A Theory of Why Spyderco Hunting Designs Fail

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North61

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Mar 10, 2005
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I could be wrong. However at least in Canada trying to find a Spyderco hunter like the Impala or new Trakker is very difficult. They are not carried in the normal hunting distribution system or catalogues/even those that carry Spyderco.

Outside of the mass-market designs (Delica's are everywhere) getting a discounted Spyderco specialty design is murder.

LeBaron will special order but the delay can be awe inspiring as their specialty service seems to be very staff dependent.

Guys I go out with have all fallen in love with my C48 Wegner. Once they have used it they want something similar. I told them about the Impala... however it's very hard to get one without specialty ordering and paying through the nose. You don't get to handle before you buy. No one has managed to buy one but if I'd bought 10 C48's I could have sold them all to people who have tried mine.

I think Spyderco needs to try to break into the hunting stores market if they are going to offer hunting designs that last for more than a year or two. I'd like a Trakker but it is just as hard to get as the Wegner Blade Tech Pro-Hunter and at list is just as expensive or more so.

The distribution system needs some work.

I have soothed my Wegner addiction by getting the Blade Tech mouse lite and hunter lite and will see how the 440C is. I await the distribution of the Trakker with interest.
 
That and the fact that alot of hunters are cheap and have poor knife knowledge. I know plenty of guys with $700 or so into a gun and close to that into a bow.

But they feel $30 should do it for a knife.
 
I know many the same way Lone Hunter. They have nice four wheelers, great guns and all the goodies.

One thing I'm seeing more of these days though is the 18Volt saws all. Makes a great portable butcher shop for sectioning large kills to haul out on four wheelers. More and more every year now have one in their truck ready to go with spare batteries.

And yet all this expense that is justified and they carry a cheap Winchester China made knife from Wal-Mart on their belt cuz it looked like a good one.

Amazing.
 
The C03 Hunter was the third knife introduced by Spyderco. With minor modifications it evolved into the C13 stainless and C33 FRN ProGrips and stayed in the lineup for over 20 years. It has now evolved into, and been superceded by, the somewhat larger C90 Stretch. That's hardly "design failure" in my book. The Wegner and Scott collaborations fared about as well in the marketplace as the majority of collaboration models. It's to Sal's credit that he continues to offer new collaborations despite the cold fact that almost none have lasted more than two or three years in the catalog. I could be totally off base, but I don't think the "hunter" shape had anything to do with their lifespans.
 
I think it might be because people prefer fixed blades for hunting knives... and BTW the new Trakker isn't out yet :)
 
Senate said:
I think it might be because people prefer fixed blades for hunting knives
Click to expand...

Very true.
The Elk hunters I know here in Colorado all have fixed blades. Mainly because it's easier to clean your knife after the dressing out is done.
 
I have a progrip but haven't used it much for hunting..I would bet 95% were bought and used by non hunters..probably why they were so successful.

I think rather than a lack of appreciation for good steel the predilection for hunters to use softer steel knives is ease of sharpening and in some cases a lack of sharpening knowledge.

I sometimes take a Victorinox Stag Hunter folder and need to steel it every caribou or two. Needs a trip to the ceramics after every hunt. The C48 can get through 3-5 before steeling, and I may or may not need to retouch it at home. Doesn't really make that big a difference what makes a difference is that great Wegner blade shape. It's the ergonomics that makes folks stop and smile when using it. That's certainly not true of the Pro-grip which is pretty ordinary.

A bit more exposure would really sell these top end Spydie hunters. Believe me I am not complaining about Spyderco...like any true convert I want to get them out and have everyone see the light.

I agree that a fixed knife is easier to clean but a clean folder design can be scrubbed pretty successfully and is so handy that I think with some Education these would sell.
 
I got my Starmate as a backup to my fixed blade for elk hunting. I didn't have any trouble buying it at a discount. There's this wonderful innovation called "the internet" that allows you to find almost anything at a discount from multiple outlets. It even has these things called "search engines" that finds which outlets carry your knife. I don't care what they stock in "hunting" stores since I shop online for just about anything except guns.

The key is probably to get your product written up in gun and hunting magazines as the perfect hunter's companion. We could help out by submitting articles or testamonials to the magazines.
 
