Spyderco Collector Program

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

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Dec 27, 1998
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Since this issue has come up recently, I feel that some explanation might be in order regarding what our collector program is all about.

I’m posting this on both Bladeforums and the Spyderco Site forum. Since some might be expecting other that what we can do, confusion exists. There is one poor collector that feels they are plagued with poor quality and are losing interest. I am sorry that this confusion exists. I will try to deal with the individual questions in their respective threads. Keeping up with the forums has been difficult lately, apologies, running a business has its challenges.

As a relevant sideline, I would like to say that the interest in knives is a somewhat unique study with surprising depth. Knives being one of human’s oldest tools, the concept has had tens of thousands of years to develop and refine. Evolve you might say. And because each cultural area of the world developed their own styles of knives, the information available is seemingly endless. I have been involved in knives since I was a young child and I still earn something new about knives every day. I realize that many are new to this interest in knives (less than 5 years). I believe that the more you learn and understand about quality, innovation and performance in knives, the more you will appreciate Spyderco’s efforts.

In the world of knives, Spyderco has elected to pursue reliable high performance as our niche. One we feel is worthy of the effort extended. In this endless pursuit to “jump higher and run faster”, we have introduced many concepts and materials to the knife industry.

Spyderco was the first company to make a one hander, we introduced clips and put serrations on the map. Spyderco was the first American company to use ATS-34. The fist American company to make a linerlock. The fist to use G-10, carbon fiber, titanium and integral clips. We introduced ATS-55, VG-10 and Powdered metals to the production knife world. The first to make “Snap-Its”, “Remote Release” fastening methods. The first to use a lazer to cut out pictures in a blade. The first to use wire clips, etc. etc. As a result of the new innovations that we keep introducing to the industry, there were some that wanted to be sure to get early versions of these innovations. In the case of short runs, like the CF Civvie, collectors would be sure of getting one. That’s why we have a collector club.

When we do something new, there are ALWAYS glitches and imperfections in early pieces. They can never be perfect because we are pioneering both in concept and materials. As a models life progresses, there are refinements, improvements and changes as we learn about the new concepts. If one is seeking perfect or near perfect knives, one should be getting the last run, not the first. These would be the designs that have has the time and history to refine and improve.

I apologize if anyone thought that early models with new concepts should be flawless. Spyderco always extends our best effort to create as good a knife as we can. We stand behind them, test them regularly, maintain relationships with our customers and appreciate feedback.

“New” is always difficult. Please try to keep this in mind when judging our products.

Thanx.

sal
 
I think it's reasonable that not everyone is going to be easy to please. As Bill Cosby once said, "You can't please everyone. You just need to please those that count."

Therefore, I appreciate that Sal Glesser and Spyderco takes an active role in communicating and listening to its customers and actively participates in the knife community. Not a lot of companies do that.

Benchmade really turned me off when they withdrew from BladesForums. It shows the company doesn't care about its core customers, or we're not worth the time, and they can't take criticism and feedback.

That's why I respect Spyderco and the other companies that keep a presence here at BladeForums. "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!"

Whoever is unsatisfied with their Spydercos can send them to me. I'll take good care of 'em. ;)

FTC - My motto: "I'd rather have a Spyderco"

P.S. My new SS VG-10 Police is -- as the kids today say -- da bomb! BUY ONE (OR TWO) TODAY! Had to squeeze that bit of SPAM in.
 
Sal,
Thank you for the eloquent response, and for the Compression lock.
I have about 50 Spyderco knives, 48 of them were good out of the boxes.
 
Every Spyderco I have bought was great out of the box, but I've not ever bought a "new" one as in it ain't hit the streets yet but i see the point. I try to be supportive os Spyderco because I think their products are great and innovative you may not like the look of a Spyderco nife but dang when you pick it up it works better than any counterpart, me I do like the looks and the workability of Spyderco's and I like th fact Sal and the others here on the forums and on the phone and by e-mail are always supportive. A not before I go: I have sent Spyderco's back to be fixed before but never sent one back because it had a factory problem always because of something I did, lost a spyder out of a vesuvious one time but that was probly my fault, Spyderco has me a new one to my house in less then 2 days though!!!!!
 
In just over two years I find myself with a dozen Spyderco knives from Ladybug to Military, and I never had a serious problem with any of them. Flawless track record, as far as my experience goes.

Question: What is this Collectors Club? What are the benefits and costs? Seeing that I get at least 6 Spydies a year as it is, I might as well do it in more organized form...
:D

Great job Spyderco!
 
