Spyderco Am I the only one who just can't do it?

Hale Storm

Hale Storm

Kydex Whisperer
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I love Spyderco knives. I have several in my edc rotation, my truck box, my shop, etc. and I constantly watch for new models to come out. Sal and Eric are awesome and I can't say enough about the company and the products.
BUT, for some reason, I just can't get my head around the models made in Taiwan.
Maybe it's the price. It's hard for me to pay mid tech prices for some of the models made in Taiwan. And I know that the quality is there from the models made in Taiwan or Sal wouldn't put them on the market.
Here's a good example. The Spyderco Smock. I LOVE the design. Might be in my top 5 Spydies of all time. But for $150 bucks or so, I can't justify buying one made in Taiwan when I can get a PM2 or Manix for less, with the same steel, or better, made right here in the U.S.A. and for less money.
Maybe it's my Patriotism, but I own a couple Seki models.
I'd love to hear from others and see if I'm the only one who has a weird aversion to the Taiwanese made Spydies.
 
Maybe. The Golden models are awesome, no doubt. My Shamans are some of my favorite knives period. However I think my Taichung spydies are even better in the quality department. I have an Amalgam and a Gayle Bradley 2, and had a Sage 5 I sold (I prefer the para 3). All of them are exceptional. I imagine the Smock is too, but I just don't dig the design!

Seriously, you are missing out if you haven't had a Taichung. There's a reason a lot of people say they are the best Spydies!
 
Indeed, you are missing out imo. I have been on a Taichung buying spree lately, including the GB2 and the KJ Smock. They are better than my Golden knives by a little, and my Seki knives by a lot.
 
I have no issue with Taiwan, and have to say that I have loved every single Taichung Spydie I've ever owned and quite a few of them have come and gone through my collection over the years. The fit and finish of those knives has been lightyears ahead of the Golden Spydies I've owned and still own, that much I can tell you.

The only Spyderco knives I have issue with buying are those which cross the $300 threshold. When I'm looking to spend money past that, other brands tend to command my attention.
 
I read Spyderco as an American company so buying their knives supports US jobs. The profit from those China, Italy, or Taiwan knives flows back to the USA to build the company.

A little while ago some folks started a bull**** stirring thread about where the clips and hardware on the USA Spyderco's were made. Very aggressively demanding answers. Sal came into the thread and explained the USA knives get USA made hardware.

The 2 folks looking to stir stuff up dried up and blew away. The didn't say thank you. They didn't want US made hardware. They wanted to start a little tweetstorm about that & were upset to be denied their ammunition. That type of insular attitude masquerading as national pride is damaging.
 
I am most partial to USA Spyderco models but that is because I prefer those designs.
My GB1 and my 2 Sages are the only Taiwan Spyderco knives I own but that really is because the others don’t interest me.
 
Danke42 said:
$150 is mid tech pricing?
Click to expand...

I think he was alluding to knives like the Drunken and Paysan. I have to say when I handled a Drunken I was seriously impressed with it. I really want one, but it is just way over my self imposed limit. If I ever find one for less than 3 bills I'll probably bite, but I just can't do $410.

I wish they would make a similar model with a different steel and G10. If they could somehow cut the price in half I would be all over it!
 
I like a lot of the Taiwan Spydies. As Danke said above, I just think of Spydercos as Spydercos. Since it is my favorite brand, I just get what I like the best, and can afford. Right now, I have Seki and Golden, but would love to get others as well.
 
I have a taichung and it's a fantastic knife.
I do try and stay true to U.S. made.
D Danke42 makes me feel good about having a Taichung after his explanation.
 
The Taichung models, even the more expensive ones, are still well worth the price in my opinion.
 
I only own two. One is Seki and the other I am not sure about.

The Seki model was kinda of a let down when I got it. I had always heard how great Seki Spyderco’s were so I expected much more than what I received. Not a bad knife though.

I was always taught that US production and Seki knives were the best. Now you guys are telling me that is not the case?
 
sabre cat said:
I only own two. One is Seki and the other I am not sure about.

The Seki model was kinda of a let down when I got it. I had always heard how great Seki Spyderco’s were so I expected much more than what I received. Not a bad knife though.

I was always taught that US production and Seki knives were the best. Now you guys are telling me that is not the case?
Click to expand...

Like I said before, I love my Golden spydies, but my amalgam and gb2 are even better. The gb2 has been called a Taiwan Sebenza. I don't know how close it really is to a CRK, but it is a fine knife and very high quality!

Still love my Shamans though!
 
doesn't spyderco manufacture in other countries to keep pricing down?? if some of these knives were american made the prices would far surpass that of the shaman. I've got a few sekis and they're awesome....I once too only wanted golden made but that went away after picking up a seki made knife
 
Just was at the post office picking up this.

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It is my understanding that Spyderco’s US plant was not at a point to expand production so Sal looked overseas.

The money brought in from his overseas products allowed Sal to expand US production and offer a larger line of knives.

Personally, I have to admire Sal for not going offshore just to save a buck or two.
 
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