Spyderco Paysan

I am actually pretty blown away that they just slapped a production clip on this knife that doesn't even fit or follow the lines of the knife. What the what? Definitely not worth $520 of my money. I love Spyderco, great designs, great materials, great fit and finish. $520 and that's the clip they use? SMH
 
Quiet said:
I am actually pretty blown away that they just slapped a production clip on this knife that doesn't even fit or follow the lines of the knife. What the what? Definitely not worth $520 of my money. I love Spyderco, great designs, great materials, great fit and finish. $520 and that's the clip they use? SMH
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Yeah, I agree, it seems like "Okay we have everything dialed in....wait we need a clip. Oh, wait there is one on the floor, just use that." like building a high end sports car and putting four 15" Civic Rims on it.
 
Boozoo Chavis said:
I am a huge Spyderco fan but the prices on some of their knives is a little disturbing. Why would I spend close to $600 bucks on a Paysun, (a great knife, I'm sure) when I can but a large box elder inlay Sebenza for a few bucks more...
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See, I'd ask why you'd pay that much for some S35VN and non-ergonomic titanium slabs with some bits of wood glued in, when you get get a contoured integral frame with a supersteel blade for less. That's just me, though.
 
yup, and then I'd point out something like ArtisanCutlery for stuff that is great in the hundred dollar range... I'm glad competition is getting really dialed in now, I'm surprised that so many really expensive options pop so often these days. It's almost like they're ALL fishing with large nets to see what sticks... I expect many of the $400+ plethora models suffer severe low sales.

But of course, then I'm reminded that with historic knut numbers were so low there is still a lot of headroom in getting more people as a %. I have always been on the pragmatic side of it: they should all be users, and safe queens are great if you want to start collecting art. I also have no qualms calling many high end knives art, I just haven't become an art collector : -) If I won the lottery, sure
 
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austonh said:
I think it's either testing the market as @rje58 pointed out, or they are actively trying to curb demand because of supply issues.

Apple recently released their newest phone, the Iphone X, for a whopping $1k. This was about $200 above comparble phones from them in the past, as well as their competition. The reason they priced the phone so high, was to purposely curb demand. The AMOLED screens that they use in the Iphone X are made by Samsung (pretty funny) and Apple's supply is limited because first dibs go to Samsung phones. In order to curb demand and avoid a public outcry, they specifically priced the phone high enough to be out of the reach of most, with the intent to decease prices down the line as supply increases.

If we use that as the case study, it might be that Spyderco's manufacturing partner in Taichung is unable to produce integral knives in the quantities they require for normal runs. By increasing the price drastically, they have caused demand to decrease, and meet the anticipated supply that they will receive.

Food for thought...
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That's a good point for a possible explanation, but if it turns out that it is selling at that price then they will have no reason to reduce it. Also, if there's a specific volume they can produce and they already at that, it means nothing will change.
We'll have to wait and see i guess.
 
sixate said:
I was really excited for this, figured it wouldn't be cheap...... but that it way overpriced. No way I'm interested now
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Same here...i was really impressed with the blade design, and fell from the sky when i saw the price.
Same situation with the Drunken. I hope this won't be become a pattern
 
Spyderco's spring clips are very functional and look fine. On the Paysan it looks like the clip is sort of hanging off on one side. So I'm not sure about it. I agree, I custom clip would have been nice.
 
dirc said:
yup, and then I'd point out something like ArtisanCutlery for stuff that is great in the hundred dollar range... I'm glad competition is getting really dialed in now, I'm surprised that so many really expensive options pop so often these days. It's almost like they're ALL fishing with large nets to see what sticks... I expect many of the $400+ plethora models suffer severe low sales.

But of course, then I'm reminded that with historic knut numbers were so low there is still a lot of headroom in getting more people as a %. I have always been on the pragmatic side of it: they should all be users, and safe queens are great if you want to start collecting art. I also have no qualms calling many high end knives art, I just haven't become an art collector : -) If I won the lottery, sure
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You'd probably more surprised to find out that the opposite is true. There are more $400+ options in the marketplace than ever before. Hint: it's not because they don't sell.
 
I've said this for the last 4 years, SPYDERCO HAS LOST ITS ROOTS. Every year for the last 4 years production has dramatically shifted to overseas, and price increases were implemented while still providing normal par material and steels, with any collaboration that they can slap a name to without a care about how stupid a profile it has. We are seeing models with American steel shipped overseas, put g10 on it and charge 2-3 hundred. The Paysan is just the ongoing evolution of this. I got flack for 4 years on this, glad to see a lot of folks are seeing that things aint right here. It's a pattern that has pushed me out of buying Spyderco entirely, there are just no models that are in my price range anymore.

To be proud of getting import knife of the year,....for Spyderco......it's sad to me. They made epic US made blades, EPIC.....now just meh

Remember the days Sal and Eric designed blades? That was fun. This, the Paysan, not fun any more.
 
Spyderco is still selling knives consistent with their roots. To me their roots are in the FRN handles and spydie hole on the blades. You want a traditional Spyderco knife, you can have a Stretch or Delica or Native and it will be excellent. I'd say there's a great market for these other knives right now, and to be honest Spyderco deserves some of the credit for creating that market. They celebrate other designers and new materials and CQI. Why shouldn't they also provide offerings that serve this new market?

