Spyderco Fixed Blades - Opinions?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

Moderator
Joined
Dec 27, 1998
Messages
11,677
Spyderco is planning to add fixed blades to our line. The first addition is a drop point version of the Moran, due next month. We have several "in the works" but...I would be most interested to know your opinions of the following:

1. What types of models do you think we should produce? (hunting, urban, MBC, etc.)

2. What materials do you think would be most appreciated?

3. What type of sheaths are best?

4. What size range (blade)?

5. What MSRP do you think we should try for?

6. Country of origin opinions?

I appreciate your inputs.

sal
 
Wow! Where does one start?

The most useful fixed blade (for me) is a drop point utility blade, something like this 3.5-3.75", sturdy materials, VG-10 or BG-42 perhaps CPM steels but stainless, G-10 or micarta handles with a kydex/concealex sheath. Something rugged. But one request...not black or beadblasted! How about maroon scales and a brown sheath? I would think in the $75-$100 dollar range after discounting. Country of origin? You have produced some nice stuff out of Japan...no opinion here as long as the heat treat and grinding are done right.

Oooo! One more suggestion. I've seen the Wegner/Simonich custom. One of those would be great offered in the above steels. Perhaps with a leather sheath and a wood handle? Might be above the $ range I first suggested. With Wegner and Simonich AND Spyderco on a knife you might get a feeding frenzy.

Jeff Jenness


[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 07-02-2000).]
 
Jeff - Is that a design you are making? have had made? or just on paper?

Is it hollow ground or flat ground?

sal
 
Sal,

This is one of the designs I put into the Talonite Design contest. Haven't made it as I am just getting started making knives and it is too complex yet for my skill and equipment. The blade could be either, but I would probably make it in 0.125" steel with flat grind...just more functional (in my opinion). It would certainly look pretty in hollow grind though. I learned CAD this past week just so I could put my designs into the computer...I might be persuaded to put this up if you think you want to look at it closer.

Jeff
 
Fixed blade Spydercos?
Abso-freakin'-lutely!
I have two Morans(leather and concealex sheathed) and am hungry for more stuff along these lines.

I remember that design of Jeffj's. I was quite taken by it. Looks like a class act on paper that should make one helluva great knife. Flat grind is the way to go. A CPM steel would be ideal, but VG10 and BG-42 rock my boat too.
Sal, utilities, tacticals would all be very cool. Concealex for the utilities and tacticals and leather for the upscale models.
Jeffj put forth some good criteria that I feel are sound ideas.
Thanks for asking! After I dwell on this, I'll probably be back to pester ya some more!
wink.gif


------------------
The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
I like a 4" to 5" clip or dropped point, thick enough to be sturdy, thin enough to be a good slicer, satin finish,in VG-10 or BG-42. Micarta handled, in assorted colors. A finger guard on the edged side, no guard on the spine of the blade side. Based on what Buck and Gerber are doing, you should be able it in for around $100.00 or less

------------------
The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
I can imagine a kind of fixed blade version of the calypso jr, or at least something with a similar blade shape. A VG-10 blade with a thickness of maximum 1/8" and a length of 3" should do just fine.

------------------
Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.

 
Sal,

Two fixed spidies I'd really like to see are an "urban" style with a multi-position carry sheath, and a smallish camp knife that could be used for a variety of practical chores when camping or backpacking - strong enough to "hammer chop" wood, but small enough to carry in rough terrain.

Steven
 
The Anti-Moran...employ the services of Mr T or Ayoob perhaps...Something without a rubber handle.
 
Jeff - Very nice design. Would like to see it louder. Here or email would be fine.

sal
 

I don't want you to overuse Bob Lum but.....
make a production version of his old "Grandmaster Darn Do" (10" blade, Chinese "willow leaf" or "ox tail" saber configuration). Black Jack supposably was gonna do it years ago to no avail. There is nothing out there like it and I will personally buy a bushell of them and I know of truckloads of others who'll buy bushells of them to. Produce in the US if possible so we can get 'em sooner.
 
