Spyderco ugly?

when i first started seriously looking at knives, i couldn't see myself ever getting a spyderco. i thought they were hideous. it was the bump, the leaf shape blades. plastic handles. ick

that said, i now find myself wishing they had a ti frame lock para-millie..... 4" is too big for me, not a fan of liner locks... but i saw that they just tossed a frame lock millie out and i shat myself. it grows on ya... i can only imagine what will happen once i own one. but until then, i still like my benchmades
 
Butt ugly spydie.

chinookbandana3.jpg
[/URL] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]
 
I don't care for jewelry, but I love knives.

Before I tried a Spyderco the word teradactal (Pterodactyl dinosaur) would pop in my head. Then I read about Spyderco knives and tried one, I was hooked, nearly 100 later I think they are gorgeous, function, fit and materials make them so.
 
They're not all ugly, but there are models that certainly are ugly, IMO. But the Spyderco's I own and owned were all good knives.

But that's just a matter of taste. Many people don't like my Skoda, say its ugly, but it has seen a big part of Europe. It drove me to southern Europe, to the North Cape and to the Russian border. It's seen many kinds of terrains and weather, but it still drives without any problem. I always say: "it's the Casio of cars; it's cheap and some say its ugly, but it's tough and reliable".

And I think the same counts for Spyderco knives.
 
There are some Spydercos that make me scratch my head and pass on by. But for the most part, Spyderco has a certain utilitarian aesthetic that really appeals to me.

Para.jpg

The Paramilitary reminds me of my car. Kinda clunky, and kinda quirky, but incredibly well designed and built and just a pleasure to own and use.

If you need a beautiful Spyderco, I think this one counts:

IMG_0571.jpg
 
I think they're ugly as sin. I can't stand the leaf shaped blade. To me, a knife has to flow well. I just can't find many spydercos overtly attractive.
 
For me, Spyderco knives are gorgeous but definitely in a weird way, and I can see why some people simply don't like them. They are mostly very similar (with some very large exceptions) in their layout (black plastic, leaf ground blade, spyderhole, etc) but I think they are some of the coolest knives out there when it comes to design and shape... let's just say that they aren't exactly traditional-looking. And that's what makes me like them so much; the balance, the dodo, the poliwog... awesome little knives that don't look like anything else out there. And they work so well... great materials and execution, splendid little spartan packages. Of course, the designs (think chinook) can sometimes just be downright ugly, but I still end up liking those ones because their are so different.

As many have said before, it's mostly a matter of opinion, but IMO, they look - and work - awesome. My go-to EDC knives 95% of the time.
 
When I first got into knives spyderco did not appeal to me.
I was not a fan of the spyder hole as well.



Now with over 35 spydies, I think you can say I found my brand. :D



I will admit though, some spydercos still do not appeal to me like the shabaria, volpe.
 
Last edited:
Spyderco is like most other brands i like...Most designs are great, with some being not so good-looking.

I love the way the Endura looks! *thumbup
 
I thought they were ugly when I first saw one (cousin's delica that I saw when I was 9) now I have the bug and they are my favorite production knife company.
 
cultivateitnow said:
I also would never use one as a defensive blade because the design is extremely bad for that application.
Click to expand...

Check out the civilian, matriarch, p'kal, lava.




Not every knife is designed so it could be used for hunting, diving, EDC, self defense, etc.




cultivateitnow said:
1.Does it have a good blade steel and heat treat?
2.Does it have a good blade design?
3.Does it have a good lock up system, liners, pins and handles?
Click to expand...

1) VG-10, S30V, H1, M4, ZDP-189... I would say so.
2) Again, not every knife is made to be used for every task thrown at it. Overall, the leaf shape could handle anything as well as the hawkbills, drop points, etc.
3) Spyderco uses so many handle materials from FRN, G10, Micarta, Carbonfiber(textured, peelply, just to name a few), SS, Aluminum. Lockup's are like a vault, liners yep but not always. Pins? Sure they use them, but they are starting to steer away from these with their knives such as the salt series. And on the knives that do use them, 99.9% lock up solid, have no play, pins never loosen over time. Look at the old delicas. Literally over 10 years and they are still going strong.
 
