Is spyderco behind now?

[thedawg]

Hope I dont get flamed for this , Also hope that spyderco fans wont get emotional here, but: Is spyderco too slow to adapt ?

I have been following knife companies lately. Spyderco is my favorite company but I am starting to think that it is loosing out to companies like benchmade, Kershaw, and even cold steel.

Will spyderco's currant way of doing things put it behind?
I understand that spyderco's method of developing knives is somewhat unconventional. They have a great forum that they run and consult fans and knife knuts more than other companies. But I dont see them coming up with new models often like other companies. Rather they bring many variants of the same models.

Also, there website is not the best compared to that of BM, cold steel and Kershaw.

Spyderco is not aggressive in marketing like the other companies I mentioned. This is a good thing for us knife people. Its more like a club.

What will the future bring for spyderco the gentle bug in the dog eat dog world of knife making?

 

[ashtxsniper]

O boy the Spyderco fans are going to rip you up on this one. I like Spyderco's I have my share of them. I think Spyderco trying to always push new models might cause them to lose money.

 

[thedawg]

O boy the Spyderco fans are going to rip you up on this one. I like Spyderco's I have my share of them. I think Spyderco trying to always push new models might cause them to lose money.

Hi Ash,
This post is not in ill faith. Maybe this post will benefit spyco if it is discussed objectively.

Is Sal a CEO of the company or the only owner and manager?
companies that have share holders are usually more aggressive and profit orientated than those with one owner manager.

 

[ashtxsniper]

I would like to see newer models but it cost Spyderco a considerable sum every time the re-tool for a new design. I believe Sal is the CEO. You should have posted this in the Spyderco forum here and Sal probably would have seen it and responded to you on the subject.

 

[aj1985]

Honestly in my mind Spyderco is the best company hands down. I truly believe it, because it is run by Sal. Sal genuinely cares about each and every person that uses spyderco knives and stands behind his product 100%.

There have been many models that no other knife company would have touched with a 10 foot pole. No matter what anyone may say Spyderco is the first to come up with so many different & innovative designs.

Many other companies when compared to Spyderco have really become boring, because when i think of creativity i think of spyderco.

just my opinion anyways take care

aj

 

[mister_wilburn]

..........

 

[SharpOne]

Spyderco is my favorite company but I am starting to think that it is loosing out to companies like benchmade, Kershaw, and even cold steel.

Please explain. Is this merely based on your assumption or do you have facts that can support that Spyderco is losing out to BM, Kershaw, or CS?

But I dont see them coming up with new models often like other companies. Rather they bring many variants of the same models.

Coming up with new models cost money and time on the drawing board. Coming out with too many new models is overwhelming for consumers. Consider an automobile manufacturer coming out with 20 models for one year. Not a smart idea.
Variants of the same models can be a good or bad thing. This can be good for models that are already popular and successful, and i doubt Spyderco has anything that is considered a failure. Variants of a popular/ successful model with the introduction of new blade material, handle material, length, etc...can be beneficial since consumers already know about the model and are satisfied and would buy the upgraded model

Also, there website is not the best compared to that of BM, cold steel and Kershaw.

Again, seems like personal preference. A company's Web site does not indicate the over all value of the company itself.

Spyderco is not aggressive in marketing like the other companies I mentioned.

And one more time, it seems like your personal opinion again. Care to support this statement? Also, being aggressive too often is bad for a company's brand image. Yes, brand awareness is increased with aggressive marketing, but at the same time consumers may be annoyed that company X is advertising too much. Also, you mention marketing, but marketing in what sense- magazine advertising? Web site advertising? Because i do not see any of the other knife companies out there engaging in any aggressive marketing in. How do you suppose Spyderco should go about with their marketing strategy?

Cheers!=)

 

[salty141]

I have to disagree with Benchmade being faster at putting out new products. In the last year or so they have added a few new grips, and cheap red class knives, while Syderco has the P'kal, the micro dyad, and new zdp models. So I believe that spydercos update to their product line brings more for us fans to choose from then the multiple configurations of griptilians.
My .02 cents anyway!

