Spyderco Customer Service

[Sosa]

With all due respect the plastic component is why I don't own one.

 

[Wowbagger]

Cutting industrial copper cable with a folding knife is of course blatant abuse.

Oh I would disagree. The materials involved are significantly less hard than the blade. Maybe if you are cutting against a rock to cut through the cable or against an anvil that would be a bad idea but sounds like you are just cutting the copper, plastic and maybe aluminum "armor".

I am abusing my Manix more, judging by the amount of dulling and required frequent sharpening, by cutting up the rubberized cloth that I regularly need to cut up. All of it has grit or even mud ground into it and the stone grit is HARDER than any high tech steel and so dulls my blade(s).

I can't wash the stuff before I cut it up though. I may go back to using a box knife for that.

so . . . suprsisingly . . . even to me . . . I HAVE been ABUSING my high tech steel.

 

[luke86]

The fact that the owner of a company comments on things like this speaks volumes. How many companies as big as Spyderco have owners that would do that? Very few I'm sure. That's why Spyderco is quickly taking over my collection as I sell off the others to make room for them.

 

[digital9ja]

Titanium cage! Now you're talking! Should have been that way from the begininning. To the man who mentioned using a box cutter for slicing the rubber matting....I have had enormous success using the irwin bi-metal blue blades for many applications. Lenox makes a bi-metal too, I think it is called the titanium. I like both, the Irwin blades were cheaper and performed exquisetly in my tests. Never shattered despite massive abuse. I even hammered my test blade back flat and re-sharpened it. Gave me yeoman's service. Highly recommended.

 

[digital9ja]

And also I am really liking this new CS Recon 1 spear point. XHP steel, DLC coating, Tri-Ad lock, G10 handles...I will say that I'm a little un-nerved that there are no metal liners and I dislike Cold Steel's pocket clips immensely. However, I have beat on this thing and I'm _almost_ ready to buy another one in a different color. Maybe I WILL get the Manix fixed...

 

[Spectre]

Oh I would disagree. The materials involved are significantly less hard than the blade. Maybe if you are cutting against a rock to cut through the cable or against an anvil that would be a bad idea but sounds like you are just cutting the copper, plastic and maybe aluminum "armor".

I am abusing my Manix more, judging by the amount of dulling and required frequent sharpening, by cutting up the rubberized cloth that I regularly need to cut up. All of it has grit or even mud ground into it and the stone grit is HARDER than any high tech steel and so dulls my blade(s).

I can't wash the stuff before I cut it up though. I may go back to using a box knife for that.

so . . . suprsisingly . . . even to me . . . I HAVE been ABUSING my high tech steel.

Well, when you consider that I was cutting the cladding and MILSPEC thick cable, I was cutting through almost 1/2" of tough material, over half of it metal, it certainly seemed abusive to me. Being in Afghanistan, everything was of course contaminated with that fine dirt, and sometimes small bits of rock, but that's just hard on the edge, not abuse.

 

[mael333ca]

Well, when you consider that I was cutting the cladding and MILSPEC thick cable, I was cutting through almost 1/2" of tough material, over half of it metal, it certainly seemed abusive to me. Being in Afghanistan, everything was of course contaminated with that fine dirt, and sometimes small bits of rock, but that's just hard on the edge, not abuse.

if I may ask, how did you maintain the pivot in a super fine dusty environnement?

 

[brownshoe]

I have the P'kal and there is nothing harder on a pivot/lock assembly than constant quick hard opening with the Emerson wave. I've absolutely no problems with it. The lock doesn't need to be any material other than what it is. Customizing Spydercos is done for reasons other than "poor" performance, more for pride of owning something very few others have.

When you abuse a knife by disassembly, you should not expect it to work the same upon reassembly. Cutlers have skills and knowledge plus tools (e.g. assembly jigs) that armorer's do not. Just because someone is "good with their hands" in one field has no bearing on another. That type of wisdom often has to come from the school of failure.

 

[Spectre]

if I may ask, how did you maintain the pivot in a super fine dusty environnement?

I just rinsed my Manix 2 LWs and Manix 2 XLs with very hot water every couple of days, followed by a drop of CLP. If I'd spent the entire day out working on a dump site, I'd rinse at the end of the day, if I hadn't spent much time outside, I'd usually rinse 2x a week, and spend 30 seconds sharpening on a diamond stick. BD-1 gets a nice toothy edge in just seconds, whereas S-30V needs a little more time, but holds an edge longer.

John

 

[mael333ca]

I just rinsed my Manix 2 LWs and Manix 2 XLs with very hot water every couple of days, followed by a drop of CLP. If I'd spent the entire day out working on a dump site, I'd rinse at the end of the day, if I hadn't spent much time outside, I'd usually rinse 2x a week, and spend 30 seconds sharpening on a diamond stick. BD-1 gets a nice toothy edge in just seconds, whereas S-30V needs a little more time, but holds an edge longer.

John

humm! I'm always a wee bit dubious with a simple rinsing solution, but then again, that might be my hard head....because my kitchen endura is smooth as silk and the only maintenance it ever got is....rinsing lol...

Tks for the tip John, this time it's gonna stick with me :thumbup:

 

[BellaBlades]

My wife and I used a manix LW bd1 for two years that I gave her on valentines day 2013 I believe.. Never oiled it once. Garden and kitchen duty. Rinsed and rack dried ever time with the silverware. Never had an issue. We thrashed on it and used it for scraping ,prying whatever. What a work horse. Now another forum member is enjoying it.

