Question for Sal: Most popular Spydies?

Guyon

Guyon

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I was reading the post about the new Spyderco Calypso Jr. and saw where Sal was comparing its popularity to other Spydercos. And so I got to wondering...

What are the top five, or the top ten, most popular Spydercos? I'm guessing the Delica and the Endura are near the top of the list, but from there, I don't have a clue. Taste is a funny thing.

What would my top five look like? On the spot, I'd go with the Paramilitary, Native, Calypso Jr., Standard, and Jester.
 
The Delica and Endura are flag ship models. Aside from those I don't really know. I'd guess FRN models are popular. Since they cost so much to make the initial mold it seems like Sal & Co. know what they are doing and expect high volume of sales.
 
Would guess you are right in thinking the Endura and Delica are the "bread and butter" models. Beyond them, it has been my observation that Sal is rather merciless when it comes to culling slow movers from the flock. Figure the Police has been in the lineup, virtually unchanged, since 1984, it has to be one of the top ten. The C14 Rescue, although having gone through a number of facelifts, has been around since 1990, even longer if you consider it as the FRN version of the Mariner. LadyBug has been around since '90 also. Dragonfly's been on the market since '94 and last I heard, was due for a facelift, so I'd guess it is still selling well (or at least was a year ago). Aside from the Police, none of them are "glamor" models, just constant sellers to folks who depend on a quality knife at a reasonable price.
 
I would think that the Cricket has survived and evolved into a good seller based on all its varied skins and incarnations.
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Delica is easily the best seller. I'd be willing to bet that either the Police or the Endura are #2, followed by the Military. Beyond that, I really wouldn't be able to guess, but in recent months the Manix and the Salt series are probably giving even the popular Delica some hard competition.
 
I'd agree with the delica for most and native certainly in the list. Along with others mentioned that are probably in the top 10 I'd also say the harpy. It's been around for quite a while and has seen an FRN version.
On the flip side I'm curious which one has been the worst flop. Couldn't even give 'em away.
Chris
 
When I gave my list of five above, I was talking about the Spydercos that have been most popular with *me*. You know, the ones that stayed in my pocket and weren't eventually sold or traded.

I should have answered my own question though, shouldn't I?

If I were to take a guess at the top five most popular Spydies *in general*, I think the responses so far have already mentioned the names I'd pick: Delica, Endura, Native, Ladybug, and (probably because of emergency response folks) the Rescue and/or Police. The Calypso Jr. gets a lot of hype on this board, but I wonder if it's as popular with the general populace.

Oddly, I've never owned a Delica. Calypso Jr. was just a better design to me.
 
This is a good question.
I figure that it makes sense that the most popular knives(over the course of the years Spyderco has been in business) would be knives like the police or Delica etc.
But times and taste change. My kids( They are 26,26 and 24 twin boys and a girl ) would never buy what I think is cool.
What would be popular with my kids now ...well....
They like the Lum, the Spur, the Native, the Temperance, the Spyderfly, The celefonte ?? ( the real pointing one with a secondary lock in the handle)
I think you get my meaning
 
I think you guys have them. Deacon's logic works.

The newer models will grab a spot in the top 10 for a month or 2, but the basics are still the best. The 204 ranks high on the list as well.

sal
 
In these days of knives coming and going, it's always nice when excellent models stand the test of time. Endura, Delica, Police, Military, Ladybug, and don't forget the Harpy, around since about '87.
Jim
 
Hi Deacon, greetz from Jim Malone! ;) The Deacon is one of the most knowledgable people regarding Spyderco knives. If he speaks on the spydercoforum we shut up and listen.

If the deacon preaches you beter listen!

Greetz my friend
 
Guyon said:
What would my top five look like? On the spot, I'd go with the Paramilitary, Native, Calypso Jr., Standard, and Jester.
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I reckon this would be my personal picks too.
 
Hi Sal, it seems the Sharpmaker is non surpassed by any commercial available sharpening system. The fact that say Chris Reeves or Benchmade recommends the 204 means that it is still the best "of the shelf" sharpening system available. You can get a better edge on a knife without a sharpmaker, but it would cost you a great amount of time and expense to develop the craft to do it better, OR you have to send the knife to the factory for resharpening.
 
Mongo-man said:
Hi Sal, it seems the Sharpmaker is non surpassed by any commercial available sharpening system. The fact that say Chris Reeves or Benchmade recommends the 204 means that it is still the best "of the shelf" sharpening system available. You can get a better edge on a knife without a sharpmaker, but it would cost you a great amount of time and expense to develop the craft to do it better, OR you have to send the knife to the factory for resharpening.
Click to expand...

The Sharpmaker is certainly an excellent sharpener. Very good value for money, versatile, cleverly designed, easy to set up and use and you can get a razor edge with it. It's two major drawbacks are:

1. You can only sharpen at two angles. Well you can vary this if you're good at estimating angles and hold the knife differently.

2. It's not good if you want to reprofile and you only get two grit sizes. (You can get diamond rods but they're expensive.)

Having said that I would definitely recommend one to anyone who wants a good, easy to use sharpener that just about anyone can get a good edge with.

I have a Sharpmaker, an Edgepro Deluxe and a Lansky system so I've had the opportunity to try out different methods.
 
Mongo-man said:
it seems the Sharpmaker is non surpassed by any commercial available sharpening system. The fact that say Chris Reeves or Benchmade recommends the 204 means that it is still the best "of the shelf" sharpening system available.
Click to expand...
yeah, and Cold Steel as well. They even sell it through their website IIRC.
 
Planterz said:
Delica is easily the best seller. I'd be willing to bet that either the Police or the Endura are #2, .
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I remember Joyce once saying that Delica and Endura trade first place frequently.
 
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