is there any talk of spyderco coming out with assisted ?

kozak6 said:
There was a Spyderco/Kershaw collaboration a while back, the SpyKer.

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EDIT, which doesn't matter, since it doesn't appear to be assisted opening. Oops.
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Jeeeeze, this will haunt my nightmares.:eek:

Spyderco has a good thing going, I don't see why they should change anything.
 
I seriously dooubt that Spyderco will ever do an AO knife. If you pay close attention to the trends AO is likely on its way out. Kershaw still has many great AO knives in the line-up that will be around for a very long time, but, with KO focusing on other ventures and newer designers stepping up there is more focus on flippers of various sorts at KAI USA. BM offered up a few new ones this year, but, who knows how they are doing in the market and if they will return next year....Heck, even Ken Onion's new production venture is not using AO initially. Their first release, the Ripple, will be IKBS with a filpper. http://www.onionknives.com/knife.HTM AO's are fun, useful and will always rate highly with me, but aside a few bread and butter models from a very few makers they are likely going to show up less and less frequently in new model line-ups....... just my $.02 FWIW
 
I hope spyderco never does Assisted knives. Cant stand that system. Totally useless imo
 
morrowj_98 said:
If AO is not utilitarian than neither is the hole on Spyderco knives. They accomplish the same thing for me. .
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Precisely my point. Just another way to open a knife with one hand. I still don't see the utility in A/O at all. It is just a gadget. It doesn't make opening a knife easier or faster.
 
morrowj_98 said:
As far Spyderco taking function over form every time, I'd have to disagree with you on that point. Spyderco has released its share of radical and innovative designs that some would argue did not put function before form. I'm glad Spyderco doesn't put function before form all the time......that could get boring pretty quick. A nice mix of designs is always preferred.
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The radical designs and even the few jewelry knives Spyderco has made have all been practical. Perhaps that is a better term. The term I used was utility, not utilitarian.
 
Knife Outlet said:
Precisely my point. Just another way to open a knife with one hand. I still don't see the utility in A/O at all. It is just a gadget. It doesn't make opening a knife easier or faster.
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I never said it was easier or faster. I don't understand how you can say there is not utility in an AO knife right after saying it is just another way to open a knife one-handed. Does this mean you think there is no utility in autos or knives that open with a flipper? Regardless of the method of one-handed opening, there is utility in all of them. You may not like some methods of one-handed opening knives but that certainly doesn't remove the usefulness of them. Personal preference is a wonderful thing to exercise and I'm thankful we have so many choices. I like them all. :)
 
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Knife Outlet said:
The radical designs and even the few jewelry knives Spyderco has made have all been practical. Perhaps that is a better term. The term I used was utility, not utilitarian.
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I didn't find the Dodo very practical or the Captain. Cool looking knives......nice designs..but not practical in my opinion. I'm sure there are people who disagree. Practicality has much to do with the individual using the knife.
 
I'm getting older and find AO useful due to arthritis in my hands. I can open a regular one handed knife with no real problem, but there is just something about a AO with a flipper. :D

I do agree that the AO mechanism does add some complexity to the knife that may affect reliability. As long as the design permits the knife to still function if the AO feature fails, then I don't see a real problem with it.

Tom
 
stormyone said:
Spyderco don't need no stinkin' AO's.
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+1 :thumbup: to that!!

The longer I've owned & carried & used my Spydercos, the more I've come to the conclusion that A/O is unnecessary for me. I can open any of my Spydies just as fast as any A/O, and with MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE (it's nice to have my thumb in that Spydie Hole so I can feel the blade SNAP firmly into position!). Of the A/O's that I've used in the past, occasionally they've failed to completely open to locked position (weak-ish springs are too dependent upon a very slick or borderline loose pivot).

The true beauty of the Spyderco Hole is in it's SIMPLICITY. No mechanical complications to eventually break, and no ugly, bolted on, thumbstud hangin' off the side of the blade. And all the while, this serves to actually IMPROVE the functionality of the knife...

