always wanted to ask: whats the deal with spydercos?

B

Blackhearted

Joined
Jul 6, 2005
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well, the thread posted earlier with the link to all spyderco's sorted by size just reconfirmed it for me, heh:
http://www.ted.tweakdsl.nl/spyderco/spyderco.html

they are very good quality knives, but ive never liked the styling/design. although most of us (i would hope) choose an EDC at least primarily based on quality/function, aesthetics still usually enters into the selection process. i mean, most of us are collectors, right? so for pretty much everything except the most barebones survival/rescue type tools, most knife folk will choose an EDC that is of high quality, durability, function and that they 'like' the look of. there are those who like low-key tactical/mil type styling, those who prefer older fashioned stag/nickel/wood gent type things, those that like more ornate engraved/custom/detailed knives, etc. so here it is:

what is it that people find so appealing about spydercos that makes them one of the best selling knife lines in the world. and please dont just say 'quality', because there are several other brands out there that offer at least as good or better in a lockback, and when two similar priced, quality/function knives are placed side by side, appearance will be the deciding factor.

i just looked at every single spyderco in that list, and i couldnt find a single one in there that i would carry because i think they are all pretty ugly, mainly because of the geometry. not brutal/evil ugly (which is always good), just.. 'wierd' ugly to me. i wouldnt even put their kitchen knives into my kitchen knife block. ive seen them in many auctions/sales/trades/etc where i could have gotten them very cheap yet ive always passed them over pretty much for this reason (i once owned a scorpius i received as a gift, but the lock failed and it nearly severed my fingers - i was kindof abusing the knife so i dont truly hold it against them).

i am not bashing spyderco. i recognise they are a good knife. i would just like to know if there are people out there who like the styling/design, and why (and please give an example). enlighten me. or are a lot of people buying them solely for function/quality/price and not caring about how they look? im a total knife nut, so when i look at about 100 knives in a line and cant find a single one that catches my eye, i start to wonder wether or not theres something wrong with me, heh. if there were a spyderco with an appearance i liked, i would probably snap it up in a heartbeat to add to my collection because i wouldnt have to wonder about the quality at all.

cheers,
-gabriel
 
Well, beauty of course is in the eye of the beholder. I admit that long ago I was turned off by Spyderco's uglyness. Of course, as a tool, functionality comes before beauty, and that's where Spyderco excells.

I own several Spydercos now, and although I think quite a few of their models are gawd-awful fugly, others I think are quite strikingly nice. The Police, black micarta Calypso Jr, the new Kopa, Spyderfly, and the upcomming Kumo are some of my favorite Spyderco lookers. OTOH, there's knives like the Dodo or the basic Endura/Delica that are pretty hard on the eyes. That's why I love my bright yellow Atlantic Salt. In terms of beauty, it's a solid 2 on a 1-10 scale. If it's gonna be ugly, why not go all the way? :p Then there's knives like the SPOT, Yojimbo, or Civilian, which while not particularily pretty, certainly have a look that draws you in with a morbid compulsion.

Take a look at some of the Santa Fe Stoneworks Spydercos, and tell me if you still think they're ugly. ;)

and please dont just say 'quality'
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Well, quality does have a lot to do with it. But with Spyderco, it goes beyond that. Spyderco is often compared with Benchmade (710 vs Military and such). BM is a fantastic company, making quality knives at good prices, with great customer service. But Spyderco takes it a few steps further. I've never seen a company that takes as much interest in the ideas of their customers than Spyderco. Look in the Spyderco forum, and pretty much any time a user has an idea, criticism, or suggestion, Sal Glesser (Mr. Spyderco) is there soaking it up. Many Spyderco knives are designed on, or modified from suggestions and input from every day users.

I also like the complete lack of hype surrounding Spyderco. At least, from their end. While some companies chop at hanging ropes, stab car doors, or brag about usefulness in "covert deanimation", Spyderco simply makes great tools and lets that speak for themselves.

