Best cheaper Spyderco wannabes?

When the lock fails and he nearly cuts his finger off with the "wanna-be" Spyderco, maybe he'll understand where the difference in price comes from.

Welcome to the Forums:p
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Kirk,

Welcome to Blade Forums.
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Kirk:
Chance of manufacturer of cheap spydie clone knives posting here and welcoming you to the forums = zero.

Chance of getting better quality for less money by going with a knockoff clone of a spydie = zero. You can certainly pay less, but you will get a rather junk knife for your money. Clones are designed to look like the genuine article, but they are also designed to be cheap - this is achieved by using cheap steel and mass producing with less effort on the fit & finish.

With camera lenses you will find that Sigma doesn't copy Nikon - they make a Sigma lens and offer it with a Nikon mount, which isn't the same thing at all. Knives are different - there are people that will make cheap knockoffs of well known knives, but they cut every corner possible to make them as cheaply as possible.

One thing I noticed on the OP is that there was no mention of what you want to spend and what you want to buy. Given a budget and a type of knife we could suggest a good knife that is genuine and will last well, rather than a cheapie that will fall apart after a week or two of use. If you want a good folder without spending too much then you could consider:
Spyderco Tenacious
Ontario RAT-1 (I bought one for $26)
Byrd knife of whatever model you like
Opinel knives
or for more money, but still good value:
Spyderco Endura
Spyderco Delica
many others

I have a RAT-1 and a Spyderco Endura, neither cost much and both are good quality. I have more confidence in those genuine knives than I would have in cheap knock-offs with cheap stainless steel that wont hold a good edge very well. My folders are 'shaving sharp' and the Endura blade is made from VG-10 steel - cheap clones wont use that steel because there are cheaper stainless steels that look just as good. Clones are only designed to look the same, not perform the same.
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
So, Spyderco has such a great name in the market ... there HAVE to be a few manufacturers who have tried to occupy the "get 95% of spyderco without paying for the name" position in the market, right? I know that there are many knock-offs out there, so I'm really just asking who the good ones are.

As background, I'm just thinking I should get a small or medium sized spyderco-esque folder to throw in the car for emergency seat belt situations, etc. It doesn't have to be a doomsday survival knife, but if I'm going to buy one, might as well buy quality and not junk. Good steel and good construction/design.
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You can get several great Spydies in the $35 to $50 range if you shop -- less if you buy used on the exchange. If you want similar quality for less money than that, buy a Byrd.
 
You seem to think your gonna get more for less and it dont work that way with knives for the most part. Your not gonna find an s30v blade on a 15.00 frost cutlery special. If you cant afford a 50.00 Spyderco get a 25.00 frn Byrd and be happy that you can still support one of the most innovative knife companys there are. If you go buy a frost 5.00 knock off I hope you have insurence for when the lock slips and you loose a couple fingers and if not you might enjoy the nickname stumpy.
 
This isn't going to make me many fans, and this being my first post just may end up being my last. I started coming here looking for advice about an inexpensive, small quality folder to supplement my SAK for EDC. Living in NH it's perfectly legal for me to carry a machete strapped to my hip, or anything else I might feel like I want. I had an eye on the Spyderco Embassy, but thought it prudent to see how I got along carrying something in addition to my SAK before dropping that kind of coin. After reading a ton here I went with a Byrd Robin to a.) get an idea of how a second knife would fit in my situation and b.) to get a taste of Spyderco designs before dropping $175 on an auto. Luckily the search function saved me from many a useless thread and post.

That all said, while the wording in the OP doesn't scream to me excellent choice of wording it's far from the losing fingers and supporting socialism many here are choosing to make it out to be. I am not new to the internet, but rarely have I seen a pile on backed with more hyperbole in my life. The prudent thing to do would have been to point out the difference between a substandard "knock off" and what something in the Byrd line would provide. Instead we have a bunch of strawman arguments, a pile of hyperbole and more or less a flame war. Granted after roughly post 5 the responses have been more or less a repeat of how your lock will fail, you'll lose fingers and your supporting Stalin himself. Bravo gentlemen. Well played.


Kirk

While your choice of wording might leave something to be desired, I believe I understand the gist of your question. A quality "knock off" of the Spyderco style is easily obtainable in the Byrd line. A line purpose built to provide the 95% of a Spyderco knife while being affordable to the laymen. Models I did a ton of research on were the Cara Cara, the Robin and the Meadowlark. I think those would be where I would start looking as those three models seem to be in the most popular sizes of knifes. All are sub $30 at various retail outlets and readily available in different handle materials to suit your needs. I think if you'd provide a budget, and any particulars you might have in mind as far as handle material, blade size etc. you might find some people more than willing to point you in the right direction.

Good Luck
 
Camera lenses eh? Show me a Sigma that is made as well and performs as well as a 200mm IF-ED Micro-Nikkor and I'll buy it. If knife quality is a reflection of the owner, what does that say about the owner of clones?
 
I never say never, but to find a Spyderco-inspired knife made of the same material and the same level of workmanship at lower price is going to be tough. Spyderco themselves have actually cornered the market by their Byrd line: Spyderco quality and design with cheaper material.

