Culling time-need opinions

J

Joyce Laituri

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258
Sal posted this on the Spyderco home forum and asked I post it here for him too. Thanks for your opinions -Joyce


The time has come for Spyderco to start making decisions as to what will remain in the line for 2002 and w2hat will be retired to make room for new models. Below, the models are listed. Please select 10 for retirement.

1. Police Model Stainless handle
2. Police Model G10 handle
3. Harpy Stainless handle
4. Merlin FRN handle
5. Endura Stainless handle
6. Endura FRN handle
7. Endura Trainer (red FRN)
8. Delica stainless handle
9. Delica FRN handle
10. Delica trainer (red FRN)
11. CoPilot
12. Pro Grip Stainless/kraton handle
13. Pro Grip FRN/Kraton handle
14. Catcherman FRN handle
15. Rescue black or orangve FRN handle
16. Rescue Jr. black or orange FRN handle
17. Snap it
18. Remote Release
19. Dragonfly stainless handle
20. Dragonfly FRN handle
21. Cricket black FRN handle
22. Ladybug FRN handle (black,red,blue)
23. Ladybug II FRN handle (sheepfoot)
24. Military G10 handle
25. Dyad Micarta handle
26. Dyad jr FRN handle
27. Native stainless handle
28. Native black FRN handle
29. Calypso Jr. stainless handle
30. Calypso Jr. black FRN handle
31. Navigator
32. Viele
33. Bob Lum Tanto
34. Tim Wegner
35. Peter Herbst
36. Bob Terzuola Starmate
37. Tim Zowada
38. D'Holder Toad
39. JD Smith
40. Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria
41. Massad Ayoob
42. James Keating Chinook
43. Bob Lum Chinese Folder
44. Frank Centofante Vesuvious
45. Eduard Bradichansky Spydecard
46. Bill Moran FB trailing point
47. Bill Moran FB drop point
48. Bram Frank Gunting
49. Bram Frank Gunting trainer
50. Police model necklace
51. Police model tie clip

Thank you.

sal
 
-Endura Stainless handle
-one of the pro grips
-snap it
-one of the dragonflys
-co pilot
-Herbst
-Toad
-tie clip
-one of the rescues
-if a plainedge Zowada w/slightly larger hole
won't be introduced, I say retract it completely
from current production.

Thanks for asking,
Ken
 
This may be heresy, but I think the Stainless Steel Police is out dated. It is heavyand doesn't provide a good grip. The G-10 Police should be the permanent replacement. I also think that the Toad and Navigator should be dropped and Spyderco work out an agreement with Wegner to put the Mouse in general distribution. The Smith, Shabaria, Zowada and Spydercard could dropped and the stainless Calypso jr. could go too. The
 
This is incredibly hard for me to say, but the best thing to do for the company would be to let the market decide. I would cut the models that are not selling well or that are not meeting acceptable profits. No matter what gets cut some people won't be happy. However, the ultimate goal should be to maximize profitability while producing a great product.

If I had to pick from this list the following 10 would get cut:

SS Police (g-10 version should be replacement)
Pro Grip FRN/Kraton handle
Snap it
Remote Release
Navigator
Tim Zowada
D'Holder Toad
JD Smith
Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria
Eduard Bradichansky Spydecard

I will also agree with others who say the Mouse should be in the regular lineup and replace the toad and navigator.

I love the Wegner, but could live without it if it is replaced with the Wegner II.


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Dennis Bible

....Almost here, The Leading Edge....
http://www.theleadingedgeonline.com

[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 05-08-2001).]

[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 05-08-2001).]
 
Pro Grip FRN/Kraton handle
Catcherman FRN handle
Snap it
Remote Release
Bill Moran FB trailing point
Bill Moran FB drop point
Police model necklace
Police model tie clip
Peter Herbst
CoPilot
My difficult but personal choices to have to go.

Jyork

 
I think I will respond on the other forum. Sure would make it easier if we knew what new models were for sure gonna be here. Might even cause recommendation of a favorite or two if new, similar knife were to be coming out, a la Dennis' suggestion of the Wegner, if there is to be a Wegner II.


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Before I begin, I carry more Spydercos than any other knife--I love the overall line but there are exceptions (sorry it's more than five models, but...):

1) Any Snap-it, Remote Release or otherwise, is outmoded in the face of Mike Sastre's sheaths.

2) The necklaces & tie clips are a waste of time.

3) The Ayoob is weird enough that it won't sell, and I say this as a MoD Razorback owner and an LFI student.

4) The Endura & Delicas with SS handles kill the balance, grip & light weight of the originals, as well as including substandard steel.

5) The Dyads are interesting but not very useful.

6) I've hated the Shabaria since its introduction.

7) The Lum Tanto, the JD Smith, and the Zowada are nice collectors' pieces but unworthy of continued production.

8) I love the Toad but it's pricey--if you do kill it I'll buy more of them. I'd prefer to lose the Co-Pilot rather than the Toad.
 