Last edited:
From cultivateitnow;
For me it is all about design. I ask the following:

Does it have a good blade steel and heat treat?
Does it have a good blade design?
Does it have a good lock up system, liners, pins and handles?

To me the spyder fails a few of the above,
Click to expand...

Which of the three things listed do Spyderco knives fail in?

Do all Spyderco knives fail the same "few" of the above?

Their folders do not have the best design for outdoor activities, hunting being the worst. Could they be used? Sure. I also would never use one as a defensive blade because the design is extremely bad for that application.
Click to expand...

You imply that they are all poor for hunting and self defense. Does this also include the fixed blades Spyderco offers?

tipoc
 
Care to tell me how spyderco "fails a few of the above"?



Were just talking here, I hope do not come off with a attitude.
 
I can understand where that "Spyderco knives are ugly" sentiment comes from, although I don't share it.

There are two different ways of finding beauty in something. Pure aesthetics, and the beauty that comes with incredible functionality. For example, let's look at motorcycles (since I've recently become a motorcycle aficionado). I may look at a motorcycle with smooth, flowing lines, good curves, a sleek look, and a balanced appearance, and say, "Damn! That is a beautiful bike!". And it is. It may have a weak engine, poor handling, bad ergonomics, and substandard breaks, but that doesn't change the fact that it is absolutely beautiful. At the same time, I may look at another bike. It looks heavier, bulkier, with fatter tires, straighter handlebars, a wider seat, and bigger, more obtrusive instrumentation. And I may say, "Damn! That is a beautiful bike!". I may even claim it's as beautiful as the first bike. Now, it isn't nearly as pretty in a purely aesthetic way, but because I understand the functionality, and I can appreciate the beauty that comes with a well designed tool, I can see a level of beauty in the second bike.

The same is true, I think, of Spyderco Knives. Their design trademark is the hole on the blade for opening the knife. This hole, in order to work, forces a different blade shape than you see on almost all other knives. It's going to be wider, it's going to be less symmetrical, it's going to look bulkier, and weirdly shaped. Especially when the vast majority of knives people see do not share this shape. From a purely artistic aesthetic beauty perspective, Spyderco knives will fare poorly compared to traditional knives.

However, those who have held, and used, a Spyderco knife will often remark on how amazingly useful that little hole is. I know personally, I've never found a thumb stud that comes anywhere close to the spyderco style hole for ease of opening and closing a knife. Once you understand that functionality, you start to look at the hole differently, and you begin to see a functional beauty in it. Same with the black plastic handles found on so many Spyderco knives. When compared to modern synthetics like micarta, G10, or Carbon Fiber, they look cheap, boring, and plain. When compared to classic materials like hardwoods, bone, stag, etc, they look cheap, boring and plain. However, the FRN handles are very cheap to make, provide a relatively good grip, even when wet, are very durable (practically unbreakable), and are impervious to liquids, weather, corrosion, and many/most solvents. It's not fancy, but it works really well. There's a beauty in that.

"The car may not be as pretty to look at, but once you pop the hood, you realize it has a beautiful engine", so to speak.

And all of the above is without even getting into personal preferences, personal experiences that shape our tastes and perception of beauty, etc. ;-)
 
Cultivateitnow one problem with your criticism is that because you do not speak of any specific knife in the large line up of Spyderco knives, it is difficult to learn anything from your critique or draw any conclusions from it. Spyderco offers a variety of blade shapes, lengths, steels etc. so when you say "it is too short" I do not know what knife you are referring to and so I cannot learn anything from what you have to offer.

Without explaining what your specific needs are neither I, nor anyone else, can point you to a knife in Spyderco's catalog that might meet those needs or come close.

Some things are also a matter of taste.

There is a difference between a valid critique and simply trolling. The former provides specific information for a debate or discussion. The latter simply wants to raise a fuss. Decide which you want and proceed.

tipoc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top