Quality knives that just never caught on

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
It's always tragic to me when it happens - something that, by all means, should have caught on but never did. Their fate? Discontinuation, inevitably.

A few off the top of my head:
- Spyderco LionSpy: I feel like this would have taken off if it had been introduced in the last year. Big, beefy, solid, overbuilt but still designed to cut well, and with good steel. It even has a lockbar insert! I picked one of these up, sold it, and then immediately missed it and just bought another for keeps. It's so smooth - literally as smooth as any of the Sebenzas I have handled.

- Spyderco Hungarian. I've never handled one, but I don't get why this isn't a huge deal. FFG CTS-XHP, currently easily found for less than $160, with gorgeous handle materials. It's a cutting machine by design and it's super classy looking. Same price as a Chapparral but bigger and more interesting. WTF, knife community?

- Kershaw RAM: There's a lot of love here for this one, but apparently not enough for it to stay in production. It's a damned shame, as I would have loved to see it get the Leek treatment and see a bunch of handle and blade material variants. CF and CPM154? Maybe D2, or 110V? We won't see it now...

- Kershaw Echelon: I was recommended this when I made a thread about my interest in an SJ-75. I wanted a cheaper alternative, and I'll be damned if this isn't almost identical. After taking the spring out, it was like a completely different knife - super smooth, rock solid lockup, centered, and ultralight. Seriously one of my favorite knives of all time.
 
I hear what you're saying but I guess some knives will never be popular, there are just so many knives to choose from in the market and if it doesn't have the characteristics that people want from the get go, then they become hard to sell and get discontinued. Regarding the Lionspy, personally I prefer the design of the original Lionsteel SR1. I'm a Spyderco fan but the Lionspy just doesn't appeal to me. Also, here where I live the Lionspy retails about $100 more than an SR1. I think Spyderco will have more success with the Mini Lionspy. I guess we also have to remember that most people who buy knives are not collectors, they simply want a cool looking knife to fulfill certain tasks and they don't want to pay lots of $ for it. Making a knife only for collectors is not going to bring in a lot of money, I guess that's why they prefer to make sprint runs and limited editions, sell them and then no more, money in the bank.

Btw, if anyone has a Spyderco Hungarian they want to donate feel free to pm me, lol :p
 
I must say, I feel like I missed something with the Spyderco/Lionspy deal. I guess my question is: Why? I mean if I wanted a Lionspy I would just buy one. I understand when companies do collaborations with custom makers, guys whose knives are $3000-$4000. That puts high end knives into our hands that otherwise many couldn't afford. But LionSpy is a production company/ knife. Why would I buy a Spyderco with another company's name on it?

If I'm missing something please fill me in. I've wondered about this since I saw it.
 
Add Kershaw Brawler and Tension to the list. Anything a Leek would do these two would do better.


The Lionspy is the only I'd Spydie I'd look twice at. A wide blade with a belly where it's needed unlike the usual pointed, as one member on a another thread described perfectly, Mad Magazine Spy vs. Spy caricature look.
 
Last edited:
There were a few I can think of, Gerber International Silver Knight series made in Seki Japan, these were event quality knives that had superior F&F, these were lockbacks made with economy to premium scale materials also made in 3/4 sizes IIRC.

This is not mine but mine looks exactly like that except for all the pocket wear on the scales but when I first started collecting there was a book I had gotten that listed what to look for in a quality knife and it met them all.

GERBER_250A_DUCKS.JPG


The Cold Steel Twist master, a modern teams on the Opinel done in Zytel and the old CV blades, these were work horses that were dependable and having an essentially fail proof lock.

Also not mine but I have both, the Gerber bolt lock was also another quality knife that didn't last.

tm3.jpg


Benchmade/Crawford Leopard, ones of the earlier BM collaborations, this was an excellent sized knife that made for a great edc, I think manufacturing cost just made it prohibitive.

knf_bcl4.jpg


Blackie Collins Buddy Sytem Neck knives with the thumbolt release, one of the first production neckers out there, I still have about a half a dozen I like to keep them in the cars because they're so secure in the sheath and light weight I keep it on my keys for easy one hand access and release.

6.jpg


Maybe I'm looking at this wrong, is not so much that these didn't catch on, more like they discontinued which in my eyes is kinda the same. I mean why stop producing a popular knife other than to drive up prices on the secondary markets?, (I know production costs change making a particular model not profitable but that's another thread).
 
I've been somewhat interested in the Echelon for awhile; almost since I started collecting knives, basically. But I haven't bought it. Maybe it's because of the translucent scales; they seem to be sort of "gimmicky".

The LionSpy is, more or less, the same as the Lionsteel one.
 
I would argue that the Lionspy is superior. No centering issues, better pivot action, better opening mechanism (I would choose the spyderhole over the thumbstuds any day. Easier to operate, and doesn't get in the way of cutting), and it's always Elmax as opposed to sometimes being D2 or Sliepner.

As much as I liked the Lionsteels that I've handled, both LionSpys have been superior in every way in my opinion, and can be had for basically the same price IIRC.

I don't know how Lionsteel's warranty setup is, but I'll bet Spyderco has a better one.
 
To me, the LionSpy misses the best feature of the Lionsteel-the solid titanium handle. It's just so very unique in the production knife market.
 
flipe8 said:
To me, the LionSpy misses the best feature of the Lionsteel-the solid titanium handle. It's just so very unique in the production knife market.
Click to expand...

