Golden age of Spydies

Bruceter

Bruceter

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May 19, 2000
Messages
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Posted this over on the Spyderco forums, thought I would share it here also.

So, JD Spydo's top ten thread got me thinking about his comments on the golden age of Spyderco's. I had my camera out taking a couple of pics for that thread and thought I would take one of what I think (of the knives in my collection) represent this era.

DSC02099.jpg


They are:
The original "R"
Bob T Jr
Mini Dyad (still searching for a large one)
Howard Viele
Tim Zowada
Almite Walker
Original Centofante Vesuvius
Three Wegners, large, jr and a mouse
Baby Goddard
Lum Tanto
Centofante II
Micarta Jess Horn
Micarta Calypso Jr.

Bruceter
 
Yeah we had this thread going over at Spyderco.com :) But yes I do declare that there was what I define as the GOLDEN ERA OF SPYDERS from 1998 to 2003. If you look close at Bructers' picture all the knives shown are out of that era to be sure.

That ERA has just about all my most favorite Spyders ever and I'm desperate for many of those models to come back with newer blade steels, modified handles or any other new modifications that would make them up to the standards of the present time.

My personal top 10 thread is also over at Spyderco.com under "JD's Top 10>> What's yours?"

Almost all of the super models out of that era have mostly gotten very costly on the secondary market.
 
I think every year that Spyderco is at the top of there game and most of the time ahead of the others also.!***
 
From a collector's standpoint you just can't argue the premium prices that Spyderco knives from the Golden Era bring. Now from a standpoint of premium materials, high tech designs and product refinement they I think you can safely say that Spyderco is at the top of their game in that sense. But I still maintain that those great models from 1998 to 2003 led the way to what we've seen Spyderco turn into lately.

There are some great models on the line up now. But look at 2 of the most popular models i.e. the Military and Paramilitary both of those were from that era. And why is everyone wanting Sprint Runs of the past models? I've never seen the demand as great as it is now for past models to be made with newer/better steels and handle materials.

But this is all a subjective reasoning and based on individual opinions. Some agree with me, some don't. But I think anyone can agree that the great models of the past and particularly that era actually ushered in this great line up we have now.
 
outdoorsman196 said:
Nice collection! Question though, which spydie is that in the upper far left? I have never seen anything like it.
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That is the original ATS-34 "R" model. It was a late 90s model and I believe it actually hit the scene before the famous "Q" knives did. Some of the "Q" models were also skeletonized as well. The Spyderco "R" is truly one of their greatest acheivements IMO. You could get it in full Spyderedge and plain edge. I got a good friend that has the set. When they brought back the "R" knife back in 08 I believe it was the later one was not skeletonized which really disappointed me big time. Because I couldn't understand for the life of me why they didn't do the later "R" model with a skeletonized blade.>> because to me that's what made that knife so unique. I sold both of mine some time back. I wish I had them back. Bruceter's pic of those Golden ERa Spyders is a great one
 
Are these for real ??? All ravishing in beauty in one area?
 
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archieblue said:
I wish it were the "Golden" age! Lately it seems like Spyderco is in the "Taiwan Age."
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I fully understand your sentiment "archieblue" believe me I do. I love blades made in the gool ol' USA and I particularly have a fondness for Spyderco's blades that are made in Golden Colorado USA EARTH. I personally haven't had much experience with many of their Tiawan blades except for a Titanium Salsa I used to own and it was a really nice piece believe it or not.

Now I will say that Spyderco's blades that are made in Japan are of superb quality. Spyderco uses very high end knife producers in Japan to do their work and I've never had a Japanese Spyderco blade ever disappoint me. G-Sakai and Moki both have made some really fabulous knives for Spyderco and I would never say anything bad about either one of those producers.

I must admit that I am somewhat baffled as to why they made that TUFF model in Taiwan. But they did use an American blade steel i.e. Crucible's S3V which is a great blade steel.
 
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