Spyderco QC

M

MikeMade™

Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
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I work at a Spyderco dealer so I have the opportunity to check out each model before I buy it and one thing's been bothering me. It seems like I'm able to find alot more QC defects with Spyderco than most other manufacturers. Most defects are subtle such as uneven grind lines, minor scratching in the blade, one liner having a much rougher finish than the other, and scales overlapping or underlapping the liners. As much as I love Spyderco and their designs, I feel like im taking a gamble each time I order a spydie without seeing it first and this bothers me. I passed on picking up a manix today because the liners weren't ground right and one side of the scale overlapped the liner by about 1/16 of an inch. I'm just torn because I love the designs but I feel like I can't fully trust that the knife I get will be defect free. Anyone else feel this way?
 
I've found their QC to be quite good as far as even grinds and scales go. From the three Spyderco's I own, two have scratches and/or dings out of the box, so I would agree with you there. The two with scratches/dings are made in Japan, coincidentally.

I have also read on these forums that their newest black FRN Caly Jr has a blade play problem when closed. Not really a functional problem at the moment (though it may wear poorly and develop play, I dunno), but a problem nonetheless that I have seen many times on this forum and in my own Caly Jr.

I would say they're one of the better companies, though. Better than Buck, Kershaw and Cold Steel in my experiences.
 
Mine all three seem to be about the best QC out of all the brands I have. Don't get me started on CRKTs QC.. especially the M16 line.

My D'Allara did come with a small scratch and what looks like small pits on the opposite side of the logo around the round hole in the blade. There also seems to be a small bit of a palm print around the tip that wont come off... Like its acid etched in... Its all barely noticeable and no where near what all is going to be on the blade once I start using it.
 
I'm afraid I can't help you here. You see, I buy knives to use, not to look at. Fortunately for me, Spyderco makes knives to use, not to look at, so I'm in good shape. It's too bad such piddly little details bother you so much, because they really are great knives to use.

Incidentally, I have never bought a knife that I couldn't find SOMETHING wrong with, even the ones I paid close to $300 for. Maybe I should try hand-fitted customs, just to see what I can find wrong with them.
 
yablanowitz said:
I'm afraid I can't help you here. You see, I buy knives to use, not to look at. Fortunately for me, Spyderco makes knives to use, not to look at, so I'm in good shape. It's too bad such piddly little details bother you so much, because they really are great knives to use.

Incidentally, I have never bought a knife that I couldn't find SOMETHING wrong with, even the ones I paid close to $300 for. Maybe I should try hand-fitted customs, just to see what I can find wrong with them.
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This is the kind of thing that irks me. I am not picking on you, but your post just illustrates what I am thinking.

Most people would agree that we might buy a car of reasonable cost (~$20k) to use daily. However, if one went to take delivery of their vehicle and there were some tiny dents they noticed or maybe a scratch in the paint, I believe asking for it to be correct is a valid argument. Sure, the car will get more tiny dents/scratches with use, but buying a new item, one should be entitled to a new condition item.

It is each individuals money to spend as they please. if minor imperfections do not bother you-great. They sometimes bother me, sometimes not. However if someone is buying a new knife at a price that, at the end of the retail line, is based on a new condition knife and the knife is not in new condition I hardly find it reasonable to make sarcastic comments implying they are not a "user" of knives.

Thank goodness that, I would say, the majority of knife companies listen and improve based on this sort of situation (Sal is THE BEST at this) rather than turning and retorting that "our knives are made to be used, tough!"
 
I've only ever had one with a cosmetic defect and it was the Manix...and I have owned a LOT of Spydercos. Subsequently, G10 knives I have I use so hard that their cosmetic finish gets messed up pretty quickly. It didn't bother me.
 
REALLY??

I find Spydercos qaulity control to be some of the best in the business. I have owned a lot of Spydercos over the years and all were excellent. The TI ATR was custom qaulity.
 
I can't agree that the have more flaws than other makes. I guess it depends how picky you are. I have seen a few things on Spydercos that I think need some attention. The lock-up on some models could be better. I have had more knives with blade play from Spyderco than any other make. I buy mostly Spyderco so that is why I find more flaws I guess. I have never had an Al Mar that didn't lock up perfectly. Al Mar can make a Shrike that sells for about $110 which is flawless and locks up like a vice.

