New love for Taichung Spydercos. Which model next?

sgt1372 said:
I've considered by a Slysz Bowie but people want too much for them and I don't think they are THAT good; neither does Nick Shabazz for that matter.
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I just watched Nick's YT video..."If you could only keep one knife..."...and he picked the Slysz Bowie...It's also my favorite folder of all times.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I just watched Nick's YT video..."If you could only keep one knife..."...and he picked the Slysz Bowie...It's also my favorite folder of all times.
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That's news to me because I specifically recall him saying in his review of the knife that he did not think it was worth $500+. So, he either changed his mind or decided that it was still his favorite despite the high price (which he probably didn't have to pay himself).

As for me, while I have paid premium prices for knives ($400+), I also look for knives that offer the best value for the money asked/paid and my current favorite knife one of those - an all Ti knife w/an M390 blade for less than $200 which is comparable to knives costing 50-100% more -- and is not a Spyderco.

This doesn't mean that I do not like Spydercos (I do own over 130 of them) but Spydercos are often do not offer the best "value" outside of the Byrd or Tenacious lines and the Slyz Bowie is one obvious example of this.

Does it make sense to pay more for a Slyz Bowie than a Paysan or Nirvana? I think not but if that makes sense to you and others, go for it! It's your $.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I just watched Nick's YT video..."If you could only keep one knife..."...and he picked the Slysz Bowie...It's also my favorite folder of all times.
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To be fair, he also said it isn't worth the ridiculous prices people are asking for it on the secondary market.
 
Slysz Bowie had an original street price of $299.97 which was well worth it. The secondary market prices of $500+ not so much.
 
I only bought the Advocate after it was discontinued. Didn't think it was worth the money at cost new from authorized dealer. Having said that, If i I lost mine (CQI version). I'd pay the $240(ish) to replace it.
 
RamZar said:
Slysz Bowie had an original street price of $299.97 which was well worth it. The secondary market prices of $500+ not so much.
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So, just out of curiosity, I went over my inventory and this is a list of the knives that I've purchased for $400 or more (or that have been sold for $400 or more on the 2ndary market, here and elsewhere). This is only about a dozen knives out of the over 340 or so that I currently own.

Most (but not all) of these knives are autos and balis and there's no way that I'd pay more for the Slysz Bowie than I did for any of them. The only knife comparable in my mind in terms of being "overpriced" is the Kershaw Tilt with a current asking price around $1k and actual sale prices between $700-800 on EB but I acquired it for far less than that in trade.

Paysan (sold)
Nirvana
Spyderfly
ZT 0100
ZT 0610
ZT 0650
BRS Alpha Beast 3.0
Hom Basilisk
Kershaw Tilt
MicroTech Halo V
MicroTech Stitch

BTW, I had more than enough time to buy the Slysz Bowie directly from Spyderco for $200 as an OpFocus member before it was discontinued. Never did, still don't regret it and wouldn't even pay $300 for it now.
 
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blame it on god said:
I only bought the Advocate after it was discontinued. Didn't think it was worth the money at cost new from authorized dealer. Having said that, If i I lost mine (CQI version). I'd pay the $240(ish) to replace it.
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Like some other Gayle Bradley knives it really has to be handled to be fully appreciated.
 
The Slysz Bowie is one of the better ones along with the GB1 and GB2. The Chef, Kapara, Amalgam, the Sage collection, and even the Smock are all pretty sweet. I’ll even include the Southard there. I paid $320 for a Slysz Bowie and don’t regret it one bit. Great knife.
 
RamZar said:
Slysz Bowie was by far the nicest Taiwan folder I had but I hear Paysan and Drunken are very nice too. Of these, only Drunken has CF on the presentation side.

My favorites though which I carry are Chaparral and within the Chap line the Stepped Titanium has incredible and stunning 3D milling. The Stepped Titanium used to sell for $367.22 (MSRP: $564.95) but since they've been discontinued you can get a brand new one for $199.95 at KnifeCenter! Only Chaparral 1 is CF. The FFG blade on the Chaparral is only 0.078" thick and makes for an excellent slicer.

All the CF Taichung folders that I know of:

  • Amalgam
  • Chaparral 1
  • Dice
  • Dog Tag CF
  • Domino
  • Drunken
  • Gayle Bradley 1
  • Gayle Bradley 2
  • Ikuchi
  • Kapara
  • Magnitude
  • Mamba
  • Mantra 3
  • Navaja
  • Perrin PPT CF
  • Positron
  • Rhino
  • Rubicon 1
  • Rubicon 2
  • Sage 1
  • Sage 3
  • Sage 5
  • Schempp Bowie
  • Sliverax
  • Smock
  • Szabo
  • Szabo Black
  • Watu (upcoming)
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I think the Terzuola Slip-it is a carbon fober, Taiwanese Taichung knife as well.
 
My favourites:

Gayle Bradley
Gayle Bradley 2
Southard
Advocate
Chapparal

I've bought quite a few Golden CO. knives, and still have a few. The only one I owned (briefly, and should never have sold) that appeared to match the Taiwan Spydies in build and finish quality was the Native 5 Fluted Titanium. Much nicer than the original Fluted Ti Military, IMHO.

I'm with those who praise the fit and finish of the Taiwan models, and every Spyderco fan should own a couple. The Southard, for instance, has exceptional finishing given the year it came out, and is still one of my favourite knives.
 
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