I should have learnt by now not to post straight after I wake up!
wink.gif

The fixed blade that spins my wheels at the moment is the MOD Ayoob (I swapped a Camillus CQB1 for it)...an urban/tactical blade but then that's me and where I live. Am over Kydex sheaths (despite the brilliance of the Tek Lok system) and would prefer leather.
Back to sleep.
smile.gif
 
Stevenbat - welcome to the Spyderco forum.

What size knife would do those chores for you?

Booshank - We tried to make the "Darn Do" in 1989. Too expensive to do in production and do a good job. sorry. Great design though. I enjoy mine.

sal
 
Slim Warneclif, about 3-3.5 inches of blade, thin, hollow ground of course. (Needs a good point, not a sheepsfoot style blunt Warneclif.) Choice of full serrated or none.

Length should allow the tip of the finger to be rested on the back of the blade just behind the tip for max control in fine cutting like opening a pant leg, seat beltcutting near a victim, etc without giving up the point like a pure rescue blade.

Cross between a scalpel and a straight razor.

I'm not up on modern steels, but it is going to have to flex a little to work at this thickness.

Thin green or black linen Micarta scales with rounded edges lightly roughened for grip. Thumb depressions in scales for blade indexing + non slip, grooves in spine and behind choil for slip with edge vert. Thumb depressions work for sheath retention also.

Lanyard hole with edge thin enough to use a lanyard clip instead of a knot.

Kydex sheath with screw on attachments for vert. or horiz. carry belt loops, boot clip or just leave off to use neck cord holes at tip. (Just think of all the accessory sales!)

A name that has no tactical implications, like "The Spyderco Universal Utility and Rescue Cutting Implement" or something. (Even though that point is still there if it is needed.)

Opinionated, ME!

 
A Bob Lum / Spyderco fixed blade would be nice.
8-9" category
Swept tanto blade w/wo hamaguri
VG-10 or 154M
Micarta handle (polished, black or green)
Leather sheat
Same pricing category as BM Nimravus

This knife would: be useful, practical, competitative, good looking and most important of all... ***selling!***
 
You can't go far wrong with a "puukko." Take a look at these homely little knives that come from Finland, cheap, and think what you could do with some steel that's good for whittling and a molded FRN handle and maybe keep the price tag in the mid two digits.

Or design the best kitchen paring knife you can, and make some sort of versatile carrying system for it. That would be one nice urban knife for real world mundane cutting.

I'm thinking a bit like RonS is thinking. Something that can do precise work, something that can do paring knife duty (which is what we'll really use it for mostly!), and something that, when we want to do some mundane cutting chore, we can do it in the street without scaring the horses.

Daithi O Cieleachair said, a few years ago in a discussion of this sort on the rec.knives newsgroup, "A good knife does not intimidate. It makes friends."

Besides the 3" to 3.5" paring knife, how about a 4" to 5" drop-point drop-edge small "chef's knife" that could do general outdoor sort of knife duty as well as camp kitchen or, for that matter, home kitchen duty. A "vorpal picnic knife." Something along the lines of the 4" Boye Basic, but lighter weight.

For a handle material, there's a burgundy-black laminated linen micarta out there that looks terrific when contoured and polished.


