I'm so glad Spyderco isn't doing this...

Fred Sanford

Fred Sanford

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Sep 3, 2006
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There are other companies (knife companies) that seem to be catering to other companies.

Benchmade is now doing all Harley-Davidson knives. Kershaw is doing knives with OCC (Orange County Chopper) logos on them now.

I personally think this cheapens the brand of the knife manufacturer. I'm glad that Spyderco has kept itself clean. I don't want to see anything on a Spyderco knife other than the Spyderco bug, the initials of the maker, the blade steel, and where it's made. That's it.

Thanks for not following everyone else.
 
I may be misremembering, but wasn't the ATR at one point envisioned as a collaborative/co-branded/whatever knife with Glock?
 
In a hundred years they will be worth something. Remember the old coca cola knives. I`ll wait untill then to buy them. Oh, I won`t be around.
 
SakuTheGreat said:
Didn't Spyderco make a Coors Q?
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Yeah the "Q" knives were kind of a commemorative form of advertising. I've had several of the Spyderco "Q" models and some of them did have company names.

I sort of see what David is driving at but I will admit that I have mixed feelings about it. What I don't like about it is that it truly does deceive the knife buying public to a large degree. Many people will think that Harley Davidson and/or Hechler & Koch are both making their own knives>> that is really throwing a curve ball in a sense to many consumers

However there is another way of looking at all of this. Many knife companies have been doing commemorative knives for good organizations like Ducks Unlimited and the NRA. That is quite a bit different that just using their great product as a virtual billboard for selling other products. The one that really gripes me is Smith & Wesson knives who are made by Taylor Cutlery ( or at least they used to be). This is nothing more than using a name to endorse someone else's merchandise. I truly think David is looking at the deception aspect of this. And if he is I agree with him :)
 
I have/had similar feelings as regards the Benchmade doing the Harley-Davidson (H-D) knives, but the H-D knives are unique from those under the "Benchmade" name. Same with the Blackwater knives.


The OCC (Orange County Chopper) knives appear to be simply a logo addition. No big deal, but I wouldn't pay more for them, either.

If Spyderco chose to take on such an undertaking, I'd like to see some unique feature(s), but I can understand the business of selling knives is a business decision. If a buyer simply wants a logo addition, than the knives stand on the maker's reputation.

Spyderco has a good reputation and I don't think any logo addition should affect such.
 
Those HD Benchmades are already popular with the Harley guys.
I've seen some pretty heated bidding on the bay for a couple.
Most would probably not even think about buying a 150 dollar or so B/M if not for the HD brand on it.
It's a marketing tool and that's about it.
 
I wish Spyderco well, times are tough. I'm in Michigan and alot of good companies are closing. I pulled up to eat at a great burger joint and it was closed. I could not believe it.

If it helps to keep them in business I wouldn't mind them doing whatever is good for them. As long as the blades stay sharp and they keep pushing the design/material envelope the way that they do!

Stay cool Spyderco!
 
Then I guess you wont like this...:rolleyes:
BlueNative002.jpg
 
I have a pal that worked for an outdoor clothing company. One of the big ones, you probably have some of their gear. A huge percentage (relatively) of their gross revenue came from design/manufacture of equivalent products with other (major department store) names attached. So if, for example, you get a 'technical' jacket that says 'Penny's' on it, you're maybe buying something that was designed, manufactured, and supplied by this big-name dedicated outerwear company. As a result, I personally don't even glance at many products, I'd just as soon go to the source company. Just my two cents, but if it were good for Spyderco, I'd sure be happy about it, love spydies, might help subsidize other cool products, R&D, nice bonuses for Sal and Tazkristi...

If I wanted a Harley knife I'd take a sharpie to one of my Busses :-)

Anyway, just another point of view. I've heard it said 'business is war', I'd just as soon see Spyderco win.
 
I don't see a problem wih a commemorative-style knife. As long as it is well made and not over priced. Though I probably never by one... Never know though.
 
I don't care much for a lot of the over-done brand licensing (notably Harley), although sometimes it can be cool.

A Spyder (very reputable knife company) with a <insert high end, non-cliche company here> logo/licensed knife isn't necessarily a bad thing (although it could be, depending...).
 
Many knife companies do the actual manufacturing for other companies. Benchmade does the Bradley Alias. Camillus made most of its knives under other company names, like Cold Steel's Carbon V knives. And some companies don't manufacture anything for themselves, it's all outsourced. It's business: assess the quality of the knife for itself, not for whose name is on it or who actually made it.
 
I carry an HK 14205 by benchmade... Its the best design IMO...
Which is USA made unlike the majority of the spyderco line... another argument entirely...
With kershaw .. They seem to mainly put a logo onto existing models..
Benchmade seems to make whole new designs...
All sounds just fine to me
 
Quality knives being manufactured as a sign of support for the loyal buyers of other quality companies doesn't bother me---if the knives aren't gaudy, if they're functional, and if they stay true to the producer's design format.

I don't particularly want to see Spyderco advertising for other companies on their knives---but if they do, all that you can ask is that the designs will still be functionally excellent like the designs that are now.

Whatever makes business sense, gets a good product, and makes our friends in Golden a profit and helps them keep their doors open shouldn't necessary be taboo with us. Just not too many Chinese knives---I had to put that, or others would say something. :D
 
steelscout30 said:
Quality knives being manufactured as a sign of support for the loyal buyers of other quality companies doesn't bother me---if the knives aren't gaudy, if they're functional, and if they stay true to the producer's design format.

I don't particularly want to see Spyderco advertising for other companies on their knives---but if they do, all that you can ask is that the designs will still be functionally excellent like the designs that are now.

Whatever makes business sense, gets a good product, and makes our friends in Golden a profit and helps them keep their doors open shouldn't necessary be taboo with us. Just not too many Chinese knives---I had to put that, or others would say something. :D
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What the Scout said! :thumbup:
 
David Lowry said:
I don't want to see anything on a Spyderco knife other than the Spyderco bug, the initials of the maker, the blade steel, and where it's made. That's it.

Thanks for not following everyone else.
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The BFC Native is nice aside from the crap written on the blade. I like the blue handle.

There's a difference in collectable stuff and commemorative stuff.

Stuff made today as collectable will never be worth anything. But old advertising knives are nice just because of the history behind them.

In general I stay away from commemorative crap. No matter how nice the underlying piece is, all the etching, inlays and stuff is not worth the asking price. And, it's just a turn off to me. Case in point is the Spyderco World Trade Center knife. It's not worth the premium because of a handle inlay when for less money you get an identical knife, why bother? It's a knife, a tool, not a display piece.

But, to each his own. If someone out there will buy it, some company will make it. I do agree with you though that it cheapens the brand image when they slap nascar logos on stuff.
 
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