Cheaper Compression Lock Folder

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

anyway, back to the subject. i would love to see a 154cm or vg10 para 2 with different colored frn handles. it would be like a new delica/endura series

Sounds great to me Even though the Para 2 sells very well, I think a lower priced version or similar folder would sell enough to make up the margin difference. I'd pay $70 to help cover the new tooling, design complexity, R&D time, etc. I understand a lot of the revenue now is $100+ folders from dedicated Spydie collectors but I think they could grab a lot of the $50-80 market back with a Compression Lock folder there.

 

[allyourblood]

My Para 2 came new for $90 shipped to California from a big online retailer. It's not always that price, but it does happen now and then. Agreed that it's more than $70, but you're much more likely to land one for $90 than have a new compression lock Spyderco show up before then. And hey, under a hundred bucks is under a hundred bucks, right?

 

[drbobguy]

I just wanted to also chime in and say avoid the Navy knives. I'm not saying that for ethical reasons because they are copies (or at least very strong homages) but because they're pretty shoddy knives. I love sanrenmu and Enlan knives but the Navy's I've tried are not even up to that standard, and they cost more than those cheaper knives.

 

[MountainBilly]

Sounds great to me Even though the Para 2 sells very well, I think a lower priced version or similar folder would sell enough to make up the margin difference. I'd pay $70 to help cover the new tooling, design complexity, R&D time, etc. I understand a lot of the revenue now is $100+ folders from dedicated Spydie collectors but I think they could grab a lot of the $50-80 market back with a Compression Lock folder there.

When you're done with the $70 Para with an Endura blade, please get to work on the $119 Large Sebenza.

 

[brets-ftw]

how about just a left handed para2. I think we southpaws could use a little more variety in out locks, especially with everyone raving about the compression lock.

 

[RevDevil]

how about just a left handed para2. I think we southpaws could use a little more variety in out locks, especially with everyone raving about the compression lock.

I have no problems closing it with either hand.

 

[brets-ftw]

I have no problems closing it with either hand.

Then I guess Im the only one who keeps having the knife slip out of grasp during closing. Though I'd still feel more comfortable doing the pushing with my forefinger then with my thumb as it is the only other finger on that side.

 

[photonjunkie]

It's too bad they discontinued the Spyderco "S". I didn't care for the cutouts in the blade but using it eventually led to me buying a para-military. If they had made it with a solid blade it would have probably done a lot better.

 

[willydigger]

Then I guess Im the only one who keeps having the knife slip out of grasp during closing. Though I'd still feel more comfortable doing the pushing with my forefinger then with my thumb as it is the only other finger on that side.

I agree with you. I am a lefty and quickly sold the PM2 partly due to the compression lock being a little tricky to handle. It was mostly sold because it's too big for my taste.

Regarding the OP, Spyderco's and back locks are like peanut butter and jelly. I would love for them to take a break for a while with all the back locks and make a Native, Delica, Dragonfly, with a compression or liner. I agree about the lack of steel quality. I'm not really big into steel. The 440C is fine for me. I don't need S30V and the like.

The only thing I disagree with on the OP is G10 and FRN. The Persistence/Tenacious line proves G10 is not the cost inhibitor. It's the steel. The Cat in 440C with G10 is $45. I think Spyderco could make an affordable compression lock with G10 in a 440C or 154CM at $60-80.

I'm glad you posted and would totally support the idea of a mid-sized (Delica, Native, Sage) in a cheaper steel with G10 and a compression.

 

[Chipped Karambit]

I think the vesuvius is the only compression lock that you can get for around 70
and its a centofante design so what more do you want

 

[CL01]

I think the vesuvius is the only compression lock that you can get for around 70
and its a centofante design so what more do you want

I think the compression-lock Vesuvius was the Gen 1 version during the 1st 2 yrs of production ('01-02?) & the Gen 2 ('03-?) are back-locks. I'm pretty sure the older compression-lock models are a bit more than $70 nowadays.

 

[The Deacon]

I think the compression-lock Vesuvius was the Gen 1 version during the 1st 2 yrs of production ('01-02?) & the Gen 2 ('03-?) are back-locks. I'm pretty sure the older compression-lock models are a bit more than $70 nowadays.

Something like that.

