Custom handles on Spyderco

[Bob Irons]

Sal,

What's Spydercos position on replacing stock handles with custom handles. Recently Fred (KnifeOutlet guy) posted a beautiful picture of a rehandled Spyderco. At a recent Gun show, I saw some Santa Fe Stoneworks rehandled Spydercos.

I would like to know what you think about this? Do you directly support it, opposed to it, neutral? Does Spyderco cooperate with Santa Fe Stoneworks and other companies which do this work? Does Spyderco have a custom shop of its own working on these rehandled beauties?

A knife nut would like to know.

 

[Bob Irons]

Sal,

Did you miss this one, or am I stepping on toes here? If so, I apologize for the inadvertent misstep. I would like to know about the "customized" Spydercos wth the beautiful handles.

I appreciate your time on these forums.

 

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

Bob,

I THINK that the thread that has the picture of the custom knife also has a post somewhere in there from Sal, with a few favorable comments, IIRC.

O_D

 

[Sal Glesser]

Bob - Sorry, musta missed it (having a senior moment). Spyderco doesn't work on handles here (except for some of the crazy knifemakers that work here). We do work with companies like Santa Fe Stoneworks and have done so for many years. There are many craftsmen (artists even) that do beautiful work.

My personal niche is; "High performance matter separators. High power to weight/size ratios. ergonomic as possible. No more than necessary, no less than perfect. No frill. The piece must say "I cut very well".

We began with collaborations more than 10 years ago to get some "Beauty to my efficient but ugly designs. The custom makers and the aftermarket handle people are the artists that lend an air of pleasing lines and personal touches.
sal

 

[Kodiak PA]

I saw some custom Spyderco Scales at Blanchard's Cutlery when I was visiting Vegas in February. Very very nice. Very very expensive though so I had to pass. If I owned a knife like that I would be too afraid to use it.

------------------
~Greg~

 

[Bob Irons]

Thank you Sal.

I probably should have intuitively understood your philosophy from your products. I think I'm starting to understand the custom makers and aftermarket handle people a little. It's a bit of a synergistic thing which is pretty loosely coupled.

I've only been really "knife nuts" for the last 2 years, so forgive me if I ask a dumb question from time to time. Thank you very much for being gracious enough to answer my newby type question.

Kodiak,

I hear you. I'm a bit confused about whether I would want to spend the money for one of the rehandled beauties. They are gorgeous, but I too would probably be afraid to use it. Spydies are made to be used - I think that fits what Sal says.

[This message has been edited by Bob Irons (edited 09 April 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Bob Irons (edited 09 April 1999).]