Endura Stainless handle (bad steel)
Delica trainer (red FRN)(I buy a knife NOT a trainer!)
Endura Trainer (red FRN)
Police model necklace (to small for use)
Police model tie clip
Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria (How did this get made?)
D'Holder Toad (cut the price in half and perhaps...)
Ladybug II FRN handle (sheepfoot) (sheepsfoot? Eeew!)
Cricket black FRN handle (to small and not cheap either)
Delica stainless handle (poor steel)


------------------
Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
Here's my 10. I don't think I could stand it if the SS Police was droped from the line-up. Need those around for sending to Ti-Gold for Blak-Ti coating. Be a shame if they went away. They are still my fav Spydie and I always keep 4 or 5 on-hand. People see them and want one.

Police Model G10 handle - allways hated this one
Catcherman FRN handle - No real reason but you said you need 10
Native black FRN handle - OK I hate FRN
Calypso Jr. stainless handle - Never liked the model
Calypso Jr. black FRN handle - Same as above
Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria - Just never grew on me
Bill Moran FB trailing point - Fixed Blade is just not me
Bill Moran FB drop point - Fixed Blade is just not me
Police model necklace - As Paul Hogan said " That's not a knife"
Police model tie clip - same as above


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-In Beer there is Strength...
-In Wine there is Wisdom...
-In Water there is BACTERIA...
Old German Proverb

[This message has been edited by WTFOver (edited 05-09-2001).]
 
3 Harpy, Stainless
5 Endura, Stainless
35 Peter Herbst
37 Tim Zowada
40 E B Shabaria
41 Massad Ayoob
48 B F Gunting
49 B F Gunting Trainer
50 Police Necklace
51 Police Tie Clip
 
1. Tim Zowada
2. Peter Herbst
3. Dyad Jr. FRN
4. Copilot
5. Remote Release
6. Snap it
7. Police Model necklace
8. Police Model Tie Clip
9. Police Model Stainless
10. Police Model G10 handle

Although it seems as if I have something against the police model, I actually think it could be a really cool knife. Basically, I want spyderco to stop producing the police model with a lockback, and instead produce a police II with a compression lock and a (much) smaller printing of the word "POLICE." As for the necklace and tie tac - their function is being performed by the ladybug.

The snap-it is ok, but I bet there's enough currently on the market to satisfy all those who want one. The same goes for the remote-release.

I don't much care for the copilot. I think it's ugly, and its function can be filled by the toad, the mouse, or a number of other knives.

I don't like the dyad jr. in FRN, because one - micarta is cooler, and two - no pocket clip.

The Peter Herbst seems ok, but not all that exciting. I'd rather see a cool compression lock. The Tim Zowada has been around for a long time, and I don't like the placement of the spydie hole.

I'd also like to make a quick defense of a few knives mentioned by others. The shabaria, for one, seems to be either loved or hated. I really like the concept of this knife, and I also like how it looks. I would love to acquire one. On the plus side, if it gets cancelled, I could probably get one cheap.
smile.gif


The toad fills a niche market not covered by other makers. A lot of people really love their toads. Keep it around, give it a chance.

The trainers are absolutely necessary. Many people use them to train for real life and death situations. Don't eliminate them - keep them in production so people don't have to bid HUGE amounts to get one or are forced to use cheap knockoffs.

The Ayoob is truly unusual. If its sales are slow, its because it needs some time to gain acceptance. Keep spyderco on the cutting edge and give it another year.

I know that knives need to be eliminated, but please keep some of the basic user knives around. Don't replace them all with MBC knives - not everyone is a martial artist, and many of us use knives for more peaceful tasks and would prefer less complex designs.

Also, I'd like to see the lockbacks kept on the 3" and under knives, and the 3"+ knives be moved to the wonderful compression lock, which in my opinion is the absolute best of the new superlocks. Dump the liner lock, never let it rear its ugly head again.

I'm sure spyderco will base the decision on sales more than anything. However, I think they should keep in mind that if they eliminated all but their top five sellers, sales would drop like a rock as people get bored with what spyderco has to offer. Keep things fresh, keep some of the not-so-wonderful sellers around.
Just my 2 cents,
-- Rob

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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
 
I'm sure this doesn't reflect on the opinions of the average Joe knife-buyer, but...
  1. Police Stainless
  2. CoPilot
  3. Snap it
  4. Viele
  5. Tim Zowada
  6. D'Holder Toad
  7. Shabaria
  8. Ayoob
  9. Spydecard
  10. Bill Moran drop point
    [/list=a] Generally, I think there are too many custom collaborations.

    ------------------
    Cerulean

    "The hairy-armed person who figured out how to put an edge on a suitable rock made it possible for us to be recognizably human in the first place." - J.K.M.
 
Originally posted by Joyce Laituri:

Not exactly 10, but ...1

1. Police Model Stainless handle
3. Harpy Stainless handle
5. Endura Stainless handle
7. Endura Trainer (red FRN)
8. Delica stainless handle
10. Delica trainer (red FRN)
27. Native stainless handle
29. Calypso Jr. stainless handle
33. Bob Lum Tanto
35. Peter Herbst
36. Bob Terzuola Starmate
41. Massad Ayoob
<img src="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/.1x1knives.gif" alt="" height=0 width=0>

------------------
Urban Fredriksson www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Click to expand...
 