I have 3 of the Impalas. Ironically I think I like the one without the guthook better than the 2 that do have. I do think that when the Impala is no longer made it will be a classic in the same light as the Wegner. I also have both C-48 Wegners and both C-49 Wegner Jrs. as well. While at the Atlanta BLADE show this year I got the privaledge of meeting and getting aquainted with Mr. Tim Wegner and I bought one of his BLADE-TECH knives. I got the EXtreme Hunter with the Carbon Fiber Handle and S30V PE blade. It truly looks like a high-tech, revamped clone of the old C-48. He really not only worked the bugs out but I will be using a hunting knife this fall that costs in excess of $200. If you would have told me that a year ago I would have said "no Way!!". His designs as well as Ed Scott's are both legendary in my book. I gotta tell you all that I don't think I will ever get rid of any of the ones I just mentioned.

My biggest wish is for Spyderco to come up with a Super fixed blade hunting knife. Right now I am using the Cold Steel "Master Hunter Plus" with/guthook. If Spyderco would come up with something close to that I would be giving the Master Hunter a rest. I agree with most of what Deacon Said in his post ( which is unusual for us to agree :o ) because he really does make some good points about the evolution of how Spyderco arrived at the Impala. I wish they would have made a Wegner with a Guthook. OK I made my point I guess :foot:
 
I have been interested in the Impala but would really like to see one before laying down the cash. Unlike Jeff I have difficulty finding a great internet solution to Spyderco availability. I don't believe this is due to a lack of intellect as suggested in his post. Rather the Canadian Companies that have good prices seem to have a culture of poor customer service. The companies with great service have high prices. This tends to limit my buying power and curbs purchases.

I hesitate to buy from the States as I have to deal with 1) crazy shipping costs and 2) the boys at Canada customs, each one of which seems to read from a different rule book.

I still want a Trakker but if distribution follows it's normal patterns I'll likely make do with my new Blade Tech Lite.
 
For what it's worth, sizewise, the Tracker/Ocelot will fall about midway between the pro-grip and large Wegner. The big difference is the 50/50 choil, a feature you either love or hate. I love them myself. I've got one of the prototype Trackers, it feels nice in the hand, but frankly, given the choice between it and the Stretch, will take the Stretch any day.


I must admit, however, that as far as the hunting angle goes, if I every were to go out again, old habits and prejudices would win out and I'd be carrying a fixed blade. Cannot recall anyone I ever hunted with carrying a folder as a hunting knife. Perhaps a SAK or small slip joint for "personal grooming" but never for use on game. I think that market might be a tough one to crack in a lot of places, too much "tradition" to contend with.

If it's any consolation, even here where I live, finding a place where you can handle a Spyderco before purchase is not easy. Understand you problem with internet purchase also. Some folks down here don't seem to realize that not every US dealer will ship out of the country, that a high percentage of the ones that do charge an arm and a leg, or that knives being shipped to private parties there are subject to more arbitrary and un-appealable classification as a gravity knife by over zealous customs agents.
 
Although my Stretch has a fine blade shape for hunting I am reluctant to use it in anticipation of trying to clean it after use. I'll likely give it a try once just to see how difficult it is. Maybe it will work out but I can't imagine it will. I don't mind using a folder for hunting use and have carried the Buck 112 for years. It does the job even though the blade shape is compromised. Cleaning it isn't too bad.
 
I started using a folder back in 1988 when I lived in Pond Inlet. I had bought a Victorinox Stag Hunter with main blade, gutting blade and saw. I learned to really like the convenience of the folder. One less thing to carry on my belt or dig into a pack to find. The victorinox steel did need a touch up every caribou or two to stay sharp so a small steel was also needed.

I can never remember being inconvenienced by a folder except that in the frozen lands it is easy to get masses of gunk freezing to the blade making it impossible to close. The solution is to either not be sloppy keep the blade clean and warm by sheathing it in the warm muscle when not in use or clean it with warm water after use.

Both solutions are easily put into place as the first thing most folks do when cleaning a mess of caribou is pump up the coleman and put on some tea to stave off dehydration and hypothermia.

Hot tea turns out to be a pretty fair blade cleaner. Fixed blades need the same treatement if you want to resheath them but are much simpler to clean of course.
 
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