2004 Model Survey

Keep:
Police (Classic! My personal favorite in carbon fiber!)
Endura/Delica FRN
MBC models except trailiing point Lil Temperance
Military
FRN Native
Jester and Ladybug
Ti Salsa
Rescue
Civilian (just too unique)
Spyderhawk
Temp fixed blade and trainer
SS Cricket
I was wrong: please keep the Matriarch, it is different from the Spyderhawk.
Keep the Morans too.
Keep the trainers! No one else makes them! Too cool for school!
Stainless Dragonfly

Lose:
SS Native, Endura, Delica (redundant and heavy)
Catcherman (too specialized)
Pro-grip (just outdated)
Meerkat, FRN Dragonfly, Pride, etc. (all those little ones)
SPOT
Fred Perrin
Aluminum Salsas (damn thing pinched my hand every time I opened it)

Truthfully, all this amounts to is my opinion. Some of it should be based on sales I'm sure. I just see a lot of redundancy in some of the models. I don't like small heavy knives. I just have no use for comboedge blades. Go with plain and Spyderedge. I know Spyderco pioneered the Spyderedge but I just prefer a good old fashioned plain edge for day to day use. I say, keep some of the classics and make room for the new ones! Keep the premium steels. And please oh please oh please make another model of the Police (i.e. the FRN blue handled model we discussed here forever with a single steel liner and three screw clip! PLEASE!!!!!!! If I'm totally out of luck, how about a G-10 Endura?

:D Leo G.
 
Whayever you do DO NOT DISCONTINUE THE GUNTING OR THE CHINOOK II. I haven't even been able to find a chinook II and your thinking of discontinuing it. That makes me :barf: . Do you know how hard it is to get spydercos here in Alb,n.m.? I go to the dealers on YOUR list and they have a small selection. When I ask them to order a certain model they say no, thier reason? They say they are to hard to get from you. Spyderco is my favorite brand, why are they so hard to get? I had to wait 11 months for my lil temperance:mad:
 
Welcome to the Forums!

Didn't see that you were new. So I hope my weird sense of humour hasn't deterred you.:D
 
I have a few suggestions.

I would eliminate the Spyderwrench. Although a good multitool this particular market is overcrowded anyway.

On subject of small knives. I would keep the Dragonfly but update the steel. Maybe change the FRN version to a removable pocket clip like the Delica and possibly eliminate the SS version.

I love Crickets but the SS version is so much better than the FRN version I would eliminate the FRN version.

I think the Ladybug can be replaced by the Jester but I agree that the micarta run should be permanent.

I agree that one color of aluminum Salsa is enough. I think the Ti version is the best of the bunch and the one most of my friends like.

As far as Delica's go. I really like the SS version because the blade is less than 3 inches and it's really strong. I like the CF version better but it is a limited run. If the FRN version was changed to under 3" I could see discontinuing the SS version.

I too think that the Pro grip is outdated and could probably be discontinued.

Whatever you do, if sales permit, please keep the smaller blades for those of us that need and want them.
 
Sal, it is good to know that the Gunting's place in the production line is safe. It will be good, also, if the blade length is shortened just a wee bit so it is just under 3 inches, since some jurisdictions set a 3-inch limit, and I hear others are considering this limit. Thanks!
 
Right of the bat, I´d say:
Lose the Ladybugs, the Jesters are much better and offer choice between a full PE or SE, don´t like the partial serrations in such a short blade.

Lose the medium and large models with steel handles, they´re to heavy and slippery for me, I don´t mind heft but in general the medium and larger models are too heavy for me. The smaller SS models (like the dragonfly) look classy with steel handles, keep those.

Lose the progrip and other non-wegner hunting models. Though I´m not a hunter, the Wegner models look and feel much superior for the job compared to the older Pro-grip models.

settle on one ´best´ rescue model, and one cheaper variant, with less variation within the model (fewer colors and serration/plain options).