I won't list 10 knives, but I do have a couple of thoughts.

1. Lose the Cricket. The liner is WAY too thin, and WAY too easy to release by accident.

2. The Toad should have been called the "Turd". It is just like a little lump of a knife, and has no real practical use.

3. JD Smith. I handled JD's at the Blade show last year and knew it would not sell from the get go. (Guess I was right this time).

4. Spydercard. Way too thick for wallet carry.

And the biggest suggestion I could make would be to mainstream the Mouse. I loved it from the second I held it and unfortunately, it will meet its demise if the public does not know about it and the dealers/distributors can't get them. I think the Mouse has a great potential to become one of the all time small knife favorites that Spyderco offers, but only if made available, and at less than full retail.

------------------
C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
 
Cull these:
1. Delica trainer (red FRN)
2. Bob Lum Tanto
3. Peter Herbst
4. Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria
5. Massad Ayoob
6. James Keating Chinook
7. Bob Lum Chinese Folder
8. Bram Frank Gunting
9. Bram Frank Gunting trainer
 
5 Endura Stainless handle
8 Delica Stainless handle
11 CoPilot
Any Pro Grip (keep the best seller)
14 Catcherman
16 Rescue Jr
17 Snap it
21 Cricket FRN handle (bring us back alu ones)
23 Ladybug II
35 Peter Herbst

Necklace and Tie clip should not be listed with knives, but with accessories...
 
1. Endura Stainless. Too big and heavy with a mediocre steel. The Delica Stainless is a better size for a SS knife.

2. Co-pilot. The Navigator is more ergonomic, IMO.

3. Dyad Jr. FRN. No clip, and it's just not the same as the Micarta.

4. Calypso Jr. Stainless. It's hard not to like this knife, but the FRN model has a better steel and grip.

5. Bob Lum Tanto. I have one and like it, but if it was never introduced, I wouldn't miss it.

6. Tim Zowada

7. D'Holder Toad. Over priced.

8. Shabaria

9. Police model necklace

10. Police model tie clip

In addition, there are models that need revision.

-I'd love to see a Stainless Police with a flat ground blade (bladeforums exclusive maybe?)
-The Snap-It and Remote Release should be sheepsfoot only or can one of them (I prefer the Remote Release). I can't see discarding them altogether.
-Make the Cricket with almite scales again.


-While I like cool-looking knives as much as the next guy (or lady), Spyderco's should have a user's design. Not to insult any of the designers of the custom collaborations, but they just aren't as functional as some of the "ordinary" line. I've got a Jess Horn II and a Lum Tanto that I carried for a couple of days them put them in a case because I didn't want to scratch the scales; I like my Military even more, but I carry it every day because I don't worry about that sort of thing with the G10.
-I also have to stick up for the fixed blades. While they may not be "traditional" folding Sypdercos, they are very user-friendly and, IMHO, deserve to stay in the line.
-I can't believe that anyone wouldn't like the Calypso Jr. Lt.
tongue.gif


It's a shame that you have to cull any models, but I understand the reason.
 
Here's my choices, in no particular order...

37. Tim Zowada
39. JD Smith
35. Peter Herbst (hardly seen em anyway)
29. Calypso Jr. SS (Love the Jr. just not the stainless one)
21. Cricket FRN (don't like linerlock & FRN)
17. Snap it (Remoter Release is better)
13. Pro Grip FRN/kraton
11. CoPilot (wasn't there supposed to be an updated version anyway?)
40. EB Shabaria
51. Police tie clip

Paul
 
What an amazing company ! What other company do you know that gives it's customers such input into the product offerings ??

The opinions that follow are just that, so FWIW:

17. Snap it
18. Remote Release
******* These seem a little redundant, but I think they fill a nice market niche where a pocket clip or sheath won't do. Eliminate one.

11. CoPilot
31. Navigator
******* Redundant. Whatever differences there are are lost on me. Lose one. The Dragonfly models also overlap into this niche.

50. Police model necklace
51. Police model tie clip
******* I can't imagine you sell too many of these. Novelty items based on an old design.

38. D'Holder Toad
40. Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria
******* What were they thinking?

29. Calypso Jr. stainless handle
******* Most folks like the lighter, flat ground version better anyway.

3. Harpy Stainless handle
******* I have to think that the FRN handle works a lot better in the wet, which is the intended purpose.

1. Police Model Stainless handle
5. Endura Stainless handle
8. Delica stainless handle
27. Native stainless handle
******* I for one value light weight in a knife. These all must feel like rocks in the pocket. What strength that is possibly lost in the FRN could be made up for by having G10 versions (G10 Native would be sweet!)
 
I know not all would agree but here's my picks...Dont like to pic,but if I had to it's these..


G10 police
Both Progrips
Snapit
Remote
Viele
Smith
Sabaria
Ayoob
Chinook
Guntings
Necklace
Tieclip

More than 10 .But....

And for those who suggested that any of the endura line be dropped..." May the fleas of a thousand Siagon *****s feast happily on your lower region"
smile.gif





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What's wrong with talking to yourself?? It's sometimes the best conversation and eitherway your always right... -Me-
Formerly Endura Duck
 
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