I support Spyderco Taiwan

[kidcongo]

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Taiwan. Most are slowly being dispelled, but some remain. Taiwan is an Asian country where the right sort of things are happening. The knives made there are expensive, because the people there enjoy a reasonable standard of living, and make high quality products. In my opinion, as a westerner, they deserve our support and respect. I appreciate the fact Spyderco seeks out these skilled craftspeople in Taiwan and let's us all benefit from their precision and expertise. It's a good thing for the world in general. Nothing like a little honest competition to up everyone's game.

A good nugget from the Wiki article about Taiwan:

"In the 1980s and early 1990s, it changed from a one-party military dictatorship dominated by the Kuomintang to a multi-party democracy with universal suffrage. Taiwan is the 22nd-largest economy in the world, and its high-tech industry plays a key role in the global economy. It is ranked highly in terms of freedom of the press, healthcare,[13] public education, economic freedom, and human development.[d][11][14] The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most highly educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentages of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree.[15][16]"

 

[Mo2]

I've got a spyderco Sly's Bowie and I really like it, but for $300 I expected more. I've handled a Rubicon and its also great with some minor flaws tho. the quality of these two designs are above normal for overseas produced knives. I personally would rather have golden made knives from spyderco. just a bit better IMHO. spyderco does have high standards for there production, so its expected that there Taiwan factory would be good also.

this doesn't go for everything in Taiwan tho. lots of Taiwan made production for other products or brands are terrible too. its all about finding the best place to make your product overseas and the capabilities of that factory.

 

[jbmonkey]

they need to work on their factory sharpening. same with japan, seki city knives. both japan and taiwan come often with obtuse angles that have to be reprofiled dramatically. still somewhat sharp but much wider than current goldens made without a doubt.

 

[McFeeli]

they need to work on their factory sharpening. same with japan, seki city knives. both japan and taiwan come often with obtuse angles that have to be reprofiled dramatically. still somewhat sharp but much wider than current goldens made without a doubt.

Huh.. That's funny. When I bought my Sage 5(brand spanking new) it's edge was the sharpest edge I've gotten from any new Spyderco, Golden included. What really amazed me is that the bevels were actually dead even as well, which at least for me, most of my production knives didn't come from the factory with(not just Spyderco).

I've only bought 3 Spyderco's brand new, 2 from Golden, 1 from Taichung, so I'm sure I have less first hand experience than others.

I've said this many times and I'll say it again, that Sage 5 was thee best knife I've ever gotten from a fit and finish perspective. It was undeniably impressive and it really made me consider the Taiwan plant a great resource for Spyderco to have.

 

[jbmonkey]

Huh.. That's funny. When I bought my Sage 5(brand spanking new) it's edge was the sharpest edge I've gotten from any new Spyderco, Golden included. What really amazed me is that the bevels were actually dead even as well, which at least for me, most of my production knives didn't come from the factory with(not just Spyderco).

I've only bought 3 Spyderco's brand new, 2 from Golden, 1 from Taichung, so I'm sure I have less first hand experience than others.

I've said this many times and I'll say it again, that Sage 5 was thee best knife I've ever gotten from a fit and finish perspective. It was undeniably impressive and it really made me consider the Taiwan plant a great resource for Spyderco to have.

did ya measure the angles? i do often and they are more often than not quite obtuse even though still sharp typically.

 

[McFeeli]

did ya measure the angles? i do often and they are more often than not quite obtuse even though still sharp typically.

Nope, can't say that I did. They were a bit more obtuse than my S30V PM2, but much more refined. My Para came with a thinner edge than the Sage, but it was rougher. The edge on the Sage was damn near polished from the factory and it cut like a laser, even though the angle may have been a wee bit wider.

I would have chalked that up to just different blade styles, personally. As I said, compared to most users on this forum I'm at the other side of the spectrum when it comes to how many Spyderco's I've bought new.

 

[Wowbagger]

"Respect Taiwan as a country AND AS A KNIFE MANUFACTURER / tool maker"

". . . Huh.. That's funny. When I bought my Sage 5(brand spanking new) it's edge was the sharpest edge I've gotten from any new Spyderco, Golden included."

Totally agree in both cases.
PS: Just bought two major Golden Co knives in the last couple weeks. Though the over all fit and finish on both is really great the edges were sub standard, one bordering on laughable. Major bur on that one and not even hair scraping sharp.

PPS: by "major" knives I mean both are super premium steel alloys. They should have been treated with more care and attention.

 

[Lapedog]

Once upon a time made in Japan was considered the made in China of that day.

Now made in Japan is largely seen as a good thing. Taiwan and Korea are quickly catching up to the status made in Japan holds today. Even China is starting to get its quality ducks in a row.

 

[Wowbagger]

Once upon a time made in Japan was considered the made in China of that day.

Now made in Japan is largely seen as a good thing. Taiwan and Korea are quickly catching up to the status made in Japan holds today. Even China is starting to get its quality ducks in a row.

Yuuuuuuup
As far as I can tell China CAN and WILL make anything to any quality standard . . . all you have to do is ask as far as the company farming out the work to China.
Case in point Apple computers. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE SINGLE ISSUE WITH AN APPLE PRODUCT
First rate !

Why ? ? ? ? How ? ? ? because we took our danged factories and tech over there and said" here use this" (for us). DUH !
so
We Americans : I call on you bros and gals
bring back the manufacturing to America . . . but be warned . . . get off the cell phones at work and the drugs and the ADHD and FREAKIN' just WORK !

 

[Murphjd25]

View attachment 708514 Taichung makes some gems! I'll never hesitate to buy a Spyderco from Taichung!