Keep as much of the new models (released in the 2002 catalog and beyond) as sales figures allow, just to see if the market can ´grow´ to accept them.

For drastic measures, you could take many non-commercially successful models out of regular production and offer them to us knife knuts as a custom shop type of offering. That way, you retain an outlet to innovate on new materials and technology, while at the same time, offering us fans even more personalized high performance knives. Perhaps that way, the regular production models could help finance ´ye olde spydie custom shoppe´, and personally I wouldn´t mind paying more of my Euros for a customized high-tech spydie. But you´d have to measure the market thoroughly for such a drastic move.

Wouter
 
I agree with te others about dropping the Spydiewrench and Matriarch. The tool market seems way too saturated and the Spyderhawk seems a better alternative to the matriarch.

Wouter
 
Sal,

As you rightly stated the Gunting needs promotion. I agree that the best people to do that are Brams students. I am his United Kingdom Director and I will say to you that we are doing our level best to promote the Gunting series. I personally have 3 guntings and two other Spyderco knives that I got through Bram. I do not own anything other than Spyderco knives - and all 'cause I met Bram. Now my students are buying Spyderco (when we can find them in UK)and so the process continues. My message is support the Gunting and we will support you.
 
Sal,

Nice meeting you at the Oregon show. I was one of the "rope cutters".

I am a Spyerco dealer in Washington State and an "ELU". Here are my thoughts:

I'll speak up for the Spyderwrench. I carry one daily and have numerous on back order because of customers who want them. A heavy duty tool, I like it. Add a wire cutter to it and it would be near perfect.

I sell more Gutings then any other Spyderco knife. That is the truth. The last one I sold was shipped to the Czech Republic. This is a keeper. Get out the Tusok and I will sell a ton of them to the ladies. We do lots of classes for women here and they are buying Griptilians :eek: A colored Tusok would blow that out of the water.

I have yet to sell one Meerkat, loose it. Keep the Dragonfly, it is next to the Griptilian in sales to women. The Salsa, although a strong knife which I like, does not sell well. It should probably go. I also hate the way the compression lock pinches the underside of my index finger when I open it cause it's backwards.

Endura, Delica, Police must stay. These are bread and butter. You could let the Ladybug go and keep just the Jester which has more appeal. The Cricket must be kept in some form because (as I have been told it is the ONLY knife comfortable for wear in the bra) That alone has to make it a keeper. :D

Other then that I have no thoughts. Keep up the good work and best of luck for 2004!
 
Ok, don't coll the Gunting, Also, I have love for the delica and endura line, the jester, salsa, uuh, lum chinese, and Ill have to think about it more..
 
Sal, whatever you do, please don't get rid of the Police. It would break my heart.:(
 
I'd ditch the Lum tantos(2) with their thin liner locks, and ugly impractical blades, the Matriarch for being redundant, the Ladybugs(3), Crickets(4) and Jesters(4) for being too small, the (6)Salsas, and trailing point Lil Temperances, for being too wide, and carrying like a much larger knife, and the (4) Meerkats for general cheesiness.
Personally, I'd like to see more full flat grinds, though I know they haven't all sold well in the past. A frame lock Lum Chinese would top my wish-you-would-make-it list. I'd buy a Chinese in a heartbeat, but for the thin liners that are already at least halfway across the tang on every NIB one I've examined.
Keep the Dragonfly, as the SS version is by far the best small knife you make, IMO, and offer a full flat Delica/Endura option since the Calypsos are gone, and get rid of the (6) SS versions of those knives.
Do away with wire clips.

To my way of thinking, SS handles really destroy the purpose for buying Spyderco on the larger knives, which is that the FRN versions are easy to carry, and light compared to competitors' knives of similar size, plus compromising the blade materials on those SS knives so you can pay and carry more to get less performance seems self-defeating, too. I like the SS Dragonfly for the opposite reason. The added weight gives heft and strength to a tiny knife, and the clip is much better than the molded ones, so I'll add, the SS Native, and Harpy, but leave the Police alone, since I'm a hypocrite, and it's a classic. Something very cool about the SS Police...