I am not bashing Spyderco because I love them. I just think if there is a flaw, it lines with the lock up. Most lock up fine but there are a few that have up and down blade play and that really bothers me. My Caly III has developed some up and down blade play and it is a real downer. I lover the Caly III but now it feels kind of cheap when I cut into something and the blade isn't solid.
 
kgriggs8 said:
I can't agree that the have more flaws than other makes. I guess it depends how picky you are. I have seen a few things on Spydercos that I think need some attention. The lock-up on some models could be better. I have had more knives with blade play from Spyderco than any other make. I buy mostly Spyderco so that is why I find more flaws I guess. I have never had an Al Mar that didn't lock up perfectly. Al Mar can make a Shrike that sells for about $110 which is flawless and locks up like a vice.

I am not bashing Spyderco because I love them. I just think if there is a flaw, it lines with the lock up. Most lock up fine but there are a few that have up and down blade play and that really bothers me. My Caly III has developed some up and down blade play and it is a real downer. I lover the Caly III but now it feels kind of cheap when I cut into something and the blade isn't solid.
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I couldn't have said it better myself;)

More than half of my(20 +) Spydie lock backs have some noticable up and down play:barf:

This really bothers me:grumpy:
 
None of my spydie's have probs, I always thought that they had some of the best QC. I didn't know that there was that many spydie's with problems. :grumpy:

A little of topic, OK, a lot. Victorinox has the best QC ever. :D
 
My Spydercos are some of the best made knives of any in my collection, equal to knives costing much more. I wouldn't bother buying or carrying them if this wasn't so. They are also some of the best edges & sharpest knives out of the box of any brand. The companie's reputation and success isn't a fluke or an accident. Joe
 
MikeMade™;4419214 said:
I work at a Spyderco dealer so I have the opportunity to check out each model before I buy it and one thing's been bothering me. It seems like I'm able to find alot more QC defects with Spyderco than most other manufacturers. Most defects are subtle such as uneven grind lines, minor scratching in the blade, one liner having a much rougher finish than the other, and scales overlapping or underlapping the liners. As much as I love Spyderco and their designs, I feel like im taking a gamble each time I order a spydie without seeing it first and this bothers me. I passed on picking up a manix today because the liners weren't ground right and one side of the scale overlapped the liner by about 1/16 of an inch. I'm just torn because I love the designs but I feel like I can't fully trust that the knife I get will be defect free. Anyone else feel this way?
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Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear of your disappointment. And somewhat surprised. We've been told many times that buying a Spyderco sight unseen was a good gamble because of our high quality and good QC.

The Manx is hand sanded on the spine so the liner and G-10 are ususally right on. 1/16" deviation is difficult for me to fathom. Since you do not have the piece in question, perhaps you could contact the dealer and ask them to send the knife in, to my attention. Such a defect as you describe is certainly an anomoly.

sal
 
I've found the opposite to be true for QC. In all of my experiences except for one Manix that I felt had a little too much vertical play, they've been in great condition. This includes not only the ones that I purchased, but also the dozens that I've played with at various stores.
 
I'm another one of those people who can find something wrong with any knife. As a maker myself, this can drive my crazy — and my customers look at me like I'm nuts when I point out to them the flaws in my knives. I once got to examine several folders from one of the best makers in the world, and there were little imperfections in them (to which the maker replied, "of course, it's a hand-made knife."). As far as production knives go, I have never seen a spyderco (granted, I don't own nearly as many as a lot of people here) with a flaw that bugged me or that I felt diminished the quality or utility of the knife.

- Chris
 
one2gofst said:
This is the kind of thing that irks me. I am not picking on you, but your post just illustrates what I am thinking.

Most people would agree that we might buy a car of reasonable cost (~$20k) to use daily. However, if one went to take delivery of their vehicle and there were some tiny dents they noticed or maybe a scratch in the paint, I believe asking for it to be correct is a valid argument. Sure, the car will get more tiny dents/scratches with use, but buying a new item, one should be entitled to a new condition item.

It is each individuals money to spend as they please. if minor imperfections do not bother you-great. They sometimes bother me, sometimes not. However if someone is buying a new knife at a price that, at the end of the retail line, is based on a new condition knife and the knife is not in new condition I hardly find it reasonable to make sarcastic comments implying they are not a "user" of knives.

Thank goodness that, I would say, the majority of knife companies listen and improve based on this sort of situation (Sal is THE BEST at this) rather than turning and retorting that "our knives are made to be used, tough!"
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I apologize for my tone in my earlier post. It was prompted primarily by the forum software refusing to allow me to deal with my own irritation in my usual way, by placing the original poster on my ignore list.