 

[jstn]

FWIW, I've had exceptional warranty service from Spyderco the few times I've used it. I have also using my Manix 2 for years with no issues. I trust that Sal and the Spyderco crew know what they are doing using plastic cages in the Manix, since they are about as knowledgeable about folding knives as you can get. If you like the Maix design, you cold track down an older model with a lockback, or treat yourself to a Paramilitary 2. The compression lock is a joy to use.

 

[Bugs57]

Hi Digital,

Sorry for your negative experience. If you send it in, we'll fix it for you.

On the design or the plastic piece, The model is one of our most popular and we've sold many thousands of knives with Caged ball bearings. We've had very few problems, and many compliments on the design and materials. .

Hope we can please you some time in the future.

sal

Seems like a class act to me. Both Mr. Janich & Mr. Glesser stepped up to the plate to rectify this situation. Additionally, the company deciding to mandate in house repairs to ensure proper fit and function of parts seems reasonable due to the unfortunate reality that some individuals perceived abilities may not meet their actual ability to repair a knife mechanism.

 

[chrisinhove]

There was a thread just a couple days ago on spyderco forums, some guys are getting together and having titanium cages made for the manix 2...could be worth checking out?

Also one member wrote a thread about a diy repair to the cage/post after his Manix was damaged by a ham-fisted friend.

I didn't get on with the cbl, but clearly very many do, and without destroying it by careless disassembly, either.

 

[tap78]

[...] When I tried to take it apart I ended up breaking the slender plastic nose off the switch that the spring rides on. I was mad about such a crappy material being used, but honestly more mad at myself for breaking it because I liked the knife. I ended up JB Welding it bavk on and it worked for awhile but then broke again. I contacted Spyderco and was sent a replacement switch. I installed it and it worked just fine for a couple years.
[...]
I emailed Spyderco and requested a replacement switch so I could get this thing operational again and sell it and Lord almighty you would think I asked for Sal's personal ATM pin based on the response I got. I was shocked and disgusted at the treatment I received from their customer service rep. I am a long time Spyderco customer, fan and advocate but they have completely squashed me over whatbis probably a $1 piece of plastic.
[...]
I hope nobody else experiences the treatment I received from Spyderco.

Clear BBL cage broke on my Manix (my fault) while assembling after cleaning... just like in Your case the long part broke off.

I wrote to Spyderco's CS and asked if I can buy a replacement cage for BBL and got an info that this is not possible and I have to send the knife overseas (expensive option/+customs fees/tax when knife returns) to be serviced so I fix it myself... with a small drill, paper clip and a drop of glue.

You have to match exact length of metal pin to provide a proper function of the lock.

Now it works as new... but I'm still little disappointed that I couldn't buy a spare part from Spyderco CS...

I hope that fix will help somebody...
Tom
(tap78)

 

[Bazillions]

^awesome! Best of luck with it!

 

[Wcannon32]

I've been running my manix 2 CTS-BD30P without the "guide rod" for over 3 years with no issues. Broke during a cleaning also. Cleaver idea I'll say but plastic part that wasn't needed I say. Nice tip.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[digital9ja]

Tap78, that is a great idea. I actually fixed mine once with a tiny bit of JB Weld and it held up for quite awhile. When that broke I requested and received a free replacement switch. I installed that and then never disassembled the knife again or even really used it much. This time I was just sitting in the living room, flicked it open and it broke.

I wanted to post an update here, I received my knife back from Spyderco today and they did a wondeful job repairing it for me. They even fixed up some dings in the jimping/spine and installed one of those cool looking black switches. I wonder if that material is stronger/less brittle than the clear polymer was? In any case I am going to be gifting this to a young lady I know who is an officer at a local police department. She doesn't have a good knife so I think she will really like this one. I'll be sure to let her know not to ever disassemble it and I hope the CBBL lock holds up well for her.

I thank Michael Janich and Mr. Glasser for being so generous and offering to make this repair free-of-charge. There was even $5 cash in the box with my knife which I assume was reimbursement for shipping. I didn't expect that at all but it is very much appreciated and I wanted to share this experience here with everyone. Spyderco definitely stands behind their knives and although I don't care for this design or the policy about not sending out replacement switches I feel like Spyderco turned a really negaitve situation around for me.

I might give them another try someday if I see a lock design that interests me. Thanks Spyderco, best wishes to you and your employees. May you enjoy a very prosperous year!

 

[Sharp Guy]

^ Happy to hear they took good care of you!!!

 

[straightwalls]

I like the M2, it's a good knife that suits me in every way except for this one plastic part that is completely out of place on an otherwise quality tool.

Please show me another example of a respected manufacturer producing an integral part for a folding knives locking mechanism out of plastic, genuine curiosity here.

You can blame someone for dismantling a knife and quote warranty disclaimers till the cows come home but that doesn't change the fact that plastic breaks much more often and easily in my experience compared to other materials, especially when subject to freezing temperatures. Also, not everyone lives in the US where shipping a knife back is convenient or even worthwhile, nevermind customs issues, Canadians and Europeans will know exactly what I'm getting at.

Why am I able to purchase parts for my Toyota and perform my own repairs but Spyderco won't sell me one of these tiny pieces of plastic? Damn the warranty, sell me the parts so I can fix my own gear or have a back-up part just in case, it's insulting that they won't.

The reason this fires me up is that I see the potential for a good knife that I like to be great with a very small change, just my opinion.