Is anyone else underwhelmed by Spyderco's 2014 lineup?

I was personally hoping for some additional sprints to be listed, but nothing jumped out at me as "gotta haves." However, I'm somewhat curious to know if, perhaps, the amount of VG10 offerings and models are being done so that the s30v supply (and hopefully other supersteel materials) can be dedicated purely towards filling some of the backlog on existing popular models. That way, Spyderco can test the waters with the new 2014 models using VG10 to see what works, while also being able to ramp up production of PM2s (specifically) as well as other top selling models.

That's what I'd do anyways.
 
I will own a Tatanka.


The rest? Meh. Spyderco always has a bunch of folders that I have zero use for. They always seem to work well for someone else.
 
gytheran said:
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 think you are confused, severely confused. Last time I checked, Spyderco does not have any broad swords, katanas, war clubs, maces, baseball bats, shields, machetes, nor spells the names of their products in "1337 sp34k". What they do make is a variety of knives that can be used by recue personnel, LEO, Milotary, and civilians alike. If you want "mall ninja" look no further than Mantis/QRTRMSTR, and even some Cold Steel products.

Spyderco does make knives that actually cut stuff, with efficiency. I say this from my own experience. I don't know of any other company (actually KAI comes in close) that caters to the various knife laws of random countries, or works with as many knifemakers/designers on collaborations, makes a ton of sharpening equipment, or uses as many different steels before they hit the mainstream market. If all that screams mall ninja to you, I really don't know anyone here can help you at all.
 
I'm pretty fond of VG-10, takes a fine edge, with serviceable edge retention. Not anything crazy, but a reliable choice, I'm personally interested in the Reissue of the Worker model. I'm more interested as to if they keep the standard of quality control, they've had in the past.
 
I don't see backlock is a minus point. If anyone recalled, they refined it with Native 5 (check the YT on this) and all these effort can be spread into other models.

GB is not discontinued, and their liner locks are one of the best executed & most consistent that I've come across.

I bet VG 10 is better than any 8Cr or AUS8. Don't have one, can't say for sure.

No one is complaining CS making most models with Tri-ad lock & AUS8 ;)
 
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gytheran said:
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.
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I'm not a fan of many of their designs or general look, but there's nothing remotely "mall ninja" about them. Spyderco designs are substantially less "aggressive looking" than most companies, excluding a few designs like the Civilian(which was designed specifically as a weapon specifically for law enforcement) and it's little sister the Matriarch.
 
Chris "Anagarika";13031021 said:
I don't see backlock is a minus point. If anyone recalled, they refine it with Native 5 and all these effort can be spread into other models.

No one is complaining CS making most models with Tri-ad lock & AUS8 ;)
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They aren't complaining about the Triad lock cause it's one of, if not the, safest lock in the industry. But I assure you, there are TONS of people complaining about AUS8. I've seen more than one person on these forums say they will never buy from Cold Steel as long as they're using AUS8, and quite a few others who say they own some CS, but AUS8 is the reason they don't own a lot more.
 
Also, I'm really not a fan of lockbacks.
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Lockbacks are my favorite locking mechanism so I'm glad they're making more.



The Tatanka is interesting for being so big, but it's not something I'm too interested in buying.



Everything else you mentioned is either way too ugly, or looks like impractical designs.



In the end I'm not much interested in any of them.
 
I have no problem with VG-10 as a steel either, my issue lies in the fact that when you see VG-10, it means it's made in Japan and there's a 90% chance it will have black peel-ply G10 scales as well. While I'm not one who holds value as the supreme virtue of knives (after all, I'm a big Emerson fan and they're probably not "worth" the cost of entry), nevertheless I find myself unwilling to pay the asking price on the Japanese made Spydercos. $200 for the Karahawk? No thanks.

Then again, I've been collecting knives for two and a half years now and I would say that I haven't been interested in Spyderco as a brand in the last year. I grow weary of the whole "sprint run" game and I've been placing an increased value on aesthetics. I can't even look at the Battlestation and Double Bevel without cringing.
 