Don't suppose you want to bring back the Goddard ltwt:(

Thanks for asking us what we like:D
 
My .02, which probably means less to the powers that be than anyone else..but:

Harpy - way redundant. Spyderco is becoming the curvy blade company.
Lum Tanto - Oooh yuck, just bad.
Salsa - I did the passaround on this knife intending to buy one and changed my mind. The clip is horrible, and the knife is just clunky.
Jester - I wouldnt carry one of these if it was given to me. Impractical, almost embarassingly ugly, and I hate that drop point..or whatever that blade is trying to be.
SpydeRench - Can anyone even get these anymore? I've heard dealers are waist deep in backorders - they'll never see the light of day. Dump it.
Meerkat - Serves a purpose better carried out by the cricket & dragonfly.

-Danelle
 
I think the following models are kind of "unnecessary":

LadyBug - handled both the lady and the Jester, last one is way more reasonable for everyday.

Spyderench - cool gadget, but I think it is to complicated.

Salsa - sorry, it´s nasty. Even for Spyderco. ;)

Rescue 93mm - after release of the assist´s, this one is not needed any more, the rescue lineup can be cleaned up a bit. The Rescue jr. should be produced furthermore, cause the assists are kind of bulky and the jr. is right size for smaller jobs and space availability (my mother-in-law uses a orange Rescue jr. when on vacation or hiking or biking, this knife is really a sweetie!)
 
Well, lets start with the knives I am most looking forward to:
1. Spyderfly
2. TUSOK
The faster there out the better I would like it. :)

Now for the keepers:
C65P Lum Chinese Folder!!! My EDC, great knife!!!
C07S Police Stainless
C07P Police Stainless! Great knife, a classic.
C08S Harpy Stainless
C10P Endura Stainless
C10S Endura Stainless
C10PBK Endura FRN: Best afortable workers.
C10PSBK Endura FRN
C10SBK Endura FRN
C10TR Endura Trainer
C11P Delica Stainless
C11S Delica Stainless
C11PBK Delica FRN
C11SBK Delica FRN
C11TR Delica Trainer
C12GS Civilian G-10
C14SBK Rescue 93mm Black
C14SOR Rescue 93mm Orange
C17PSBK Catcherman
C28P Dragonfly Stainless
C28PBK Dragonfly FRN
C29P Cricket Stainless
C29S Cricket Stainless
C36GPE Military CPM-S30V
C36GSE Military CPM-S30V
C41PBK Native FRN
C41PSBK Native FRN
C45SBK Rescue 79mm Black
C45SOR Rescue 79mm Orange
C46GPBK Bob Lum Tanto – Black Blade
C46GPSBK Bob Lum Tanto – Black Blade
C63GP James Keating Chinook II
C64JPBK MeerKat
C64JSBK MeerKat
C66PBK Frank Centofante Vesuvius II
C68GPS Bram Frank Gunting
C68TR Bram Frank Gunting Trainer
C71PTI Salsa – Titanium
C71BLP Salsa – Blue
C72P Pride
C73GP Impala with Guthook
C73GPS Impala with Guthook
C73GPS2 Impala
C75P Kiwi
C77SBK SpyderHawk

JBKP Jester – Black
JGRP Jester – Lime Green
LBK Ladybug – Black
LBL Ladybug – Blue
LRD Ladybug - Red

FB01 Bill Moran Featherweight
FB02 Bill Moran Drop Point
FB03 Bob Lum Tanto
FB04 Fred Perrin
FB05P Temperance
FB05S Temperance
FB09P Ronin

T01P SpydeRench
T01S SpydeRench
T02S SpyderSaw

K04SBK Utility Knife – Black
K05SBK Small Utility Knife – Black
K08P Santoku
K09P Paring Knife

