Spyderco hype?

[flarp]

My Delica and Endura both started off kind of tight out of the box. After some use/break-in period, both were very smooth to open and close without any pivot screw adjustment. I don't carry the Endura much anymore because it is a bit on the large side for my current EDC uses, but the Delica is still one of my favorites. Good size, great ergos, and lightweight/easy to carry.

My lightweight Spydie lockbacks...

 

[Rider675]

I prefer the lockback on my endura to the liner lock on my resilience. It's a much thinner, lighter weight lock, and I wave it so smoothness or speed is irrelevant. I don't have to think to close it one handed either.

 

[Czechmate]

Yeah! Overhyped junk for sure with their sucky lock-back action... They do offer other lock types that may be smoother for those with delicate hands.


Pictures for the haters:

One Benchmade slipped into the photo...

All joking aside, they've been some of the best knives I've ever owned. Rock on Spyderco. :thumbup:

 

[strick284]

I prefer the lockback on my endura to the liner lock on my resilience. It's a much thinner, lighter weight lock, and I wave it so smoothness or speed is irrelevant. I don't have to think to close it one handed either.

I have a zip tie on mine, but I suck at waving it lol. Haven't really practiced. Hey random question guys, does using the ghetto wave/zip tie wave method cause extra wear on the lock? I don't have anything against flicking my knives open, so is waving any worse than flicking for wear and tear? This has been bothering me for a while.

EDIT: Apologies for further derailing an already off-track thread

 

[Cassull]

I don't understand how a broken pivot screw at the hands of the ELU = hype.
Was it purchased from a reputable seller? Some folks love the red loctite for some reason and splash it on like it were chocolate sauce on a sundae. I've had knives like this and they clearly weren't representative of the company that produced it.
I own over 100 Spyderco knives and have never broken a pivot screw or stripped a head or tool adjusting them. I think that is a relatively good sample size. I'm still unsure of what you mean by hype.

A widely known trick for loosening a pivot screw is to heat up the screw head with either a soldering iron, hairdryer, or boiling water. This breaks the loctite and allows for easy removal.

I agree, I find it highly suspect. Even on my Spydercos that come with those ultra tough thread-locked screws, I never had a problem with them breaking. I did have a clip screw on a Tenacious strip, but that was my fault for trying to use a hex driver instead of a torx.

 

[jbmonkey]

Am I just having really bad luck?

i'd say yes.

i got over a dozen or two of spydercos from autos, liner locks, lock backs, compression locks, even a handful of fixed blades. screwed construction, pinned construction....... from taiwan, china, japan, and even the good old usa....and none of mine have any function issues or blade play. some have cosmetic issues, but all have been good for me. maybe i've just had good luck?

buy a third spyderco, but a different model and see if your luck changes. if not, plenty of other brand choices.

 

[SeaxyBeast]

Agree with the majority who point out that lockbacks are less smooth by design for opening than are linerlocks. It's a function of the lock mechanics. Also a smaller, thinner blade like the Delica is going to have less mass and momentum for opening than a larger, thicker blade. The Delica's I've handled usually have to be swung all the way open with my thumb where my Resilience pops open as soon as the detent pressure is overcome as long as I'm holding it so it is not working against gravity.

Besides, if every Spyderco was perfect they'd cost a lot more and the collectors would have a lot less fun digging through stock to find the best one.

If there's a flaw in the workmanship, send it in and let them fix it.

If you think Spyderco is overhyped you should stay away from some of the other popular manufacturer's forums around here. Spydies are subject to a lot less outright mythology than most.

 

[Jet B]

Part of the reason for such a big fan following with Spyderco is the way the company is run. They have excellent values and are very customer oriented. You can go on the Spyderco forum on this site and ask a question and have Sal Glesser the founder of Spyderco himself address your question a lot of the time. That is incredible customer relations.

Also, many people really appreciate how they give credit to the designers of innovative features in the knife world. They choose to recognize and collaborate rather than sneak and steal designs. I like that.

 

[frenchmade]

The language being used in your initial contention is a little inflammatory, don't you think? "All I hear about spydercos is how great they are, but I bought one and broke it, so they all must suck. Oh, and that good stuff you hear about them is just hype"

For this to be fair, I think we should give you the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe you had a bad pivot screw. But your inability to deal with the problem is what got you the negative responses you're seeing.

I used to work as a computer technician and we had a term for problems similar to these: PICNIC ("Problem In Chair Not In Computer")

AKA: consumer screwed up, and is now blaming the hardware.

I don't think you should judge a company based on their cheapest/most entry level knife that costs $45

Not true. Although you should be conscious that a $45 knife will not be in the same league as a $200 knife, it's still a Spyderco. And should meet their quality standards.
I have four Enduras, a Tenacious and a Resilience. They are all awesome knives and I think Spyderco deserves a lot of credit for making such great affordable knives.

You should absolutely be able to judge a company by what they are building at the most inexpensive level.