Comeuppance said:
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 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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I am a certified Spyderco fan-boy, but yes, I am totally underwhelmed by that list of knives. Other than the VG-10 Worker sprint (and I'll probably pass on that for $180 bucks) nothing on that list remotely interests me. Hopefully they will come out with a sprint or two that I like sometime during the year. (full flat grind Wegner & Wegner Jr. with VG-10 would be nice. :D)
 
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There are a few knives that i am excited for like the Firefly, Battlestation, and the Roc, however I really wanted them in something other than vg-10.
Almost all my blades are s30v or Vg10 and that wasn't by preference. But if I like the design and all they offer is that steel, what can you really do?? Hope they come out with a sprint and then you don't use it because it's an expensive hard to find knives that will most likely go up in value if you don't use it. Lol.
I'm excited for the next mule and the next swick style. Maybe in a really cool new steel. I didn't know about the sprint yojimbo in the s90v. I'll have to pick one of those up. :)
 
I agree this is a really big let down!
VG-10 is great and all but I am just not seeing anything I would carry alot. Need more HARD USE to the line
 
I'm a sucker for big folders and I love the general look of karambits so the Tatanka and Karahawk appeal to me...though like many Spydercos, I don't think they're worth the asking price, so I likely won't be getting them. When the Karahawk was first announced I was pretty excited, I thought finally there may be another folding karambit besides just 5.11 in the $100 price range, something nice but not quite as pricy as the $150 Fox ones or the even more expensive Emersons. But nope, ~$200, shooting right past Fox and catching up to Emerson.
 
Here's what will entice me to buy more spydercos: drop the hole and offer thumbstuds on some models. A whole world of design options will open up.

The quality is there, the excitement is not. Maybe its time to let go of good, but tired ideas. Most other makers use holes in addition to studs and flippers. This allows them to offer some great looking designs.

I wont buy another Boker because their F&F sucks. But look at their new designs and collabs. Some are drool worthy. If Spyderco was making the new Boker designs I would buy every one. Nothing in Spydercos lineup makes me pant anymore.

BTW, VG-10 is fine with me.
 
Im not crazy about all the new stuff, but one knife that I will definitely own is the tatanka. I love big, beefy, heavy duty folders so one from spyderco is a must for me, I am not in love with the way it looks but I still really want one. Besides that, my purchasing list is still mostly knives that have been around awhile and its more than enough to keep me busy for this year so im glad spyderco is not overwhelming me with tons of really cool must have stuff, theres enough of that on my list already:D
 
bearcut said:
Here's what will entice me to buy more spydercos: drop the hole and offer thumbstuds on some models. A whole world of design options will open up.

The quality is there, the excitement is not. Maybe its time to let go of good, but tired ideas. Most other makers use holes in addition to studs and flippers. This allows them to offer some great looking designs.
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Spyderco doesn't need to drop the Spydie hole and replace it with thumb studs. It already has a solution whereby the Spydie hole is small and unobtrusive while mostly flush with the handle. Check out Spyderco Southard, Techno, Air Bradley, Centofante Memory and Des Horn. I wish Spyderco made more folders with such hole designs.

bearcut said:
I wont buy another Boker because their F&F sucks. But look at their new designs and collabs. Some are drool worthy. If Spyderco was making the new Boker designs I would buy every one. Nothing in Spydercos lineup makes me pant anymore.
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Boker's quality in the models I've gotten recently have been great. I'm talking about the Kwaiken Titanium Flipper made in Taiwan, Federal GTC Flipper made in China and two made in Germany: Minos and Pipsqueak. The Minos is absolutely one of the best built folders I've ever seen!
 
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RamZar said:
Spyderco doesn't need to drop the Spydie hole and replace it with thumb studs. It already has a solution whereby the Spydie hole is small and unobtrusive while mostly flush with the handle. Check out Spyderco Southard, Techno, Air Bradley, Centofante Memory and Des Horn. I wish Spyderco made more folders with such hole designs.



Boker's quality in the models I've gotten recently have been great. I'm taking about the Kwaiken Titanium Flipper made in a Taiwan, Federal GTC Flipper made in China and two made in Germany: Minos and Pipsqueak. The Minos is absolutely one of the best built folders I've ever seen!
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Completely agree! If they made their knives with thumbstuds instead of Spydie holes I'd buy a lot less of them.
All the Benchmades I own have the Spydie hole and all the Zts I own have a flipper so I don't worry about it not having a Spydie hole.
 
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