Not Impressed...

[JPD1998]

I got my first Spyderco knife about 5 months ago, a Native.

I wasn't overly impressed with the quality either until I started to use it.
The design is perfect for getting the most out of a hand tool without being big and heavy.

I think once you use it for awhile it will become a favorite...

 

[DGG]

Well I got my first Spyderco from a local store and have carried it for about a week. It's a Delica 4 and it's a pretty solid folder. However, I'm not impressed. There are a few things that turned me off to it:

1. The screws for the clip are either too short or the tapping is stripped because only the left side tip down holes will hold the clip in place, the others I can pull out with my fingers.

2. I've heard a lot of good things about VG-10 and it's performance. Personally I'm not really that impressed. It does take a very good edge and seems to hold it fairly well.

3. There is minimal vertical play in the lock...well, more like the lock moves. When I pull up on the blade the blade itself does not move but the locking bar moves <1/8" so it doesn't concern me that much.

I don't want this to be a flame session or to get on anyone's bad side as I know that a lot of folks here like Spydies. There are things that I do like about it, don't get me wrong: the handle feels VERY solid and quite comfortable, the blade is the epitome of utilitarian, and the thumb ramp is definately something to be desired. Again I don't want this to be a flame session or step on anyone's toes, I just personally am not all that impressed and thought that I'd share my opinion and see what y'all thought or if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I can say this, it will be a very nice addition to the overall collection.

It is sad and disappointing it is that you have to now messl around boxing the Spyderco knife up, driving to the post office (burning $3+/gal gas), wait in line, pay postage, wait for who know how long for it to come back, etc. This should never have left the factory. P. Poor customer service and quality control, IMHO. If I worked for Spyderco I'd send everyone who returned a defective knife like this a 50% off coupon for their next Spyderco knife purchase. It only seems fair.

Want a better $45 dollar knife. Here is one.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10400SB

 

[kamagong]

It is sad and disappointing it is that you have to now messl around boxing the Spyderco knife up, driving to the post office (burning $3+/gal gas), wait in line, pay postage, wait for who know how long for it to come back, etc. This should never have left the factory. P. Poor customer service and quality control, IMHO. If I worked for Spyderco I'd send everyone who returned a defective knife like this a 50% off coupon for their next Spyderco knife purchase. It only seems fair.

Why does his one bad experience equate to poor customer service and support? By his own admission this is his first experience with Spyderco's knives. Not the best experience one hopes for his first time around, but it happens. Every, and I mean every, manufacturer produces an occassional lemon. Perfect quality control is not economically feasible in a business because it is cost prohibitive.

 

[ahgar]

Sorry to hear you've had trouble out of your endura. I haven't messed with the 4th gen but i've had all the others and have been very happy with them. I personally don't care for the vg10 either. as for the clip screw thing you'll just have to bite the bullet and send it back, i'm sure they'll take care of you. any company can have a bad one slip out every now and then so I don't get too upset about it. Knives are like everything else in life it's a matter of taste, I don't really care for benchmade myself, they make a good knife but the models i've had just don't impress me. You might be like that about spyderco. hope spyderco takes care of you and better luck on your next knife purchase. later, ahgar

 

[flipe8]

Hopefully, the store you bought from will help you out. I love my Spydies and have stuck with them because I've had less than great luck with other companies(BM, CRKT and SOG) and I've found Spyderco better for the money I spend. My expereinces with the other companies mentioned might have been isolated, but it left me sour, especially when turn around times were in the months and were clearly design flaws(BM). If in the end, you're not happy with Spyderco, I'd cut your losses and continue with products you value more. Good luck.

 

[edamhcneb]

I have never really been much of a Spydie fan, but I decided to check them out so, I bought a Native last week (just because I needed yet another knife)

I find it to be quite a nice piece for the money. I mean, it has S30V blade steel that is super sharp, it opens easily, locks up solid, fits nice in the pocket (with ambidextrous pocket clip), has no blade play at all and only cost me $45.00. If spyderco's quality is this nice on their lower end knives, I will most likely have to check out a Paramillie or something else soon. I am impressed.

As for your quality issue, I am sure that Spyderco will help you out if you just contact them.

 

[Artfully Martial]

Also, when you buy a knife in a store (any knife), you should give it a close examination...I don't care it it's a high end benchmade or something, if I can see it before I buy it, I'm going to scrutinize it like crazy.

 

[J85909266]

It is sad and disappointing it is that you have to now messl around boxing the Spyderco knife up, driving to the post office (burning $3+/gal gas), wait in line, pay postage, wait for who know how long for it to come back, etc. This should never have left the factory. P. Poor customer service and quality control, IMHO. If I worked for Spyderco I'd send everyone who returned a defective knife like this a 50% off coupon for their next Spyderco knife purchase. It only seems fair.

Want a better $45 dollar knife. Here is one.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10400SB

This entire post is absurd.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Fedaykincmndr,

Sorry about your "not great" experience with our New model.

