that's to please keep offering the titanium "Salsas". They have a superb frame lock! I'm going to buy a plain blade as soon as my knife shop gets one. I'm carrying a half-serated Ti Salsa on my left pocket right now. The reason I got the half-serated blade first is that my own Ti Salsa has truly became my constant *emergency companion. I fly a lot. Not commercial, but private. The Ti Salsa with the half-serated blade would be perfect if I had to cut a seat belt or use in any other emergency I can think of right now. In fact, I consider my Ti Salsa so perfect for the task, it's replaced my Sebenza.
On the other pocket is a new SS Cricket with a Photon Micro-light attached. Another perfect "airplane thing".
I own a lot of Spyderco knives. I realize that some must be dropped to make room for new models. I have *several favorites, including two "Toads" and a Viele. But, when I fly, the Ti Salsa will ALWAYS fly with me.
(Probably the SS Cricket too. I just have always liked Crickets! Hey, I don't suppose you ever think of doing a run of carbon fiber scale Crickets~do you?? Hint, hint. :) )

KR
 
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