Thanx for the kind words Vess. The Collector club is a reserved number to receive one of the first 200 pcs made of any new model. Please contact Joan a Spyderco if you're interested.

sal
 
Take my word ; I own 27 Spydies, and I say, BEST GODDAMN KNIVES IN THE WORLD! Just as the world marvels at the U.S.(and mocks & attacks it) so it is with Spyderco. I can point fingers & name names of foreign collector(s) who(m) sink a WHOLE month's salary for a Ladybug!(DiALEX
on the "other" Spyderco home forum for example ;)) I give them as gift(s) to friend(s). These ain't NO JUNK! All the "piss & moaners" and
"sticklers" be damned. Spyderco IMHO
"set" the industry "standard" for the 21st Century in the 20th Century. Shame on anyone who(m) "puts down" a single Spydie!

"...you will be hated by all for my namesake...." Luke 21:17 :)


AET (ATE on the "parallel forum";))

Oh yeah, what Homer Simpson said too! ;)
 
I didn't know about the Collector's Club.
How interesting.

I also didn't know about any problems with Spyderco quality.
The quality of Spyderco's in my experience has matched their price: $50 Spyderco's look like $50 knives, and $150 Spyderco's look and feel like $150 knives.
I have never had an issue with the quality of a Spyderco product and so I focus mostly on the various designs, which I find fascinating.

If I ever purchased a Spyderco product and found that it had a manufacturing flaw, I have no doubt that Spyderco would make it right.

This all makes me wonder what has driven Sal to write this.
Perhaps I have read too much into it.
If I understand correctly, a "collector" said or wrote something hurtful regarding a knife or knives that Sal/Spyderco manufactured.

Some time ago I received a knife from a high-end custom maker.
I examined that knife until I found a flaw.
It took awhile.
In my humble opinion, the more money one spends on a knife, the longer it should take to find the flaws.
Conversely, the less one spends, the less time it should take to find the flaws.

I have yet to see the "perfect" knife, and I don't think I will ever see one in this life.
I can live with that. :)
And I will buy any Spyderco knife online, without the opportunity to examine it, knowing that should I find the inevitable flaw too easily for the price, Spyderco will make it right.
 
"...and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one..."

Luke 22:36

You know quality AND THE Word ;)

AET (ATE on the "home" forum ;))
 
Hello all,

I can understand one being upset if the knife they receive isn't as close to perfect as possible. But if you look at the flip-side of the situation, most other collectors (whether it be coins, stamps, action figures, etc ) want pieces for their collection that have some flaw, something that sets it apart from all the other pieces like it out there. A coin that has the president stamped backwards, (only 1000 made that way before the mistake was caught and the machine reset). A Boba Fett figure that is missing some paint, or doesn't have the right accesories packaged with it. Or something along those lines. In these cases it is the mistake that makes the piece valuable. I know that when you sign up for a collectors club of any kind, you expect the piece to be perfect and there be something in place to differentiate it from all of the others on the market place. (a limited amount numbered, or different colors from the normal ones sold, something). But maybe you could look at it as "Hey, I've a numbered collector piece, which makes it rare, but mine has a flaw or two that makes it even more rare." Or maybe I shouldn't speculate too much on too little sleep......:rolleyes:

Flinx
 
Well said FTC,
I also would like to thank Sal and Spyderco for their fine products, as well as listening and respecting their customers, both large and small. Excellent work from an outstanding company! :)
 
Knives as Sal has noted are an individual taste. I've owned more than thirty Spyderco knives. The quality has been excellent. Some didn't meet my individual tastes or needs, others are "keepers". I know that when I buy a Spyderco that I may find that it doesn't "fit" me but I also know that it will be a high quality product that I can trade or resell with confidence.
 
If I ever purchased a Spyderco product and found that it had a manufacturing flaw, I have no doubt that Spyderco would make it right.
Click to expand...
I think that's getting to Sal's point. There shouldn't be an expectation that Spyderco will "make it right" WRT the collector's club items. Once they stamp your number on the blade, you can't very well expect them to replace it.
 
Thanks, Sal. I really appreciate the points you have put across.

What you said is true. As with other products, the first run is always "imperfect". It is the same with cars, software and other consumer products.

When these products go out into the market, soon enough there will be feedback from customers due to various applications in the field. The "debugging" begins soon after.

Usually by the third run, so to speak, those undetected "flaws" will begin to be ironed out.

Knives are no different. The fact that Spyderco makes every effort to come out with a superior product all the time is commendable. I guess ultimately, sales and popularity of the finished products speak volumes for the organisation and the people behind the products.

Look at all those knives that have lasted more than 50 years in such a competitive market. There are lessons to be learnt there.

Spyderco is somewhere among the leading pack. Keep up the good work.
:)
 
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