So Spyderco was named after cars Sal liked, did he buy any?

MyLegsAreOk

MyLegsAreOk

Joined
Aug 31, 2017
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Do we know if Sal and or Gail bought any of the little sports cars for which the company got its name? I saw a new(er) Miata today and thought just that. Not really about knives but oh well.
 
Lotus :thumbsup:
However this story about where he got the Spyderco name is questionable.
 
How is it questionable? It came right from Sal himself.

This is gonna make me sound like a stalker but I used to work in Golden and used to go to the SFO all the time to fondle knives. I have seen Sal pull into the Spyderco parking lot and I am pretty sure he was driving an Acura.
 
And he used the Acura name as inspiration for the Delica and Endura names.
Stalker. ;)
 
I remember reading a post from Sal talking about how the "spyder" versions of certain cars were always the high performance variants. He applied that "spyder" moniker to his high performance knives.
 
Hi Legs,

As mentioned, I was into sports car racing and F1 racing for most of my life. the "Spyder" name on the admired racers was way beyond my financial capability. Almost bought a Porsche Spyder in the 50's that was set up for the street, but could't raise the bucks. I did own a number of production sports cars when younger. (Triumphs, Healeys, Bristols, etc.) As Darby mentioned, I did have a thing for Lotus, but most are now gone. I still have a '70- Elan for sale if anyone is interested. My current Sports car is a Sport 2000 (Honda). Eric now owns my Elise. (Mr. Soichiro Honda was one of my mentors as was Colin Chapman of Lotus. Never met them, studied them).

Gail and I also produced a product called the "Portable Hand". It was out first project. The plan was to invent, patent design, manufacturer, market and sell a product to see if we could. We were living in a bread delivery truck that we converted to a motor home (Yes, we were homeless) and we towed a VW behind us with the mfg equipment in the bug. We set up the equipment on campground benches, demonstrated and sold the product in fairs and shows. It looked like a stainless steel spider, which also influenced the name.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Legs,

As mentioned, I was into sports car racing and F1 racing for most of my life. the "Spyder" name on the admired racers was way beyond my financial capability. Almost bought a Porsche Spyder in the 50's that was set up for the street, but could't raise the bucks. I did own a number of production sports cars when younger. (Triumphs, Healeys, Bristols, etc.) As Darby mentioned, I did have a thing for Lotus, but most are now gone. I still have a '70- Elan for sale if anyone is interested. My current Sports car is a Sport 2000 (Honda). Eric now owns my Elise. (Mr. Soichiro Honda was one of my mentors as was Colin Chapman of Lotus. Never met them, studied them).

Gail and I also produced a product called the "Portable Hand". It was out first project. The plan was to invent, patent design, manufacturer, market and sell a product to see if we could. We were living in a bread delivery truck that we converted to a motor home (Yes, we were homeless) and we towed a VW behind us with the mfg equipment in the bug. We set up the equipment on campground benches, demonstrated and sold the product in fairs and shows. It looked like a stainless steel spider, which also influenced the name.

sal
Click to expand...
I know this is all motorcycles but if you haven't read this one you should.

box-of-books.jpg
 
Megawatt308 said:
Sal, are you going to the gathering?
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Hi Megawatt,

If you mean the USN gathering, no, I'm sorry I won't be there. Eric usually attends that show.

Danke,

My last scooter was a Honda VTR 1000. Loved that bike. Really quick.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Megawatt,

If you mean the USN gathering, no, I'm sorry I won't be there. Eric usually attends that show.

Danke,

My last scooter was a Honda VTR 1000. Loved that bike. Really quick.

sal
Click to expand...
Nice! I had one too, in Canada it was called the Firestorm instead of the Superhawk so I'd get US folks going what is that. It would wheelie just on the gas like a big dirt bike, and slide the rear like I was Randy Mamola.

I really liked it but in 2000 I swapped it for a RC51 that I still have.
 
bearfacedkiller said:
How is it questionable? It came right from Sal himself.
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It's just that years ago I hadn't heard the sports car story but I did hear this story :

The first product Spyderco produced was the Portable Hand in 1976, this "spider-shaped device", was a series of angles, ball joints and alligator clips that helped people such as jewelers and hobbyists to work with small parts.
Click to expand...

i.e., the first product from Spyderco was a spider shaped device and that was where the name came from.

That's what I had in the back of my mind.
Not sure if it was in the literature with a knife or I saw a YouTube that talked about the spider clamp but at this >>>>link it verifies what you said but does mention the Spyder clamp.

So you are right but you see where i got my apprehension.
 
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