Spyderco QC Issues?

[knife117]

I've never owned a Spyderco knife before, but lots of people rave about them. I got a Pacific Salt in the mail today, and I noticed an issue with the knife right away. The grind on the blade is not symmetrical, so the point that I circled in the image below does not meet up in the same spot on each side of the blade. Is this a typical problem with Spyderco? I'll be returning the knife, but I'm wondering if a replacement would likely have the same issue. Another issue with the knife is that it doesn't open very smoothly. I've seen videos where people just flick these knives open very quickly.

 

[amflud]

Lockback knives typically aren't real smooth openers.

I wish I still had my Pacific Salt, but it grew legs and left.

 

[bro5.0]

I've never owned a Spyderco knife before, but lots of people rave about them. I got a Pacific Salt in the mail today, and I noticed an issue with the knife right away. The grind on the blade is not symmetrical, so the point that I circled in the image below does not meet up in the same spot on each side of the blade. Is this a typical problem with Spyderco? I'll be returning the knife, but I'm wondering if a replacement would likely have the same issue. Another issue with the knife is that it doesn't open very smoothly. I've seen videos where people just flick these knives open very quickly.

The back-lock knives can't always be flicked open just because of the nature of the lock. I've seen asymmetrical grinds from lots of different manufacturers, but it would have to be really bad for me to return it.

 

[knives_in_nature]

I've never owned a Spyderco knife before, but lots of people rave about them. I got a Pacific Salt in the mail today, and I noticed an issue with the knife right away. The grind on the blade is not symmetrical, so the point that I circled in the image below does not meet up in the same spot on each side of the blade. Is this a typical problem with Spyderco? I'll be returning the knife, but I'm wondering if a replacement would likely have the same issue. Another issue with the knife is that it doesn't open very smoothly. I've seen videos where people just flick these knives open very quickly.

I can usually find something wrong with most production knives if I look at them close enough. I don't believe those grinds will affect the knife's performance, and considering you probably won't show that knife off as it is a workhorse styled blade I wouldn't worry about it. I've also never had a Spyderco lockback open smoothly out of box. They take some break in time! :thumbup: If you want a knife for style that opens smoothly you may have picked the wrong knife.. I would suggest something like a ZT or Benchmade if you want that criteria.

 

[bro5.0]

I can usually find something wrong with most production knives if I look at them close enough. I don't believe those grinds will affect the knife's performance, and considering you probably won't show that knife off as it is a workhorse styled blade I wouldn't worry about it. I've also never had a Spyderco lockback open smoothly out of box. They take some break in time! :thumbup: If you want a knife for style that opens smoothly you may have picked the wrong knife.. I would suggest something like a ZT or Benchmade if you want that criteria.

I don't think he needs to go to a different manufacturer for a smooth opening knife or a flickable knife, he just needs a different lock type. Manix 2's, pm 2's, militarys, and dozens more are super smooth and flick open with easy. I agree though that Benchmade and ZT's excel in smooth knives though!

 

[knives_in_nature]

I don't think he needs to go to a different manufacturer for a smooth opening knife or a flickable knife, he just needs a different lock type. Manix 2's, pm 2's, militarys, and dozens more are super smooth and flick open with easy. I agree though that Benchmade and ZT's excel in smooth knives though!

I agree with that, I have had terrible QC with Spyderco models though so maybe I'm just biased.

 

[oXObsidianXo]

Really? You're kidding me right? This is clearly a trolling post.

What did you pay for that Pacific Salt? Roughly $80? I have $300-400 knives that don't have perfectly symmetrical grinds. My Microtech Socom Delta with a tanto point was hand ground and does not have a perfect grind. My ZT 0300 does not have a perfectly symmetrical swedge. My ZT 0560 is very close to perfect but still has a slightly asymmetrical swedge. And if you are talking about the edge grind. Of course it's not perfect, it was done by hand!

