Not the normal question: worst Spyderco design?

[Vivi]

Shun the non-believer!!! jk. Actually most might hate me for saying I think the Yojimbo, gunting, rock lobster, barong, and khukri are extremely ugly, and I don't see how some of them would be useful. Not a fan of the ugly mustard yellow handle on the new leaf storm either. I thought the "S" was too weird for me too. I know this will get me shot= I cant stand the looks of the Chinook. ::runs for cover::

Have you used any of these designs? The Yo in particular makes a great utility knife.

I agree with Artfully Martial. Compared to the rest of the line the ergos and cutting ability of the stock D4/E4 leaves me unimpressed.

I do have to ask, Artfully Martial, why do you "hate" lockbacks?

 

[Jake Bauer]

I can see where the yojimbo could be useful, I dont know what's so special about the rock lobster or khukuri.

 

[elkins45]

Perhaps the name Shivworks is a little over the top, but I doubt that these sorts of names are the driving force behind moronic laws and public perception.

I doubt it's the driving force as well, but I don't doubt that it could be a factor.

Delica, Endura and Worker are far better names for knives than Retribution, Skirmish, Stryker, etc.

Would you like to explain to a jury why you were packing a 'Shower Bitch Shank'?

To put things back on topic: I never cared for the models with the skeletonized blades or scales. Why weaken a knife if you don't have to? It's not like they are all that heavy to begin with!

 

[Willieboy]

I can't name specific models but I can say I'm not fund of FRN handles or liner locks. I prefer G10 or Micarta grips with liners.

 

[Josh K]

I doubt it's the driving force as well, but I don't doubt that it could be a factor.

Delica, Endura and Worker are far better names for knives than Retribution, Skirmish, Stryker, etc.

Would you like to explain to a jury why you were packing a 'Shower Bitch Shank'?

To put things back on topic: I never cared for the models with the skeletonized blades or scales. Why weaken a knife if you don't have to? It's not like they are all that heavy to begin with!

Skeletonized liners are normally what you see. They've got 95% of the strength of full liners at about 65% of the weight.

I dunno about skeletonized blades though. Unless you mean the "S" ?

 

[5.56]

I won't be making any friend's either when I say the Native looks like a Mall Ninja's dream come true :identity hidden:

 

[senoBDEC]

Civilian - looks like crap and is essentially useless except for a "hook and pull" - which IMO most decent hawkbills will do just fine AND work well for utility.

Poli-wog - ugly as hell IMO, and way too wide when closed for the blade-length.

Spin - way way too small and thin - make it thicker, with a slightly extended handle and it'll do will. The Cricket is a far better choice, especially if you dig recurves.

Gunting - handled it once, could never like it.

Kinda surprised at the comments on the P'kal though - when open, IMO, it's one of the nicest-looking Spyderco's out there. When closed... well... most Spydies look odd when closed . The Dodo, Para-Military, and Captain come to mind.

 

[senoBDEC]

Shun the non-believer!!! jk. Actually most might hate me for saying I think the Yojimbo, gunting, rock lobster, barong, and khukri are extremely ugly, and I don't see how some of them would be useful. Not a fan of the ugly mustard yellow handle on the new leaf storm either. I thought the "S" was too weird for me too. I know this will get me shot= I cant stand the looks of the Chinook. ::runs for cover::

Frankly, I couldn't stand most of the ones you've mentioned either, though the Leaf Storm and Rock Lobster at least have me looking again. Then again, I thought the Captain looked kind of neat - until I held it and tried to figure out how to use it without a point.

In the end, just about all my knives from Spyderco are drop-point, flat/saber-ground. It's about as traditional as Spyderco's get.

Re: ugly - anyone remember the Rhino-horn blade on the Lil' Temperance? I understand reducing the width when closed (the droppoint version was quite large), but boy was it ugly.

 

[rpbali]

I'm going to go with the Spin. Just too small I think. With the Spin, when I hold it the way it feels like I should, I have my middle and ring finger in the handle grooves and my index finger on the bladeI like the idea of the FFG wharnie, but it just doesn't work for me as a whole.

 

[Vivi]

I would like a thicker handle on the Spin as well, but as it is it's still worked great for me. Even though I carry it deep in my pocket I leave the clip on to make the grip thicker.

In regular grip or with my middle and ring finger on the handle and the index finger on the spine of the blade it offers excellent precision cutting.

