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

jimh0220 said:
I just rec'd a spyderco catalog in the mail, along with a Benchmade, CRKT, and Cold Steel and Gerber. My observation of the Spyderco line:

All of the knives, with a few exceptions, look VERY similar. All of the others have a much larger variety of looks of their knives.

Let me say, I have had one Spyderco, and it is truly a great knife. That said, why such a limited variety of styles? Not a limited variety of models, mind you, but looks of most of them are almost the same.

Any reason that I am missing?
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This year I have given away over twenty knives, that I wasn’t using, to friends of mine.
All were very nice knives from such makers as Extrema Ratio, Almar, Benchmade, ZT, etc.
They could pick any knife they wanted. I laid them all out for the person to look at and handle. Each time the guys liked several of them and had a hard time deciding. A few folders always got no more than a passing glance.

I ended up with three folders that nobody wanted.
A Spyderco Paramilitary, a Spyderco Caly (w/ CF scales and ZPD-189)and a Bladetech.

Those big old holes just turn a lot of people off.
 
bearcut said:
This year I have given away over twenty knives, that I wasn’t using, to friends of mine.
All were very nice knives from such makers as Extrema Ratio, Almar, Benchmade, ZT, etc.
They could pick any knife they wanted. I laid them all out for the person to look at and handle. Each time the guys liked several of them and had a hard time deciding. A few folders always got no more than a passing glance.

I ended up with three folders that nobody wanted.
A Spyderco Paramilitary, a Spyderco Caly (w/ CF scales and ZPD-189)and a Bladetech.

Those big old holes just turn a lot of people off.
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me too! I'll gladly take anything your other friends rejected. :D
 
bearcut said:
Those big old holes just turn a lot of people off.
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Count me in. The style of most Spyderco knives I see is largely why I've never bought one. They have a few fixed blades that peaked my fancy, until I saw the price and looked elsewhere. I don't doubt they perform well, are made of fine steel and other materials; they just don't look visually appealing to me. :(
 
I think honestly jimh0220, this is really an issue of personal perception. Not that I criticize; everyone here is fully entitled to their own opinion.

I love Spyderco; have bought all kinds of their products, and have never been disappointed. I think they have a versatile line, though I can see the perceived likenesses between their models- especially looking at 2D catalog pages. Many of their products share similar design features and aesthetic characteristics. For those that disagree, I'd respectfully point out that most of us forum people can look at a knife with no info. about it whatsoever, and instantly, (!!!) our brain says "Spyderco!" That's not necessarily a bad thing, though; brand recognition and all.

I see Spyderco knives the way I see Glock pistols: something distinctive, from a manufacturer who stepped outside the traditional design box, and built something that works really well- though not always to everyone's aesthetic liking. [INSERT VICIOUS GLOCK AND/OR SPYDERCO REBUTTAL HERE.]

Ultimately though mate, I'd encourage you to see if there's a design you like, and try to find a shop where you can handle that model. Try it out, get a feel for it, and make your own informed decision "yes/no".

And to be fair- though I readily admit it's my own brand name prejudice- when I look at a CRKT catalog, I'm generally uninterested, and as a result I think they all look the same (though they clearly don't).
 
bearcut said:
I ended up with three folders that nobody wanted.
A Spyderco Paramilitary, a Spyderco Caly (w/ CF scales and ZPD-189)

Those big old holes just turn a lot of people off.
Click to expand...

I'll take them.:)
Seriously, if you want to give them away, I'll even pay the shipping.
 
I think the hump on the blade made necessary for the inclusion of the hole in most models accounts for the general perception that there's not much variety. A casual glance through the catalog would give this impression, but if you start counting different styles you'll suddenly realize how many different kinds they make. :)
 
singularity35 said:
me too! I'll gladly take anything your other friends rejected. :D
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I don't think any of you are my friends.;)

They are almost all gone now.

I'm keeping the few knives I have that I really like. I have about 6 folders that I am hanging on to. (No Spyderco's)

Most of these knives went to people that don't have that many knives to begin with. Some of them can't afford really good knives.
The neat thing is, they will all be used. I don't think one of those guys I gave them to, even knows what the term "safe queen" means.
My Dad liked the Buck Waimea, it is the first locking folder he's ever had.

The last knife I have to give away is my Umnumzaan. It is by far my least favorite "hard use" folder. (I just don't like CRK's that much)
I held this one back and am going to give it to a friend that has fallen on some really hard times this decade. He probably won't have a clue how much that thing is worth, but I'm sure he'll like it better than a Spyderco 'cause it won't have that hole...
 
I can understand why someone might feel like many of their products are really similar. I felt the same way before I started buying the (I realize the OP has owned Spydercos). But after handling them and adding more to my "to buy list", I couldn't help but focus on the wide variety; from steels to locks to blade shapes to handle shapes and materials, etc. So though they look similar to some, I can't honestly say that the variety is slim.
 
They do look similar (some models, not all), but they feel and function
differently. I recently handled the Sage and Stretch on a passaround.
I did a review where I said the Stretch looked like the Delica/Endura
and the Sage looked like an advanced Tenacious. However, when handling
them I found I was quite amazed at how they were pretty unique from
one another despite somewhat similar appearances.

I do agree that Benchmade and other brands have a little more variance
in their appearance. Maybe the Spydie hole is so distinguishable it makes
things look alike. YA ALL LOOK ALIKE! LOL!
 
Spydercos are like GLOCKs except that no one thinks GLOCKs are good looking, even fans, whereas many people grow to eventually like the Spyderco aesthetic.

Benchmades mostly look the same to me, and the few differences look cosmetic. No hawkbills, full SE, H1, etc.
 
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