Question to sal glesser

Z

ZeroTurnDude

Joined
Jun 8, 2014
Messages
294
Why is most spyderco's made overseas.

I don't own any spyderco's mainly because I can't bring myself to buy a overseas produced knife i know its weird but I just feel a lot better when I buy a something American made.

Now I'm not "knocking" on spyderco or saying that overseas produced spyderco's has bad quality or anything I'm just asking why.

ZTD
 
Some of the most popular models are produced in Golden Colorado USA.

Manx 2
Paramilitary 2

I like all different Spydercos from all their different plants.


Taiwan Taichung are my favs.
 
Spyderco essentially got started with knives by importing. They wouldn't have a constantly growing and expanding factory here on US soil if it weren't for their foreign manufacturers. So, it's easy to say "buying a foreign knife doesn't support workers in the USA." though this is a very limited and flawed mindset. Since they employ many people here in the USA who make exceptional quality knives, while at the same time letting world class manufacturers in Japan, Taichung, China, etc also create knives designed by Spyderco. They wouldn't have a single employee in the manufacturing business here, if they didn't first build knives overseas. It's a symbiotic relationship.
 
goodeyesniper said:
Spyderco essentially got started with knives by importing. They wouldn't have a constantly growing and expanding factory here on US soil if it weren't for their foreign manufacturers. So, it's easy to say "buying a foreign knife doesn't support workers in the USA." though this is a very limited and flawed mindset. Since they employ many people here in the USA who make exceptional quality knives, while at the same time letting world class manufacturers in Japan, Taichung, China, etc also create knives designed by Spyderco. They wouldn't have a single employee in the manufacturing business here, if they didn't first build knives overseas. It's a symbiotic relationship.
Click to expand...

And as a company Spyderco's head office is located in the US, so you're still supporting a US company when you buy products they have produced overseas.

ShepardCC said:
Some of the most popular models are produced in Golden Colorado USA.

Manx 2
Paramilitary 2

I like all different Spydercos from all their different plants.


Taiwan Taichung are my favs.
Click to expand...

Of all of my 37 Spydercos, the Taichung Spydercos definitely stand apart...the F&F on them is fantastic. My Golden and Seki knives aren't far behind by any means (Hell my Tenacious is pretty exceptional for a $40 knife...but definitely a little behind the rest), they're all good but the Taichung models are consistently just a little better in my collection. I'd have never expected this before I started collecting, but it is noticeable.
 
I feel ya OP. I started purchasing other brands of American made knives because of the variety of designs offered.
 
I used to buy only US made knives. I thought Spydercos made in Taiwan shouldn't cost what they do. Then I bought a Sage 2. Then a Gayle Bradley. Then a Domino. They could be made on Mars or in whatever country for all I care. The F&F is very good with only very minor cosmetic issues that I can point out. Spyderco has some really nice models made in various countries.
 
Sal's past posts on the overseas plants that manufacture great Spyderco knives remain the word. Spyderco should soon have even more capacity so that all the popular current models listed below should ramp up production and we should soon see new models and perhaps some models move from overseas to Golden. I'm extremely passionate about the high-quality Taichung knives. Amongst the very best in the world.

Current U.S. Made Spyderco Knives:

  • Military
  • Para-Military2
  • Native5
  • Pygmy Warrior
  • P'Kal
  • Manix2
  • Manix2 XL
  • Yojimbo2
  • UK Penknife
 
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RamZar said:
Sal's past posts on the overseas plants that manufacture great Spyderco knives remain the word. Spyderco should soon have even more capacity so that all the popular current models listed below should ramp up production and we should soon see new models and perhaps some models move from overseas to Golden. I'm extremely passionate about the high-quality Taichung knives. Amongst the very best in the world.

Current U.S. Made Spyderco Knives:

  • Military
  • Para-Military2
  • Native5
  • Pygmy Warrior
  • P'Kal

  • Manix2
  • Manix2 XL
  • Yojimbo2
Click to expand...

That's good news and I hope there will be more variety out of Golden. Spyderco is a business and a very successful one. I'm sure the Taichung knives are of the highest quality and are very desirable. Not for me.
 
