Best custom collab

Harry Callahan

Harry Callahan

Fresh outta warranty
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Pretend you are sitting in the conference room of the Ritz Carlton on the outskirts of Golden. Sal and Eric are right outside. You have your whiteboard and your presentation slideshow, but you know how Sal is... He's gonna tell you to cut the bull. Get to the point. Who had the best custom collab? Why should Spyderco re-run it? How did you get in here?

These questions have merit. But the one we'll be concerned with is this.... Who, in the history of Spyderco had the best custom collab? What model is it? How did you arrive at this conclusion?
 
Ed Schempp-Khurkri; the most natural cutting knife I've used-Sprint run featuring a titanium framelock and S90V steel. Needs to be rerun because the TK article is really blowing it up.

I'd sneak in through the window with a CountyComm grappling hook. :D:D
 
Jess Horn. Every one of them. Would love to see a Jess Horn fixed blade.
 
Ed Schempp, with the C83 Persian. It's the best looking knife Spyderco ever sold, solid as a rock, superbly ergonomic and, aside from their failure to package it with both LH and RH clips and mounting holes, totally ambidextrous. Lots of interest in a re-run over on the Spyderco factory forum, so the market is there. And, for a fresh marketing twist, I'd suggest that, in addition to a "normal" version, they also offer it "naked", aimed at those with their own ideas for scale material.

As for how I got in, geek-fu of course. :D Hacked the hotel's computer system, added myself to the guest list, then simply strolled in the front door.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
The Deacon said:
Ed Schempp, with the C83 Persian. It's the best looking knife Spyderco ever sold, solid as a rock, superbly ergonomic and, aside from their failure to package it with both LH and RH clips and mounting holes, totally ambidextrous. Lots of interest in a re-run over on the Spyderco factory forum, so the market is there. And, for a fresh marketing twist, I'd suggest that, in addition to a "normal" version, they also offer it "naked", aimed at those with their own ideas for scale material.

As for how I got in, geek-fu of course. :D Hacked the hotel's computer system, added myself to the guest list, then simply strolled in the front door.

Paul
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Paul beat me up again. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to say it that well.
I EDC C83 every day since I bought my first Persian. Ergos and cutting abilities are amazing, at least for me. I have lifetime supply (as well as few more Persiannuts), so I can live well without sprint, but I feel sorry for people who cannot experience this amazing tool, just because they cannot afford current street price. So I am for sprint with both hands. I will buy couple.
 
Bob Lum. He was rightfully a legend while he still lived, and I think he gave Spyderco the best collabs anyone could've hoped for. I would tell Sal to bring back the Lum Tanto, C46 and FB03.

I arrived at my conclusion based on personal taste and the fact that you will never find one laying around waiting to be sold.
 
The good news: the good old days are now. IMO: the Gayle Bradley.

Fit and finish? top notch.

Materials? Best Spyderco has offered.

Design? flawless, or so close it doesn't matter.

Price? All this for under a buck and a quarter in my mailbox? You must be kidding?
 
I agree JNewell, my Gayle Bradley arrived today and I've had all the ones mentioned so far. It's like Spyderco decided to open a custom shop. This knife is not only the sharpest Spydie I've ever received, but also the best fit and finish I've ever experienced. I also have a buddy who has one and he's been seriously using it. He can't get the blade to dull after two months of hard use. This knife is truly astonishing!
 
some of my favorite collaborations are the yojimbo and the t mag. i would like to see the t mag redone with a conventional lock and the yojimbo redone with a ball bearing lock, that would be cool! :D
 
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From the standpoint of sheer longevity in the product catalog, the Moran fixed blade may well be "the best" custom collab. For one thing it is (by leaps and bounds) the longest lived custom collab. It also had the honor of being the debut vehicle for VG-10 blade steel. The early ones with the Moran grind and the leather sheath are highly collectable.

The goddard stayed in the product catalog for a long time also. It has a few sprint runs under it's belt too. The gray FRN sprint, the burgundy FRN sprint, the white micarta sprint. Now the new baby goddard sprint. Add all those sprints to the abnormally long time that the original stayed in the lineup and you have another winner.

These forums have a lot of folks hollering for one thing or another but how much does all that squalling actually translate to hard sales? People are actually buying these Morans and Goddards, apparently in big enough numbers to keep them (well the Moran at least) in the lineup.
 
I agree about the GB. I've had a few nice Spyderco Collaborations and I think right now, the GB is it for me.
 
To be honest, Sal's designs fit my hands best. To pick a collab. knife it would be the Bradley, and Ed S. is up there too, especially if they ever do his 3V "Tuff" design.
 
The Deacon said:
Ed Schempp, with the C83 Persian. It's the best looking knife Spyderco ever sold, solid as a rock, superbly ergonomic and, aside from their failure to package it with both LH and RH clips and mounting holes, totally ambidextrous...
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My thoughts exactly Paul. I think all Ed's knives are outstanding, but the full size Persian takes the cherry.
I still dream of an anniversary edition, with (say) Devin Thomas damascus blade, Ed's mosaic damascus bolsters and undented lock. As for the handles, I can live with stag... :rolleyes:
 
I would say Khukuri or GB but they can still be had pretty easily. Hands down for me it would be the large Persian but I sure would love a left handed option.

So, Ed Schempp.
 
I had completely spaced the Moran and other fixed blades. I have one of the original FB01s with the "appleseed" edge. It is one of my very top favorite fixed blades. And you're right, for pure sales and longevity, it must be near the top.

Harry Callahan said:
From the standpoint of sheer longevity in the product catalog, the Moran fixed blade may well be "the best" custom collab. For one thing it is (by leaps and bounds) the longest lived custom collab. It also had the honor of being the debut vehicle for VG-10 blade steel. The early ones with the Moran grind and the leather sheath are highly collectable.

The goddard stayed in the product catalog for a long time also. It has a few sprint runs under it's belt too. The gray FRN sprint, the burgundy FRN sprint, the white micarta sprint. Now the new baby goddard sprint. Add all those sprints to the abnormally long time that the original stayed in the lineup and you have another winner.

These forums have a lot of folks hollering for one thing or another but how much does all that squalling actually translate to hard sales? People are actually buying these Morans and Goddards, apparently in big enough numbers to keep them (well the Moran at least) in the lineup.
Click to expand...
 
Phil Brown said:
Bob Lum. He was rightfully a legend while he still lived, and I think he gave Spyderco the best collabs anyone could've hoped for. I would tell Sal to bring back the Lum Tanto, C46 and FB03.
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Agree with all of this, but if forced to choose one, it would be the fixed blade Lum in a new steel, perhaps with G-10 as an option to micarta.
 
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