Comparison of Three Small Compression Lock Folders

RamZar

RamZar

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Mar 3, 2013
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You now have a choice of three small Compression Lock folders all with 2.9"-3.0" blades of S30V and either G-10 or CF/G-10 scales.

  • Para3 (USA): $119.97
  • Sage5 (Taiwan): $137.97
  • Lil Temperance3 (Japan): $191.97

Am I the only who thinks the price of Japanese made G-10 folders are out of whack?!
 
Yeah, I hear you. And guess which one I want to buy? :p I would guess the high wages for Japanese labor and possible tariffs are the culprit for this. And the other Spydercos I'm most excited about are the Chinook 4, Police 4 and ATR 2. My wallet hates me.
 
If you expand the blade material and available time frame:
  • Ouroboros (Japan): $173.97
  • Junior (Japan): $140 if you are lucky enough to get it from spyderbugs AKA the Glessers' secret private outlet, $180+ otherwise
  • Caribbean (Taiwan) $152.97
RamZar said:
Am I the only who thinks the price of Japanese made G-10 folders are out of whack?!
Click to expand...
Yes the prices of Japanese made G-10 folders are absolutely out of whack.
 
The one that got me to stand up and take notice of this fact was the Ouroboros.
Thought the price of that one was a tad high.
Tell the truth, I feel the Japan made Spydies are on the lower end of the totem pole.
 
I'm about to double quote myself:

joeldworkin307 said:
From http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1464084-LT3-100-Pacer



Japan isn't cheaper than USA. At least not much cheaper. The Para 3 is gong to be a full production knife, meaning the cost of new machinery can be spread out over more knives and make up a smaller percentage of each knife sold. The Lil Temp will only be a few thousand tops, so costs are not as spread out.
Click to expand...

The cost comes from the shipping of materials and the length of the run. Paramilitary 2 is a full production that churns out so many thousands of knives that the cost of new machinery has long been paid for. Design and development has long been paid for. Not so with new, smaller runs like the Lil Temp and Ouroboros. If we have tariffs on Japanese imports (besides cars), they are under 5%.
 
joeldworkin307 said:
Japan isn't cheaper than USA. At least not much cheaper. The Para 3 is gong to be a full production knife, meaning the cost of new machinery can be spread out over more knives and make up a smaller percentage of each knife sold. The Lil Temp will only be a few thousand tops, so costs are not as spread out.

The cost comes from the shipping of materials and the length of the run. Paramilitary 2 is a full production that churns out so many thousands of knives that the cost of new machinery has long been paid for. Design and development has long been paid for. Not so with new, smaller runs like the Lil Temp and Ouroboros. If we have tariffs on Japanese imports (besides cars), they are under 5%.
Click to expand...

Sage5 is also a smaller run and even with the more expensive CF/G-10 it costs a lot less than Lil Temperance3. So, those arguments don't wash.

Bottom line is that Japanese made Spydercos with G-10 and liners are not competitive with other Spydercos with the same materials.

It's a shame and I wish these S30V/G-10 folders coming from Japan (D'Allara, Lil Temperance3, Opus, ATR2, Chinook4, etc.) were made here in the U.S. and for similar runs they'd cost a lot less.
 
joeldworkin307 said:
I'm about to double quote myself:



The cost comes from the shipping of materials and the length of the run. Paramilitary 2 is a full production that churns out so many thousands of knives that the cost of new machinery has long been paid for. Design and development has long been paid for. Not so with new, smaller runs like the Lil Temp and Ouroboros. If we have tariffs on Japanese imports (besides cars), they are under 5%.
Click to expand...

I wasn't referring so much to American tariffs on Japanese goods, but possible Japanese tariffs on imported American steel and G10.
 
I believe the sprint caly hap40 is going on be around $135 . Not bad considering it's a spring run .
 
Even many of the Japanese made VG-10 & G-10 folders are not competitively priced.

  • Firefly: $216
  • Starmate: $200
  • Karahawk Black: $198
  • Tatanka: $198
  • Introvert: $195
  • Karahawk: $180
  • Civilian: $180
  • Ouroboros: $174
 
Not to muddy the waters, but does that explain why the Stretch seems relatively expensive? It is made in Japan, yes?
 
The compression lock is my favourite Spyderco lock plus I love the Paramilitary 2 so I would have to go with the Para 3. Can't go wrong with any of them though
 
In addition to the highest price, the smallest of the three also comes with the thickest blade:

Sage 5 -- 0.12"
Para 3 -- 0.145"
Lil Temperance 3 -- 0.157"
 
Yea many of the prices in the 2017 catalog made me shake my head, also not a huge fan of the fact that virtually every new model is being made overseas. Nothing against Japan or Taiwan, but it's still overseas production no matter how you look at it. I found this especially odd after hearing about the Golden factory being expanded.
 
I always smile when Americans complain about items not made in the USA.

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My favorite Spydercos with the highest quality are made at the Taichung factory. Sage5 has a very reasonable price even compared with the U.S. made Para3 because it has more expensive scales.
 
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