Comparison of Three Small Compression Lock Folders

John_0917 said:
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.
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yes,i find this also odd!thought we would get more knifes coming out of GC factory!maybe this next year will see more,ever notice the jimpping done at the factory can be found no where else!its just cut sharper and better then over seas.
 
blanex1 said:
yes,i find this also odd!thought we would get more knifes coming out of GC factory!maybe this next year will see more,ever notice the jimpping done at the factory can be found no where else!its just cut sharper and better then over seas.
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How true!! The jimping on the Domino is a perfect example. For all the good it does, it might as well not be there.
Shame too, its my favorite Spydie!!
Joe
 
Research the concept of Microeconomics Economy of Scale,,,, the cost to manufacture a product vs. quantity produced.
The Spyderco products from Japan with FRN are a bargain and excellent quality.
We have ZDP-189 and special runs of Super Blue and HAP40 at very attractive pricing.

Regards,
FK
 
There was a Delica VG-10 & Foliage Green G-10 back in 2008 which was selling for $118.00 which is pretty reasonable. However, if they were to release one today it will be over $150. The Massdrop Delica ZDP & G-10 which fell through was going for $170 + about $10 shipping = $180.

These Japanese made Spydercos with G-10 only become reasonably priced once they're discontinued. For instance, Battlestation with VG-10 & G-10 was selling for $191.97 but once discontinued you can now get it for a very reasonable $119.95. Worker Sprint with VG-10 & G-10 was selling for $167.97 and after being discontinued became somewhat reasonable at $134.
 
Japanese G10 is expensive. At least the Caly3HAP40 and Police4 are good deals. Most of the other Japanese G10 knives have me priced out. Just not seeing the value. I'll keep buying tons of Japaese frn though. My HAP40 Stretch was worth every penny.
 
FK said:
Research the concept of Microeconomics Economy of Scale
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Scale Exactly what we are talking about :rolleyes: Didn't know cost and price of scales for folding knives are already being studied as subjects in microeconomics (just kidding lol)
 
As I remember it, the expansion at the Golden Factory was to try and keep up with demand. Remember all those Para2 shortages years ago? Having trouble finding a Para2 now? They also produce all the Natives, Manixes, Miltaries, Paras, and I'm sure I must be missing something else there. Looking around, most of those models seem to be in ample supply.

I'm not in the know at the Spyderco factory, but it's entirely possible they're running at capacity making all those models.
 
I think all of these current and upcoming Japanese made Spydercos with S30V & G-10 should've been made in the U.S. The material is already shipped from the U.S. to Japan and it would've dropped the street prices by $40-$60. A lot more people would've bought one. Now, we'll probably see one or perhaps two batches and off to the discontinued line they go.

Japanese made Spydercos with S30V & G-10 including current street prices:

  • D'Allara3: $191.97
  • Lil' Temperance3: $191.97
  • ATR2: $191.97
  • Opus: $200.97
  • Chinook4: $203.97

U.S. made Spydercos with S30V/S35VN & G-10 including current street prices:

  • Manix2: $101.97
  • Para3: $119.97
  • ParaMilitary2: $125.97
  • Yojimbo2: $125.97
  • Native5: $134.97
  • Military: $160.77
 
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vilePossum said:
I always smile when Americans complain about items not made in the USA.

Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
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Well you do have to recognize this an American company that is contracting out their manufacturing to overseas knife manufacturers. Spyderco is the middleman in this scenario. I have always deep down had somewhat of an issue with this side of their business model.
 
If Golden is at capacity making the models they make there, and one wants these other models, what other option does Spyderco have? Their Japanese makers can do the work to Spyderco's specs, plus there is a long relationship worth maintaining between Spyderco and these makers. Before there was a USA Spyderco production facility, Sal's designs were built in Japan. Loyalty counts for a lot.
 
RamZar said:
I think all of these current and upcoming Japanese made Spydercos with S30V & G-10 should've been made in the U.S. The material is already shipped from the U.S. to Japan and it would've dropped the street prices by $40-$60. A lot more people would've bought one. Now, we'll probably see one or perhaps two batches and off to the discontinued line they go.

Japanese made Spydercos with S30V & G-10 including current street prices:

  • D'Allara3: $191.97
  • Lil' Temperance3: $191.97
  • ATR2: $191.97
  • Opus: $200.97
  • Chinook4: $203.97

U.S. made Spydercos with S30V/S35VN & G-10 including current street prices:

  • Manix2: $101.97
  • Para3: $119.97
  • ParaMilitary2: $125.97
  • Yojimbo2: $125.97
  • Native5: $134.97
  • Military: $160.77
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These are not comparable knives for pricing. The Native, Manix and others listed are much larger scale, regular production knives. The cost of the design and machinery is paid off over hundreds of thousands of knives and climbing. Yes, the Japanese knives are expensive and they use USA made Crucible steel. Making false parallel price comparisons won't make them cheaper. Spyderco rotates new knives in and out of production and charges a premium for the service and continued variety, while still maintaining the prices of their regular production models. Doing the same thing in one American factory could (by no guarantee but could) increase prices of all models when new products are released. The customer expects cool, new knives every quarter. They also want minimum standards, which seem to be g10 and S30V instead of the frn/aluminum and vg10. This is the result.