 

[Dfunk1210]

Yuuuuuuup
As far as I can tell China CAN and WILL make anything to any quality standard . . . all you have to do is ask as far as the company farming out the work to China.
Case in point Apple computers. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE SINGLE ISSUE WITH AN APPLE PRODUCT
First rate !

Why ? ? ? ? How ? ? ? because we took our danged factories and tech over there and said" here use this" (for us). DUH !
so
We Americans : I call on you bros and gals
bring back the manufacturing to America . . . but be warned . . . get off the cell phones at work and the drugs and the ADHD and FREAKIN' just WORK !

America has done this since the beginning of the nation. Outsourcing production to foreign nations. And we are still here and as strong as ever. Like others have already mentioned, Following WWII, we outsourced production to Japan. Eventually Made in Japan meant something. Their electronics became the best in the world at one point. Eventually the same happened for Made in Korea and Made in Taiwan. Yea when I was a kid, Made in Taiwan was garbage. Today they make everyone's favorite Spydercos. And look at China(not the same as Taiwan) now. Made in China knives mean something completely different now than even several years ago. And strangely enough, it is the knife community that is one of the first to acknowledge that. Today, someone who knows knives acknowledge the quality coming out of China. Whether they buy em is their prerogative. But as a community most of us acknowledge the fact, can look beyond those geopolitical lines, and are not ignorant like the many outside the knife community. That is something I think that we as a community should be proud of.

 

[Wowbagger]

America has done this since the beginning of the nation. Outsourcing production to foreign nations. And we are still here and as strong as ever

Probably right . . . though because of the very distressing number of homeless people here (in my city that I see every day) . . . for years and years . . . I’m thinking some fairly easy manufacturing jobs would be most welcome.

Maybe I am just naive and they just enjoy camping . . . a whole lot.
True some would still not walk across the street to get a good job . . . I hope most would.

From my perspective I’m living in a third world country, poor health care (my boss had complications from a fairly simple procedure) (part of an operation that I could not begin to afford by the way)/expensive health care, no trains, products and services priced for the few elite and the rest can just suck it up an die. Maybe it is different where you are.

Today, someone who knows knives acknowledge the quality coming out of China. Whether they buy em is their prerogative. But as a community most of us acknowledge the fact, can look beyond those geopolitical lines, and are not ignorant like the many outside the knife community. That is something I think that we as a community should be proud of.


Yes I agree there to.

After I say this I will probably have alienated the rest of my friends here but truth be told I am a “Planet First” international kind of person so in the end do not really care where a product is actually made or by whom (as long as we keep enough jobs in America)(although with present attacks on our presidential election, not to mention attacks on France’s election, I would STRONGLY hesitate to buy from Russia though it is not the people’s fault . . . dang this gets complicated . . . I've enjoyed the exchanges here with Russian citizens.

 

[Nautique]

I guess I'm old fashioned, but I'm a fan of American brands that are actually made here, not outsourced overseas.
BTW, I edc a zdp lum, lol.

 

[Wowbagger]

I guess I'm old fashioned, but I'm a fan of American brands that are actually made here, not outsourced overseas.
BTW, I edc a zdp lum, lol.

hahaha
That old Hemingway irony sneaking in around the edges.
For what it's worth my last two knives I just bought were not only fully American made but made in my state.
I'm tryin'

 

[jbmonkey]

America has done this since the beginning of the nation. Outsourcing production to foreign nations. And we are still here and as strong as ever

Probably right . . . though because of the very distressing number of homeless people here (in my city that I see every day) . . . for years and years . . . I’m thinking some fairly easy manufacturing jobs would be most welcome.

Maybe I am just naive and they just enjoy camping . . . a whole lot.
True some would still not walk across the street to get a good job . . . I hope most would.

From my perspective I’m living in a third world country, poor health care (my boss had complications from a fairly simple procedure) (part of an operation that I could not begin to afford by the way)/expensive health care, no trains, products and services priced for the few elite and the rest can just suck it up an die. Maybe it is different where you are.

Today, someone who knows knives acknowledge the quality coming out of China. Whether they buy em is their prerogative. But as a community most of us acknowledge the fact, can look beyond those geopolitical lines, and are not ignorant like the many outside the knife community. That is something I think that we as a community should be proud of.


Yes I agree there to.

After I say this I will probably have alienated the rest of my friends here but truth be told I am a “Planet First” international kind of person so in the end do not really care where a product is actually made or by whom (as long as we keep enough jobs in America)(although with present attacks on our presidential election, not to mention attacks on France’s election, I would STRONGLY hesitate to buy from Russia though it is not the people’s fault . . . dang this gets complicated . . . I've enjoyed the exchanges here with Russian citizens.

too much politics always creeps into theze kinda posts.

what city is it you live in?

 

[Wowbagger]

too much politics always creeps into theze kinda posts.

what city is it you live in?

Yep !
I've got my puckerer puckered just waiting for the Mods to shutterdown.
I'm in Colorado Springs, Co.
Don't aim the big guns at me though . . . we got NORAD here along with Fort Carson and The Air Force Accademy.

 

[jbmonkey]

too much politics always creeps into theze kinda posts.

what city is it you live in?

Yep !
I've got my puckerer puckered just waiting for the Mods to shutterdown.
I'm in Colorado Springs, Co.
Don't aim the big guns at me though . . . we got NORAD here along with Fort Carson and The Air Force Accademy.

so a big govt employed town. explains the 3rd world part.

 

[Wowbagger]

so a big govt employed town. explains the 3rd world part.

Yah . . . I'm thinking we need MORE government to keep an eye on the excesses of the government.
. . . oh wait . . .
I wish every body would just relax and chill
but that means EVERYBODY
like THAT's going to happen.

as The Chef's family from back East says :
Whadayah gonna do ?
Whacanyah do ?