Then there's the fact that when it comes to modern tactical knives (1 hand opening, pocket clip, etc), Spyderco basically started the whole thing themselves.

So for me and many others it's not just about a particular knife, how it looks, or even how it might perform vs another company's knife, it's about Spyderco itself and what they mean as a company and what they mean to the knife community.
 
Spyderco is the engineers knife: Function determines design. For someone looking at function as the first priority, Spydercos are "beautiful."

Of course Spyderco makes some collaboration knives with custom makers to add some eye-candy appeal to the line, and some variety for collectors and users. But the foundation of the clipit line will always be inhouse designs like the Military.

Much of the engineering elegance of Spydercos lie in small refinements that most users probably won't notice - like the skeletonized nested liners appearing in the latest generation of G10 clipits (ParaMil, Spyker).

Spyderco is also a haven for "steel snobs" ;) , as it is usually on the leading edge of industry knife steel usage. While other manufacturers are downgrading and introducing things like very low-end 420 stainless into their lines, Spyderco is moving up to exotic steels like ZDP-189.
 
i think what turns me off of the delica, salt, etc is their blade and grip geometry. the grip tapers towards the blade, and the blade narrows dramatically towards the tang - to the point where it makes the blade look too thin/offset towards the back of the knife.
it just results in a very flimsy, ungainly appearance to me. it looks like too delicate. the 'delica' name was a pretty bad choice :)

i just went over all of their knives again and i must admit the Native (original one) seems to be growing on me. its a more traditionally styled lockback (IMO) and doesnt have that flimsy look the delica, salt, pro-grip, etc have. compare the look of it - the blade geometry, where the blade meets the handle/pivot, the handle geometry, and then look at the delica and perhaps you will understand what i mean.

i think another reason im not a huge fan is that i try to avoid serrated edges when i can, and spyderco seems to be predominantly serrated. i also partially hold them to blame for the whole serrated pocketknife fad, i really wish that hadnt have come about. a well-sharpened edge will outperform a serrated one anyday, except for 1-2 tasks like cutting thick rope or bread.

sometimes i look at a knife like the 'worker', 'spot' or 'civilian matriarch' and i wonder wether or not the blade was truly born out of pure utility/function or just to make something wierd/scary looking that would appeal to that type of buyer. if someone tells me that the C67 'R' serves any practical purpose im going to fall out of my chair. what an absolute waste of metal.

but yeah, after this i think im going to look around for a good price on a Native, or perhaps a used one.
 
Blackhearted said:
'spot' or 'civilian matriarch' and i wonder wether or not the blade was truly born out of pure utility/function or just to make something wierd/scary looking that would appeal to that type of buyer.
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These knives were purpose built. The Civilian and Matriarch were a request from a law enforcement agency (South African, if memory serves me) for a back-up knife anybody could use if the situation got dire. The SPOT serves a similar purpose, but is more utilitarian.

The difference between these knives and other companies' is what I mentioned earlier about hype. Yes, Spyderco makes (or made) these wicked knives, and unlike the rest of Spyderco's line, these aren't simple tools. Make no bones about it, they're designed to be used on flesh.

But you'll also notice that these aren't really meant to be killing tools, or even necessarily lethal. "Hit and run" I believe is the term Spyderco used. As evil and wicked as the Civilian might look, if you're looking for a true weapon, a Civilian isn't a good choice (you can't stab with it, for one thing). It's purpose built to let the user disable an attacker long enough to save the user's ass (draw a gun, run away, etc).

What Spyderco doesn't do is flash them about like they're God's gift to tactical weaponry. These knives are not advertised; you won't see them in a magazine ad. You won't hear claims of how dangerous or lethal they are. Compare this to companies like Cold Steel, Masters of Defense, or ( :barf: ) Dark Ops.

That's the difference between Spyderco and other companies.
 