PS. Inflation from 1990 to now has nearly doubled the price of consumer goods in the USA. Spyderco is right about there.
 
joeldworkin307 said:
These are not comparable knives for pricing. The Native, Manix and others listed are much larger scale, regular production knives. The cost of the design and machinery is paid off over hundreds of thousands of knives and climbing. Yes, the Japanese knives are expensive and they use USA made Crucible steel. Making false parallel price comparisons won't make them cheaper. Spyderco rotates new knives in and out of production and charges a premium for the service and continued variety, while still maintaining the prices of their regular production models. Doing the same thing in one American factory could (by no guarantee but could) increase prices of all models when new products are released. The customer expects cool, new knives every quarter. They also want minimum standards, which seem to be g10 and S30V instead of the frn/aluminum and vg10. This is the result.

PS. Inflation from 1990 to now has nearly doubled the price of consumer goods in the USA. Spyderco is right about there.
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If the comparison of Spydercos with S30V/G-10 made in U.S. against those made in Japan is not to your personal liking I give you the original post #1 comparison. Sage5 is a new model just like these Japanese made S30V/G-10 and in addition Sage5 has more expensive CF/G-10 scales plus higher quality. However, there's still a big $54 price difference between Sage5 and Lil' Temperance3.

  • Para3 (USA): $119.97
  • Sage5 (Taiwan): $137.97
  • Lil Temperance3 (Japan): $191.97
 
I'll give you that Taichung seems to be cheaper than Seki. I'll counter with thicker blade stock (4mm vs 3mm) of the lil temp, the full clip vs wire clip (not my choice but costlier none the less) and the likelihood that the sage 5 can utilize some of the same machinery as the previous four sage models. Taichung is known for its quality knives but my seki knives have yet to disappoint. I agree with you that objectively it is a more expensive knife, but I disagree that it should be the same price based upon materials and lock style alone.
 
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The Japanese made Spyderco with G-10 just don't sell well. For instance, there was a Sprint Run of the classic Worker with VG-10 and Dark Green G-10 that came out in 2014 for a street price of $167.97 (MAP or 40% off MSRP). Three years later, it's still in stock at some dealers even though it has been discounted 50%+ off MSRP.
 
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RamZar said:
The Japanese made Spyderco with G-10 just don't sell well. For instance, there was a Sprint Run of the class Worker with with VG-10 and Dark Green G-10 that came out in 2014 for a street price of $167.97 (MAP or 40% off MSRP). Three years later, it's still in stock at some dealers even though it has been discounted 50%+ off MSRP.
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The Junior is another prime example. At a better price point, and with a better steel it could really stand out among small Spyderco knives. Instead of just being discontinued.
 
Another example is the nice defensive Battlestation folder with a just under 3 inches blade. When it first came out at a street price of $191.97 for VG-10 and G-10 I passed on it. Now, as a discontinued item it sells for a reasonable $119.95 and well worth it.
 
RamZar said:
Another example is the nice defensive Battlestation folder with a just under 3 inches blade. When it first came out at a street price of $191.97 for VG-10 and G-10 I passed on it. Now, as a discontinued item it sells for a reasonable $119.95 and well worth it.
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I don't have any manufacturing or knifemaking experience. I'm a knife user and a Spydie fan, but I also cannot wrap my mind around some of the prices of the Japan produced knives.
The one that brought it to my attention was the Ouroboros. I was really looking forward to that one after getting to know the maker here on the forum..........for almost $200????
No deal.
Joe
 
I was absent from the knife scene for a number of years; when I "went on hiatus" the Taichi plant did not exist.

When I decided to get back into it, I ordered a Szabo Folder and a BattleStation. One from Seki, one from Taichi. As it turned out, I just happened to pick a great knife knife in terms of F-n-F from Seki City. When they arrived, I compared them, to find only minor differences. I'm beginning to think that a lot of that was happy coincidence.

I recently purchased the all-black Karahawk. The F-n-F of this knife is, IMO, every bit as good as anything from Taiwan. Everything about the Karahawk screams quality: from the lengthened backspacer extending through the ring, and appearing to be polished so that it is Teflon-slick, to the quality of the engraving on the blade. The blade grinds are incredibly accurate and matching perfectly. Again, in short, each and every detail of the knife screams quality.

YMMV, etc.
 
RLDubbya said:
I recently purchased the all-black Karahawk. The F-n-F of this knife is, IMO, every bit as good as anything from Taiwan. Everything about the Karahawk screams quality: from the lengthened backspacer extending through the ring, and appearing to be polished so that it is Teflon-slick, to the quality of the engraving on the blade. The blade grinds are incredibly accurate and matching perfectly. Again, in short, each and every detail of the knife screams quality. YMMV, etc.
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Thanks for the report. My blacked-out Karahawk is on the way, and it can't get here quickly enough.
 
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