Spyderco high end knives?

The Hungarian, Valloton, Caly CF/ZDP-189. There's a bunch. I am absolutely loving my new Hungarian. I'm also one of the ones who will argue about the quality of Taichung knives. I have owned exactly 2 Spyderco knives, both Taichung and both have been on par with the best US made knives I've owned, bar none. If you don't want to buy a foreign made knife from a particular made countrt, cool, but don't get upset when people that know what they're talking about tell you that you're missing out.
 
Quiet said:
Usually, I'm with you on the Taiwan thing, but Spyderco's Taichung blades are in another class entirely. If you are a knife guy, you owe it to yourself to check out one or two of their Taichung offerings. Every serious Spydie fan I know will tell you that in some ways, Spyderco's Taichung knives surpass their Golden, CO knives in fit and finish. Is what it is.
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I'm not saying that the Taiwanese knives are lower quality, I'm speaking of the perception among casual and non-knife owners. I have many friends that would think I'm insane if I showed them a $200 Taiwanese knife, yet are perfectly delighted when I show them a $300 Sebenza----cuz it says "USA" and they feel it is worth the extra cost. Many older folks, like me, equate quality & countries: USA (tools and machinery), Germany (cars), Switzerland (watches), Japan (cameras), Italy (shoes), etc. I have had products made for me in Taiwan (precision castings) so I know they have great capabilities, but I also know I pay quite a bit less for them than if I sourced them locally. I still think of them as a tier below the above mentioned countries.

In any case, it is clear that many of you don't share the same phobias, and I will likely buy that newer version of GB when it comes out. Hopefully the handle will look a bit better....
 
exmaxima said:
I'm not saying that the Taiwanese knives are lower quality, I'm speaking of the perception among casual and non-knife owners.
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Not once they see the actual knife...
One of my buddies doesn't like spending much cash on knives; he's a gun guy.
But when he held and opened the Spyderco Tuff (made in Taiwan), his eyes lit up and he really, really wanted one.
He was able to understand the price tag once it was in his hand.

If the product is good enough, it will speak for itself. :)
 
stabman said:
Not once they see the actual knife...
One of my buddies doesn't like spending much cash on knives; he's a gun guy.
But when he held and opened the Spyderco Tuff (made in Taiwan), his eyes lit up and he really, really wanted one.
He was able to understand the price tag once it was in his hand.

If the product is good enough, it will speak for itself. :)
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Exactly, the ones that I have tested and reviews have been excellent...

The F&F and quality has been right up there with the best on the market in every way...
 
I at first resisted the Taiwan Spydercos until I traded for this one. Just look at how they inletted the thumbstud/stop pins into the bolsters, The entire knife is very precise and well fitted. I have many more now and they all are the best Spydercos I've seen so far, as far as fit & finish goes. Like the President of Spyderco said they went there because of the capabilities of the factory, not because of cost.

2u95x8o.jpg
 
jill jackson said:
I at first resisted the Taiwan Spydercos until I traded for this one. Just look at how they inletted the thumbstud/stop pins into the bolsters, The entire knife is very precise and well fitted. I have many more now and they all are the best Spydercos I've seen so far, as far as fit & finish goes. Like the President of Spyderco said they went there because of the capabilities of the factory, not because of cost.

2u95x8o.jpg
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Hey Jill,

You are really getting good with that Camera.... :thumbup:

Jim
 
exmaxima said:
I have many friends that would think I'm insane if I showed them a $200 Taiwanese knife, yet are perfectly delighted when I show them a $300 Sebenza----cuz it says "USA" and they feel it is worth the extra cost.
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Most people I know would think a $300 Sebenza is insane (USA or not) and would not believe that you actually paid $200 for a knife made in Taiwan. Anyway, it is a matter of education and experience.

It amazes me just how many $100+ knives Spyderco makes now. They apparently sell. I bought a Native 5 in S35VN and I think it is a premium knife. I don't have many pocket knives that cost this much.
 
exmaxima said:
Seriously? Most would see TAIWAN on a knife and assume it is a low-cost import, while the jewelry like finish and "USA" on the Native would spell luxury high-end. It takes awhile for even a knife aficionado to accept the high prices for Taiwanese goods. I've been collecting for over 40 years and have owned about a dozen different Spydies, and still have not made the leap to the Taiwanese stuff. I have no problem with the higher end Seki knives (love my Stretch CF). I guess I need to buy a GB and check it out.....while I wait for my ZT0562 on backorder :)
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Actually, I would say the Chaparral 2 & 3 is high end, much more milling and detail work than either the fluted Ti or the Native or the Military. I felt the same way, then I realized that Taiwan is not China. In some people's eyes they will argue the political, global economic, and sociological aspects to death, and say the opposite. That is fine and bully for them. I won't buy any knives with the China stamp, so geographically speaking Taiwan is the closes I will get. The fit and finish is a step above what you can see from Golden in many examples. Give one of them a try and I think you will be impressed. Perception is usually a very misleading thing.
 
