Quality control and what is acceptable with production knives

D

damfan

Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
31
Hi,

I've read with fascination the threads about consistency of quality between production knives and custom pieces.

I just got this from an authorized dealer; would you consider it acceptable?

It was new, not a second...

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Unacceptable. While that's a particularly bad sample, IMO, be aware that CF is challenging to work with, and the likelihood of issues like this go way up. Not excusing poor workmanship, and don't want to make it sound like it's a given, but rough edges and chips are not surprising from what I've seen.
 
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The Stretch and the Gayle Bradley are "perfect" (though the Stretch looks and feels more like G10 than CF; I still don't believe it, even though Spyderco's official specs and pictures says it is, and their pictures do look like mine; I thought maybe I got a mfg mistake and they used the wrong handle to make mine! :eek: )

But BOTH Walker's were like this, though the one I showed was particularly egregious.

(shaking my head...)

By the way, I love the look and feel of the GB, even though it is a little heavy and a little fat in the butt for my taste. And made in Taiwan! So much for old prejudices about MIT vs MIJ and concomitant quality differences...

hmmm...
 
I would be royally ticked if I got a CF handle like that. I would spend the extra money on CF for aesthetics, and those cracks really ruin it. That should have been sold as a blem. Send that back!
 
How much did you pay for it? Does it still cut? Is the lock secure? Is is usable?

I carry a knife as a tool. All of mine are users. If it cuts and the lock is good, it's OK in my book. I suppose if I ever paid over a hundred for a knife, I might want it to be really nice though. So how much did you pay?
 
Ya send that one back. All the CF Spydercos I've ever recieved new or used have EXCELLENT fit and finish and specimens like this need to be brought to their attention.
 
knarfeng said:
How much did you pay for it? Does it still cut? Is the lock secure? Is is usable?

I carry a knife as a tool. All of mine are users. If it cuts and the lock is good, it's OK in my book. I suppose if I ever paid over a hundred for a knife, I might want it to be really nice though. So how much did you pay?
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I paid for a new first grade (not blem or second) knife from an authorized dealer.

It's a Spyderco; ZPD189 blade with carbon fiber scales.

Given all that, what difference what I paid? Should first quality, new knives ship like this? What does it say about quality control? (remember, both I received were like this, one worse than the other)

I understand what you are saying about users; I believe in using my stuff too. But if I'm buying new, I expect it to be new. I want to be the one that puts the scratches and nicks and bends in it.

Would you pay new, first grade, for blem level stuff?

Then why even have blems or seconds?

Hell, why not just buy used?


Whadya think?

:D
 
That looks a huge hot spot, and being carbon fiber might/will get worse over time. No way would I accept that new.
 
Thanks, everyone, that's what I thought too.

Strange thing is, BOTH Walker sprint run pieces I got were like this.

Makes me wonder if I should even bother trying to get replacements, or just get a refund?
 
damfan said:
I paid for a new first grade (not blem or second) knife from an authorized dealer.

It's a Spyderco; ZPD189 blade with carbon fiber scales.

Given all that, what difference what I paid? Should first quality, new knives ship like this? What does it say about quality control? (remember, both I received were like this, one worse than the other)

I understand what you are saying about users; I believe in using my stuff too. But if I'm buying new, I expect it to be new. I want to be the one that puts the scratches and nicks and bends in it.

Would you pay new, first grade, for blem level stuff?

Then why even have blems or seconds?

Hell, why not just buy used?


Whadya think?

:D
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I do buy seconds. I have bought new full price blades that had blemishes. I find a use for them all.
If it's a pretty toy, it matters.
If it's a working blade, likely it don't.
YMMV
 
damfan said:
Thanks, everyone, that's what I thought too.

Strange thing is, BOTH Walker sprint run pieces I got were like this.

Makes me wonder if I should even bother trying to get replacements, or just get a refund?
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Maybe all of that dealer's Walkers are like that. If I were you I would get a refund and try to buy from a different dealer. Either that or make the dealer open up the box and verify the handles aren't damaged before sending you two more.

But it would annoy me that I have to pay shipping considering the dealer was the one that sent you garbage. I would insist on him refunding you shipping fees, or sending you a prepaid shipping package, or giving you store credit equal to the cost of sending the blades back. Some kind of compensation. It's a pain to have to drive over to UPS/USPS, wait in line, pay the shipping fees, and then wait another 5+ days to get the knives you should have gotten in the first place. But that's just me. ;)
 
I'm not disagreeing with you but the context is important.

I also agree many "collectors" are wound up so tight I hate to be around when they go "SPROINGGGGGG"...

I regularly find "defects" like scratches, nicks on corners, handles, etc. Nicks on edges, factory new, are a little irritating.

But as someone else pointed out already, CF with defects like that can deteriorate, unlike a nick or scratch on a metal surface that is unlikely to spread.

But you raise an interesting point - I have to think about CF users; it might have a mythical reputation among CF fanboys, but the fact is, in most cases, it's not particularly tough.

Am I wrong here?
 
That looks terrible. I would send that one back for sure. I sure seem to see a lot of probs with spyderco the last 6 months, or maybe I have just noticed it more
 
Wow, Dorito Monk, has there been lots of problems with Walker CF sprint run?

Caffeine Pirate, I agree, PITA!

Dealer's pretty cool, though, and I just told him tonight, so waiting for his suggestion/reply.

No bashing or pissing and moaning from me yet, I posted this thread just to get feedback but also to illustrate the quality issue on new high end pieces.
 
damfan said:
it might have a mythical reputation among CF fanboys, but the fact is, in most cases, it's not particularly tough.

Am I wrong here?
Click to expand...
No. CF is strong, but like you said, not particularly tough. While not necessarily fragile, it can fracture and delaminate.
I've googled it before (carbon fiber delaminate or delamination, etc) and though I only read a few there lots of results about different ways of testing to detect problems with it.
Not to blow it out of proportion. My first custom with CF scales had some rough spots, and tiny cracks around the screw holes, but they have not gotten worse in the last 8-9 years.
 
vwb563 said:
No I would not! That one needs to go back!
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cziv said:
Send it back. Tragic! :(
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I agree, that would have a 1 way ticket back to the dealer. Something I recently started doing last month was asking the dealer to please examine the knife for the following:
1 - Solid blade lock up
2 - Blade Centering when closed
3 - Irregularities in handle scales

I've had a ZDP stretch come back with a really weird liner issue that had the blade scraping the liner.
I was also lucky enough to score a blue manix 2 and wouldn't you know the pivot bushing was jacked up, made the blade fly over to the left side and scrape the liner again. (cant send that one back to the store, cuz I'll never see it again. It's on it's way to Golden for a new pivot bushing I hope).
 
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