I felt the same way you do about their appearance. The more I looked however, the more I liked them. Their appearance simply grew on me and now I think I simply like their uniqueness. In particular, I like their leaf shaped blade style (manix, delica, etc...). I also like the hole more as I use the Scorpius I own. I think that I need the 14mm hole instead of the smaller version, but I do NOT have the same "thumb stud is best" opinion I used to have.

If you will forgive me for being blunt, I think that you should shop elsewhere and find a knife you like. It is your money after all and you don't want to waste it on a knife that does not appeal to you.

So far here is the tally sheet for your opinions:

Bad:
don't like style/design on a single one (maybe Native)
ugly or weird due to geometry (many)
don't like grip taper (specific)
looks flimsy and ungainly(specific)
lock failure
don't like the name (specific)
don't like serrations
blame the company for serration fad
to cheap to keep (kitchen knives)
don't like the metals (specific)


Good:
good quality
maybe like the Native

Perhaps a nice Benchmade??? :p
 
wow, talk about taking things out of context :)
basically everything under your 'bad' list are just points that i made to qualify why i dont like their apppearance. the name 'delica' i thought was a poor choice, as i described above, the knife looked flimsy to me.

i stated that i held them partly responsible for the mass serrated blade fad these days was half joking, but yeah - honestly i think serrations should always be an 'option' unless its specifically designed as a seatbelt cutting rescue knife, or other specific purpose knife for example. my personal opinion is that serrations flourish because the average person doesnt know how to sharpen a knife, and when the factory edge dulls then theyre left with a dull useless one. serrated blades stay sharp longer, and therefore give the illusion of being better. the reality is that they are only better for a couple of tasks, but are vastly outperformed by a well ground, well-sharpened plain blade on everything else.
i dont hate the fact that serrated blades are so widely available - i hate that fact that usually trying to get a plain edged blade these days is a nightmare. either they are only offered in a CE, or they have plain blades but they are never in stock or always on back order. ive passed up many great designs because they were only offered in a CE.
 
I like Spydercos because of their design variety. Some are just plain ugly and I wouldn't own 'em if they were free, but others appeal to me. You can thank Spyderco for one-handed opening and pocket clips as well. Not that they invented them, but they produced them in production numbers that the knife industry couldn't ignore and now those features are commonplace. :cool:
 
I also thought serrations were bunk. Until I got a Delica fully serrated. It simply cuts better than anything I've ever owned.
And using the Sharpmaker video, I learned how to sharpen the serrations and it is as easy (almost) as a plain edge.
Further, I also thought they LOOKED strange. Only ....using.... one gives the full picture.
I look at the BM Ritter RSK1 and think I would like it. Then I use my Delica and forget about it.
:)
 
btw - what was the first spyderco? and when was it made?

i just pretty much see so many models selling, i think ive seen all of them at one time (the ones on that spyderco id page), so perhaps im judging them too harshly if some of these knives were designed in the late 80s :)
 
I'll agree they're mostly pretty ugly, but I like a lot of them though. This is one of my favorites and I think in this case it's a really beautiful design.
C65P.jpg
 
Blackhearted, I felt the same way about Spydies for a number or years, right up until a freind gave me an Endura in VG10. They may not look like much, but they are great users and confortable to carry and use.

Oh yea, Spyderco has a great QA/QC program and warranty.


Steve
 
heh..
so i guess the concensus is 'yeah, theyre ugly but get one and it will grow on you'?

but if i buy, say, a native - thats not going to help a delica grow on me much. i guess ill have to try one of the nastier ones.. perhaps ill snipe some ebay auctions or look around for used ones for sale.
 
