I wish Spyderco would stop putting hole in their fixed blades.

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Mar 26, 2012
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Many of their collaboration fixed blade design especially their higher end model are very nice... like Phil Wilson Southfork, Bradley Bowie or the Proficient.

I have handle many of them at the shop and everything seems to be perfect... the steel, the sheath, fit and finish is absolutely nothing but excellent.
But the hole is what turn me down...

I know its Spyderco's trademark but for fixed blade it not only serve nothing but weaken the overall strength structure of the blade since its always put at the spine which is the thicker part. As for aesthetic point of view I bet it will look much better with out the hole too.
 
This point has been made before (I prefer my Spyderco fixed blades from before they started putting holes in them), but they are adamant that the holes are there to stay.

Personally, I wish they'd put holes in the handle of the sprig - it would improve the balance.
 
Coming from Sal himself, it is done for Spyderco to maintain their trademark as an actual TRADE MARK and not just a patent or idea as a form of FUNCTION. The hole IS the trademark.
 
I agree. A hole on fixed blade does nothing good. Even worse on the kitchen knives. No function, just food getting in the hole, which you need to clean really well. I think it is some kind of legal issue.
 
I agree. The worst however is the Pekka Tuominen Puukko.

I just can't bring myself to purchase it because there is a big ugly hole in a beautiful blade that serves no functional purpose.
 
That little hole has been on my mind too. My concern is I am going to use my soon to be aquired Sprig for work and for food prep. I need to be sure to clean out the hole well each time. Don't want to contaminate those card board boxes at work with cheese. Er . . . I mean I don't want to get dirt from the cardboard boxes in my cheese.

My thought was I can always put a brass plug in it. Machine it for a firm press fit. That way it can be completely flush and never come out (I can always press it out).

Who knows we may have started a whole new thing here . . . who's going for a ruby set into it with the edges coined to hold it in ? ? ? ? Would be tough to do but not impossible ! ! ! !

Could always get a plug pressed into it of the same steel and the hole would disappear.

The hole may allow them to index the knife in the manufacturing process. Would be interesting to hear from Sal if this is so.
 
I've got a number of Spyderco fixed blades that I use pretty hard on a near daily business. I've never noticed the hole impeding function in any way. I understand that some folks might dislike them on a purely aesthetic basis, but I think claims that they detract from the functionality of a knife are overstated.

As far as the idea of food getting stuck in there? Meh, I throw my south fork in the sink after cleaning fish with nothing more than a quick squirt from the hose. Fish cleaning knives are supposed to stink. If they don't then you aren't catching enough fish.
 
The cleanliness of the knives I use for game processing is my biggest concern in regards to the (unnecessary) hole. Especially since some pull double duty in the kitchen, namely the Sprig and Southfork. That said, I can understand Spyderco protecting their trademark by using the hole on all of their knives. I just wish fixed blades could be excluded somehow.
 
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I dislike the hole in their fixed blades too ... the combination of no function and bad looking makes me not to buy Spydercos fixed knives with blade hole.
 
If it actually make the knife easy to break I'm sure Spyderco would have changed it. They're pretty good about that.

If people are complaining because they think it's ugly, I'm sure Spyderco will ignore it. They're pretty good about that too.
 
I don't mind the hole for the sake of function, like on a folder

But a hole for the sake of brand recognition with no functional purpose? Nah, that why they have a logo lasered on the blade :D
 
I had an issue once with my Aqua Salt, when sweet potato got stuck inside the hole and couldn't be blown away with lung force. I just put it in the dishwasher as usual, and like new.

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My ARK also has had grape skin, salmon fillet, and other foods get trapped inside, but nothing a bit of rinsing and water couldn't easily get off and away from the hole, so it was no real issue.

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I would think that if the hole actually compromised the integrity of the knife then they would change the design. They are not going to make a decision for marketing reasons that causes the product to be defective. I doubt they are getting very many of these returned because of failure due to the hole. I can't see of any other way the hole would affect functionality and don't mind it at all.
 
How are y'all having trouble cleaning out the hole? Its a thru hole... basically the easiest thing to clean. You'd have more problems with stuff getting between the handles and the tang.

The hole is Spyderco, therefor Spydercos have holes.
 
Looks like I'm in the minority. I actually like the small hole. Can't really tell you why but I think it just adds a nice touch. I like it on their autos too.
 
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