The first generation of the C66 was called the Centofante Vesuvius and had a compression lock. There were three versions of that. Two had black FRN handles, one with a shell inlay and one with a palladium "Spyderbug" inlay. The third, like the one in the photo Chipped Karambit "borrowed" from my website, was the Forum Vesuvius which featured special markings and a burgundy FRN handle. All are now worth more than $100, and the Forum version considerably more. The second generation C66 has a midlock, but it otherwise very similar to the Vesuvius while the Centofante 4 retains the handle shape and midlock, but has a wharncliffe blade.

 

[senoBDEC]

Maybe a "gent's folder" with comp lock and VG-10? Something more along the lines of the Caly 3.5 or Centofante rather than the Para 2 or Lil' Temp or ATR.

 

[Chipped Karambit]

Something like that.

The first generation of the C66 was called the Centofante Vesuvius and had a compression lock. There were three versions of that. Two had black FRN handles, one with a shell inlay and one with a palladium "Spyderbug" inlay. The third, like the one in the photo Chipped Karambit "borrowed" from my website, was the Forum Vesuvius which featured special markings and a burgundy FRN handle. All are now worth more than $100, and the Forum version considerably more. The second generation C66 has a midlock, but it otherwise very similar to the Vesuvius while the Centofante 4 retains the handle shape and midlock, but has a wharncliffe blade.

I just typed it into google image and hit im feeling lucky. sorry about that.

I list the Vesuvius because My cousin picked one up for like 70. He got the knife taken by the state sadly but still had a cheapish compression lock. Didn't exactly feel like the one on the pm2 but it worked

 

[photonjunkie]

Would love to see something like that.. I had no idea the Centofante Vesuvius existed - I really like my Centofante 3 and would love to have a similar model with a comp-lock.

Maybe a "gent's folder" with comp lock and VG-10? Something more along the lines of the Caly 3.5 or Centofante rather than the Para 2 or Lil' Temp or ATR.

 

[MountainBilly]

Even though the Para 2 sells very well, I think a lower priced version or similar folder would sell enough to make up the margin difference.

To point out the obvious: Spyderco significantly lowered the price of the Para 2 below what the Para 1 sold for, and since then has literally been selling them faster than they can make them.

 

[senoBDEC]

To point out the obvious: Spyderco significantly lowered the price of the Para 2 below what the Para 1 sold for, and since then has literally been selling them faster than they can make them.

Agreed. Honestly, with the costs of labor, materials, manufacturing processes and such and still made in the USA, it's hard to beat the price/value ratio of the Para 2 or the Military series for that matter.
I managed to snag a used but very sharp BG-42/CF Military off of the exchange for a little under 100 IIRC.

So if the OP is not willing to pay dealer price, spend some time in the exchange? Occasionally good deals do show up, though perhaps less often than before.

 

[Seanifred]

I'm still craving an H1 para2

 

[EZ Bake]

I've got to be honest, at $98 (which the satin version can be had for online), the Para2 is not only one of the best-made knives on the market today, but it's one of the best values out there. If you want a cheaper knife, you might have to give up on the compression lock - I don't know that Spyderco would ever send manufacturing of a compression lock model to China - and that's really the only place they save money on production (Japan and Taiwan produced knives aren't really that much cheaper to make).

Thinking of a Tenacious or something similar with a compression lock sounds cool, but at the end of the day, there's very little I would want to give up in my Para-2 that would justify the savings. 8CR13MOV steel is probably good enough for most folks, but just downgrading the steel won't save that much money. Lowering the quality of the G10 might save a few bucks. Replace the standoffs with a plastic back-spacer... maybe save a buck or two. They'd sell them at what... $75-$80?

Remove the choil, the lanyard-hole standoff, the bushing-system, full-flat grind, or the jimping and it's not the same knife. I don't think that a lot of folks would buy something like that at a $65+ price-point.

There are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there for folks who want a quality knife in the sub $70 market, but I just don't see the compression lock as being one of them. A lot of engineering went into designing that lock and i would bet that some of the money in the price of the Para (and Superleaf, and Jr, etc.) go towards that engineering/design.

You can find used Para-2s for $70 with plenty of life left in them if you're patient (they're few and far between), but the fact that so very few Para-2s end up in the used market (aside from like new in box or sprint-runs) is the mark of a knife people don't want to get rid of.

And that makes it worth every penny.