Call me a skeptic if you want, but I have seen "it's a good sixteenth of an inch off" measure 0.015" or less on a dial caliper too many times to simply accept such statements at face value without some photographs to back it up.

I believe that Spyderco's quality control is more than adequate, it is excellent. Sal exhibits more concern for the ELU than most production knife company CEOs, and more than a number of custom makers. I also believe that 90% of the QC complaint threads I have seen on these forums in the last year or so have resulted from what are, in my opinion, unreasonable expectations on the part of the poster. We are talking about production knives here, not one of a kind hand fitted customs. Production knives are built to tolerances. Each part is built to tolerances. Sometimes those tolerances add up to something merely acceptable, sometimes they add up to something outstanding. If you cannot accept that simple fact, production knives may not be for you, unless you have the time and patience to seek out the outstanding samples. It seems to me that knife collecting attracts the kind of people who expect Rolls Royce fit and finish from their Yugos.

And in my opinion, that is an unreasonable expectation. I don't expect everyone (or for that matter, anyone) to agree with my opinion. I just had to state it before I climbed a clock tower with half a dozen rifles.
 
Oh im sorry.. I didn't realize I was out of line because I was dissapointed that the liner's on a $200 knife weren't ground right and it slipped through QC. I'm not bashing Spyderco here, on the contrary Spyderco is probably my favorite manufacturer. I was just wondering if anyone had noticed cosmetic QC issues because I have inspected 100+ spyderco's as they come through our shop and I've noticed alot of cosmetic flaws. I brought this up for the good of the company, I'm not bashing anyone or being overly picky. Look at it as constuctive criticism.

Sal, I looked at the manix again today and it appears that one of the liners was filed down too far and a very rough uneven finish was left on it. I will talk to my boss and see if she wants to send the knife back in.
 
I've bought more Spyderco knives than any other brand, and have therefore received a few lemons. I have sent one back for major grind irregularites, and 2 or 3 back for lock issues. Considering the number of knives they produce, Spyderco is probably doing well in the QC department.
 
Yeah, I have to speak on the side of Sal and Spyderco. The ones that I have and had pass through my hands have been right. If it is wrong, give them a chance to fix it and then evaluate the company at the end. It is likely that some may slip through the cracks in production, it is the companies that makes their wrongs right that stand above the rest. Take care all and I hope you can get that Manix out and let us know how you were treated at the end.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear of your disappointment. And somewhat surprised. We've been told many times that buying a Spyderco sight unseen was a good gamble because of our high quality and good QC.

The Manx is hand sanded on the spine so the liner and G-10 are ususally right on. 1/16" deviation is difficult for me to fathom. Since you do not have the piece in question, perhaps you could contact the dealer and ask them to send the knife in, to my attention. Such a defect as you describe is certainly an anomoly.

sal
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Which is why I buy spyderco. They always make it right. Things have always been fine on any spyderco I've owned. Especally since I use them hard. The only trouble I've had is the waiting time when you get a new one. Stare at the street, waiting for the magical sound of the the delivery truck..

like when its my bday in a few days and crossing fingers I get a manix..
 
I have said it in other threads and will say so again here.This is not to be mean or bitchy but I think in anything like this the truth is best.
I noticed the QC go way down hill about 2 years ago,IIRC 04-05 I got 5 or 6 Spydercos in a row with defects and I am not talking about minor defects,these had things like extreme blade play,blades hitting the scales and scales not matching up to liners.This caused me to stop buying many Spydercos sight unseen as because of those 5 or 6 with return shipping,selling at a loss,sending one to W and R and getting it returned to me with nothing done to it I figure I was out near 100.00
The one that was returned to me from W and R with out any fix at all was a new old stock G10 Harpy that the lock bar did not sit flush with the scale.Someone at W and R told me it was some problem with the lock bar pin and it could not be fixed.I asked if they could replace it and was told no as they are no longer made.I sold it very cheap to someone that was going to get a knife modder to fix it.I heard later that at that time the W and R dept had many problems with staff and if true I can understand that.
I talked to Joyce about it at Blade 05,I was then looking for a black blade Native with out blade play.They got the one from the display and even it had a good bit of side to side play.
I will say that from what I have seen in the past year QC has gotten better but it is still not where it once was.
Again I will say that I love Spyderco products and will continue to collect them.I just feel that feedback like this while maybe not popular does let companies know that there is problems even if it was,as it could have been in my 5 or 6 in a row,extreme bad luck on the part of the customer.
 
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