Spyderco balisongs?

C

chrisARC

Joined
May 23, 2004
Messages
82
Ok I know Im gonna get my ass chewed for this one but I have a Question. Nom please dont get me wrong, I love everything about spyderco and own quite a few. My question is? I thought sal and his crew were all about producing high quality users at a reosonable price? I know balisongs have a strong following but I never thought spyderco would produce a knife that is generally unsuitable for EDC. Please you guys Im not flaming spyderco in any way. This is a legitamate question. Was it to fill a niche in the knife market? I know that I am probably asking too much but if Sal could answer this question it would be great. Also any answer that he would give me I know he would have a good explanation. thanx.
 
Personally, I am not a big fan of the balisong. But I've known a bunch of people over the years that used them as their EDCs(I don't know if it was legal, esp. as it was in many AOs). THey like the one handed opening for ease of use(and just to play with, those who were honest enough to admit it). IT's somewhat of a niche market, but I'd say the Salts are too, and others.

I dobut I'll ever buy a balisong, but if I do, I'm glad I can get one with the SPyderco logo and Sal's approval on it.
 
I see where your coming fro but like the majority of the people on these forums, Im a knife guy. Ther is nothing better in knowing that you're carrying a quality cutting tool clipped to your pocket but I have never seen anybodt flip out a balisong to make a simple cut. I think that might freak me out a little if a stranger did a little dance with one in front of me. To me they are just a novelty or a toy to play with, and thats cool with mee 100%. Does anybody agree with me?
 
Both Sal and Eric Glesser are balisong aficionados, and there was demand in the balisong collectors market.
 
chrisARC said:
I thought sal and his crew were all about producing high quality users at a reosonable price?
Click to expand...

Sure, but it's not a lockstep standard that everything out the door must be one hundred pecent function and nothing else. Look at the Kiwi, and the Persian. THe bolsters heavy 'em up, and the scales aren't as tough as synthetics would be. But "pretty" was added as a goal, and the result is "pretty, high quality users at a reasonable price".

Balis are fun. And a Spyderbali is a fun, high quality user bali at a reasonable price. And that's more than can be said for most of the Benchmade bali clones out there.
 
chrisARC said:
My question is? I thought sal and his crew were all about producing high quality users at a reosonable price? I know balisongs have a strong following but I never thought spyderco would produce a knife that is generally unsuitable for EDC.
Click to expand...

Answering your question and refraining from flaming you... ;)

I don't see how the Spyderfly doesn't fit into your "high quality" and "reasonable price" brackets. While Spydercos in general don't match up to say CRK, they where never ment to. The Spyderfly is as quality a peice as the rest of spyderco's pruducts, and cheap too compared to what you get.

As to the EDC, I personaly don't think the Spyderfly is a good EDC, mainly because of the grind. But that aside balisongs make great EDCs, strong simple, dependable and safe.
As long as you dont go waving it in peoples faces there generaly isn't a problem. Kinda like a regualar folder.

For some real answers make a short visit to the bali forum. :)
 
chrisARC said:
...but I never thought spyderco would produce a knife that is generally unsuitable for EDC.
Click to expand...

I could write a very long post as to why I think balisongs are suitable for EDC, but it would be more concise and relevant if you could state why you feel they are unsuitable, first.

chrisARC said:
To me they are just a novelty or a toy to play with, and thats cool with mee 100%.
Click to expand...

Being a novetly or toy does not automatically make them useless from a utilitarian point of view. Toy to you, tool to me. And toy to me too. (try saying that ten times really fast! :D
 
Hi ChrisArc. Market demand.

It seems that there are many knives on the market that are created for and are collected by knife people.

Autos, auto assists, balisongs, OTF autos are currently a large percentage of the knife market at this time. We have one bali on the market at this time that the market seems to be enjoying. Another will be available soon.

Pocket jewelry is also a part of the knife market. Witness the Kiwi, Kopa. Navigator 2, etc.

When our customers ask us to make a specific type of knife, we try to accomodate within our abilities and attitudes.

While we do not expect the law enforcement professionals to begin packing bali's, our efforts seem to be pleasing a small group of customers. And our high performance models are still being constantly improved for the market that appreciates them.

sal
 
Micmurry, I never said they were of poor quality or high priced. the key word was user. I think I should have made myself a little clearer. In many of the service and construction industries I really cant see a bali as a viable user. Like I stated before I love spyderco products and have 28 of them. I rotate every single one of them and believe me they get used. I just couldnt see me entering someones home to install a light fixture and pulling out a bali to strip romex or cutting a stray piece of thread off my shirt in lets say my daughters classroom. I would love for someone to post all the reasons why a bali would make a good edc. Im not a bali fan as you can see but I am leaning towards purchasing one out of curiosit and simply because its a spyderco. I just need a little nudge. thanx.
 
Part of the trouble you're having may be due to the large size of most balis. I really wish I'd picked up a 3" Benchmade bali when I had the chance.

If I understand correctly, the Spyderco mini-Spyderfly will have a blade around2 3/4" long. That might seem like a more viable EDC.
 
The "Small-fly" is slated for a 3" blade.

ChrisARC, Perhaps its "use" is not in daily cutting so much as daily "bali-dancing". A skilled activity with a hint of danger, kinda like driving fast. ;)

sal
 
I've been carrying a balisong as EDC for several months now. 3 of them actually (Benchmade 42MC, 31S, and 42-400). The UPS man is bringing me Spyderfly today, as I type. I just got my Microtech Scarab back from repair, so that's probably going to subplant the bali at least for a little while.

Admitedly, much of the reason I carry/use a balisong is for the cool/fun factor, but it's still a perfectly viable EDC. You can open/close a balisong from just about any grip position, it's got one of the strongest "locks" a knife can have*. A balisong is also a great learning tool, because it teaches you respect of a sharp blade. And finally, it gives you something to do when you're bored. :cool:

Judging by the "Sold Out" and "Out of Stock" seen on almost every website next to the Spyderfly, and the rather outrageous prices they've sold for on ebay, I'd say Spyderco made an excellent decision introducing the Spyderfly.

I would like to see a 3" Spyderco balisong made though. :D
 
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