Howabout it Mr. Glesser?

Boats

Boats

Joined
Aug 7, 2003
Messages
3,330
Would it be difficult to produce optional colored FRN scales for Gen 4 Spydercos? Would it be too expensive to run small batches of different colored Delica and Endura FRN scales?

I am asking because I really like my BRG Endura. I also now have a black one in VG-10. Black is so overutilized in this industry that I find myself just leaving that one on the shelf, especially if it might be drawn in front of sheeple.

You wouldn’t have to offer a rainbow like Victorinox does for some of its lines, but certainly some more public friendly colors couldn’t hurt and may be one of those small things that removes a mental barrier in some people that the knife is a “weapon.” My black fixed blades and folders, with noir blades, scales or both, almost no matter their size or shape, have always attracted proportionally more negative attention from the ignorant when compared to colored or wooden scaled knives.

Since I am not always into "teachable moments" I ask instead about maybe some different "clothes" for my knife.;)

The BRG Endura and Yellow Pacific Salt never get the "furtive glances" from the nervous like the black ones do. It's all about perception in the non-knife world and the best place to hide an actual "weapon/tool" is often in plain sight. After all, there is not really a spit's worth of difference to the uninitiated as regards the blade size or shape on my three best Spydercos. The only difference is the colors of the handles. I'd like some more yuppie camoflague please.
 
Hi Boats,

I read your suggestion in another thread. Interesting suggestion.

We make the E4, D4 and other "screw construction" models pirmarily so WE can take them apart and/or repair or inspect them.

Taking apart our knives and putting them back together is not as easy as it seems for many people. You might be surprised to know that many come back in plastic bags with parts missing, asking us to repair them. We have to charge them. A pain in the butt.

We currently make quite a few colors. Black, Foliage green, British Racing greeen, red, dark gray, etc. Some have changed blades (even I must admit to a foliage green plain edge D4).

However, if we just produced scales, I can envision most thinking this is an encouragement to "take them apart" increasing our delemma. (Joyce calls them "Spydermares")

We are working on a slip joint (notch-joint) folder (The "Urban"). A little smaller than the UKPK, but with different blade shapes and different NKP (Non Knife People) handles (G-10 in several colors, FRN and bolstered versions).

These will be "mix n match" and we plan on releasing scales periodially for those.

I will consider your suggestion, but I imagine Customer Service will plan assasination if I suggest it to them.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
We are working on a slip joint (notch-joint) folder (The "Urban"). A little smaller than the UKPK, but with different blade shapes and different NKP (Non Knife People) handles (G-10 in several colors, FRN and bolstered versions).

These will be "mix n match" and we plan on releasing scales periodially for those.

sal
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:eek: :eek: :eek: This sounds very cool! I'll bet that this new design will be highly anticipated by others as well.
 
My modest proposal:

Make a limited run for G4 Enduras if there is interest expressed here and at the factory forum. Blaze orange or desert tan would be a safe choice for a one off.

Offer them only by word on the forums. Make them have to call in and order them in real life so you know who bought them.

Price the scales to weed out the dinks, say @$10.00-15.00 + shipping so that only the motivated customizer will consider it.

Let it be known that any purchaser sending in the ol' bag-o-parts for reassemblage will be charged a minor "idiot tax" and that you will know who they are.

I think it would work. Not everyone can afford knives in all possible colors, but they could afford sets of scales.
 
I REALLY like Boats' idea. I'd be willing to drop even more than that to be able to switch between desert tan and BRG on my ZDP Delica for regular carry, and blaze orange or yellow for when I'm in a particularly skittish environment. It'd also be nice if I was ever going somewhere or doing something where there was a higher chance of losing my knife. A bright yellow knife will be much easier to find that a BRG one. I've taken apart my Delica a few times, and I don't think that it would be too hard for most people to do.

However, I REALLY like the sound of this slip joint aswell! Sal- do you have an ETA and a price estimate? Will it be cheaper than the Kopa or Kiwi? I love both of those knives, and they're very friendly looking, but I just can't justify spending that sort of money on either when you and others sell knives that offer more for less (though I may have to pick up a kiwi in abalone and pearl).
 
Boats said:
Let it be known that any purchaser sending in the ol' bag-o-parts for reassemblage will be charged a minor "idiot tax" and that you will know who they are.
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Isn't it 20$+5$ shipping to get your knife put back together if you send it to the factory anyway?

