Spyderco initial quality

[dsmegst]

After reading the recent, "Spyderco QC" threads and the "blade off-center" threads, I sank deep into knife nuttiness and went through all my Spydies with a fine comb (or caliper). I looked at pivot types, lock types, materials used, F&F, blade centering, vertical play, and horizontal play. It took me a few days and I put together a spreadsheet.

Anyone watching would have strapped me to a stretcher and rolled me into the funny farm.

The fact is, positive memories don't stick in my mind for as long as the negative memories. And due to this fact, my overall feel regarding QC wasn't stellar. And all the threads here didn't help my impressions.

So after gathering the data, I was surprised at the results. In a good way. I'm not sure if the data is worth posting but I would like to say that after my examination of 70+ folders, I'm a very happy customer.

 

[The Mastiff]

To be honest, there were other issues from another thread that caused that guy to begin the latest one. Simple story, he had hurt feelings and came here to .....

Not the place to finish that sentence.


I wouldn't buy spyderco's if there were repeated QC problems like I've had with Benchmades. I'm well over a hunded Spyderco's currently with a large amount sold over the years. Since 92 in fact.

 

[dsmegst]

A good side effect from this was that I took some pictures of the knives while they were spread out. Now my wife can find positive proof to kick my ass... multiple times.

I was using my CRKs as a benchmark and a large number of Spydies were equal in F&F, sometimes with superior materials and always at a better price point.

 

[termiteslayer]

Nitpicking is one of my defects of character and I can find flaws on anything... even Elizabeth Hurley.
I don't expect custom quality out of a production knife. I've sniveled in the past that perfection wasn't achieved and was called out on it.
Perfection costs more money than most are willing to pay.
I was a custom woodworker for a bunch of years and I'm well aware that extra TLC at every phase of a project is financially demanding.
The knives I've taken out of Spyderco boxes have been some of the better values that I've run across. I worked my knives hard on the job, I wasn't carving apples at lunch... I was using 'em pretty hard.
Spyderco and Kershaw are producing the best values on the market that I've seen.
I'm aware that I should get $400 machining standards for a $400 knife... not a $100 knife.

Funny, the spydiehole aesthetics bothered me so much that I decided to take a serious dip into the knife world so I could find some decent knives without that horrid looking spydie hole.
The functionality of the spydie hole, the outstanding collaborations, the customer service... man, it's just a good deal that Spyderco has offered to the masses that can't afford, or justify, a custom.