Seki City quality control problem... *problem fixed*

[Neomentat]

I'm happy to report that after some power wash with hot water and soap the backlock bar now locks up flush with the handle when the blade is open. Apparently the Seki factory left alot of gunk in the action which caused problems.

This makes me wonder, what is all this crud and junk and why are they in the action of Japanese G10 knives? Why cant they use some normal lube and call it a day.

 

[dericdesmond]

Their quality is NO WHERE NEAR the Taiwan production knives. The Japanese pride on quality is largely a thing of the past and their knives these days SUCKS...

I disagree 100%. Ive owned hundreds of more jap mades then tai made and and my tai gripes are ten fold. Granted its a Production knife that still serves its purpose as designed so I dont get on the forums and start calling things sucky. To each there own though.

 

[dr_fosg8]

- still unsure as to what to do with this knife...

I would return it to the vendor or send it in to spyderco to let them look at it under warranty.

 

[Liquid Cobra]

The caly 3.5 isn't made in Seki.

 

[salmonkiller]

Pictures of the 3rd Ulize ?Please let us take a look at what you are talking about if possible.

 

[The Deacon]

Haven't been buying as many knives lately, but the 2 blue Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, 2 black Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, and Kiwi 4 that I've purchased this year have all been up to their respective maker's normal standards of fit and finish.

The caly 3.5 isn't made in Seki.

The fact that Moki does not choose to stamp Seki on their blades does not mean they're not made there.

 

[Lee48]

I have to agree somewhat with Neomentat. While I don't think the current Japanese-made knives are horrible, they do seem to have had a little less attention to quality control recently when compared to the Spyderco Japan-made knives of years past and the current Spyderco knives from other countries. None of the lapses I've noticed have been significant but they do raise a little concern as to whether or not this might be a trend.

 

[Evany]

I got a ZDP 189 Caly 3.5 a few months back that is beautifully crafted and finished. Perfect centering, solid lock up and just the barest perceptible "pop" if you pull back on the blade.

 

[Neomentat]

pics added

 

[minimize]

I disagree 100%. Ive owned hundreds of more jap mades then tai made and and my tai gripes are ten fold. Granted its a Production knife that still serves its purpose as designed so I dont get on the forums and start calling things sucky. To each there own though.

"Jap" is a derogatory term. Just letting you know.

 

[Liquid Cobra]

[ QUOTE=The Deacon;13955005]Haven't been buying as many knives lately, but the 2 blue Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, 2 black Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, and Kiwi 4 that I've purchased this year have all been up to their respective maker's normal standards of fit and finish.

The fact that Moki does not choose to stamp Seki on their blades does not mean they're not made there.[/QUOTE]

Hmm. I didn't know that. Thanks! The knives stamped japan are made in the same plant as the ones stamped Seki?

 

[DocT]

I hate to hear you have had trouble with Japanese made Spydercos. I have had exactly the opposite experience. Every Japanese made Spyderco I have ever purchased (quite a number) have been markedly better than the Taiwan made Spydercos I have. The fit and finish are flawless on each and they are smoooottthhh on opening and closing. As an example, I have griped before that my expensive Chaparral CTS-XHP Carbon Fiber was not finished well (a cheap Walmart knife is better). My Cat G-10 is better than it is. Someone took a lot of extra time on my Cat and it shows, and except for one minor buff mark, it is very nice (made in a different Taiwan factory, I believe). I have never had an issue of any sort from the Japanese made knives.

 

[Surfingringo]

"Jap" is a derogatory term. Just letting you know.

Don't be silly. The man is obviously using an abbreviation. Same as "tai"

 

[PatrickKnight]

I have had zero issues from my Caly 3.5 which I carry on almost a daily basis. It functions as perfectly as I would expect a $100 production folder to.

 

[skyhorse]

Don't buy lotto tickets for now and best double bag it on dates for awhile. I'm thinking you got some bad karma going on.

 

[whp]

My experience with Spyderco is that the Japanese and American made knives are about equal in fit and finish, and that the Taiwan made knives seem better made. Of all the production knives I have, the Taiwan Spydercos are the closest to the CRK s in fit and finish.

 

[James Y]

The Japanese pride on quality is largely a thing of the past and their knives these days SUCKS...

You're judging an entire country based on some admittedly bad luck you've had with some knives. Funny, I've had several different American-made knives (non-Spyderco, but upper-end name brand) that sucked badly. I don't say that American pride and work ethic is a thing of the past because of it.

Maybe I'm lucky, but almost all the Seki-made Spydercos I own, and they're a considerable number, have been virtually flawless.

Maybe there are lapses in some production batches...or maybe it's the seller you're buying from? I always buy from a seller who will check any knife I purchase for me beforehand.

Jim

 

[RevDevil]

I thought I read someone say the knives were all QC'd in Golden, regardless of origin.

 

[The Deacon]

Haven't been buying as many knives lately, but the 2 blue Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, 2 black Nishijin GF/VG-10 damascus Stretches, and Kiwi 4 that I've purchased this year have all been up to their respective maker's normal standards of fit and finish.

The fact that Moki does not choose to stamp Seki on their blades does not mean they're not made there.

Hmm. I didn't know that. Thanks! The knives stamped japan are made in the same plant as the ones stamped Seki?

No. Just like there's more than one brewery in Milwaukee, there are quite a few knifemakers located in Seki, each with their own "plant", although some of those plants may be just a master craftsman and a couple assistants while others are factories. Think of Seki as the Japanese equivalent of Sheffield or Solingen, a city that developed a reputation as the "knife making capital" of its country, so many makers gravitated there. As for Spyderco, over the years they've used a few Japanese makers. Most, if not all, were located in Seki. The Stretch, like all the current ones stamped Seki, is made by G Sakai. The Kiwi 4, like all the current ones stamped Japan, is made by Moki.

I thought I read someone say the knives were all QC'd in Golden, regardless of origin.

I'm sure knives made overseas go through QC at both the maker's shop and in Golden, but I doubt every knife is individually inspected by either.

As for the Ulize the OP posted photos of, if it was mine, I'd send it back.

 

[minimize]

Don't be silly. The man is obviously using an abbreviation. Same as "tai"

When an abbreviation is derogatory, which is rarely the case, doesn't make it less offensive. I won't be silly, you don't be ignorant.