Keep in mind that despite the close scrutiny of sales on the Spyderco end the user who actually gets the knives/scales can always sell them second hand to someone else, essentially defeating the purpose of keeping track of the purchasers in the first place. This may also be a hassle to collect and sort and store the information on said original purchasers for future reference.

Personally I would like some yellow or lime green scales. :D

I've taken apart my Delica a few times, and I don't think that it would be too hard for most people to do.
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You would be very very suprised. Small parts + Odd drivers most people don't own/can't readily find + general non-knifenuttery = lost parts, stripped screws, broken drivers and an expensive (25$ is a decent restaurant meal to most) return to the factory for fixin'. Seems to me that taking things apart and actually getting them back together and functional again is strictly a hobbyist sort of thing. :p
 
By "idiot tax" I only meant charge even more for such a proven goof, but that's the weakest part of the proposal.

I might be too optimistic, but then again I tear down all my "assembled" folders and customize my own 1911A1 pistols with aftermarket parts. I tore apart my Enduras and found it to be no big deal, but I have a full set of magnetized torx drivers already.
 
I think this would be a great idea! I would love to have my d4wave to have the foliage green scales. I also do agree that the black "typical" scales tend to have a negative vibe to them.

Maybe what you could do Sal is place a warning on the packageing for the scales. "Warning, failure of incorrectly installing aftermarket scales will result in a $30 charge and are not guarantee to be fixable. Users change at own risk." Maybe you could have that printed on a bright orange sticker taping the bag that contains the scales. That way, the user must at least see and "read" it before getting to the scales.

You could also have an option to have people send it in, and have the factory replace the sacles for them. This way, you could make a bit of profit while ensuring that it is done right.

I hope you will give this a really good thought, I would really love tobeable to pick up a few different sets of scales so I can change them when they get "worn" down. This could also help benefit spyderco since you would be one of the few that have these options for your knives. I know from a customer standpoint, this would be a big plus in my book.
 
what about just selling them through the website and not distributing them to other sellers.

Maybe make them take an online quiz about knives to add them to the shopping cart :D
 
Can someone tell me what a "mall ninja" is please? What does eojk mean by "underhanded business practices by Cold Steel, Dark Ops, and Strider"? Strider and Dark Ops aren't getting my money because I'd have to give them my arm, because that is how much they cost!
 
Personally, I'd say if you start selling aftermarket scales, you should stop reassembling knives for people. If they take it apart and can't get it back together, they can buy a new knife. Let them keep their bag of pieces as a reminder that owning a tool doesn't automatically impart the knowledge of how to use it.

Then we could start a new poll, "How many bags of Spyderco parts do you have in YOUR collection?" :D
 
rcxtreme said:
Can someone tell me what a "mall ninja" is please? What does eojk mean by "underhanded business practices by Cold Steel, Dark Ops, and Strider"? Strider and Dark Ops aren't getting my money because I'd have to give them my arm, because that is how much they cost!
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RC,
I'm not sure if this will stay here or get moved but I'd be glad to try to answer your questions. Urbandictionary.com defines mall ninja as :
A term used in forums to mean an unexperienced and enthusiastic weapon(usually a firearm)owner who pretends to be a seasoned operator. The phrase came about as a result of an over the top character in a famous satirical thread.
"I am a part time mall ninja and I am currently receiving the escalator assault training."

Mall ninjas are tough talkers and know-it-alls that buy a bunch of tactical junk that never makes it past the local mall. Many of them visit bladeforums so they can tell made up stories about stuff that never happened.

Be it true or not, Cold Steel has a reputation for copying other companies' designs, as well as using ridiculous gimmick marketing to sell their products.
Some of their knives are quite good.

Dark Ops is referred to on the boards as "Dork Ops" because again, they use gimmicks and mall ninja lines like "removable handle for ease of cleaning bodily fluids" etc etc. They make these crazy blade shapes that are something you would usually see beside the Bic lighters in a truck stop. The knife community generally doesn't go for this kind of thing but rather lets a product earn its reputation over a period of time.

The situation with Strider knives is that some people say Mick Strider has claimed military experience that he does not have. It is said that he markets these very expensive knives and uses false claims of hands-on knowledge to sell them. I don't know what's true and what isn't, but that fills you in on what someone means if they make a comment of that nature. Heck, if I had $450 laying around I might still buy a Strider because from what I understand they are awesome, but I also don't want to be lied to. Who knows?
 
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