Blade Show Awards: Where's Spyderco?

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toothed

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Despite the numerous new models Spyderco has introduced recently, I haven't heard Sypderco mentioned as an award winner at the recent Blade Show. Does anyone have comments on why this happened?

I hope that it is not because Spyderco has lost touch with the "pulse" of the pocket knife enthusiasts' ever changing wants and needs. The intent of this thread is not to start a flame war but to honestly and objectively assess what happened and why--with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Spyderco remains at the leading edge of pocket knife design and functionality.
 
I don't pay a whole lot of attention to all the Industry Awards, but I've noticed this. BM seems to get a lot of attention and Spyderco very little. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
I've also noticed that gun stores in particular seem to be enamored with BM. Many I've been in don't even offer Spydies :rolleyes:
I have to go to an "outdoor adventure" oriented store in order to find them.
The police supply stores leave me wondering if Law Enforcement even knows about Spyderco. Maybe it's just a local thing here.

I think most "normal" people judge a knife only on it's looks. This leaves Spyderco out in the cold. My L'il Temperance is the best folder I've ever used. I doubt I'll ever find a better knife for my needs. However, if it's judged solely on it's looks it won't win many friends in the general populice. Spyderco's superior performance has to be used to be appreciated. I don't think Sal has ever designed a knife based on how it will look. That's a good thing in my opinion but it will never woo the masses. Oh well, it's seems that there are enough of us "enlightened ELU's" to keep the bills paid in SpyderLand.

Sal, don't ever change your philosophy. It's what makes Spyderco so great!
 
Spyderco has earned the "top award" in my way of seeing things, as a Chinook/Endura and a Native are my new "EDC" folders, replacing my long-carried REKAT Sifu and Carnivour Cub.:).
 
I owned a William Henry Evolution Wharncliffe, which was a 2001 award winner (2001?). Nothing in the least bit special about that one! Sold it. Yesterday I read a post that said Kershaw took the award this year, the post included a picture of the knife and listed the materials use in it, I'm not impressed. The point is, based on my experience, that award doesn’t mean squat!
 
Originally posted by John Frederick
I think most "normal" people judge a knife only on it's looks. This leaves Spyderco out in the cold. My L'il Temperance is the best folder I've ever used. I doubt I'll ever find a better knife for my needs. However, if it's judged solely on it's looks it won't win many friends in the general populice. Spyderco's superior performance has to be used to be appreciated. I don't think Sal has ever designed a knife based on how it will look. That's a good thing in my opinion but it will never woo the masses. Oh well, it's seems that there are enough of us "enlightened ELU's" to keep the bills paid in SpyderLand.

Sal, don't ever change your philosophy. It's what makes Spyderco so great!
Click to expand...
I whole heartly agree.
Part of my reason at first of not picking up a spyderco because of the price (didn't know a cheap place to buy) and also they don't exactly look the best.
After trying the Endura on VG10/FRN, it changed my mind immediately.
 
Thanx for the post Calyth, and for John's comments.

The Blade magazine Show awards are most often selected from their showing in a glass showcase set up for contest entrants. Our new models are generally innovative and that innovation cannot be seen or understood when the piece is just sitting in the showcase. Judges are encouraged to go around to each booth to examine the enrants, but few actually do. We appreciate and respect those that do.

Spyderco supports the contest and we did go around to each booth (personally), examined the entrants and voted on our choices. There is a wealth of interesting new concepts and designs that are shown at the Blade Show each year. Probably more than at any other show.

sal
 
Folks,

Interestingly, I but Spyderco knives (or bagan buying them...) specifically because of the looks only to be pleasantly surprised at their superior performance.


Jeff/1911.
 
I like the untraditional look of most Spyerco's and in function they can't be beat. They look useable where as some other company's knives have a custom made knife look and are pretty, how useable are they?
 
