new tip design on some spydercos

lone ranger · Jan 30, 2009

i know the new blade design on the enduras and police strenghten the tips but they are not eye appealing at all just my view

j.bowie · Jan 30, 2009

I don`t think there is that much difference,the only change being is the tip is a little more rounded and less pointier than before.

The Deacon · Jan 30, 2009

lone ranger said:
i know the new blade design on the enduras and police strenghten the tips but they are not eye appealing at all just my view

Nothing appeals to everyone, and Spyderco generally places usability higher than eye appeal in their order of importance. The new tips are stronger and can still penetrate well and there are still plenty of models available with more acute points.

Paul

My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam

yablanowitz · Jan 30, 2009

I have no idea why that little hump at the tip offends my sensibilities so much, but it does. I know it is there for a good reason, but it bugs the crap out of me. Luckily, I have access to a bench grinder and a jar of water, so those pesky humps don't last long.

Sal Glesser · Jan 30, 2009

yablanowitz said:
I have no idea why that little hump at the tip offends my sensibilities so much, but it does. I know it is there for a good reason, but it bugs the crap out of me. Luckily, I have access to a bench grinder and a jar of water, so those pesky humps don't last long.

That's actually a very interesting concept. Is it a habit that the eye has? Is it trying to adjust an already imprinted memory? Did the hole and hump on our knives seem odd to you when you first saw them?

Other than perhaps for splinter pickin' , the stronger tip offers more strength and still retains easy penetration for starting a cut.

I would be curious to examine why the eye rejects some things that function would not differentiate.

sal

AF · Jan 30, 2009

I find the tip shape of the blade on the Police to be unattractive...even if it offers more utility.

rmc85 · Jan 30, 2009

I gotta say that I like the new tip. I have slightly bent the tip on my Military a few times and I have yet to do this with my Police3....

Of course I havent had the Police for a long as the Military either.

zenheretic · Jan 30, 2009

AF said:
I find the tip shape of the blade on the Police to be unattractive...even if it offers more utility.

Do you mean the new Police tip or just the Police in general?

IMO, the new Police has sacrificed a bit of its "art" in the model. When closed the blade no longer is aligned with the butt.

yablanowitz · Jan 30, 2009

Sal Glesser said:
That's actually a very interesting concept. Is it a habit that the eye has? Is it trying to adjust an already imprinted memory? Did the hole and hump on our knives seem odd to you when you first saw them?

Other than perhaps for splinter pickin' , the stronger tip offers more strength and still retains easy penetration for starting a cut.

I would be curious to examine why the eye rejects some things that function would not differentiate.

sal

In my particular case, I suspect it is a fairly complex issue. Part of it is the interuption of the line of the spine. It may be due at least in part to my OJT education in landscape architecture, where smooth flow is more pleasing to the eye than sudden turns. Never use a corner where you can use a curve, and make those curves as gentle as possible. In the case of the new tip designs, you have a nearly straight spine for almost the entire length of the blade, then the line wavers in the last half inch. To my eye that is about as pleasing as a right angle turn at the end of a dragstrip. I think it is emphasized on the Police 3 by the swedge ending there as well.

I also admit that part of it is due to me being a grumpy old fart who learned (the hard way) not to use a knife for a crowbar or screwdriver long ago, so reinforcing the point in that manner seems like another case of trying to replace skill with technology, a major pet peeve of mine. I rarely need a reinforced point on a cutting tool. I like my sharp things to be sharp. I almost never use the spey blade on a stockman, even though it is usually the sharpest blade on the knife, probably because it isn't pointed. I'm funny that way.

stabman · Jan 30, 2009

zenheretic said:
IMO, the new Police has sacrificed a bit of its "art" in the model. When closed the blade no longer is aligned with the butt.

The old one WAS cooler.
G-10 is a nice touch, but the blade was great the way it was.

zenheretic · Jan 30, 2009

stabman said:
The old one WAS cooler.
G-10 is a nice touch, but the blade was great the way it was.

I like the flat grind. The new version, when closed, the back edge of the blade is not directly in line with the butt of the handle. That is what I'm trying to say.

stabman · Jan 30, 2009

zenheretic said:
I like the flat grind. The new version, when closed, the back edge of the blade is not directly in line with the butt of the handle. That is what I'm trying to say.

Ah, gotcha.
Flat grind does slice nicer, but the old swedged blade just looks more...classic somehow.

Sal Glesser · Jan 30, 2009

Thanx much Yab. Interesting perspective.

The new Police is being made alongside the old one, customers wanted both.

The swedge on the oriinal police lined up with the handle so you could sharpen the swdge and still have it below the scale. Much like the original worker model.

sal

zenheretic · Jan 30, 2009

Sal Glesser said:
Thanx much Yab. Interesting perspective.

The new Police is being made alongside the old one, customers wanted both.

The swedge on the oriinal police lined up with the handle so you could sharpen the swdge and still have it below the scale. Much like the original worker model.

sal

So the art was an accident.

Sal Glesser · Jan 30, 2009

zenheretic said:
So the art was an accident.

my art usually is.

sal

zenheretic · Jan 30, 2009

Sal Glesser said:
my art usually is.

sal

At least you admit it.

audiopile · Jan 31, 2009

Most folders get a pass from me because I routinely pry with 'em and at 61 not likely to stop anytime soon. Going to have to find one of these - exactly what models have the tougher tip?

ehhh · Jan 31, 2009

I agree with yablanowitz...The little hump interrupts the lines of the blade and take away from the very clean look it would otherwise have. The blades on the Paramilitary and Military have a very minimalist and clean look to them that really appeals to me.

That said, the hump has a couple benefits like added tip strength and being easier to sharpen.

Gramps · Jan 31, 2009

Sal Glesser said:
That's actually a very interesting concept. Is it a habit that the eye has? Is it trying to adjust an already imprinted memory? Did the hole and hump on our knives seem odd to you when you first saw them?

Other than perhaps for splinter pickin' , the stronger tip offers more strength and still retains easy penetration for starting a cut.

I would be curious to examine why the eye rejects some things that function would not differentiate.

sal

.......I guess I'm in the minority in this thread; not only do I appreciate the "evolved" tip design, I like the way it looks. My very first Spyderco, purchased many years ago, was a G2 Endura. Not very far along into ownership I broke off a tiny bit of the tip. Was I doing something improper and contrary to the "prime directive" of it's intended use ?......I honestly don't remember. However, I don't think I'm the only one who wanted to see a "re-reinforced" tip upgrade on some Spyderco models. My sense is that there were quite a few other Spyderco owners who expressed similar wishes. Thankful Sal listened.....

. Thanks Sal !

- regards

yablanowitz · Jan 31, 2009

audiopile said:
Most folders get a pass from me because I routinely pry with 'em and at 61 not likely to stop anytime soon. Going to have to find one of these - exactly what models have the tougher tip?

The fourth generation Delica and Endura, the Police 3, the Salt 1 and Pacific Salt are the ones I'm aware of. The Salts may interest you most, I recall Sal mentioning somewhere that the H-1 steel used in the Salt series has about twice the tensile strength of VG-10. It is really tough stuff.