Spyderco Kopa's, Look's like a great Gent's knife. Sal, any hope for lefties?

K

Krefcenz

Joined
May 24, 2002
Messages
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I'm partial to Gentleman's knives because of where I work and my desire to have a companion to my more utilitarian AG Russell Featherlite, BM 705 and 556. I posted a thread a while back on Gent's knives looking at the William Henry Monarch and the BM-770. Here comes Spyderco. Two Kopas one in black micarta.

C92BMP_M.jpg


The other in wood.

C92CB_M.jpg


But neither with an ambidexterous clip. :( The write up at the Spyderco site says new models to be introduced throughout the year. So, I'm holding out hope that at least one of the new Kopas will include lefties on the clip. Anyone heard anything?

Kref
 
I don't know but Im another leftie who would like to see more true lefties. No ambi stuff but a true left handed version of the Kopa would be nice. Preferbly in a version that will not be made in a right handed version. :D
 
Hi Krefcenz.

At this time, there are no plans for a lefty version. The clip is a dedicated right hand tip down clip and a left version would require tooling a new clip. production is very limited (600 pieces per handle material), so a lefty version becomes questionable.

We have more than 20 handle materials planned, so it will be more than 5 years before we are forced to repeat a handle material, if we do at all.

Hi Steeltoe.

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

I must say that your idea of a left hand version that is NOT matched in handle material with a right hand version, is an interesting notion. I wonder if there would be 600 customers?

sal
 
Thanks for the welcome Sal.

As for the market I belive that the percentage of knife knuts is fairly uniform across the population and about 12 - 15 % or the population is lefthanded. So 600 out of 20 * 600 knifes = 12 000 knives is 5 % of the knives produced in this series.
Wich will leave 11 400 knives (95%) for the right handed segment of 85-87 % of the population.

Out of a buisness perspective I understand your question. And since the making of a special tool is an investment and you need to be certain to get your return, wich could be hard on a series as small as 600 pices.

When it comes to the ambi knives they work well but it would feel great to have a true lefthander. I have a Delica and Stretch in my EDC rotation. Not many companies offer true lefties so a 'special' leftie could be a nice thing.

As long as one makes an apperance in Sweden I will be happy.

/Jonas
 
I understand from a business perspective why it might make sense to only provide a right handed version of any given knife with limited production. More's the pity. The William Henry Monarch I was looking to as a button lock gent's knife is also lefty friendly but not ambidextrous. And now the Kopa, ok. That leaves the Mnadi (over my budget) and the BM 770. I appreciate the need for business decisions and markets. But, Sal, frankly. I wanted to buy a Lil, Temperance and the Kopa and couldn't do so because there wasn't a lefty or ambi version available. From a businessman's point, is reversing the clip and lock (for the Temp) and Kopa for a limited production cost-prohibitive or just not worth it (I'm suspecting the latter). In short, want to be a Spyderco consumer outside of the Calypso Jr. I have my eye on, but running into limited options for my preference. Regards.

Kref
 
Hi Kref.

It depends on the model. Knives like the Endura, Delica, Salts, Stretch, etc. are all ambi. As we design new models, ambi is one of the goals.
Left hand dedicated, because of a clip or reversing, as in a linerlock, become more problematic.

More to do with "we just did refinement "B" on XYZ model, but we still have lots of refinement "A" on the shelf in lefty. Now the lefties want the "B" model and we have to lose our shirts on the "A" model. I think you can see some of the probs.

The Kopa is 600 pcs only per material. Left hand dedicated would end up being about 60-90 pcs. We can't charge more, even though they cost us more (due to the low volume/tooling) because that's being discriminatory to lefties, :p , so now what?

My wife is a lefty so we can't escape the question. We just can't do it on all models.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Kref.

It depends on the model. Knives like the Endura, Delica, Salts, Stretch, etc. are all ambi. As we design new models, ambi is one of the goals.
Left hand dedicated, because of a clip or reversing, as in a linerlock, become more problematic.

More to do with "we just did refinement "B" on XYZ model, but we still have lots of refinement "A" on the shelf in lefty. Now the lefties want the "B" model and we have to lose our shirts on the "A" model. I think you can see some of the probs.

The Kopa is 600 pcs only per material. Left hand dedicated would end up being about 60-90 pcs. We can't charge more, even though they cost us more (due to the low volume/tooling) because that's being discriminatory to lefties, :p , so now what?

My wife is a lefty so we can't escape the question. We just can't do it on all models.

sal
Click to expand...

I think much of the Spyderco loyalty that exists now comes as much from the customer service (which includes your time) as it does the great products and materials used in making Spyderco products. It's a right handed world we live in in any case. Be well.

Kref
 
Why not make a few with no clip holes drilled. The lefties can then get their own clip and have it drilled/tapped for a clip. Or maybe a pouch with a clip, which I think WH does with some of there knives.
Just an idea.



Blades
 
Blades,
Interesting thought, I'd worry that the lefties wouldn't get them and they would be hoarded. I wonder with the kopa that maybe a few without clips or scale material could be sold as customize it yourself (or find someone like SFSW to do it for you).
Chris
 
Sal,

I'm right-handed, but I ended up carrying my Lightweight Native on my left side most of the time. (There "might" have been something in my right pocket. ;) )

I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to sell as many of a dedicated lefty Kopa as you typically sell with the regular righty. There are a lot of people carrying very small, flat handguns (P-32, P-3AT, for instance) in their pockets. As well, besides left-handers, I'm sure some Spyderco enthusiasts would LOVE to have one of only 600 of the Kopa Lefty.

John
 
Blades said:
Why not make a few with no clip holes drilled. The lefties can then get their own clip and have it drilled/tapped for a clip. Or maybe a pouch with a clip, which I think WH does with some of there knives.
Click to expand...
At least for me, the screw holes for the clip are the least of the problem. It would be fairly easy to find someone capable of filling them. The problem is the milled recess that surrounds the screw holes. :barf:
kopa_bolster.jpg
Can't speak for any other lefties, but I would cheerfully pay MSRP + 25% for a Kopa with no provision for clip mounting and no Boye dent.
 
Can all of you "wrong brained" knife aficianados agree on what handle material we should use for a 600 pc run of lefty Kopas?

sal
 
I'll buy a left-handed Kopa in whatever you make it in. I'd prefer it not be bright fuschia.

John, already has his Yojimbo set up for lefty carry...lefty Kopa will mean I can move it back to my right!
 
The only preference would be that I could order it!!!

A lefty Kopa? I'd get it in any variation that's in the same price range as the current ones!

But I saw a very nice bloodstone variation somewhere in a kiwi ;)

Wouter
 
as long as the material will also be released for the "righty" that I am, i'm not against anything :rolleyes: :D
 
Well Sal, while I'd still prefer a "clipless" version, I certainly would not pass up a left handed Kopa. My only "strong" preference when it comes to the handle, would be "anything but black micarta". Amber jigged bone, like that on the Kiwi would be great, as would plain white bone (bison perhaps?), or stabilized wood ("gunstock" walnut, checkered perhaps?).
 
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