Is anyone else underwhelmed by Spyderco's 2014 lineup?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
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Let's see...

Battle Station - VG-10 lockback
Karahawk - VG-10 lockback
Double-bevel - VG-10 linerlock
Roc - VG-10 linerlock
Firefly - VG-10 linerlock
Tatanka - VG-10 lockback (powerlock)
Mike Draper Folder - VG-10 linerlock
Worker - VG-10 lockback (I know it's a re-release. Still.)

Did they get a good deal on a truckload of VG-10, or something? Plus, they discontinued the Gayle Bradley APPARENTLY THEY DID NOT DO THAT and introduced a version of the Southard that looks like a counterfeit. Frowny-face.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Spyderco. I love a lot of their knives, and have owned about 75% of what they have offered. My Gayle Bradley is carried more often than anything else, my first >$50 knife was a Manix XL that I used and loved, I had a Tenacious and an Emerson Wave Endura as a pair for months and months, the Southard is an absolute tank of a knife... I suppose my source of disappointment here is that one of the things I've always admired about Spyderco is that they tend to use premium steels at comparatively low prices. I don't personally consider VG-10 a particularly premium steel. Also, I'm really not a fan of lockbacks.

This is the first time in years they haven't had a single new item in the catalog that I just could not wait to have. If it weren't for the CF/S90V Yojimbo coming late in the year, I'd be flat-out disappointed. Although, honestly, the S90V Yojimbo might make it all worthwhile... THAT is a knife I'm excited about. A lot. A lot a lot.
 
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Sure, some of them look cool, but I couldn't see myself carrying any of them. Maybe the Tatanka, but because of NY knife laws, I can't. (Tatanka has 5" blade)
 
I have nothing against VG10, but I do very much dislike all of their Seki knives. The quality is hit or miss, and it costs more to manufacture there than the US or Taiwan, so you end up with an inferior knife for a higher price.

Also the GB hasn't been discoed. It wasn't on the list anyway.
 
Yeah, kinda. I own about 10 Spydies by now, and it's getting increasingly hard to find something really cool from them. I personally wish they'd do some more wild colours. Definitely would love some off-the-shelf toxic green from them, maybe some cool mixed colours versions. Shake it up a bit.

Still, I'm sure I'll be adding some Spyderco to the collection this year!
 
Gayle Bradley is still in the catalog. You're also missing the Tusk, Serrata, Spy-DK, the Clipitools, and maybe the Chaparral 3, depending on whether you include it in the 2014 lineup.

I do kind of agree with you, though. Seems like Taiwan is really only getting two new models and is updating several others (Sage 3, Szabo folder) and Golden is just updating the Manix2.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Spydercos released in previous years that I would still really like to pick up - and now that BM has bumped their prices by 33%, I'm a lot more likely to go ahead and do that.
 
I haven't seen anything in the last couple of years that interested me. The GB is the last thing they did that I liked well enough to keep and use. I haven't bought and kept anything new from them since the GB. I've picked up a couple of Para 2s (not a new model to me, just a CQI update) and I bought a Domino to try it out. Traded it away a couple of weeks ago.

I have to say that this is all based on my personal tastes and uses. I have no problem with their quality or place of origin. I just have zero interest in midget knives, ethnic knives, custom collaborations, and high tech stuff like pivot bearings. I'm old, ornery, boring, determined not to change no matter what, and only interested in pleasing myself when I buy a tool. I want it to look like a tool and work like a tool. And I still have my Delicas, Militaries, and Paras and Para 2s. Just haven't seen anything new that interests me in a while.
 
2014 disco list-


BY21GP&S – byrd Wings
C29GFP – Cricket Black Nishijin Glass Fiber PlainEdge
C36GPSE – Military Model CombinationEdge
C36GPSBK – Military Model Black Blade CombinationEdge
C65CFP – Lum Chinese Folder Black Nishijin Glass Fiber PlainEdge
C101GPSBBK2 – Manix2 G-10 Black Blade CombinationEdge
C101PSBL2 – Manix2 Blue FRCP CombinationEdge
C121P – Embassy PlainEdge
C121PS – Embassy CombinationEdge
C121BKP – Embassy Black PlainEdge
C121BKPS – Embassy Black CombinationEdge
C123GPBL – Sage3 Bolt Action Blue G-10
C141P – Balance Stainless Steel PlainEdge
C146CFP – Szabo Folder Carbon Fiber PlainEdge
C150GP – Junior Black G-10 PlainEdge
MOL1 – Molle Attachment Plate
 
There are a few that are ok looking, but yeah I'm just not feeling it this year.
 
