SpyderOil

[kidcongo]

So way back, when Spyderco only made knife sharpeners, you wouldn't have thought it was a good idea they get into making knives?

Exactly, in fact they actually started out making gizmos to help technicians solder, unless that is just some weird legend. The original "spyder". Anyways, it's not like Spyderco has to open an oil refinery and diminish its R&D on knives due to the sudden burden of being in the oil business. Selling "Spyderoil" is the same as selling Spyderco T-shirts and Ball-caps. You partner with an existing company that's making a good product, maybe tweak a spec or two to make your version unique, and then put a label on the finished product.

This is what CRK does with their Christo-lube grease. They aren't making it, they are just selling it as their recommended lube, with a CRK sticker on it. What it started out as (likely a DuPont product) is subject of speculation.

My guess is that with all of the global Spyderco factories likely using their own locally sourced lube for each product line, it would be hard to recommend one Spyderco oil that would be compatable with all of the knife designs, some of which have plastic bearing cages, some of which are riveted, some of which with phosphor washers, sone of which have FRN handles, etc etc etc.

 

[kwackster]

A couple of years ago at an Amsterdam Meet i managed to give Sal a syringe of 10 weight Nano-Oil for testing purposes, and iirc when i asked him the next year if he ever used it his reply was that he kept it on his desk.
Time was short (as everyone tries to talk to him & Eric on events like this of course), so i didn't get to ask him if he liked the stuff or not.
Maybe he himself will chime in about the subject, and if Nano-Oil could be a candidate for SpyderOil.

 

[JD Spydo]

So way back, when Spyderco only made knife sharpeners, you wouldn't have thought it was a good idea they get into making knives?

Oh no TravisH I didn't say that at all nor did I imply that either. Because those two actually go hand in hand that is knives and tools that sharpen them. It only makes sense for someone who is good at sharpening devices to know what makes a good knife as well. What I was really trying to get at is strictly from a business standpoint>> if Spyderco did market their own oil for lubricating knives ( or any other mechanical moving parts for that matter) I just really doubt if the profit margin woud make it worth their while.

There are already several reputable companies out there that make superior oils and lubrication products and a few of them are years ahead of their competitors. My take was for Spyderco to simply stay with what they are really good at and that is making top notch quality blades and innovative sharpening equipment. In other words go with what you already know you're really good at.

Now I will say that if Spyderco was to hook up with Militec, Break Free or any other producer of high quality oil and have it marketed with their name it I have no doubt it would sell very well. But considering the time involved versus the end line profit margin I just think their time could be better spent. I just call the shots the way I see them>> who knows with Sal & Eric's talent it wouldn't surprise if they did at some point concoct a lubricating product that could compete>> but again any business needs to focus on their bottom line profit margin to keep the doors open and the light bills paid.

 

[jpm2]

I still have 1/2 a big bottle of breakfree clp bought 20 years ago that gets mainly used on guns, knives and fishing reels.
I won't be needing knife oil anytime soon.