 

[thefirefox]

I would say that Spyderco may not come out with a ton of new models, but they do take chances on unique knives. They bring us sometimes radical designs, while maintaining and improving a core line of really good knives i.e. the Delica, Endura, Dragonfly, Caly, etc... Constantly refining and bringing us great steels and designs that are perhaps some of the best thought out on the market. Not to mention that they offer perhaps the most bang for the buck.

Okay the website is a bit behind, no search feature, not the most up-to-date, perhaps a bit bland. But I won't stop buying knives because the site is a little below par.

Not to mention the whole Byrd line that they rolled out in the last few years.

 

[bammann45]

Is someone making better knives than them for cheaper?

 

[jlfletcher83]

I think they are the best knife company on earth. My first pocket knife was a spyderco and sure I own other knives but Sal sets the standard on business ethics. I am proud to buy from an american company. I will say I will not buy a Byrd because they are made in China. Spyderco's Golden Colorado line is perfection in my book. They make good knives and may not have new models out every week but the models they do put out are well tested and they back their products.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

I have been following knife companies lately. Spyderco is my favorite company but I am starting to think that it is loosing out to companies like benchmade, Kershaw, and even cold steel.

What exactly is Spyderco "loosing?" (You mean 'losing,' I take it.) I won't pretend to be privy to Spyderco's financial secrets but given their presence at major knife and tool conventions and their continued development of new models, especially the Byrd line, they appear to be turning a profit. If you've been to their Golden facility, as I have several times, you'll see that they're not exactly subsisting on crackers and jerky.

Will spyderco's currant way of doing things put it behind... But I dont see them coming up with new models often like other companies. Rather they bring many variants of the same models.

By "currant" I assume you mean "current." Their 'variants of the same models' continue to attract buyers - again, the Byrd line is a major innovation.

Also, there website is not the best compared to that of BM, cold steel and Kershaw.

"There" ('their?') Web site is not a good reflection of their current product offerings, I'll give you that. Many of us have commented on this in both the BF Spydie forum and the main Spydie forum and the company reps have commented that their small staff prioritizes customer care, design, and quality control over keeping their Web site up to date.

Spyderco is not aggressive in marketing like the other companies I mentioned... What will the future bring for spyderco the gentle bug in the dog eat dog world of knife making?

I don't know what the future will bring for Spyderco, but I'd sure like to be in the room with the Buck family, or the management of Benchmade, Leatherman, and the rest of the "let's offshore manufacturing under our main brand name" crowd when the Chinese factories steal their trade secrets and sell re-branded knives and multi-tools comparable in quality to the 'real thing' while Spyderco continues to benefit from its partnership with the factory that produces its Byrd line. Is that aggressive enough for you?

Is Sal a CEO of the company or the only owner and manager? companies that have share holders are usually more aggressive and profit orientated than those with one owner manager.

As far as I know, Spyderco is a privately-held corporation. But, I'm sure Sal is touched your concern on his behalf.

 

[Joshua J.]

Falling behind?

New models in the works, off the top of my head (that means there are probably a good dozen models that I don’t know about).

Ed Shempp 7” H-1 fixed blade (and 52-100 variation)
Ed Shempp 10” 52-100 fixed blade
Ed Shempp Tuff
Caspian Salt (dive knife)
Spyderco Viking
Spyderco Kukri
Spyderco Phoenix
Superhawk

With a little more research…
Aqua Salt
Mule team project
UK Bushcraft knife
Citadel (Auto)
Samaritan (Auto)
Urban
Devil Jumpmaster – 82nd piece

New models (not variations or sprint runs) released in the past year (2006)…
Spin
Caly 3
P’Kal
Lava
Captain
Hossom series (Forester, Forager, Woodlander, Dayhiker.)

