Schempp Bowie - Made in Taiwan?

Nowhere Man

Nowhere Man

Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
49
Am I just a curmudgeon, or should this knife (since it is part of the ethnic series after all) have been made in the Golden factory? I really really like it, but something about the country of origin in this particular case just seems like such a miss! I know, I know, the quality is inevitably fine. But, it seems a prime opportunity to make a particular blade Stateside.

Schempp Bowie

spyderco-schempp-bowie-folder-c190cfp.jpg
 
Ethnic series is about the origin of the knife design, not where it's made. I'm sure a lot of us would like to see more Spyderco models made is USA but Golden doesn't have the capacity now. So....it's either Taiwan or nothing.
 
My Taichung produced Spydies have better fit and finish (Out of my collection of 45) than from any other factory...don't count them out just because they're produced in Taiwan. And I'm also VERY much looking forward to the Schempp Bowie Folder...more so than any other Spydie this year in fact.
 
Never once had a complaint about any of my many models manufactured in Taiwan. The fit and finish is typically stellar.
 
I have read nothing but good things about that factory. :thumbup:

Hope to come to my own conclusions on that in the near future, possibly with the same knife. :)
 
Bushido185 said:
I have read nothing but good things about that factory. :thumbup:

Hope to come to my own conclusions on that in the near future, possibly with the same knife. :)
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I hope you do get to enjoy a Taiwan made Spyderco in the near future, they're fantastic.

Only difference I've noticed between the Taichung knives versus the Golden knives is that the Taiwan produced ones have sharper edges to their Spyder holes and the US made ones have deeper, sharper jimping on the blade spines. Matter of preference in both cases.
 
I see your point. But many other knives in the ethnic series have been made in Taiwan and the quality is unsurpassed.
 
kubelik said:
I hope you do get to enjoy a Taiwan made Spyderco in the near future, they're fantastic.

Only difference I've noticed between the Taichung knives versus the Golden knives is that the Taiwan produced ones have sharper edges to their Spyder holes and the US made ones have deeper, sharper jimping on the blade spines. Matter of preference in both cases.
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I have read that somewhere before but thanks for reminding me. The jimping on my Seki City Tatanka is pretty aggressive too. Much more so than my Millie and Enduras. Doesn't really matter to me one way or the other as long as it's consistent and functional.
 
Nowhere Man said:
Am I just a curmudgeon, or should this knife (since it is part of the ethnic series after all) have been made in the Golden factory? I really really like it, but something about the country of origin in this particular case just seems like such a miss! I know, I know, the quality is inevitably fine. But, it seems a prime opportunity to make a particular blade Stateside.

Schempp Bowie

View attachment 513452
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If you don't mind waiting a few more years while they finish the expansion of the Golden facility, train additional workers and catch up on the backlog of the current USA made models, I suppose it would be good to have it made here. Of course, the same can be said for pretty much everything they don't make here.
 
Historically, many early factory Bowies were made in England, so not being made in the US is "traditional". Personally, the blade is bowie-like, but the handle??
 
brownshoe said:
Historically, many early factory Bowies were made in England, so not being made in the US is "traditional". Personally, the blade is bowie-like, but the handle??
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From the descriptions and info from Spyderco, the handle is coffin shaped like how they were commonly were early on. The S style guard on bowies were also integrated in. I looked at photos of early Bowies, seems legit and 'traditional' to me... At least a nod to it.
 
Stays Sharp said:
From the descriptions and info from Spyderco, the handle is coffin shaped like how they were commonly were early on. The S style guard on bowies were also integrated in. I looked at photos of early Bowies, seems legit and 'traditional' to me... At least a nod to it.
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For me the coffin shape is cool but I don't like how the handle angles downward. Or maybe it's the blade angles downward compared to the handle. I would have preferred a straighter handle with the coffin shape and a blade that was a bit straighter. This would have required other changes to the design. Overall it's not one I'd see myself buying.
 
Fanglekai said:
For me the coffin shape is cool but I don't like how the handle angles downward. Or maybe it's the blade angles downward compared to the handle. I would have preferred a straighter handle with the coffin shape and a blade that was a bit straighter. This would have required other changes to the design. Overall it's not one I'd see myself buying.
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Yeah, Ed Schempp does that on many of his models. Purpose being he says it adds force in downward cutting power, applied from his experience competing (and winning) knife cutting competitions. I'm inderectly quoting here but i think I got it right.

Spyderco does this on many non Schempp models too but not as pronounced. (Just) One example is the Military.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Yeah, Ed Schempp does that on many of his models. Purpose being he says it adds force in downward cutting power, applied from his experience competing (and winning) knife cutting competitions. I'm inderectly quoting here but i think I got it right.

Spyderco does this on many non Schempp models too but not as pronounced. (Just) One example is the Military.
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Not related to the Bowie, but here's is Ed Schempp explaining the function of the negative blade angle.
[video=youtube;ZNulyy1dn90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNulyy1dn90[/video]

Here is Michael Janich explaining the Bowie design
[video=youtube_share;dWyRViLHQbQ]http://youtu.be/dWyRViLHQbQ?t=48s[/video]

I thought the Schempp Bowie was pretty ugly at first, but then I recalled that Spyderco's (and Ed Schempp's) philosophy of design is function first. The knife is first and foremost the edge. The blade supports the edge where and how the edge is used; the handle supports the blade and shows you how to use it.
 
FDE said:
The made in Taiwan thing again?! :barf:
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Personally I choose to buy U.S.A knives when given an option. Although I do own a ManBug, just because Golden doesn't make a keyring sized knife.

I like Spyderco, and yes I understand any Spyderco purchase helps keep the lights on in Golden.

BUT... I make a product for a living here in the U.S. And I prefer to spend my disposable income on U.S.A product. And lets face it , after one knife more are not a necessity.

I do wish more Spyderco products were made here.

If that makes you regurgitate, so be it. I don't get sick when someone buys off shore knives. ;)
 
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