New Spyderco Mule Team made in Taiwan?

[Txknifefan]

I was very excited when I had the opportunity to order the Mule Team 18 knife. Got it in earlier and it had Taiwan on the blade. I ordered this knife directly from the Spyderco website so I wasn't worried about it being a fake or knock off. I just feel somewhat let down that I spent $90 on a knife that was not made in the USA. I'm not trying to say this knife looks or will be less reliable. I just felt like if I'm going to drop that kind of money on a blade it should of had Golden, CO etched on the blade. And for anyone wondering Spyderco now has the Mule Team 18 listed under Taiwan for Country of Origin.

Next time I'm sending my money back to Benchmade or one of the Busse's.

 

[goodeyesniper]

next time you might want to read the description a little better. the country of origin is based on a lot of things. steel availability, and ability to work it being paramount.

you are aware one was made in China, right? because they wanted to test out a higher grade of Chinese steel on it.

 

[AF]

You could trade it for an earlier Mule. This is the first one made in Taiwan. Some are made in the U.S. Others in Japan. One in China.

 

[rycen]

Sorry to hear that you're disappointed by the country of origin. Its not as though they tried to hide that fact or that it's inferior.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/list.php?origin=Taiwan

 

[Sonnydaze]

Gosh, this has been hacked out several times before. Some of the finest Spyderco knives are made in the Taiwan facility. IIRC, I can name the TUFF, Gayle Bradley, Techno, and a host of others...and I love 'em all the same. Sal is very much a part of every knife that carries the brand.

 

[Cereal_killer]

In my experience with spyderco, the knives of theirs I've owned/handled with the highest level of F&F came out of their Tiachung plant. This includes my near perfect GB and my sage series knives (1 & G10 3).

It's pretty hard to screw up a one piece skeletonized handle knife.

I understand wanting to buy American or wanting your favorite spyderco to say Golden on its, especially cause I have friends & family who live 20 minutes from the SFO so it'd be really cool to have that connection with every blade but just because it came from the Tiwanies plant doesn't at all mean its inferior to what it would be had it came out of golden.

 

[Txknifefan]

next time you might want to read the description a little better. the country of origin is based on a lot of things. steel availability, and ability to work it being paramount.

you are aware one was made in China, right? because they wanted to test out a higher grade of Chinese steel on it.

I was unaware that one of the Mules was made in China. I have looked at the list of previous models and it's fairly easy to guess which one was made there. If you type in MULE TEAM on the Spyderco homepage in the Search box and click on the first listing, which is the Model 18, it does not list anywhere on that page country of manufacture/origin. I just believe that if you are going to offer something in a limited run or that is of a higher quality I would have it manufactured in a country that carries a better reputation for quality in the eye of the general public.

Also I do have experience in metal working, I worked as a machinist for several years and completely understand about "ability to work steel". Also CPM S110V is made by Crucible Steel which last I checked was a company in the USA that makes an excellent product, not a company from a foreign country that is trying to make a break into the world as a leader in industry.

 

[Invective]

just believe that if you are going to offer something in a limited run or that is of a higher quality I would have it manufactured in a country that carries a better reputation for quality in the eye of the general public.

Spyderco's Golden facilities are currently running at capacity, and Sal has even said that a new Golden-made knife in K390 would not show up until 2016. I am very happy to pay $90 for an S110V fixed blade at a great HT, and Taiwan's plant has shown time and again that they can pump out great knives. They even have newer and better machines than the Golden plant because it was built more recently than the Golden plant (although Golden is expanding now).

And I couldn't care less what racists think about my knife, if they think Taiwan and China are the same then they're just going to miss out on great knives.

 

[M.FREEZE]

Dear Txknifefan,
I know exactly the way you feel. Imagine my surprise when I got a Southard and it read "made in Taiwan".
I did more research and discovered that there are several very popular and expensive models made in Taiwan. I made a post about the same thing and was attacked by all the spyderco fan boys. It's really a losing battle. No matter how clear I was on praising the HIGH QUALITY of Taiwan made models, very few replies to the post could see my point. I received emails that were not so kind as well.

 

[RevDevil]

Well dude, that is what we call "1st world problems" at least you got one., last time i checked CPM-S110V is an American made steel.c

Dear Txknifefan,
I know exactly the way you feel. Imagine my surprise when I got a Southard and it read "made in Taiwan".
I did more research and discovered that there are several very popular and expensive models made in Taiwan. I made a post about the same thing and was attacked by all the spyderco fan boys. It's really a losing battle. No matter how clear I was on praising the HIGH QUALITY of Taiwan made models, very few replies to the post could see my point. I received emails that were not so kind as well.

I'm going to say this with the utmost respect. It's a lack of "big picture" understanding. People are so busy trying to convince everyone of what they aready knew and wanted them to change their minds, but the fact remains. The Spyderco models being produced in Taichung are some of the highest quality pieces in the history of the company. I'd even go as far as saying that they put Moki and Seki City out of the quality running.

The fact is you can explain something to someone a dozen times, if they don't want to hear it they don't want to hear it. The louder it gets doesn't make it sink in any further. Fanboys or not, people see quality for their money, they see a good company that has demonstrated a good work ethic and family environment for over 30 years. Ain't no couple threads going to change all that.

