Not the normal question: worst Spyderco design?

elkins45

elkins45

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
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OK, so we all love Spyderco, and we all have our favorites. But are their some Spydies that you just had to pass on because they were just not for you?

For me, I never gave a single thought to buying the Ayoob or the Khalsa (sp?) models---just too 'out there' for me. I'm sure they were well built, but the designs weren't my cup of tea.

Which Spydies didn't do it for you?

It would be great to get Sal to weigh on on this thread! Was there a model where you secretly thought "Why am I making this thing?" :o
 
this is an awesome topic. I personally never liked the renegade or blackhawk. I don't think ive ever seen them mentioned here on the forums either. I'm not sure what it is specifically about them, but i don't like liner locks and i never got into the blade shape
 
There area few models that I'm not a huge fan of, specifically the exotic looking knives geared for self-defense like the P'Kal, the Karambit and the Gunting. I'm also not a fan of hawkbill bladed knives Spydero offers.
 
Well, considering I'm a huge spyderco fan, it's hard to say which I don't like.

I don't like pinned construction. That's what's been keeping me from getting a Native.

I like FRN if it's done like on the D'Allara. Contoured and thin with some weight to it. That's been keeping me from getting a Delica/Endura.

Integrated FRN clips. I'm waiting for a G-10 Dragonfly without one.
 
Do Byrd's count?

I don't like Byrd's in general, mainly because the odd-oval hole just doesn't perform like the Spyderhole.

I won't buy Benchmade's oval hole either, the Spyderhole rules all immitators

And I really like the oversized 14mm hole on the Salt series and Military
 
This will undoubtedly make some people's heads explode, but the Spyderco that I haven't really ever liked very much is the Endura/Delica.

Don't get me wrong. I don't hate either knife. But they lack most of my favorite features. No finger choil, no non-lockback locking mechanism (I HATE lockbacks), it looks and feels cheap (to me), it's not very flickable, FRN and so on and so on.

I'd gladly carry either knife, but they're not my thing.

SpydercoDelica4Net.jpg
 
Artfully Martial said:
But they lack most of my favorite features. No finger choil, no non-lockback locking mechanism (I HATE lockbacks), it looks and feels cheap (to me), it's not very flickable, FRN and so on and so on.
Click to expand...

Hmm, those are the exact reasons I like the Delica. I hate choils, I love lockbacks, but they feel quite solid to me.
 
Handle ergonomics, I'm not a fan of the Native. It's great in the pocket, it's the right size, it's got great steel and a good price. But every time I hold it in my hand, it just seems wrong. That said, I own two!
 
I don't like FRN or pinned construction either, but I recieved the Native as a gift and I really really like it.. I like that the clip isn't integrated and the choil lets me choke up on it really well.. I wouldn't have bought it, but its an awesome blade nonetheless..
 
That's such an individual thing. Everyone has different needs or different tastes. Everyone is built a little bit different. I hesitate to say that any Spyderco is a bad design because it may work great for someone else even if it doesn't work for me. There are some designs that I don't own because they don't fit my hand or feel uncomfortable in some way, even though they are built very well. They just weren't built for me. Some may be more for the collectors market rather than being a user knife, though I'm sure every Spyderco could stand up to the rigors of being used.

The only design flaws I've seen have mostly been corrected by Spyderco as their designs have evolved. I remember the original worker had a clip that was stamped out of the stainless handle slab, and it would cut the edges of my jeans like scissors. That has long since been corrected. The original Police model had squared handle slabs which made it a bit heavy and uncomfortable, but they corrected that, too. I'm not a fan of liner locks, so I don't own any of those.

There are a few designs that I don't see the point of at all (no pun intended), but that's just my opinion.

I hope this thread ends up being productive and gives Sal and Co. good info for future developments.
 
anson argyris said:
AFAIK, the only Spyderco knife with a stamped out clip was the C-05 Standard/Economy. :confused:
Click to expand...

Ah, the "Standard". That was it. I think the worker had a more narrow blade and sharper point. I stand corrected. It's been a long time and I lost that knife long ago.
 
I didn't like the Spin.It was just too tiny to manipulate in my big mitts..I guess:D
 
I just can't stand that butt ugly 'Pickle'. Everything else is good to go. :thumbup:
 
Well from Spyderco's standpoint it would probably be the T-Mag. Magnetic latch went over like a lead balloon. Think it set the record for shortest lived model.

As for my "list", funny thing, or perhaps not, but most of the designs I really either dislike on esthetic or ergonomic grounds, find totally "lefty hostile", or simply unsuited for any purpose other than violence, were collaboration models rather than in house designs. Some of my top (or perhaps bottom) picks:
  • Toad - the most lefty unfriendly design, plus no way to hold it comfortably once it's open
  • Captain - butt ugly, cramped handle, cramped choil
  • Kumo - butt ugly, handle feels like dried out frog
  • P'kal - "Shivworks" collaboration :rolleyes: 'nuff said
 
Oh, definately the Khalsa and Ayoob wasn't for me to.
But the oddest thing was that noble design fixed blade knife (table cutlery) meant for single handed use.
 
Poliwog and Gunting...although I have a few Guntings...hmmm I remember those crazy collecting days.
 
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