No matter how many knives I buy the spydies always find their way into my pocket. They are great knives, awards or no awards and the serrated ones never seem to get dull. They win all the awards in my eyes :D
 
Who says superior things have to look good.
In the computing world, I use Linux quite often, but it dosn't always look as good as Windows, does that prevent me from using Linux? Hell no.
Interesting how history repeated itself in front of my eyes.
 
Sal, thanks for shedding some light on this subject. I do not have the opportunity to attend knife shows but am exposed to them via magazine advertising and internet forums. And I suspect, so do many other forum members. With all of the new designs released by Spyderco, I found it odd that I never heard any mentioned as an award winner.

We often hear the phrase, "...you had to be there to [fill in the blank]." Apparently, there is much truth to that saying. We hear the results of show contests and awards but are never privy to the judging procedures/criteria and the practices of the judges. How can anyone evaluate and make judgements on a knife without handling it? Almost like the concept of "Picture Brides" where you have all the criteria you need to marry someone based on a photo of that person. Certainly, and unfortunately, I now have a different regard towards the Blade show awards. Almost like one (here unnamed) auto magazine's "Car of the Year" designation which makes me wonder under my breath, "What the ....?"

I can see why manufacturers that did not win an award (but should have been deserving) would not bring light to the "(imo)bogus" procedures lest they be labeled "sour grape, sore losers." Until the Blade Show organizers can develop more meaningful judging, I suggest that they establish a new award category: Best Look But Don't Touch Knife. ;)
 
ACtually Spyderco has won a total of nine awards over the years, but nothing recently. I suspect that the judging method is in need of attention. I know that Steve Shackleford was talking about some changes. Although most seem to be pleased with the contest as it is.

sal
 
well the BM knives are more eye candy then spydercos to most people (me included) but imo spyderco has always been much more practical and effective in it's designs, spyderco models are no nonsense models. and the kershaw rainbow leet won this year i think and imo it's not a bad knife sure the materials is not too great but it's a pretty, solid and nifty little knife.
 
Judges DON"T pick up the knives?!?! Man, I'd be dying to get my hands on every dang one. I can't go into my fav stores and not at least touch one or two knives. How odd, its thier job to asses knives, and they don't mess with em...oh well.
 
Hi!

Just to clarify things a bit. The "judges" of the Blade Show Manufacturing Awards are actually the manufacturers. The manufacturers that decide to enter their products for an award are judged by their peers at the show.

Ideally, the manufacturer will have one of the model in the cases, and another at their booth so that the "judges" can handle the knives.

As Sal indicated above, some of those judging manufacturers don't always take the time away from their booths to visit each of the entrant's booths. Often, a prototype will be entered, and there will only be one available - leaving the manufacturer with a decision to make - booth or display case. (I think this may have been Sal's dilema this year)

This year, Tracey and I took some time off of our other show duties and opened the showcases so that the entries could be "handled" by those judges that were milling around to see who was up for an award. Personally, I would like to see that become a standard practice at each year's show.

I would like to commend the majority of the voters for actually taking the time to handle each entry this year. Sal and Joyce spent quite some time at the cases discussing amongst themselves their choices for the various winners. They are a class act. :)

Oh, and by the way, manufacturers aren't allowed to vote for themselves.


Missy Beyer
Blade Magazine
 
Missy, thanks for sharing the contest procedures with us. Based on your comments, it is encouraging to hear that the show organizers (well, at least you and Tracey) are somewhat aware that there is room for improvements in the judging process.

In addition to the voting by the participating manufacturers, is it feasible to also have a parallel contest where the fans attending the show are able to vote for their favorites in each category--or, if not--at least a people's choice "Best In Show" award? I think that award would have more meaning for me in deciding my next knife purchase. Oh yeah, don't forget you gotta let the fans handle the knives before they vote. :D
 
Hi Missy. Welcome to the Spyderco forum and thanx for posting. I'm afraid I'm going to have to contradict you though on a few points.

