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

The US has no better "friend" and supporter, from an international relationship standpoint, than Taiwan.

And, as others have stated, the Taiwan manufactured knives are arguably as good or better than the Golden manufactured products.
 
IMO, the Golden made knives do represent a better value than their Taichung offerings, but as others have said, the Taichung knives actually have better F&F. I have no hesitation in ordering a Spydie from either factory, but I don't have a strong preference for one or the other.
 
Taiwan Spyderco's have been hit or miss for me. Gayle Bradley 1 and Domino are great. Ikuchi and Smock were not good, the Ikuchi terrible.
 
The Byrd line has virtually identical FFG geometry to their mainlines, so I usually look there if I'm after one of their imports. I have a Manix 2 LW in BD-1 that has behaved like a freshwater "salt" for as long as I've had it. Great beach and pool knife. Those are my main two uses for Spyderco's and they've held up so darn well (Byrd Cara Cara 2) that I don't have a need to get more yet. A Paramilitary 2 LW Salt would probably change that though.
 
I agree, Taichung Spydercos are fantastic. The Gayle Bradley 2 is arguably a better value than most Golden models. I'd recommend giving that a try! It's only a simple demonstration of what Taichung is about.
 
It’s neat how Spyderco knives made in different factories all have a different feel, but all are still unmistakably Spyderco.

Taiwan made versions have the highest level of finish, and tighter tolerances.

Golden, Colorado is in a close second, with Japan right behind and in some models paralleled.

China made value versions are still well built and highly functional.
 
I'm impressed by all of their offerings granted sometimes the designs are flawed but for the most part I have no problem buying from any of their factories.

They're just a damn good company and have earned my trust when it comes to f&f.
 
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Hale Storm said:
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.
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Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I'd buy a lot more spydercoes if they weren't made overseas.
 
Wolverine666 said:
In my opinion , the Tai Chung models are a cut (no pun intended) above the rest of Spyderco’s offerings. The level of quality/fit and finish you get for the asking price is fantastic.
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IF the above examples aren't enuf to convince the OP, then consider the Slysz Bowie...considered by some to be the ultimate Spyderco creation....
 
good things come out of the Taiwan Spyderco facility, enough of my spydercos arrived to my house with 'Taiwan' stamped on the blade, and i just decided to ignore it and use the knife for what it was --- and you know what? no complaints

furthermore:
Sal knows that hundreds of thousands of people, probably millions of people, use and rely on spyderco knives, the last thing he will do is open a factory overseas without heavy spyderco brand QC and oversight, and let the quality slip like the sands of time, the factory in Tai Chung is superb
 
My Rhino & Chaparral LW are both excellent. The quality of the fit & finish on both is just as good as my Golden models, as well as my older Seki models.
 
I own or have owned in excess of 100 Spyderco knives over the last 25 years or so. Taiwan made knives are my least favourite. I have a Taichung made Chaparral and a Brouwer in my rotation but in all honesty they would get a lot more pocket time if the tang stamp said Japan or USA ... not because they are bad knives but for me, my "pride of ownership" on Taiwan made knives just isn't on the same level as it would be for a knife made by a specialist cutler in Japan or at the mothership in the US. I could be very wrong but my uninformed perception is that the the Taiwan made knifes are just "things" made in a factory that could be repurposed to make washing machines or whatever and as a result they lack the soul of a knife made at the founder's home facility or in a city of cutlers like Seki.

Not a popular opinion and it is quite possibly flawed but no amount of good reviews on the fantastic Taichung made knives has been able to change that. This old dog is just looking at the new tricks thinking ... nah, I'll leave that to the youngsters.
 
I only have one Spyderco Taiwan-made knife, a Cat.
  • Extremely well made. Totally solid knife with very well done G10, a compression lock and steel liners, I like the BD1N alloy, and the the ergonomics are fantastic. It was ~$60.
  • A similar Golden-made knife is the L'il Native in S30V and compression lock. It runs about double that price. Part is the S30V and part is the US-made. I'm not certain that there is a manufacturing cost difference between a compression lock and a liner lock.
I'll likely end up buying a L'il Native, just to try it because I'm a knife knut and I gotta try everything. However, from a "Is the Cat worth what I paid" perspective, the Cat is worth every penny and were I not a knife knut I'd not bother trying the L'il Native.
 
I was a bit taken aback by the made in Taiwan thing too. I understand and admire Taiwans hope/quest for independence but will they ever completely stand on their own two feet?

Anyway.
Since it is where the Spyderco I wanted was made I bought it. Then I bought another. I am very pleased with the Spydercos I have bought from the Taichung facility.
Would I prefer they were made in the USA, absolutely.
Would I pay 10% more for the same knife made in the USA, absolutely.
Would I pay 20% more for the same knife made in the USA, yes, yes I would.

Now I can’t answer the question of complete manufacturing costs per unit of equal products coming from the two different facilities, but I doubt the 20% I would be willing to hand over would cover it. Perhaps that would be better discussed in another thread.
 
soc_monki said:
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!
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I had the Vallotton and loved it. Just can't get past that Taiwan labeling on the knife I guess.
 
Danke42 said:
$150 is mid tech pricing?
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It is for a working class schlub like me. At $150, I'll use the hell out of a knife. At $300-$400 on up, I'm more careful how I use it.
 
Quiet said:
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.
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I agree. The only one I'd pass that threshold on is the Lionspy. YMMV.
 
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