Please have mercy on me, but I seriously need to understand this...

I just got this in the mail. NIB. Yes, it's long out of production, but it's definitely different from your average Spyderco.
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I think that they look similar, too. The BLADES are what are primarily similar, with the signature hole, mostly the little thumb ramp (but not always), semi-leef shaped blades with good belly.
 
I need to clarify one thing. I have owned one Spyderco, and enjoyed the look, feel, and performance of the knife thoroughly. I like the product, and would love to get another thatbetter fits my needs than the Rescue model I had. I just was noticing the strong similarities between the appearances of the models. Kershaws hit me the same way, and I have and love to use them too.
 
If you look at the other catalogs I doubt you will see nearly as much blade shape variety as these:

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C12GS.jpg


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IMO Spyderco offers more variety than any other maker.
 
jimh0220 said:
I have a similar store with a fair selection of them as well. I think I'll spend a while trying them out hands on. I better leave my wallet home, though, as I always seem to bring something home.
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I think this is a good idea. I find that the catalog sort of makes all of the knives appear to be nearly the same size. I think if you handle a few or even see them side by side (not just photos) the subtle differences become less subtle.
 
I think until one becomes acquainted with a said brand that this is a pretty common notion. I think knife manufacturers that have been making knives for a long time learn certain things from past successes and failures and tend to incorporate those things into their new knives. Sometimes these will give a knife a distinctive look such as a thumbstud, a spyderhole, a finger choil, thumb ramp... This can be said about all knife manufacturers not just Spyderco. However now that I'm a knife nut I can appreciate the small differences of every different knife and I think it has really changed my perspective on knives in general.

That being said I believe that Spyderco really has a firm grasp on what a working mans/womans knife should be and how they can make it perform as well as possible. Sure to some Spydercos knives aren't the prettiest of specimens, however once you have the chance to feel and use some of their models first hand I think you'll really see how different and beautiful they are in their own right.
 
I am looking at this page with different kind of Spyderco products and the blade shapes are all very different.
The handles have different colours, shapes and are off different materials.

And I think they all look alike.

Must be the distinctive hole and the handle style.
 
I kind of get what jimh is saying, I see a very uniform look. One could take say 20 spyderco models and even a non knife person could tell they are from the same manufacturer. Take a company like boker or cold steel, 20 of their products, and the uniformity isn't the same.

But truly, the difference can be felt, and I love how spyderco keeps it uniform. Also their willingness to put out designs that you don't see anywhere else.
 
I can see where you are coming from, they all have the same basic styling. That is niether good nor bad as far as I am concerned, it does keep me from having to collect very many of them, that is good, for my wallet at least.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Spyderco has always been a form following function brand of knife. They are a purpose driven/built knife and there are similar traits that followed along as they grew.

Sal really sort of reinvented the wheel with his knives many moons ago. I'm glad to see that there isn't a total deviation from that:thumbup:
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Perfectly stated. In addition, when something works really well there is hardly any need to change it drastically. They have a successful formula with the round hole, premium steels, and premium warranty.

From what I ahve learned, Spyderco is a smaller knife company than some. They compete with the larger companies and can hold their own nicely, they have done great for about 25+ years:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyderco
 
Spyderco has had more good designs than any manufactor I can think of in the past 10 years. Many of there sprint runs isn't even in there catalog.

Thats one reason I like them, in that there always changing it up, and even make changes to the same model often just to keep from getting stale.

There a great knife, but not the best. I like CRK's sebenza as well as any factory folder, and love mine. Call and get one of there catalogs and you'll see a company with few models. But is it a problem for them? No, they still win the manufactor quality control award at Blade each year.

Better yet call and get a Busse catalog, or go to there website to see all the vast models offered at one time:p Another company I like BTW.

All I'm trying to convey is that the knife world is a very large intity, and there are many companys that operate in very differant ways.
And I think that is great for us knifenuts. It's all good.
Thats just my point of view though, do disrespect. Just like knife companys, we have alot of diversaty as well in our opinions.
 
I thought spydercos looked like side views of lizards at first. what ugly knives, who would want those, I thought to myself and now I can't get enough. I don't know if it's me but i can now see the beauty in the various models like the near perfect proportions and color of the blue manix,the smooth lines and attractiveness of the orange millie, the strict ultilitarian look of the endura, etc. not to mention the vast range of ergonomics that fits the multitude of hand sizes.
 
at least to me, the wide variety is one of the reasons i like spyderco so much.

i see the similarities, but ive always focused more on the differences i guess. to me, lots of kershaws look alike. different people have different perceptions.
 
I have a number of Spyderco knives and, apart from the hole, you would almost think they were from different manufacturers when you look at the differences.

The Native is very different to the Cricket which is nothing like the Meerkat which looks nothing like the Calypso Jnr which is nothing like the Ladybug and so on. (Yes, I own all of those plus a few more).

I'd say there is huge variety in Spyderco knives. Having said that, some models do look very similar and the differences are, as has been suggested, more subtle.

Go to a store that has lots of them, you may be (pleasantly) surprised.
 
It's a false flag coming from the large proportion of the current catalog that feature the leaf blade shape. We're in a leaf bubble right now, just another trendline that will smooth out over time as new designs come and go. Couple this with the fact that every Spyderco folder features the same opening method (something no other company features) and I can see where the sense of sameness would come from. But I think it's just a feeling coming from a cursory viewing of the catalog, being more familiar with a product line makes one more aware of the differences between models.
 
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