I'll never buy this knife, the Paysan. If I want a piece of French culture, I'll get a Lagouile or just a Opinel No8. I got a Spyderco Pattada, wanting a piece of Sardinian culture. Ends up I should have just found a good Resolza instead. Not that Spyderco didn't do a great job. Again, if anything it is just Spyderco celebrating other designs and letting their customers enjoy those designs as well.

I think it is silly to act like the price on this knife is connected to any kind of increased utility. Or even advances in craftsmanship. It's just a reflection of the market. The hobby has never been better than it is now. Spyderco is simply charging what people will pay.
 
LOL. Just seeing this for the first time. I am really truly not sure anymore about Spyderco and their pricing. I will continue to just not buy them. To me it is sad, as I have been a buyer/collector of their knives since 2005 and have probably owned about 90+ different Spydies. I just can't do it anymore.
 
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The most glaring weakness in Spyderco's line are the high-end Seki knives. Sal has hinted that Seki won't be producing many of their high-end knives in the future. Costs are high there and everyone seems to agree that they're too expensive for what you get. I'm talking about the high-end only.
Apart from that, I think Spyderco is killing it. They sell a gazillion PM2s, Para 3s and Manixes all made in the US.
Then they innovate and experiment and collaberate to come up with some really cool stuff. Much is made at the exceptional Taichung factory.
 
I don't get all the negativity here. Unless you've had one in your hand, how can you know if it's worth the price? I also don't get the custom argument. Any custom is somehow better/worth more than any production knife? The price is almost certainly based on materials and effort required to make the knife.

Is a Norseman worth $1200? Is a Slysz Bowie worth $450? Depending on what this knife is, how it looks, and how it's made, it could easily be worth $500 to me. I don't have a price bias against production knives: the quality, design, materials, and fit for me determine the value. We all get to vote with our wallet.
 
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Champagne taste on a beer budget?

Things cost too much these days?

Good thing I have a beer budget and beer taste. Let's never forget the first two noble truth's of the Buddha.

Existence is suffering. The cause of suffering is desire.
 
Agree with couple of above posters. This is basically encouraging people to buy more mid-/low-range Spydercos. At least this price makes me feel spending $470 on the three CPM Rex 45 burnt orange g10 Spydercos (Millie, PM2, and Para3) is like a steal. I understand different people have different tastes.

AF said:
The most glaring weakness in Spyderco's line are the high-end Seki knives. Sal has hinted that Seki won't be producing many of their high-end knives in the future. Costs are high there and everyone seems to agree that they're too expensive for what you get. I'm talking about the high-end only.
Apart from that, I think Spyderco is killing it. They sell a gazillion PM2s, Para 3s and Manixes all made in the US.
Then they innovate and experiment and collaberate to come up with some really cool stuff. Much is made at the exceptional Taichung factory.
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I completely agree. This is also why my purchases of spydercos basically stay with Military, PM2, Manix 2, Delica, and Endura and even better, the sprint runs and dealer exclusives of these models.
 
Todd21969 said:
Do you mean you want it to go back to when ALL spydercos were contracted out overseas?

You do know Al Mar hooked Sal up with the Seki manufacturers to get his knives made. Don't you?

That is Spyderco's roots.
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I am not talking about their infancy I am talking about their roots like for the last 20 years. I am well aware of the company's history thank you. Sal also used to make knives in the back of his van.
 
Yo Mama said:
I am not talking about their infancy I am talking about their roots like for the last 20 years. I am well aware of the company's history thank you. Sal also used to make knives in the back of his van.
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Maybe that would be their branches then vs. their roots?

As the twig is bent the tree's inclined.
 
I don't like the price but I don't mind it. Enduras, Delicas, Millies and PM2s are their bread and butter, the money makers for the most part. The Drunken and Paysan are Halo pieces to show off.
Porsche 918, LaFerrari and P1 of the knife world basically. High end cars that pushed the respective companies production and R&D ahead, little profit but exposure and performance. And not marketed to the guy buying an entry model.
Could they produce them cheaper? Maybe. But thry have no good (economic) reason to sell them cheaper because people pay 350+ dollars for folders these days, at least enough to warrant putting theirs out in that price range as well.
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RipD said:
I don't get all the negativity here. Unless you've had one in your hand, how can you know if it's worth the price? I also don't get the custom argument. Any custom is somehow better/worth more than any production knife? The price is almost certainly based on materials and effort required to make the knife.

Is a Norseman worth $1200? Is a Slysz Bowie worth $450? Depending on what this knife is, how it looks, and how it's made, it could easily be worth $500 to me. I don't have a price bias against production knives: the quality, design, materials, and fit for me determine the value. We all get to vote with our wallet.
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You seem to be failing to take into account that customs have intangible qualities that allow them to command those prices. A mass-produced production model, by simple definition, simply doesn't. Insinuating that others have some illogical bias, while overlooking the very reasons for that viewpoint is...well, politely uninformed.
 
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