Blade stamps

[Kenix]

This has probably been asked numerous times before, but what exactly does a stamped #V next to the little spydie on the blade mean?

 

[The Deacon]

Am assuming you're talking about a V at the end of a three digit number, like this...

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In that case, it means the knife originally belonged to a Spyderco Collectors Club member who was signed up for "all variants" and that the knife was considered by Spyderco to be a variant. Spyderco designates one version of each model as the "base" version, if there are additional versions, the rest are all considered variants.

In the case of the CF Stretch II above, since it shared a model number with the original C90 Stretch and the part serrated version of that knife had been the base model, it was a variant.

In the case of the four Atlantic Salts below, the black serrated version at the bottom was the base model. All three others are variants.

Paul

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 twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam

 

[Kenix]

Ah so if a collector's club member opts to purchase a set of variants, they have the blade stamp on them? What do the specific numbers signify?

 

[Murdoc370]

That's the number the collector owns. There are about 200 of them, and obviously Paul owns the collector's club number #43

Dennis

P.S.: If you want to be informed in detail, Paul's link in his signature leads to his website where this topic is adressed. Or just click HERE.

 

[The Deacon]

Ah so if a collector's club member opts to purchase a set of variants, they have the blade stamp on them? What do the specific numbers signify?

The Club can have up to 200 members, each member has a unique number. The rules changed recently, but up until a couple months ago, someone joining the club had two options. They could choose to receive only "new models", in which case they'd get the designated base version of each new model which came out. Alternately, they could choose to receive "all variants", in which case they'd receive every new version of every model. In the case of some models like the Delica, that can add up to quite a few knives. Some "all variant" memberships are held by dealers, as a way of insuring they'll have at least a small number of any limited production variants.

Paul

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 twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam

 

[Kenix]

Got it, thanks! Very clear explanation

 

[forcedestrike]

great explanation Deacon! I wish I had read this a few years ago when I first got into Spydies. Would have saved me much time!

 

[MichaelScarn]

I've read somewhere (probably off Deacon's site) that usually the non-variant is a serrated version, so most plain edges will have a V (unless that model only comes in plain-edge).