The very first Spyderco knife was made in Japan, as it was with a handful of other production knife companies. What is funny is that some folks think Spyderco is a really large company with a vast manufacturing facility that possibly runs multiple shifts 24/7. Truth is it isn't huge, they have s olid set of core values under which they run and manage the company. It's worked for 30+ years so, they are doing something right. In the end, buy whatever you want.
 
I'm glad you enjoy them. I have given the chance to other companies who manufacture in the US instead.
 
Sosa said:
I'm glad you enjoy them. I have given the chance to other companies who manufacture in the US instead.
Click to expand...

What does that even mean though? There is another thread in General right now discussing this. Do ALL the materials have to originate in the US? Washers, bearings, liners, screws?

OP, I love all Spyderco blades, but I was also like you when I started collecting them. I started with an Endura, and from there it was money out the wallet constantly.
 
Nationalism is not a good thing.
We are ALL people who need to support each other.
Get that knife.
rolf
 
Sosa said:
I'm glad you enjoy them. I have given the chance to other companies who manufacture in the US instead.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are a few companies who have 100% US production but not many in today's economy. Most cutlery companies in today's marketplace have production in other countries even if they have factories in the USA. It helps with survival.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of Spyderco's Japanese production move to the US in the future as was the case with the Native. Japanese production costs are ever increasing and Spyderco is currently expanding their facilities for increasing US production.

Quality wise, Spyderco's Taichung knives are about as perfect as any cutlery items I've ever seen, surpassing any standard US production brand I've had experience with. And, while these knives are not cheap, the costs are surprising considering the stunning quality.
 
RamZar said:
Sal's past posts on the overseas plants that manufacture great Spyderco knives remain the word. Spyderco should soon have even more capacity so that all the popular current models listed below should ramp up production and we should soon see new models and perhaps some models move from overseas to Golden. I'm extremely passionate about the high-quality Taichung knives. Amongst the very best in the world.

Current U.S. Made Spyderco Knives:

  • Military
  • Para-Military2
  • Native5
  • Pygmy Warrior
  • P'Kal
  • Manix2
  • Manix2 XL
  • Yojimbo2
Click to expand...
The UKPK is discontinued?
 
Just because a knife is made in the US, doesn't necessarily mean it is high quality. I stopped supporting one company that makes the most popular lockback knife in existence because I have had issues with at least 80% of the knives I had that were made by them. Trips back to their factory didn't help either. There's another American made brand that consistently has lower quality than imported knives of the same design at twice the price.

I'd rather go with a company that cares about producing a good product, rather than ride on name recognition alone.
 
Hi ZeroTurnDude,

Spyderco has a somewhat unique buinsess model that is based on a set of core values developed over many years of doing business. We have a network of makers that we've been working for many years. Quality, loyalty, constant improvement and fairness in all areas. We try to take good care of our staff, our customers, our vendors, community and country.

If we only made knives in the US, we would have far fewer knives to offer.

We began making knives in Japan after Al Mar introduced us to his maker. We were after quality steel and quality construction. Quality and materials we couldn't find in the US. In time we began a US factory and introduced USA made powdered metals to the knife market. As years went on, we added a few makers here and there that would meet our quality needs. We have 3 makers in Japan (2 we've been working with for 33 years and 1 for 26 years. 2 in Taiwan, 2 in Italy and 4 in China, though we don't do too much in China.

I agree that we need to build more in America, but not just knives. Our mfg base has diminished here in the US and I believe it is essential that we focus on mfg, education and honor more so than in curently being done. Just my opinion.

sal
 
Sosa said:
I'm glad you enjoy them. I have given the chance to other companies who manufacture in the US instead.
Click to expand...

RamZar said:
Current U.S. Made Spyderco Knives:

  • Military
  • Para-Military2
  • Native5
  • Pygmy Warrior
  • P'Kal
  • Manix2
  • Manix2 XL
  • Yojimbo2
Click to expand...

The Golden, Colorado models are well worth a chance.

Taichung too. Expand your world brother, you just might like what you find. :encouragement:
 
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Every Spyderco I have has been excellent F&F. I have examples from each city. But those Taichung models are just exceptional imo.
 
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