RevDevil said:
Actually, I would say the Chaparral 2 & 3 is high end, much more milling and detail work than either the fluted Ti or the Native or the Military. I felt the same way, then I realized that Taiwan is not China. In some people's eyes they will argue the political, global economic, and sociological aspects to death, and say the opposite. That is fine and bully for them. I won't buy any knives with the China stamp, so geographically speaking Taiwan is the closes I will get. The fit and finish is a step above what you can see from Golden in many examples. Give one of them a try and I think you will be impressed. Perception is usually a very misleading thing.
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That Taiwan factory is no joke, they have the machinery to produce at extremely high tolerance levels and produce knives of extremely high quality.
 
Ankerson said:
That Taiwan factory is no joke, they have the machinery to produce at extremely high tolerance levels and produce knives of extremely high quality.
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I'd bet if Sal asked them to, they could produce something along the lines of a "more custom than midtech" product and still come in reasonably priced to boot. Imagine a knife with say the new Power Lock, caged bearings, minimal construction, and a deep hollow grind similar to the new Sebenza 25, in some 3V or even 10V. That would something for sure and it might end on the favorites list of a lot of affis. ;) At this time, they look to be raising the bar at the level of consistency alone. I've only read of one product that was not to the customers expectations, it might have beenthe Tuff (super detent version) or the Southard (some side to side wiggle that made the lock slip.)
 
RevDevil said:
I'd bet if Sal asked them to, they could produce something along the lines of a "more custom than midtech" product and still come in reasonably priced to boot. Imagine a knife with say the new Power Lock, caged bearings, minimal construction, and a deep hollow grind similar to the new Sebenza 25, in some 3V or even 10V. That would something for sure and it might end on the favorites list of a lot of affis. ;) At this time, they look to be raising the bar at the level of consistency alone. I've only read of one product that was not to the customers expectations, it might have beenthe Tuff (super detent version) or the Southard (some side to side wiggle that made the lock slip.)
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They have the capability to produce anything Sal needs them to. :thumbup:
 
SpydrMan said:
Your assumptions about Spyderco's Taiwan made knives couldn't be further from the truth. Anyone who owns one would agree with me that they are as good or better quality than any of their Golden, CO knives. Buy one and I'm sure you'll change your mind.
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I certainly did. I was, and to some degree still am, a USA made kind of buyer. However, I couldn't resist the Sage 1........it's my best folder.......ever! Made in Taiwan with USA steel and materials, and subject to Spyderco's stringent and impeccable Quality Control, man, you can't miss!
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
I certainly did. I was, and to some degree still am, a USA made kind of buyer. However, I couldn't resist the Sage 1........it's my best folder.......ever! Made in Taiwan with USA steel and materials, and subject to Spyderco's stringent and impeccable Quality Control, man, you can't miss!
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I own the Sage 1 as well and it is one of my absolute favorites. I absolutely love it. It's the only knife I don't flick open. I like to feel how smooth it is and I love the sound it makes on lockup. What a great knife.

 
exmaxima said:
Seriously? Most would see TAIWAN on a knife and assume it is a low-cost import, while the jewelry like finish and "USA" on the Native would spell luxury high-end. It takes awhile for even a knife aficionado to accept the high prices for Taiwanese goods. I've been collecting for over 40 years and have owned about a dozen different Spydies, and still have not made the leap to the Taiwanese stuff. I have no problem with the higher end Seki knives (love my Stretch CF). I guess I need to buy a GB and check it out.....while I wait for my ZT0562 on backorder :)
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My friend, you have not lived yet. Sal would probably tell you himself that his Taiwan folders are right in the top echelon in terms of fit and finish. I love 'em, and yes, of course I like the Seki City and the Golden knives also...Here are some of the Taiwan knives....absolutely top-notch IMO.
Bradley Air, Chaparral, Dice, Domino, Gayle Bradley, Sage models, Techno, Tuff. Among just this small part of Spyderco Taiwan...I've owned about 25 just of these listed...yes, multiples that come and go. Never found a bad one with a Spyderco name yet.
 
I had the same exact fear about Taiwanese Spydies. It kept me from buying a knife I really wanted. Until 2 days ago when I bought it. I picked up a Spyderco Tuff brand new for $250 at a local show, and I am blown away. I have a $475 Strider SMF, and I can say with full confidence that it is just as good (if not better) when it comes to fit and finish. I don't care what it says on the blade as long as it says Spyderco.

.02
 
I honestly don't have a bad thing to say about Taiwanese produced knives. The fit and finish on most my Taiwanese knives is impecable.
 
The only problem is when you show them to friends and coworkers and they laugh at you. But who cares what they think. It's a great knife. (I own several Taiwanees knives).
 
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