Spyderco Assisted Opener

D

Deviltooth

Joined
Jul 16, 2011
Messages
198
I've been collecting for a while now and have a fair number of Spyderco knives. I've found them to be a mix of practical (Endura) and creative (Shabaria) blades. Fit and finish ranges from good to excellent and there's always something new on the horizon.

So what is missing? The detectives among you will have figured that out from the title. Simply put where are the assisted opening Spyderco knives?

I have Kershaws/Zero Tolerance, Benchmades, CRKT (ugh)... Isn't it time for Spyderco to venture into this market? I know they already offer two automatics, why not makes those available in ao form?
 
I wouldn't mind it if they did make one, or a few, but I wouldn't want it to become a mainstay of their line. Just my thoughts...
 
Sal has told people that have suggested this before, if you want an AO knife, buy a Kershaw. There are plenty of companies out there that have that market covered. It won't happen.
 
RevDevil said:
Sal has told people that have suggested this before, if you want an AO knife, buy a Kershaw. There are plenty of companies out there that have that market covered. It won't happen.
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There are plenty of companies who make folding knives too. Ditto with automatics. So what? Did Sal have a reason as to why it won't happen? Are Spyderco knives built around a philosophy that preclude a knife being assisted opening?
 
I don't really care for AO knives. I like to know that I can slowly open the knife if need be. Any AO knife I buy gets the torsion bar taken out. Plus, my Spydercos are fast enough as is.
 
I wouldn't but one.
I have a few A/O knives because I liked the look and they fit my hand well. Other than that, I hate them.
With practice, you can flip out a Spyderco knife pretty fast with the opening hole.
 
Don't want one. I don't think the thumb hole opener lends itself to AO.
 
RevDevil said:
Sal has told people that have suggested this before, if you want an AO knife, buy a Kershaw. There are plenty of companies out there that have that market covered. It won't happen.
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Yep, Sal has made it very clear it ain't going to happen.

I'm sure it would sell, but for the reasons stated plus the unpleasantness with the autos, why would Spyderco want to go there. They are doing great with what they do best.
 
Spyderco's linerlocks have detentes with juuust the perfect amount of tension, making the knives very quick to flick open via thumbhole if you're so inclined. It takes just as little effort to flick open a Spyderco linerlock as it does to open an A/O knife, IMO. Just hook your thumb in the hole, flick your thumb up, and the blade flies open. Or you can open it slowly. The ability to flick open a Spyderco linerlock quickly with ease makes A/O unnecessary, and it's very nice to be able to open the blade in a slower more controlled motion when needed.

Besides, there are less parts that could potentially fail in a non-A/O knife =P
 
I think I remember a comment that someone at the Spyderco booth at Blade made that AO's were a legal gray area and had little advantage over normal thumb opening knives. This was several years ago and I don't think it was Sal that made the comment.
 
Legal gray area is right. The way the law is written in Kansas, they are lumped together with switchblades and butterfly knives. The law wasn't enforced yesterday, but that doesn't mean you won't get arrested for one today. Colorado laws are even more restrictive (it has been colonized by California), so they have to tread carefully. Odds are they would have to sell an assisted opener as a restricted item, same as an automatic, which limits their market considerably.

Personally, I see no advantages to AO, but plenty of liabilities.
 
No interest in owning one, so no interest in seeing Spyderco make one. I can open my Stretch, Persian, Native, Caly 3, Caly 3.5, and Chaparral fast enough with my thumb in the Spyderhole. No extra parts, 100% reliability, less potential for legal issues.
 
The Deacon said:
No interest in owning one, so no interest in seeing Spyderco make one. I can open my Stretch, Persian, Native, Caly 3, Caly 3.5, and Chaparral fast enough with my thumb in the Spyderhole. No extra parts, 100% reliability, less potential for legal issues.
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I agree completely.

I've had AO's and don't like how the knife sometimes wants to jump out of your hand.
 
Deviltooth said:
There are plenty of companies who make folding knives too. Ditto with automatics. So what? Did Sal have a reason as to why it won't happen? Are Spyderco knives built around a philosophy that preclude a knife being assisted opening?
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Late to the game, but here I go:
Actually yes, several reasons. Legal ramifications are not worth the hassle for one. Second of all Sal respects that there is a market out there and Kershaw/ZT does very well in that market. But instead of conjecture on my part, this is what Sal said when this topic was brought up the last time (this comes up at least 2-3 times a year and turns into a 2-3 page thread too):

Sal Glesser said:
Hi Cold Kill,

We've not made production Assisted openers. We have made a few prototypes that Eric designed. Colorado laws can be challenging and we're in good standing with local auhorities. They do watch and we do have to show them any new autos that are planned.

When AO's first came out we avoided them not only for local laws, but Ken is a friend of mine and we were on good terms with Kershaw, so it seemed like the right thing to to to let them have their market.
We do have a flipper (Carson flipper) model designed by Brad Southard that is in-the-works, but no springs.

sal
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So, why put so many things in danger (legal standing, professional and personal friendships) just to make some knives?
 
Oooh. I don't intend to derail this thread, but whatever happened with that flipper knife project? I've never heard of it before, but then again I did only get into knives half a year ago. Did it ever go anywhere or did the project die? I am a huge fan of flippers and opening holes as opening devices. I'd be all over a Spyderco flipper.
 
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