New models released so far this year…
T-Mag
Street Beat
Spyderwrench

This list does not count the dozens of variations that have come out in the past year or are planned for the near future.

You can find information on most of the up and coming knives on the “Casual bombshell” thread.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17653

 

[thedawg]

Falling behind?

New models in the works, off the top of my head (that means there are probably a good dozen models that I don’t know about).

Ed Shempp 7” H-1 fixed blade (and 52-100 variation)
Ed Shempp 10” 52-100 fixed blade
Ed Shempp Tuff
Caspian Salt (dive knife)
Spyderco Viking
Spyderco Kukri
Spyderco Phoenix
Superhawk

With a little more research…
Aqua Salt
Mule team project
UK Bushcraft knife
Citadel (Auto)
Samaritan (Auto)
Urban
Devil Jumpmaster – 82nd piece

New models (not variations or sprint runs) released in the past year (2006)…
Spin
Caly 3
P’Kal
Lava
Captain
Hossom series (Forester, Forager, Woodlander, Dayhiker.)

New models released so far this year…
T-Mag
Street Beat
Spyderwrench

This list does not count the dozens of variations that have come out in the past year or are planned for the near future.

You can find information on most of the up and coming knives on the “Casual bombshell” thread.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17653

How successful were those models released 2006?
The bread and butter of spyderco is still the old models (deleca and endura).

 

[Danbo]

No, is the answer to your question.

 

[yablanowitz]

I believe that if you think Spyderco is falling behind, you aren't watching. They bring out a lot of new models every year. From hints Sal drops on the forums from time to time, it seems they have at least a dozen in development at any given time. The real key there is "development". They don't just pump out something to "keep up with the Joneses", they really do their homework. Sometimes that takes longer than expected so we get a dry spell. I'd rather have a dry spell than have poor knives released just to meet a deadline.

A little something that TazKristi threw out a while back: they are a company of 42 people doing business in 56 countries. Sure they contract out a lot of their production to makers they trust, but they produce a lot of knives here as well, and most of the design, engineering and testing is done in-house.

I also believe Sal is a lot less profit motivated than some makers. He seems to be all about performance rather than lining his pockets with our knife dollars.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I don't see Spyderco falling behind anyone. They don't come out with continuous new innovations like Kershaw has been doing lately, but they introduce new models often enough, and they produce quality products. To me there isn't a better knife company.

 

[z13ist]

Falling behind?

New models in the works, off the top of my head (that means there are probably a good dozen models that I don’t know about).

Ed Shempp 7” H-1 fixed blade (and 52-100 variation)
Caspian Salt (dive knife)
Spyderco Kukri
Superhawk

You can find information on most of the up and coming knives on the “Casual bombshell” thread.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17653

You can't tell by the names what some of them are about, but these are clear enough and something worth watching out for!!

I read somewhere in the forums H1 steel can't be made very thick... wonder how a fixed blade will turn out.

And a Spyderco Kukri... ABOUT TIME!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[thedawg]

Spyderco used to be or is about function. They work in the dark. Maybe this was true in the old days of traditional knives. But now?

So what sets it apart now from other manufacturers like Kershaw, BM and cold steel?

Everyone of of the Major companies makes quality knives like spyderco.
Everyone takes function into account more or less like like spyderco Sometimes making prettier more interesting knives like Kershaw lately.
Everyone has more or less the same costumer service.

Everyone is doing collaborations with custom knife makers. Sometimes more than spyderco.

Yes Sal is the best and the company is nice but putting emotions aside, I don't think it is leading any more.

I thought the company is struggling lately.

 

[znode]

putting emotions aside, I don't think it is leading any more.

Now let's put extrapolation, speculation, and armchair economist aside, please. Do you have any... facts pertaining to the matter? Last I checked, Spyderco is not a publicly traded company. Where did you come upon their financial records that you figured it is failing?

I thought the company is struggling lately.

I wish the world worked as I think it does. Life would be a lot easier.