- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
- Messages
- 67
For the last year or so I've had a running interest in the Meyerco Wharning Neck Knife. Everybody knows it for being very inexpensive, very similar to the Spyderco Ronin, and it gaining a sudden popularity a while back. Then, it became out of stock almost everywhere, and it's reselling for twice its old value. I wish I had bought one when I had the chance. But it's a rather more complex story...
On a few forums, the designer Dirk Pinkerton has popped up saying that the Wharning is so popular Meyerco has discontinued the current version and it will be released with upgraded materials and a few revisions to fix issues with the original. No definite release times except the first of the year. There would also be modifications to a few other models, apparently when he sent in some unfinished prototypes to Meyerco...they simply made the factory models exactly like those prototypes without refinements. A few months back he was nice enough to pop up on here and even mentioned a smaller version being released.
Now, here's where things get sketchy...Meyerco did quietly release a new Wharning, but it's apparently just a version of their five dollar 'Neck Lance' model with a Wharnie blade. Apparently they took that knife, made a bunch of blade shape variations of it, including one which has been christened the new Wharning. For the record, the Neck Lance is one of the worst knives I've ever held design-wise, changing the blade shape won't change the horrific handle and cheap build. I'm worried that the designer was hoping for an upgraded Wharning, and instead was told they're just going to slap the label on a budget knife and call it a day.
I've emailed both Meyerco as well as Mr. Pinkerton himself, no response. SHOT Show is around the corner, is it possible Meyerco really is trying to change their image and will be announcing the upgraded models? This may seem to be a lot of worry for a twenty dollar knife, but finding a good Wharnecliffe fixed blade is a challenge and the Wharning was well known for being an inexpensive hidden treasure of a blade.
On a few forums, the designer Dirk Pinkerton has popped up saying that the Wharning is so popular Meyerco has discontinued the current version and it will be released with upgraded materials and a few revisions to fix issues with the original. No definite release times except the first of the year. There would also be modifications to a few other models, apparently when he sent in some unfinished prototypes to Meyerco...they simply made the factory models exactly like those prototypes without refinements. A few months back he was nice enough to pop up on here and even mentioned a smaller version being released.
Now, here's where things get sketchy...Meyerco did quietly release a new Wharning, but it's apparently just a version of their five dollar 'Neck Lance' model with a Wharnie blade. Apparently they took that knife, made a bunch of blade shape variations of it, including one which has been christened the new Wharning. For the record, the Neck Lance is one of the worst knives I've ever held design-wise, changing the blade shape won't change the horrific handle and cheap build. I'm worried that the designer was hoping for an upgraded Wharning, and instead was told they're just going to slap the label on a budget knife and call it a day.
I've emailed both Meyerco as well as Mr. Pinkerton himself, no response. SHOT Show is around the corner, is it possible Meyerco really is trying to change their image and will be announcing the upgraded models? This may seem to be a lot of worry for a twenty dollar knife, but finding a good Wharnecliffe fixed blade is a challenge and the Wharning was well known for being an inexpensive hidden treasure of a blade.