 

[matdigger]

For me Civilian just does not look like a usable knife (as a non combat civilian person). I see absolutely no use for it besides the emergency situation and it is way too big and heavy for that. If I had a need for such type of knife I would go for Cricket with SE.

On a bright side, I think Civilian is a good looking knife in itself but for me knife have to be used or be really adjusted to the purpose to justify it`s purchase.

 

[THG]

For me Civilian just does not look like a usable knife (as a non combat civilian person). I see absolutely no use for it besides the emergency situation and it is way too big and heavy for that.

Funny story: the Civilian comes with a warning tag that says, "THIS KNIFE IS NOT INTENDED FOR UTILITY PURPOSES. ANY DAMAGE TO THE KNIFE RESULTING FROM UTILITY ACTIVITY WILL VOID THE WARRANTY."

The Civilian was designed specifically as an SD knife and nothing else.

 

[matdigger]

Funny story: the Civilian comes with a warning tag that says, "THIS KNIFE IS NOT INTENDED FOR UTILITY PURPOSES. ANY DAMAGE TO THE KNIFE RESULTING FROM UTILITY ACTIVITY WILL VOID THE WARRANTY."

The Civilian was designed specifically as an SD knife and nothing else.

And that is why I have added that it is way too big for those specific purposes.

 

[The Deacon]

As far as I can tell, the only way to make some people not mind knives is to make them tiny and pink. Even then, some people still freak out over a 1.5 inch bladed knife.
Perhaps the name Shivworks is a little over the top, but I doubt that these sorts of names are the driving force behind moronic laws and public perception.

You are right. Just like we "knife lovers" are at one extreme, there are people at the other. Those will fear/hate the idea of anyone carrying even the smallest knife, no matter what. But they're not the issue, it's the ones "in the middle", those who can be, and often are, influenced one way or the other by what they read in the media. So no, tacky tasteless names are not "THE driving force" behind bad laws, but to ignore their potentially negative impact on those whose votes could go either way is unwise. I'm 63 years old, still have a fairly good memory, and cannot ever recall hearing the word shiv used in a positive context.

Paul

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[shangchi108]

Reality matters little, perception is everything.

I see exactly what you're saying, and I agree with your summation when it comes to perception.

That said, I love the P'Kal. I think for out-and-out fighting (whether for self-defense or otherwise) it's the best design I've ever seen. I can deploy that knife faster than anyone can deploy any other waved knife, precisely because I can draw it and strike with the same forward motion that I draw it with, as opposed to drawing any other waved design with a rear then forward motion. I practice Wing Chun, so trapping with Pikal techniques come naturally to me.

As far as addressing your well put point, I just don't show it to anyone or tell anyone about it. As far as Spyderco and their "white hat" rep, I don't think that having one or several knives designed by people with real world fighting experience will tarnish their reputation. I have no doubt they are smart enough to sell knives to both sides of the fence. Besides, the P'Kal isn't a mall-ninja knife. It's designed for people who have a serious need for such tools and it's superbly designed for exactly that purpose, without compromise.

Sorry, I know this thread was about knives we hate, but I had to say that about the P'Kal.

 

[THG]

And that is why I have added that it is way too big for those specific purposes.

Well I was saying that obviously it has no other purpose than SD. And besides, I think a bigger and heavier knife is desirable for SD. It makes more sense for an SD knife to be built like a tank than to cut corners and have it maybe break in a difficult situation. Too big - well I suppose I can understand if a knife is too big.

 

[KaliGman]

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 'nuff said

Well, the Deacon quite ably covered two of my least favorites--the Kumo and P'kal (I actually sold both of these, and I don't sell my personal knives--I give them away or I keep them). These two just were not for me.

 

[Getahl]

I hated the Rock Lobster as soon as I saw it. I generally don't like to pass judgment before I've had the chance to hold something and see it up close, but I'm not a fan of the design.

 

[SIFU1A]

i dont care for the ayoob or the joht singh khalsa, i suppose i could live with an ayoob if i had to but i really dont like that khalsa its too prone to opening in your pocket, its a cool looking little knife though i admit.

 

[choubbi]

My wallet wants to vote Calypso/Caly III/UKPK line.

well, If I had to choose one knife I really handled more than 1 minute at a knife show, I would say Delica, because it's too sturdy for my needs and my pocket scalpels laughs at it when the actual light cutting happens. (I'm not into hard cutting tasks, but when they occur I generally use a Mule Team knife or the Tenacious)
I also don't like the lack of a choil.
basically my "worst spyderco" is the favorite of many, and my reasons to nominate it are purely personal preferences.