------------------
- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Sal,
So glad to hear the interest in future fixed blade possibilites.
I don't have a detailed description of a dream knife, but some thoughts on general concepts.
Spyderco already has one(soon to be two) high quality general purpose(more hunting/sporting) 4" blade models out there. So I think a different size range is called for. I prefer something in the 5" blade range, at least 4.5". But if 4" turns out to be the final target size, definitely go with a very different style of knife alltogether than the Moran(already 2 styles). I think having the option of disassembling the knife(handle scales) is appealing to alot of users, including myself.
either for cleaning/maintenance, or customizing, or both.
As for style/function/purpose, I would go for a multi-purpose piece, ranging from utility/sporting to, of course defensive modes. I would also reflect this in the sheath by having a 'minimal' lightweight kydex(or like material) sheath with options for low-prof. IWB carry or neck carry or belt carry(if its a sleeker classier piece, maybe an inside the jacket invert mode like some of Bud Nealy's carry systems). I think that the Moran was geared heavily towards the hunting/outdoor market, and was designed as such to begin with, so that seems like a narrowed channel for sales,IMO. With a knife like the BM Nimravus, I don't remember any strong marketing tendencies towards any one group, and the design was quite open for people to buy and use for whatever role they needed it for, and I think the design was nice looking and high quality enough to fill those roles well. If anything, feedback from ELU's will tell what people are using a general pupose Spyderco fixed blade for and can be a guide for the next model(s).
My personal wish, a fulltang 5" blade MBC piece with removable scales so that slim sculpted textured black scales can quickly be replaced with colorful smooth sleek Spyder-pearl scales to magically transform a fierce little MBC knife into an attractive gentlemen's or woman's urban utility companion.(I can see a deep violet and pink swirled pattern accented with thin pearly white swashes. I can see matching aftermarket sheathes of complimenting color schemes. All this coming from someone who doesn't like colors in his knives or carry systems.)

Thanks for allowing the feedback.

Ken
 
Sal, thanks for asking.

1. What types of models do you think we should produce? (hunting, urban, MBC, etc.)

---> Models that do it all. Realistically a knife is a cutting tool for utility tasks. Those who carry a knife reserved for defensive work are in the extreme minority. Make knives that I can give my Mom and Dad to throw into their valise, attache case or purse, and since it has an edge, it will be defense employable. JKM is on to it with the Daithi quote.

2. What materials do you think would be most appreciated?

---> I like the FRN for the handle, the rubber may be debatable, but the weight savings on the Moran is great. If you want a full tang knife, many companies make those, but high-end hidden tangs do well in Spydercos hands.

3. What type of sheaths are best?

---> Multi carry. The Moran Concealex sheath is a bit big, so getting that into shape would be a good idea. Are fold over sheaths do-able for Blade-Tech? Also, I would look into a Tek-Lok of a smaller nature, that belt loop is almost as big as the sheath.

4. What size range (blade)?

---> No question, 4 inch or under to start. 4 inches has a chance of being legal across the jurisdictions of this great nation of ours. And a 4 inher is a size that most can carry daily. After you a one or two more of those, then look at the larger stuff. And when you go there, I think the answer is in international stuff, Parangs, Golocks, etcetera.

5. What MSRP do you think we should try for?

---> If you can see a sub $100 street price for the smaller modles, I think you will have hit it on the head.

6. Country of origin opinions?

---> Anywhere, but of course, you may experience some sales problems with designs out of the publics normal range.

Further, I like jeffj's piece, I also like the look of Dozier's Yukon Pro Skinner and Agent, a sort of belt bowie, and if you can get the false edge fairly thin.... In fact, you might look to tap Dozier for fixed blades in general.

Of course, Bob Lum has some great blades. Bob T does to.

Man, I am salivating thinking of these Spydie fixed blades, the exquisiteness of design is assured. Ahhhh...

------------------
Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Knife For Sale

Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!
Fire Page, metal match sources and index of information.

"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
Sal,

Although I'm not a huge tanto fan, the prospect of Spyderco producing either a Lum or R.J. Martin collaboration gets even my mouth watering. A Martin collaboration with his carbon fibre style sheath might be too cool. Or, a Lum tanto with small guards (he's made them in the past) would also be awesome. I think collaboration-wise, production tanto fixed-blades might be a weak spot, so this is where you can come in and make a big splash -- and Spyderco is just the company to fill the void.

I'd eventually love to see you guys move into the big camp knife arena, and challenge the Trailmaster.

The other obvious knife that gets people drooling is the 4"-5" bladed hideout defense/utility knife, like the Nimravus, Boker's Bud Nealy collaborations, etc. A 4.5" blade version of jeffj's picture would be a nice entry! But perhaps it'd be better to have Spyderco start off in an area that Benchmade doesn't already have a strong offering in.

Joe

[This message has been edited by Joe Talmadge (edited 07-03-2000).]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top