The play that you speak of is not normal. I know it's hassle, but if you will contact our warrantee & repair dept, we can probably get you one that is tighter.

sal

 

[R12GS]

Hi Fedaykincmndr,

Sorry about your "not great" experience with our New model.

The play that you speak of is not normal. I know it's hassle, but if you will contact our warrantee & repair dept, we can probably get you one that is tighter.

sal

Now THAT is quality. In a $45 knife, how can this be beat? Oh yeah first post, hello everyone.

 

[Ming65]

I've had a few spydies that were not right which in the small sample size of my collection suggests that QC is a little variable in Golden. But on each occasion the customer service has been excellent and after a little posting back and forth between west Oz and Colorado, I've ended up with a perfect knife.

I reckon a small amount of vertical play in a lockback is acceptable, but when the locking bar rides up over the tang under pressure you know the knife is out of whack- I've got a Native doing the same thing at the moment and will be sending it back to the spydie people. Send it in mate - they'll treat you right.

VG-10 is the best steel out there IMHO. An unbeatable combination of edge holding, ease of sharpening to hair scarin' sharp and rust resistance.

 

[psy-ops]

This entire post is absurd.

I agree with that.


fedaykincmndr

It takes more than a week to get to know a steel.

Hell, unless you skinned 10 deer this week, I could not imagine how you can come to that conclusion. It is a bit hasty.

 

[T.K.C.]

This entire post is absurd.

Agreeed!! I think some people are NOT happy, unless they have something to complain about.

 

[Golbat]

Blade play: My Native III and even my Mini Manix has some (minimal) vertical blade play - but my (chinese) Byrd Crossbill rock solid. The D'Allara DP with the BB lock also very solid - best buy for the bucks IMO.

 

[pablo486]

Hi Fedaykincmndr,

Sorry about your "not great" experience with our New model.

The play that you speak of is not normal. I know it's hassle, but if you will contact our warrantee & repair dept, we can probably get you one that is tighter.

sal

Given this kind of service, I wonder if maybe the store you bought it from had re-boxed a return. I know several people who have had this problem at Walmart with Natives, but since I don't know where you got it... Hey, if your not a Spydie fan, that's cool... what do you like, have you had similar experiences with other manufacturers?

 

[EDCeeker]

Well I got my first Spyderco from a local store and have carried it for about a week. It's a Delica 4 and...

I received my Delica 4 from newgraham a bit over a week ago.

1. The screws for the clip are either too short or the tapping is stripped because only the left side tip down holes will hold the clip in place, the others I can pull out with my fingers.

Sorry to hear that. The screws on mine are fine. In fact: I was quite surprised, and pleased, to see how tight they were when I moved the clip from tip-up to tip-down on the same side. Encouraged by how tight they had been from the factory, I snug'd 'em down pretty well when I re-installed them. No problem.

2. I've heard a lot of good things about VG-10 and it's performance. Personally I'm not really that impressed. It does take a very good edge and seems to hold it fairly well.

Not sure what else one would want out of a knife-blade steel. Resistance to corrosion/tarnish/staining, I guess...

3. There is minimal vertical play in the lock...well, more like the lock moves. When I pull up on the blade the blade itself does not move but the locking bar moves <1/8" so it doesn't concern me that much.

Neither my lock nor my blade moves so much as an RCH. Very tight lock-up.

I can say this, it will be a very nice addition to the overall collection.

Kind of a confusing post. The title is "Not Impressed..." but the conclusion is "very nice addition."

 

[Ritt]

Kind of a confusing post. The title is "Not Impressed..." but the conclusion is "very nice addition."

Agreed. Perhaps, as a general rule, wait until your medication has kicked in all the way before starting to post.

 

[Menocu]

Why does his one bad experience equate to poor customer service and support? By his own admission this is his first experience with Spyderco's knives. Not the best experience one hopes for his first time around, but it happens. Every, and I mean every, manufacturer produces an occassional lemon. Perfect quality control is not economically feasible in a business because it is cost prohibitive.

4 of the 5 Spydercos I've purchased have been defective and needed repairs or new parts.

I'm sure my experience is the exception.. and just a string of horrible luck, but can you blame me for wishing they'd just get their act together? The potential is obviously there.. they can make some wonderful knives. I'd just like to get more than one out of every five I buy.

 

[kel_aa]

Mr Sal Glesser, can you clarify this statement, as to what extent blade play is not acceptable?

The play that you speak of is not normal. I know it's hassle, but if you will contact our warrantee & repair dept, we can probably get you one that is tighter.

I've had 4 Spyderco FRN lockbacks and they all exhibit this behavior. When fully open and you pull back on the blade, the block slides a little and shifts to a new position. This is really noticable when you cut something stiffer like cardboard. You end up with a lot of "clicking" (from the movement of the blade and lock relative to eachother) as your hand pressure increases and decreases. Some forum members say that these are designed like this.

Thank you, Kelvin

 

[Vivi]

^I experince the same thing with my Delica 4.