If this is a genuine post, not just someone trying to bag on Spyderco then I will say this. MAN you set your expectations WAYYY too high. It's a pin construction, low budget production blade. If you want a perfectly symmetrical grind, and near perfect QC then you have to pay for it. I'm talking Chriss Reeve Knives and the like. As I said even my $300-400 production knives aren't perfect.

The fact that you can't flick the knife open very quickly has nothing to do with QC. It's a lock back to start, thus it is a little more difficult to flick. Also, it will require some time to break in. And finally, you said this was your first Spyderco, the Spydie-hole takes some getting used to before you can flick it with ease.

To close, just use the damn knife and forget about the little things. Does the knife lock up solid? Did it come sharp? Is the blade centered? Does the blade function as it's supposed to? Those are the major things, and at this price point they are all that really matters.

 

[knives_in_nature]

Really? You're kidding me right? This is clearly a trolling post.

What did you pay for that Pacific Salt? Roughly $80? I have $300-400 knives that don't have perfectly symmetrical grinds. My Microtech Socom Delta with a tanto point was hand ground and does not have a perfect grind. My ZT 0300 does not have a perfectly symmetrical swedge. My ZT 0560 is very close to perfect but still has a slightly asymmetrical swedge. And if you are talking about the edge grind. Of course it's not perfect, it was done by hand!

If this is a genuine post, not just someone trying to bag on Spyderco then I will say this. MAN you set your expectations WAYYY too high. It's a pin construction, low budget production blade. If you want a perfectly symmetrical grind, and near perfect QC then you have to pay for it. I'm talking Chriss Reeve Knives and the like. As I said even my $300-400 production knives aren't perfect.

The fact that you can't flick the knife open very quickly has nothing to do with QC. It's a lock back to start, thus it is a little more difficult to flick. Also, it will require some time to break in. And finally, you said this was your first Spyderco, the Spydie-hole takes some getting used to before you can flick it with ease.

To close, just use the damn knife and forget about the little things. Does the knife lock up solid? Did it come sharp? Is the blade centered? Does the blade function as it's supposed to? Those are the major things, and at this price point they are all that really matters.

I can't agree more.

 

[whp]

Really? You're kidding me right? This is clearly a trolling post.

What did you pay for that Pacific Salt? Roughly $80? I have $300-400 knives that don't have perfectly symmetrical grinds. My Microtech Socom Delta with a tanto point was hand ground and does not have a perfect grind. My ZT 0300 does not have a perfectly symmetrical swedge. My ZT 0560 is very close to perfect but still has a slightly asymmetrical swedge. And if you are talking about the edge grind. Of course it's not perfect, it was done by hand!

If this is a genuine post, not just someone trying to bag on Spyderco then I will say this. MAN you set your expectations WAYYY too high. It's a pin construction, low budget production blade. If you want a perfectly symmetrical grind, and near perfect QC then you have to pay for it. I'm talking Chriss Reeve Knives and the like. As I said even my $300-400 production knives aren't perfect.

The fact that you can't flick the knife open very quickly has nothing to do with QC. It's a lock back to start, thus it is a little more difficult to flick. Also, it will require some time to break in. And finally, you said this was your first Spyderco, the Spydie-hole takes some getting used to before you can flick it with ease.

To close, just use the damn knife and forget about the little things. Does the knife lock up solid? Did it come sharp? Is the blade centered? Does the blade function as it's supposed to? Those are the major things, and at this price point they are all that really matters.

Nice discussion. The Pacific Salt is a fine user knife and a good value knife.

 

[REK Knives]

Nice discussion. The Pacific Salt is a fine user knife and a good value knife.

definitely. I also love the weight on it and the blade length. Good stuff!

 

[toker]

I agree with the others. An asymmetrical grind will not affect the performance of the knife. It's also not out of the ordinary for a lower cost production knife. As for flicking the knife open, a lockback isn't the easier type to. Although it's mostly technique. Open the knife a little and you can flick it easily.

Use the knife and enjoy how well H2 performs in water environments.

 

[Krissig12]

Really? You're kidding me right? This is clearly a trolling post.