There are companies out there that can match Spyderco's manufacturing and management competence, but at that level they're typically competent enough to come up with their own excellent designs. They don't need to copy everything that comes out Spyderco's door.
 
NHbeau said:
This isn't going to make me many fans, and this being my first post just may end up being my last. I started coming here looking for advice about an inexpensive, small quality folder to supplement my SAK for EDC. Living in NH it's perfectly legal for me to carry a machete strapped to my hip, or anything else I might feel like I want. I had an eye on the Spyderco Embassy, but thought it prudent to see how I got along carrying something in addition to my SAK before dropping that kind of coin. After reading a ton here I went with a Byrd Robin to a.) get an idea of how a second knife would fit in my situation and b.) to get a taste of Spyderco designs before dropping $175 on an auto. Luckily the search function saved me from many a useless thread and post.

That all said, while the wording in the OP doesn't scream to me excellent choice of wording it's far from the losing fingers and supporting socialism many here are choosing to make it out to be. I am not new to the internet, but rarely have I seen a pile on backed with more hyperbole in my life. The prudent thing to do would have been to point out the difference between a substandard "knock off" and what something in the Byrd line would provide. Instead we have a bunch of strawman arguments, a pile of hyperbole and more or less a flame war. Granted after roughly post 5 the responses have been more or less a repeat of how your lock will fail, you'll lose fingers and your supporting Stalin himself. Bravo gentlemen. Well played.


Kirk

While your choice of wording might leave something to be desired, I believe I understand the gist of your question. A quality "knock off" of the Spyderco style is easily obtainable in the Byrd line. A line purpose built to provide the 95% of a Spyderco knife while being affordable to the laymen. Models I did a ton of research on were the Cara Cara, the Robin and the Meadowlark. I think those would be where I would start looking as those three models seem to be in the most popular sizes of knifes. All are sub $30 at various retail outlets and readily available in different handle materials to suit your needs. I think if you'd provide a budget, and any particulars you might have in mind as far as handle material, blade size etc. you might find some people more than willing to point you in the right direction.

Good Luck
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welcome to the forums!

actually kirk was given very solid advice, then he just made fun of spyderco buyers, rather then just say, ok, i worded it wrong, my mistake, thanks for the help. after that post of his, where he made his thoughts solid, did things go a bit south.
 
Man, there are some long posts in this thread. I'm not gonna read them all because I'm pretty sure I know what they're gonna say.

I'm the kinda guy that if some man in china wants to work his ass off to make a product just as good as another maker and wants to sell it for a good deal cheaper then I'm fine with that. His sweat is as good as any and this spurs competition, which in the long run lets everyone win.

That said, to find a knife that looks like a spyderco for cheap is easy, finding one thats is of the same quality as spyderco for cheap? Nah man, thats not likely to happen. Spyderco already pretty much gives you the best bang-for-the-buck for that kinda high quality knife.
 
NHbeau said:
This isn't going to make me many fans, and this being my first post just may end up being my last. I started coming here looking for advice about an inexpensive, small quality folder to supplement my SAK for EDC. Living in NH it's perfectly legal for me to carry a machete strapped to my hip, or anything else I might feel like I want. I had an eye on the Spyderco Embassy, but thought it prudent to see how I got along carrying something in addition to my SAK before dropping that kind of coin. After reading a ton here I went with a Byrd Robin to a.) get an idea of how a second knife would fit in my situation and b.) to get a taste of Spyderco designs before dropping $175 on an auto. Luckily the search function saved me from many a useless thread and post.

That all said, while the wording in the OP doesn't scream to me excellent choice of wording it's far from the losing fingers and supporting socialism many here are choosing to make it out to be. I am not new to the internet, but rarely have I seen a pile on backed with more hyperbole in my life. The prudent thing to do would have been to point out the difference between a substandard "knock off" and what something in the Byrd line would provide. Instead we have a bunch of strawman arguments, a pile of hyperbole and more or less a flame war. Granted after roughly post 5 the responses have been more or less a repeat of how your lock will fail, you'll lose fingers and your supporting Stalin himself. Bravo gentlemen. Well played.


Kirk

While your choice of wording might leave something to be desired, I believe I understand the gist of your question. A quality "knock off" of the Spyderco style is easily obtainable in the Byrd line. A line purpose built to provide the 95% of a Spyderco knife while being affordable to the laymen. Models I did a ton of research on were the Cara Cara, the Robin and the Meadowlark. I think those would be where I would start looking as those three models seem to be in the most popular sizes of knifes. All are sub $30 at various retail outlets and readily available in different handle materials to suit your needs. I think if you'd provide a budget, and any particulars you might have in mind as far as handle material, blade size etc. you might find some people more than willing to point you in the right direction.

Good Luck
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There have been about 3 of those posts in 3 pages of the thread. Get over yourself. If you buy junk, you deserve junk.

I hope your $5 rip off hurts when it slams shut on your hand. Some lessons need to be painful.
 
