Spyderco Gayle Bradley

geoffy

geoffy

Platinum Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
259
Hey guys,

So I've been doing some reading on this knife (which I think is gorgeous) and trying to watch some video reviews. I know that its first production basically sold-out and I can't find them available anywhere, but I'm still not sold. I want to try out this new M4 and am wondering if I should pull the trigger on the GB or break the bank for a BM 710 in M4. What do you guys think of this new Spyderco? I know it has gotten glowing marks but it kinda bugs me it's one of Spydies outsourced jobs. Is this even a concern for you guys?

Thanks in advance!
 
The heat treatment from company to company varies a great deal. I do own a few Benchmade knives in M4, as well as a few Gayle Bradleys. The differences are the Rockwell hardness of the blade. It is my opinion that Spyderco has done an excellent job with the HT on the Gayle Bradley. The HT on my Benchmade Gauchos' seems to be softer for some reason. It sharpens quick, but does not hold the edge as long as the GB.
What does it matter that the knife is outsources? The steel was forged in the US, as well as the other materials being made here - also an American company is designing, selling, and earning the profit. Ultimately you do realize your are typing on this forum with a device that was built in an Asian country right? Why would that knife bother you and not the computer?
 
RevDevil,

Thanks for the reply - I really hadn't thought about it in that way. I guess what you're saying is correct as I type away on my foreign made PC. I guess my main question is why does Spydie split up their production? I own a Millie, which I love, so how and why do they determine to split things up like they do? Like I said I've only heard really awesome stuff about it. I can't even find one currently for sale.
 
ANY production knife will be hard pressed to mimic the superior fit and finish and overall quality of the Spyderco Gayle Bradley. They raised the bar a notch or two. I have two and each of them are flawless in every way.

I owned four 710's at one point (none were M4) and the overall build quality of each one was a little different.

The GB has to go down as one of the best hard use folder values in 2010, at least.
 
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geoffy said:
RevDevil,

Thanks for the reply - I really hadn't thought about it in that way. I guess what you're saying is correct as I type away on my foreign made PC. I guess my main question is why does Spydie split up their production? I own a Millie, which I love, so how and why do they determine to split things up like they do? Like I said I've only heard really awesome stuff about it. I can't even find one currently for sale.
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I would venture a guess that they split productions to get as many different models into the field as possible. I have a 710-1 in M390 steel and it is a nice knife, but a Gayle Bradley it ain't. The GB is simply a brilliant design that will go nicely as a ranching tool as it will with a dress occasion. It is a true 'Gentleman's' knife and one of my top 5 favorites.
 
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The GB is a Great Knife. Cpm4 steel holds a good edge quite a while. It's a

heck of a knife for what they sell for....I think the knife is a bargin. 1 of

Spyderco's best. I carry mine more than some of my CRKs.

You wont be sorry if you get 1. They are a little heavy for some at 5.5 ozs.

thou. I have a patina on my blade that makes the knife look much better IMO.
 
geoffy said:
RevDevil,

Thanks for the reply - I really hadn't thought about it in that way. I guess what you're saying is correct as I type away on my foreign made PC. I guess my main question is why does Spydie split up their production? I own a Millie, which I love, so how and why do they determine to split things up like they do? Like I said I've only heard really awesome stuff about it. I can't even find one currently for sale.
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The only reply I can provide is one of opinion mixed with a little fact. I think Sal could answer the question more accurately than anyone. However, here it is in a nutshell:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=737811
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=665141
 
Another thing to consider is that Spyderco's Golden factory and their amount of employees are smaller then Benchmade and Kershaw. I cant remember nor find the post but Benchmade employs about 3 times as many people as Spyderco at their US plants.

Sal has stated that if they could keep up with demand and shift all their products to Golden they would, but as things are now they cant. So in order to reach demand they have to outsource. Those outsourcing as you read in the other threads are time consuming and must adhere to strict QC and other rules in order to meet Spyderco's demands.

On the GB. If I remember correctly in a youtube video at the Spyderco Booth someone stated that in a batch of 1000 GB only one did not meet the QC set by Spyderco by that manufacturer. Not bad IMO.