With the exception of the Centofante, I'd probably have to agree with you on the low end of the Spyderco models. However, on the high end, Spyderco has this sort of...understated beauty. The knives are beautiful because of their blade shape, or the simple contrast of stainless steel on the hilt against black g10. Take the Chinook for example.

sp63gpjb.jpg


This knife is beautiful because it's understated. It's not being overt, like say, a Benchmade Swithback (also beautiful, but a different kind). It relies on the blade shape, the hilt shape and the simple contrast between the steel pins and the black scales. And for me, it works. Here's another example, the persian, which I like for the same reasons:

C83BM_M.jpg


Last but certainly not least is the Spyderfly, which is a little more radical, but ultimately, relies on the shape and contrast between the bead blast finish and the polished blade. It is my favorite looking knife right now, perhaps past even my beloved M16.


B01_M.jpg



So basically, I like a lot of Spydercos because of their simplicity and understated appearance. I like black (a lot). I love it even more when it is contrasted with steel. Reminds me of my car. I also really like the blade shape of the average spyderco.
 
I didn't give Spyderco much more than a casual glance for years. Then I held one in my hand at a gun show. I felt like I'd been missing the boat for years at that point. Best way to put it. It is like there are two kinds of beauty I guess. The kind you see with your eyes and the kind you feel with your hands.

Spydercos seemed to me to be like knives made more for fit feel and function with looks as a secondary offering. They look funky sometimes but when a knife is 'made in the dark' because you are going for feel I guess it won't be a conventional look in the end. Look at the Dodo for example. Funky as hell looking but put it in your hand and suddenly you realize what I'm talking about.

Then I met Sal and the rest is, well history. Sal mixes it up here with us low lifes. He listens to us, he answers us and our questions and pretty much does things I don't see other knife manufacturer big wigs doing and that has won him a lot of support from guys like me. I spent my life building relationships and keeping customers by similar things and loyalty means a lot to me so I think there is a bias on my part at this point.

Truthfully though, for the money you get a lot of knife. A great warranty, premium steels and not the bottom of the barrel stuff you see from other manufacturers many times for the same money. They also upgrade pretty well for a guy like me that likes to rebuild knives.

One other thing that has come up about Spyderco knives is how well they sell on the used market if you need to raise a few dollars quick to please the wife or just buy another knife or something. Compare them to other brands in this and you'll see it is pretty much true. You can list another brand for sale and not even get a reply to your add but Spydies sell usually pretty well. It might not be a big deal to some that just buy one knife to carry and keep but to an 'addict' like me? In a way it is pretty cool to be able to buy a knife for $50 plus or minus, carry it for a year or more and sell it pretty quick for $35 to feed the need for a new knife. Of course I do this with Cold Steel and some Bench Mades also but not all can raise money as quick as these ones seem to.

Obviously I've been bitten by the Spyder Bug. Beware the bite of the Spyder you could be bitten too. :D

End Rant.
 
I find it hard to believe you can look at all the models and still can't find one that looks good as they come in all shapes and sizes.
I like the way Spyderco makes so many distinctive models that will perform as they were ment to. Other brands seem to make a lot of variations of basically the same model or a lot of good looking models that will not work as intended.
 
Since appreciating a knife's looks is subjective I won't attempt to change your mind. I find the Viele, Herbst, Lum Chinese, and Schemmp Persian to be very attractive designs. With Spyderco the proof is in the usage. They are purpose built and ultimately I am buying it to use it.

And BTW the Delica is anything but delicate.

Jack
 
balisongs are illegal in canada so i didnt even allow myself to consider that one lest i get my hopes up...
the chinook - i really like the handle, but the blade.. ehh. i am not really a fan of curved clip point blades, and this one.. well, it doesnt get any more 'curved clip point' than that :)

i think the strange blade shapes might be whats doing it on most of the spydercos for me. i really like both the blade geometry and hilt of the native. was that designed in house or as a collaboration?

i also sortof like the:
C55 - Bob Terzuola Starmate
C56 - Tim Zowada
C36 - Military <- maybe

but except for the military, the native, starmate and zowada are probably the 'least spyderco looking knives of the bunch'. ill grab a native, and ill pick up the fugliest looking spyderco i can find just to see if it 'grows on me' :)
 
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