Spyderco has a lot of very affordable models on the market or you can visit the Exchange here and pick up on a used one even cheaper.

Don't get a knockoff because they just won't be up to any real standard and are basically junk.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
There have been about 3 of those posts in 3 pages of the thread. Get over yourself. If you buy junk, you deserve junk.

I hope your $5 rip off hurts when it slams shut on your hand. Some lessons need to be painful.
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Your reading comprehension clearly is top notch. Are you addressing me or the OP? Talk about getting over yourself.
 
NHbeau said:
Your reading comprehension clearly is top notch. Are you addressing me or the OP? Talk about getting over yourself.
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I am addressing both. I do have great reading comprehension, how about you? Do you need me to highlight your post and provide quotes of other posts, or the lack there of, to make things more clear?
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I am addressing both. I do have great reading comprehension, how about you? Do you need me to highlight your post and provide quotes of other posts, or the lack there of, to make things more clear?
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Oh no, not at all. Your intent is crystal clear. Nothing informational will come out of any further participation in this topic by me, or this "wonderful" conversation we're having. To be perfectly honest your combative tone is tiresome, as is your misguided sanctimony and your butchering of the written English language. Enjoy your thread I guess?
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Yeah, I certainly anticipated the backlash for daring not to pay tribute to the wonder that is Spyderco haha. I mean seriously, even suggesting that I am trying to stab Spyderco in the back? As if there is some principle that if a manufacturer comes up with a design, you shouldn't partake in the improvement and efficiencies that come from natural competition once that design is out in the marketplace? So does that mean that you stuck with betamax and laser discs? I'm not an expert, so I may be mis-speaking here, but it seems that this is sort of what Bark River is doing--I don't think they were the first knife manufacturer to come up with the idea of making great knife designs with top level steel. Their innovation seems to be more in their pricetags than their knives.

But I guess I didn't foresee that so many Spyderco loyalist would feel the need to cram this post up with non-responses. I guess I am used to photography fora, where people simply cannot afford to dismiss reasonable competitors as junk (e.g. someone who thinks that a Nikon lens will always be a better buy than a Sigma). High prices force people to try out competitors who are trying to offer more for less, and they find out that Nikon isn't the only company that knows how to make good lenses for their cameras. And this competition only makes the Nikon lenses better and more affordable--they don't die from being stabbed in the back.

Maybe the spyderco type folder market is highly irregular, but if it isn't then Spyderco will be charging more for its knives than it has to, since it has such a popular name in the market. And they have been around for many years and sold a lot of knives, so, unless the market isn't functioning correctly, competitors have gotten the bright idea that they might be able to make something that is an equivalent (or maybe a little less, or maybe a little more) without charging for the well-regarded name.

I think a lot of people are ignoring the fact that this should apply to ALL spyderco models. If the affordable Spyderco model is $30, then maybe I can get the equivalent of a BETTER Spyderco model for that same price.

But anyway, at least some on-point replies are getting through, so thank you.
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Let me address a few of the points you made:

It has nothing to do with "paying tribute to the wonder that is Spyderco." It's a matter of whether or not a "knock off" is actually a quality knife and worth the investment of money, however cheap it may be.

Improving in the design and efficiencies of a given product through competition is one matter. Buying a knock off of an existing, quality knife design is something entirely different.

If you go and do some research you'll find that most companies that dwell for the most part in the $1 - $30 ranges typically don't put out quality products. Something to note in that last sentence for everyone reading this is that I said most. That covers companies such as M-Tech, Smith & Wesson, United Cutlery and the like.

At the same time, there ARE products from respected companies such as Spyderco, Buck, and Benchmade that can be found in a similar range. The difference is typically in the construction of the knives and the grade of the materials used. It's not as if they don't understand that there aren't people out there who would like to own one of their products without paying the, considered by many to be, high prices. At the same time though, these companies also understand where their market segment is and do try to cater to it, in my opinion.

Find me a knife that a "knockoff" company produces that is comparable to a Spyderco Native, Benchmade Vex, or Buck 110 at their respective price points or cheaper as you suggested that are comprised of similar materials and construction.

Those are just my thoughts on the matter, of course.
 
If Kirk is a photographer taking photos for a living, I will not buy his photos, I will simply wait for someone to make a photocopy of his pictures and buy them instead :D

I think this thread should be nominated for this years dumbest question on BF :barf:
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
So, Spyderco has such a great name in the market ... there HAVE to be a few manufacturers who have tried to occupy the "get 95% of spyderco without paying for the name" position in the market, right? I know that there are many knock-offs out there, so I'm really just asking who the good ones are.

As background, I'm just thinking I should get a small or medium sized spyderco-esque folder to throw in the car for emergency seat belt situations, etc. It doesn't have to be a doomsday survival knife, but if I'm going to buy one, might as well buy quality and not junk. Good steel and good construction/design.
Click to expand...

Then why not buy a real Spyderco? They are not that expensive. You won't get anything good for 5$ it just won't pay for the steel and heat treatment.
 
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This thread needs a big ol hug
nbujk8.jpg
 
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