This.

I never understood why the Spyderco Persian never got much attention. Outstanding ergos, aesthetics and cutting performance.
 
Böker AK-74. The few people that have them and talk about them mostly love them, and for them being a dirt cheap (~$40) auto with decent steel (AUS-8) and a solid design... They should be a knife every single person who can carry an auto should own.

Another knife is the Quartermaster Murdock. Aside from the funky design (shockingly no hotspots), and the utmost need to add lube (both of mine came bone dry), they are awesome knives. Good steel, good price, and a little TLC makes the bearings almost as good as my Domino or 801. If it had a flipper, thinner blade stock, and an all around thinner design, it could be the perfect EDC. Both of them had dead solid locks, no play, and with a zip tie added smooth as silk.
 
flipe8 said:
To me, the LionSpy misses the best feature of the Lionsteel-the solid titanium handle. It's just so very unique in the production knife market.
Click to expand...

Yep, to me it's like they cheaped out on Spy. I already a LionSteel (that has dead on centering) so I didn't even consider the Spy.
 
Vegas Blade said:
I must say, I feel like I missed something with the Spyderco/Lionspy deal. I guess my question is: Why? I mean if I wanted a Lionspy I would just buy one. I understand when companies do collaborations with custom makers, guys whose knives are $3000-$4000. That puts high end knives into our hands that otherwise many couldn't afford. But LionSpy is a production company/ knife. Why would I buy a Spyderco with another company's name on it?

If I'm missing something please fill me in. I've wondered about this since I saw it.
Click to expand...

Lionsteel SR1 has thumbstuds...Lionspy the collab with Spyderco has the Spydiehole. Instead of just licensing the opening hole, Lionsteel was probably willing to do a collab because it gives their brand wider recognition through a US brand, and also it appears that Sal and Gianni are buddy buddy. It also give Spyderco a product made in Italy.Networking man, it makes sense to them so there it is.

Dang, tough crowd on the Lionspy hehe. The mini Lionspy is coming out soon too. I do not like bellys that go so high into the tip so it was never an option for me but other than that its a good knife.
 
the benchmade bedlam is an awesome knife that doesnt seem to get much love around here. i thought this knife would be much more popular.

also the snody series of benchmades and hks that came out a few years ago were really superb knives. i dont see many people talking about benchmade 420 resistors or benchmade gravitators.

the benchmade apparition was a decent knife that really was not liked at all.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Lionsteel SR1 has thumbstuds...Lionspy the collab with Spyderco has the Spydiehole. Instead of just licensing the opening hole, Lionsteel was probably willing to do a collab because it gives their brand wider recognition through a US brand, and also it appears that Sal and Gianni are buddy buddy. It also give Spyderco a product made in Italy.Networking man, it makes sense to them so there it is.

Dang, tough crowd on the Lionspy hehe. The mini Lionspy is coming out soon too. I do not like bellys that go so high into the tip so it was never an option for me but other than that its a good knife.
Click to expand...

Maybe yes to all of what you say, but it doesn't change the fact that the LionSteel has a one piece Ti handle and the LionSpy has a regular two piece. It's like they copied everything but the most desired feature.
 
wDVprzA.jpg

ybPqPxF.jpg

Those Kershaw autos got discontinued too soon. Seems like alot of Kershaw's us made stuff has gotten discontinued over the past couple of years. Between the Bradley balis or most of their mid end us made stuff. The kimura is a shame to see go too since it was the only quality Bali you could get for around $100. There's the bear ops now too but the level of fit and finish isn't as high.
 
jill jackson said:
Maybe yes to all of what you say, but it doesn't change the fact that the LionSteel has a one piece Ti handle and the LionSpy has a regular two piece. It's like they copied everything but the most desired feature.
Click to expand...

Not here to change your mind, just offering ideas as to why.

Target price points combined with both companies having to make a profit.

Sure, the SR1's one piece Ti scale is its impressive feature as the first guy that pointed out and you continued to press on after he did. Though valid to knock the LionSpy... I do not see framelock Ti fans complaining about the lack of this feature in any other framelock Ti knife ever. Judged on its own with the cheaper price, doesnt it fulfill what a typical Ti framelock is... just like 99.9% of its competitors? But ok, they cheaped out on it. Partly explains why it didnt take off. Regardless, to me that belly swooping up so high on the Sr1 and the Lionspy is a huge turnoff so I also passed on it.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
There were a few I can think of, Gerber International Silver Knight series made in Seki Japan, these were event quality knives that had superior F&F, these were lockbacks made with economy to premium scale materials also made in 3/4 sizes IIRC.
Click to expand...

I often call these the nicest knives to ever wear the Gerber name. I wouldn't say they didn't catch on though, they were sold for many years and were even resurrected at least once or twice.

Blackie Collins Buddy Sytem Neck knives with the thumbolt release, one of the first production neckers out there, I still have about a half a dozen I like to keep them in the cars because they're so secure in the sheath and light weight I keep it on my keys for easy one hand access and release.

6.jpg
Click to expand...

The ThumbBolt lives on, in the AG Russell Hunters Scalpel. His version has a much more useful blade shape, IMO, and including a recent re-design has been on the market for decades.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top