And the once to go:
C08SBK Merlin FRN
C10PS Endura Stainless
C11PS Delica Stainless
C12SBK Matriarch
C13PS ProGrip Stainless
C13PSBK ProGrip FRN
C14SBL Rescue 93mm Blue
C28PBK Dragonfly FRN
C28SBK Dragonfly FRN
C29S Cricket Stainless
C29SBK Cricket FRN
C41PS Native Stainless
C45SBL Rescue 79mm Blue
C64PBK2 MeerKat – Reverse S
C64SBK2 MeerKat – Reverse S
C69GP Lil’ Temperance Leaf: This has for me a very uncomfortable handle. I traded it for the Lum Chineese.
C69GS Lil’ Temperance Leaf
C69GP2 Lil’ Temperance Trailing Point
C69GS2 Lil’ Temperance Trailing Point
C71PSTI Salsa – Titanium
C71BLPS Salsa – Blue
C71CBP Salsa – Cranberry
C71CBPS Salsa – Cranberry

JBKS Jester – Black
JGRS Jester – Lime Green

FB05TR Temperance Trainer

T01PS SpydeRench

K05SBK Small Utility Knife – Red

As you can see I put many PS and some S edge knives it the 'to go' list as I see a need for those. PS I do not like in general S I think is good for some knife funktions nog for others. It's more specialised than the plain edge, which is my favorite.

Thanks for asking,
JD
 
I would make rid of the
-Pro-Grip series - had a very nice long run, let it retire
-Bob Lum Tantos
-Vesuvius
-Salsa with exception of the ti model
-Impala

Keep the Matriarch!!!
Matt
 
Thanx much for all of the input. We're making decisions now. Announcements won't be until Late September/early October.

sal
 
This list is kind of long, but there were some models I don’t think are going to sell even if Spyderco continues to make them.

C08SBK Merlin FRN

There are a lot of size variation of the curved blade. Changing it to a plain blade, or even better, a plain ss version would be really nice.

C12SBK Matriarch

Again, there are other options for a large curved blade.

C13PS ProGrip Stainless
C13PSBK ProGrip FRN

These don’t seem to generate a lot of interest, although I really love my C13P.

C28S Dragonfly Stainless
C28SBK Dragonfly FRN
C29S Cricket Stainless
C29SBK Cricket FRN
C64JSBK MeerKat
C64SBK2 MeerKat – Reverse S

As an earlier poster said, little knives don’t really need serrations.

C46GPSBK Bob Lum Tanto – Black Blade

One black blade is enough.

C69GP Lil’ Temperance Leaf
C69GS Lil’ Temperance Leaf
C69GP2 Lil’ Temperance Trailing Point
C69GS2 Lil’ Temperance Trailing Point

With all the new models, these seem to have gotten from the retail perspective.

C71PTI Salsa – Titanium
C71PSTI Salsa – Titanium
C71BLP Salsa – Blue
C71BLPS Salsa – Blue
C71CBP Salsa – Cranberry
C71CBPS Salsa – Cranberry

It is really disheartening to see "Taiwan" on a Spyderco.

C72P Pride

Spyderco has made its reputation on lock back knives. Unless your overseas market for this is large, let it go.

JBKS Jester – Black
JGRS Jester – Lime Green

Small knives really don’t need serrations, in IMHO.

LBK Ladybug – Black
LBL Ladybug – Blue
LRD Ladybug - Red

A plain blade version would be welcome.

FB01 Bill Moran Featherweight

One Moran would suffice.

FB05P Temperance
FB05S Temperance
FB05TR Temperance Trainer
FB09P Ronin

There were so many new models introduced in a short time attrition was bound to occur.

T01P SpydeRench
T01PS SpydeRench
T01S SpydeRench

There are so many multi tools out there, I think Spyderco should stick with knives.

K04SBK Utility Knife – Black
K05SBK Small Utility Knife – Black
K05SRD Small Utility Knife – Red
K08P Santoku
K09P Paring Knife

Kitchen knives are not Spyderco’s niche.
 
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