Endura/Delica Question

[BB42]

Curious about these knives. I see that with FRN handles, they come with ATS-55 and VG-10 blades respectively, and with steel handles, both come with AUS-6 blades.

Are they manufactured this way to keep the retail costs of the steel handled versions just a skosh above the FRNs?

 

[sc_rebel1957]

BB you hit the nail right on the head as i've been told.
It's as you say to keep the cost comparable. Ron

 

[calyth]

BB42, It's a lot easier to have the handles made in one piece and arrive to the factory than to get slabs of stainless steel and shape them, I suppose.
Surprisingly the Native SS comes with AUS 10.

 

[dialex]

Also note that the FRN models have the blades slightly longer.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi BB42. I'll try to shed some light. The Endura dnd Delica models are the current workhorse models of the Spyderco line.

The FRN versions are saving some cost in handle construction, so we try to get the best possible steels in those models. This gives you a great deal of performance in a light reliable package. The ATS-55 was replaced with VG-10 in the same way that the ATS-55 replaced the GIN-1 and AUS-8 steels. The constant desire to improve.

The costs of the classic stainless handle Clipits with the best possible steels were getting pretty expensive. The steel handled Endura and Delcia models were offered as less expensive versions of the more classic stainless Clipits. They began as a lower cost item and they began with and still use AUS-6, which is a far more affordable steel.

The Stainless handle Native is made more on the line with the Police model, very good steel and stainless handle.

hope that helps.

sal

 

[BB42]

Thanks for the input, Sal. It seems my original thoughts were fairly accurate for a change.

You just have to like a company that is always striving to bring better quality to their customers.