I did the voting with my son Eric. Joyce was not involved. Eric and I spent more than 3 hours going to each booth to inspect and handle each of the entrants. We did manage to see 95% of the entrants at the booths. We did not go near the case (intentionally). We carefully did our analysis and voted for what we, as judges, felt was the best in the show.

I think to say that the voting is done by the manufacturers, may be a bit misleading. When Bruce Voyles changed the voting methods to each booth having the voting power, there were only about 30 - 40 booths. Each booth was manned by knowledgable, "qualified" judges. Spencer Frazier, Les deAsis, David Bloch, CJ Buck, etc. We were all knife designers and knife makers and we voted against each other. Truly a voting of "peers".

This year, we went to more than 100 booths. The booths are mostly manned by salespeople, reps, secretaries, etc. fewer than 10 of the 100+ that we spoke with didn't even know the type of steel that was in the knives entered.

only 4 or 5 "judges" came to our booth to inspect product. Kershaw sent knowledgble people, Spencer Frazier was walking around, David Bloch came by, but far fewer than I would have hoped. I must also commend those that took the contest seriously enough to extend the time to go around.

As you know, we didn't enter anything this year. We felt that the more than 20 protos & concept knives that we had to show could not have been accurately judged by visual inspection in a glass case. Invention must be explained to knowledgable people. IMO, Creating a new steel or a new lock has no value to people that don't know one steel or one lock from another.

I thank you for your interest and commend your involvement. I support the Blade Magazine, the Show and the contest as I always have. You are part of a great magazine that puts on the best knife show in the world, by far. I do believe that changes are again necessary in the judging methods. If the Academy Awards or the Olympics didn't have expert judges, the prettiest dress wins.

I have been attending the Blade Magazine Show since it was in TN (almost 20 years) and I have strong thoughts on the contest. This discussion might be better had via email and not through such a public venue.

sal
 
Hi Sal!

Thanks for the input. I have to apologize - I thought that you and Joyce had been up at the cases from something Tracey had said - I mis-understood her, as she was referring to another booth holder. But, that doesn't take away your "class act" standing. :)

When it comes to the Blade Show, you have attended many more than I have. Do you think anyone would believe that I was in Grade School when you first attended the show? I didn't think so... ;)

I can totally see your point about the difference in today's show verses when the award started all those years ago. Without speaking for all of the Blade Staff or the Blade Show in general (that's not my place)perhaps it is time to re-evaluate some things.

However, that's not to say that anything should be taken away from those that won the awards this year. Those that did enter their products and won awards were deserving and had excellent products represented. The overall opinion at the show seemed to be that the best knives and accessories took home awards.

There were many "judges"(some of who you mentioned) up at the display cases "checkin out the competition" while Tracey and I were there - we spent better than half of the day at those display cases. Perhaps more judges didn't visit to check out your new product this year because you hadn't entered the contest. My guess would be that those you mentioned are basically looking at your concepts because they see them as some of the best in the industry - worthy of their attention without an entry in the contest.

When it comes right down to it, I don't make the decisions when it comes to the awards, thank goodness. I posted just to clarify how the judging was done. I would hate to think that people thought it was based on which ones Missy liked best :).

I'm sure you and those that make such decisions have been talking, and that other manufacturers have had input too, so I'll leave it at that and look forward to seeing you at the next show.

Missy

:D
 
Originally posted by BladeGal
I would hate to think that people thought it was based on which ones Missy liked best :).
Click to expand...
Well tell us what did liked best in the show. There are plenty of people like me who can't make it to Blade Show.
I like the car magazine analogy. There are plenty of awards for Toyota Corolla (my parent's car) but I bloody hates it. I don't even know why people like it so much... apparently they didn't get the chance to abuse them like I did when I used to deliver food.
Same for many Spydercos. The Ladybug was able to slice cardboard just as well as the Endura FRN, and heck, I have other knifes in AUS6 that couldn't cut like the Ladybug does....
Interesting how nowadays they have sales reps who don't really know how to best judge the knives in the show judging knives, and they don't even know what their products are made of.
Marketing.... :mad:
 
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