Yep, I hear ya. I'm a Spyderco fan (not a fanboy) but I was a bit disappointed in all the VG-10 and back lock models. The Sage 3 is the only new Spydie I'm even mildly interested in. And even it hardly differs enough from my beloved Sage 1 to matter. They gave the CF a different texture and replaced the liner lock with a bolt action. Meh.

I do like the look of some of the newer Nishijin glass fiber handles but I doubt I'll ever buy one. Bling is bling.

OK, I wouldn't mind a Swick3. But then I'm a sucker for neck knives even though I never carry one.
 
As much as like many of spyderco's designs as of late, nothing in the 2014 screams must have to me. I was really disappointed we didn't see more compression and bearing lock models.
 
The problem is that after coming up with dozens of new design ideas, eventually you run out of ideas. Maybe its burnout.
 
I find I am underwhelmed by most of Spyderco's offerings. I have two now and wish I wanted more... that is... I like the quality of the two I have, but spyderco tends to make designs that cater to mall ninjas. The designs are very aggressive and not overly aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Their most basic design of the narrow handle with the wide blade makes the knives look off balance. To each their own I suppose. As long as their knife designs continue down their current path, my money goes elsewhere.
 
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I feel ya man, I can't help but shake my head everytime a new spydie comes out with vg10... the only knife I want from them this year is the tatanka. But only because of the lock. They make some cool stuff, but lately they are not and an abundance of vg10 draws me off. I think this years new lineup SUCKS!
 
The models I like are still being made, so thats all I really care about.
CRK and Spyderco are my two favorite manufacturers, and I could care less if either came out with a single new product in the next five years, or longer.

I feel Spyderco has more variety than any other, so I'm certainly not going to complain about what they make or don't make.
I think they know what they're doing.
 
I have already pre-ordered two for 2014, so at least two of the new ones got me excited and will keep me entertained.
1. ) The Serrata - Exsited about trying the Dendritic 440C steel. It might replace my love for the bushcrafter. :eek:
2. ) The Kiwi fourth generation. Love the size and the blade shape. I only hope that the quality is as good as it would be if it were made in Spyderco's Taiwan factory. :thumbup:
 
gytheran said:
spyderco tends to make designs that cater to mall ninjas. The designs are very aggressive and not overly aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Click to expand...
I've heard many say Spydies are not pleasing to the eye but I'm curious what makes you see them as mall ninja designs? I guess I haven't heard that opinion before. Do you have a particular model in mind?
 
I have also been looking more at other brands more than I have in the past. ZT particularly but also Strider and CRK (not that anything ever changes too dramatically at either of those two brands. On Spyderco's side they have a lot of great established models and they do still come out with probably more new models (at least quality models) than any other company I can think of on a year to year basis. Some how they manage to do this while doing CQI on the regular models not to mention, it can't ne easy (based on how hard it was to find some of their top sellers last year) to keep up with demand for the existing line up.

Anyway, I am not trying to say that they have a super exciting line up this year. I would be more interested in sprints for some of my favorite existing knives than most of the new offerings. A little more Carbon Fibre or Micarta would be nice. On the VG-10 topic I have no problem with VG-10 it serves me well.
 
I honestly find there full line up rather difficult to even look at or choose from and they should consolidate the pile a bit.

VG-10 has always worked for me. Super steels from 10 years ago are no longer today's super steels. The thing is... the old steels are still very good if properly heat treated.
 
I too am underwhelmed by the new 2014 knives. My most recent Spyderco purchase is a Chinook 3--from the good ol' days. VG10 and lockbacks--argh.:barf:
 
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