Sal has been more than crystal clear the dozens of times he has had to explain the same thing over, and over again to people. Anking the same question in a different tone won't change the answers. No one has yet to give Sal/Spyderco a financially viable solution to the Taichung "dilema". It's easy to criticize when most don't understand the way business really works, what their profit margins are, what their costs are, what their 5 - 10 year business plan is, what exchange rates do to profit margins, what stateside taxes and insurance costs, and a million other things do when factored in. In the end all we seem to read over and over is ,"yeah, what a shame... Why not (fill in the blank with a overstated unrealistic solution)?
I'm sorry you felt attacked, but on a forum you only get attacked when you start a discussion in a backhanded or smarty pants sort of way. There are ways to write and speak allowing you to get your point across without starting a messy feeding frenzy, a little more tact may have been all that was needed. Who knows, the knives are still good and if people cannot see past their own stuff, then they shouldn't buy them I guess since it causes such visceral reactions in some.

 

[jeffwithaj]

if they think Taiwan and China are the same then they're just going to miss out on great knives



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


this

 

[bdmicarta]

I did more research and discovered that there are several very popular and expensive models made in Taiwan.

Spyderco uses manufacturing facilities in a number of countries, I could not begin to name them all. They sell very popular models from a number of countries.

A person is entitled to their opinion of buying foreign vs. domestic products. I prefer to buy USA made knives but I do own and like knives made in other countries including a Bradley folder and a Vallotton. Check your local city streets to see how many people are happy to buy automobiles from foreign countries, I prefer to drive a car made in America even if it has some origins in Australia.

I don't recall if I knew about the country of origin before the MT18 went on sale, but I don't think it was a secret. I've noticed that the knife is manufactured somewhat differently from the USA made models. For instance it appears that the USA Mules are tumbled then the blade grind is made, whereas the MT18 handle seems to be surface ground. I don't know that one is better than the other, they are just different. I've also read that the edge is a bit thinner on the MT18 than on previous mules.

Spyderco has made mules in a lot of very good steels. If a person has problems with the MT18 country of origin, I would think it would be easy enough to find someone to trade you a previous model for the MT18.

 

[M.FREEZE]

if they think Taiwan and China are the same then they're just going to miss out on great knives



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^




this

No one thinks that.

 

[mmarkh]

Spyderco's Golden facilities are currently running at capacity, and Sal has even said that a new Golden-made knife in K390 would not show up until 2016. I am very happy to pay $90 for an S110V fixed blade at a great HT, and Taiwan's plant has shown time and again that they can pump out great knives. They even have newer and better machines than the Golden plant because it was built more recently than the Golden plant (although Golden is expanding now).

And I couldn't care less what racists think about my knife, if they think Taiwan and China are the same then they're just going to miss out on great knives.

Just because some people want to stick with American made doesn't make them racist,

 

[M.FREEZE]

Just because some people want to stick with American made doesn't make them racist,

Agreed. Just because you are pro "fill in the blank" doesn't mean you have to be anti "fill in the blank".

 

[uofaengr]

 

[goodeyesniper]

Dear Txknifefan,
I know exactly the way you feel. Imagine my surprise when I got a Southard and it read "made in Taiwan".
I did more research and discovered that there are several very popular and expensive models made in Taiwan. I made a post about the same thing and was attacked by all the spyderco fan boys. It's really a losing battle. No matter how clear I was on praising the HIGH QUALITY of Taiwan made models, very few replies to the post could see my point. I received emails that were not so kind as well.

the problem is that both of you are somewhat surprised that a company which started ONLY as an importer of knives has a knife not made in the US... it's practically like being surprised Honda makes some cars in Japan.

spyderco originally existed as a company with no American manufacturing... and even if you aren't outright saying something negative while shocked that a knife is not made here, we can't help but imagine you coming from a xenophobic, American mindset. but it is wrong for us to jump to that conclusion.

just reminds me of all the good old boys in their Mexican made Chevy trucks screaming at me in my American made Honda

also, Taiwan is no longer up and coming. they have been producing the best of the best for decades. not sure why people are still somehow surprised by this country making impeccable items.

 

[Stand Straight]

I'm going to say this with the utmost respect. It's a lack of "big picture" understanding. People are so busy trying to convince everyone of what they aready knew and wanted them to change their minds, but the fact remains. The Spyderco models being produced in Taichung are some of the highest quality pieces in the history of the company. I'd even go as far as saying that they put Moki and Seki City out of the quality running.

The fact is you can explain something to someone a dozen times, if they don't want to hear it they don't want to hear it. The louder it gets doesn't make it sink in any further. Fanboys or not, people see quality for their money, they see a good company that has demonstrated a good work ethic and family environment for over 30 years. Ain't no couple threads going to change all that.

Well said RevDevil.

There used to be a time when we had in country manufacturing of nearly anything we wanted to spend our money on. Things change whether we like it or not. Buy a computer or any electronic device. Where do the component parts come from? Clothes we wear, look at the label. Still our choice to buy or not to buy. German precision instruments; Swiss watches; Automobiles. Even American cars are comprised of many out sourced parts from a variety of countries.

My opinion: The Taichung, Taiwan plant produces the Swiss watch of mid and higher priced production knives.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Dear Txknifefan,
I know exactly the way you feel. Imagine my surprise when I got a Southard and it read "made in Taiwan".
I did more research and discovered that there are several very popular and expensive models made in Taiwan. I made a post about the same thing and was attacked by all the spyderco fan boys. It's really a losing battle. No matter how clear I was on praising the HIGH QUALITY of Taiwan made models, very few replies to the post could see my point. I received emails that were not so kind as well.

You're still not done?

 

[spketch]

There are plenty of people who wanted to pick up one of those mules but missed the chance. Each time they went up for sale they were gone within minutes. If you're not happy just post it for sale for what you paid plus shipping and PayPal fees. It will sell in a heartbeat.

For me, a spyderco being made in Taiwan is a positive selling point. They are consistently great knives at very fair prices. If you don't want to buy them then just vote with your dollars as you said you will. No need to make a stink about it.