I believe the GB has shown what can be done, it is a high fit and finish product with great materials at a good price that rival some of the best. Two thumbs up IMO.
 
Bingo on that, and right on the BM vs S difference. I have at least five BMs in CPM-M4. The GB outperforms any of them, easily, on the edge. Whether the rest of any particular knife suits you is a personal choice, obviously, but if the GB will work for you it's hard to do better or get more for the money.

BTW, good luck finding one. They're popular enough that the first run is pretty much sold out everywhere, and people are lining up for the next run. :D

RevDevil said:
The only reply I can provide is one of opinion mixed with a little fact. I think Sal could answer the question more accurately than anyone. However, here it is in a nutshell:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=737811
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=665141
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, I'll need all the luck I can get. To be honest I'd like to get both the 710 and GB but I'll likely have to give up on the former since they're just SO pricey.
 
geoffy said:
Thanks, I'll need all the luck I can get. To be honest I'd like to get both the 710 and GB but I'll likely have to give up on the former since they're just SO pricey.
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In most cases, I would be tempted to take an M2 BM over its M4 BM counterpart. My M2 knives have all been really well done, most of the M4 knives have been so-so or worse.
 
i have many spydies, stretchs, millies , enduras & police models .the bradley is the top knife in their inventory. not nearly as expensive as some millies & stretchs in carbon fiber.the bradley is as smooth as a rolls royce & performs like a ferrari. not my work knife due to weight but would be the 1st choice if i could have only one one hander.i'm surprised that they did'nt cost 30$ more.
dennis
 
I kind of understand the OP's point. I like my tenacious dont get me wrong but I would have been willing to pay more to get it made in the USA or Japan. If you look at quality products in general for the most part that are comming out of the SEA region the first country that comes to mind is Japan not others. Now that being said Spyderco's QC from what I can is great from the few that I own. (Went on a spending spree after learning about Spyderco on these forums) I will admit though my last purchase of a spyderco was swayed a little bit by the fact that it was made in the USA not Taiwan. I personaly view top producers to be most of western europe, usa, and japan but QC goes a long way.
 
Have you had the chance to handle and inspect a GB or even better, own one? I've had as many as 60 Spydercos at one time and I can honestly say not one of them rivaled the GB in perfection of build quality. Not only are they put together better than any Spyderco I have ever owned, the finish work is off the charts for a <$140 hard use knife. Every edge of metal on the GB is polished. There are no rough punchout edges anywhere. The edge of all metal parts is nearly mirror like and as stated by DennisStrickland, the GB is literally as smooth as a rolls royce & performs like a ferrari. I couldn't have said it better myself. That is an accurate comment. I've yet to see a better made production folder by anyone. Kudos to the Taiwanese factory who makes them.

Damn_Animal said:
I kind of understand the OP's point. I like my tenacious dont get me wrong but I would have been willing to pay more to get it made in the USA or Japan. If you look at quality products in general for the most part that are comming out of the SEA region the first country that comes to mind is Japan not others. Now that being said Spyderco's QC from what I can is great from the few that I own. (Went on a spending spree after learning about Spyderco on these forums) I will admit though my last purchase of a spyderco was swayed a little bit by the fact that it was made in the USA not Taiwan. I personaly view top producers to be most of western europe, usa, and japan but QC goes a long way.
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I traded a GB for an Emerson CQC-10 a year ago. If it didn't say Taiwan on the blade, I wouldn't have guessed it was made overseas.
 
geoffy said:
I know it has gotten glowing marks but it kinda bugs me it's one of Spydies outsourced jobs. Is this even a concern for you guys?
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Nope. All my Spyderco's are from overseas except the orange military, and two mules (S90V, S35VN).
 
I bought it, I liked it, and it's fighting against my 710-1 for a spot in my pocket. Though I'm still sort of stuck on stainless steels for the most part.
 
My GB is smoother than my sebenza and locks up just as solid. I put a 20 degree inclusive angle on mine, took a few hours, but man is it some tough stuff...
 
In the Spyderco realm, I have found better workmanship out of Taiwan than Japan. 'Seki City' just doesn't mean the same as it used to, IMO.
 
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