What did you pay for that Pacific Salt? Roughly $80? I have $300-400 knives that don't have perfectly symmetrical grinds. My Microtech Socom Delta with a tanto point was hand ground and does not have a perfect grind. My ZT 0300 does not have a perfectly symmetrical swedge. My ZT 0560 is very close to perfect but still has a slightly asymmetrical swedge. And if you are talking about the edge grind. Of course it's not perfect, it was done by hand!

If this is a genuine post, not just someone trying to bag on Spyderco then I will say this. MAN you set your expectations WAYYY too high. It's a pin construction, low budget production blade. If you want a perfectly symmetrical grind, and near perfect QC then you have to pay for it. I'm talking Chriss Reeve Knives and the like. As I said even my $300-400 production knives aren't perfect.

The fact that you can't flick the knife open very quickly has nothing to do with QC. It's a lock back to start, thus it is a little more difficult to flick. Also, it will require some time to break in. And finally, you said this was your first Spyderco, the Spydie-hole takes some getting used to before you can flick it with ease.

To close, just use the damn knife and forget about the little things. Does the knife lock up solid? Did it come sharp? Is the blade centered? Does the blade function as it's supposed to? Those are the major things, and at this price point they are all that really matters.

Nothing more needs to be said:thumbup:

 

[Mgj48]

agree on the Salt 1. I don't get in the boat or wade without it.

 

[Redmasta]

Pretty much every knife I own is like this. Good luck.

 

[powernoodle]

FWIW, I own dozens of Spyderco knives and have never experienced even one quality control issue. Is it possible to receive a Spydie knife that isn't close to perfect? Maybe. But I have never seen one. Just my take on things.

 

[Cosmic Superchunk]

I've never owned a Spyderco knife before, but lots of people rave about them. I got a Pacific Salt in the mail today, and I noticed an issue with the knife right away. The grind on the blade is not symmetrical, so the point that I circled in the image below does not meet up in the same spot on each side of the blade. Is this a typical problem with Spyderco? I'll be returning the knife, but I'm wondering if a replacement would likely have the same issue. Another issue with the knife is that it doesn't open very smoothly. I've seen videos where people just flick these knives open very quickly.

I'd like to think this post is a joke. But if it's not...

You're obsessing over a minor cosmetic issue, man. That Pacific Salt is a relatively inexpensive production knife with FRN handles, not a high end expensive safe queen. It was designed and made to be used. It wasn't made to be looked at and babied. That tiny imperfection on the grind you circled on the pic has absolutely no adverse affect in the knife's ability to cut. As for it not opening smoothly, you can adjust the pivot to loosen the tension a bit or try oiling the pivot. Easy fix. Your OCD must be on overdrive if you're really going to return the knife over something so insignificant. I can only imagine how you get when you notice a scratch on your knife's blade.

 

[singularity35]

I'm with the OP here. That big of a boo-boo by spyderco will totally make the knife unuseable. It will probably even prevent the knife from cutting paper or shaving armhair. And horror of horrors, it will make the knife an accident waiting to happen. That grinds don't meet at a precise point will surely make the lock unreliable. He'll probably cut his fingers off if ever he dares to try to use the knife to cut paper. And don't ever get me started on the HT for H1. It's obvious because of the bad grind that that knife never was HT'd at all.

 

[knife117]

All my knives are safe queens. I just like to look at them.

But seriously, one of the only things I'm obsessive about is asymmetry. It drives me nuts.

 

[gitarmac]

It's just a production knife. They aren't really anything special to look at. I have an atlantic and pacific salt, I really like using them. They are my lunch knives. The pacific salt reminds me of a folding santuka.

Question: if you don't use them, and just like to look at them, what do you use to cut things with? I like to look at them too but I can't get through the day without using a knife. Spydercos are really good at that.

You should get a chris reeve or bark river to look at. I both look at and use my bark rivers. The patina from use makes it look even nicer.

 

[amflud]

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