And, by the way, no springs to impede or slow down the CLOSING of the blade too!
 
spiralarchitect said:
Don't knock it until you have tried it. The SpyKer is probably the best Spyderco I own..... that recurve is a sweet cutter and the action on that one is buttery smooth.
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That's cool, if everyone liked the same thing... you know where this is going. Didn't mean to offend.
 
morrowj_98 said:
I never said it was easier or faster. I don't understand how you can say there is not utility in an AO knife right after saying it is just another way to open a knife one-handed. Does this mean you think there is no utility in autos or knives that open with a flipper? Regardless of the method of one-handed opening, there is utility in all of them. You may not like some methods of one-handed opening knives but that certainly doesn't remove the usefulness of them. Personal preference is a wonderful thing to exercise and I'm thankful we have so many choices. I like them all. :)
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My point was that A/O adds no additional utility over a one hand opening knife. It only adds complexity. That's my view and I'm sticking to it.
 
morrowj_98 said:
I didn't find the Dodo very practical or the Captain. Cool looking knives......nice designs..but not practical in my opinion. I'm sure there are people who disagree. Practicality has much to do with the individual using the knife.
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I see them in the opposite light. For me those models are practical but ugly. It's a good thing people have opinions and preferences. Otherwise the world would be boring place indeed. If there were a best knife for everyone, then there would be only one knife.
 
Knife Outlet said:
My point was that A/O adds no additional utility over a one hand opening knife. It only adds complexity. That's my view and I'm sticking to it.
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I don't disagree that more moving parts means more complex. What is your opinion on autos and flippers?
 
Knife Outlet said:
My point was that A/O adds no additional utility over a one hand opening knife. It only adds complexity. That's my view and I'm sticking to it.
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You are certainly entitled to stick to your view, but T Schloz has made an excellent post pointing out the additional utility A/O adds to a knife.

Arthritis can make it very difficult to open a manual folder (yes even one handed openers with a hole), where an A/O makes it effortless.

I had a friend in college with Cerebral Palsy that could not have opened a manual folder with two hands, much less one. A/O makes it easy.

There are countless reasons that someone might not have the manual dexterity or the strength to open a manual one handed knife. Assisted openers (and even autos) are a huge benefit for these people.
 
I don't like autos for the same reasons I don't like A/O. Also autos run the risk of opening in a pocket if the pocket gets pressed up against something. Or you can engage a safety and really make it a hassle to open. I understand the appeal. They just don't appeal to me.

I think flippers are fine although I prefer thumb studs personally. I have a couple of flipper knives and I always use the thumb studs instead. To tell you the truth I don't particularly like the spyderhole either. Understand, I love Spyderco knives and I even collect them. But I'd prefer a thumb stud.
 
kneedeep said:
You are certainly entitled to stick to your view, but T Schloz has made an excellent post pointing out the additional utility A/O adds to a knife.

Arthritis can make it very difficult to open a manual folder (yes even one handed openers with a hole), where an A/O makes it effortless.

I had a friend in college with Cerebral Palsy that could not have opened a manual folder with two hands, much less one. A/O makes it easy.

There are countless reasons that someone might not have the manual dexterity or the strength to open a manual one handed knife. Assisted openers (and even autos) are a huge benefit for these people.
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I said it was my view. If a person has a disability and can't open a one handed opener without difficulty then I think it's great that A/O makes it easier for them use a knife. I have no problem with that at all. I'll view that as an exception to my view. I have a great understanding of their popularity, of course, since I ship them to people every day.

I'm not against A/O knives. I just don't like them and I don't use them personally. I don't use Khukuris or machetes either but I understand their utility and why people use them.
 
Knife Outlet said:
I don't like autos for the same reasons I don't like A/O. Also autos run the risk of opening in a pocket if the pocket gets pressed up against something. Or you can engage a safety and really make it a hassle to open. I understand the appeal. They just don't appeal to me.
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If the only reason autos don't appeal to you is the risk of them accidentally opening in a pocket, then you should have a look at the autos that use G&G Hawks Crossfire Lock, accidentally pressing against something can't fire it. I've been carrying A ZT 0650 ST since it was released and never had an issue with it opening accidentally. Disengaging the safety and opening the blade are one smooth action. I generally carry it clipped in a cargo pocket where it gets banged around quite a bit.

I just noticed that Sal posted and answer to the original post, so it is probably time to let this thread run its course.
 
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