Steel Junky's - need opinions

5. We're still taking opinions and suggestions on the "program".



sal[/QUOTE]

Hi Sal,

Thank you for offering this program! I am quite excited about it as it will help me learn about steels and get me into actually MAKING knives...:D

For the program, could you post a list of blade shapes and their corresponding steels, say 3 months before they are made (Or do you have the blade shapes already decided and what order they will be released)? That way we would be able to sign up for that blade, save the funds, and be able to plan for the mules we really, really want...if we are on limited budgets...

Thanks so much for listening to all of us, Sal...another reason I buy Spyderco knives...:thumbup:

Tim
 
Hi Larrin, Aichi also makes a hi-tungsten steel called AUS-8W, we used it on a sashimi knife several years ago.
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That was one of the steels I was thinking of but I was trying to focus on steels made here as the knives were supposed to be made in golden. I'm a fan of tungsten steels, obviously not for any percieved need for red hardness, but they have a bite to them.

My desires are obviously secondary to the mass of people that will make this project work fiscally. I could come up with some pretty obscure steels I'd like that would probably ruin the project. I assure you that's not in my best interests. I'll go with the flow, every now and then sounding something out.

Very nice cutting /slicing design BTW Sal. It'll be strong too. Joe
 
Th232 said:
Definitely Seconded!

Edit: Sal, I have to know, is this a FB version of the Lil' Temp II? It just seems to me that the blade shape and grind, the guard, the way the handle would sit in the hand all says "Lil' Temp II".
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It's similar in pattern but not planned as the "2". It's just an efficient pattern that I like and thought would work for the project. The blade is taken from the Temperance, the handle is a combination of the temperance & stretch.

Hi Joe, I wanted a "Golden made" piece for the first few runs so I can have more control over the project. Making "mules" in Seki will be more challenging as to the small amount of steel needed and long lead time for "exotic" steels.

Hey Tim, I'm just planning the one blade shape at this time. Changes in design, thickness, tooling and set-up hikes the cost.

I'm guessing that when we do the original "sign-up", we'll ask one piece or all pieces? We'll probably need to put a limit on how many pieces a person can purchase.

Tohatchi, We've done quite a few projects that were "not for profit", some planned, like the 911 project or the ongoing OIF/OEF project and Whale rescue blade, of course some were not planned :o .

Hi Curious one, thanx for the request, I'll think on it.

sal
 
Hi Joe, I wanted a "Golden made" piece for the first few runs so I can have more control over the project. Making "mules" in Seki will be more challenging as to the small amount of steel needed and long lead time for "exotic" steels.
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Understood. I do have a question that has been bothering me. ok, here it is.

Some steels are obviously going to be more popular than others. As an example, the response to 52100 and M4 are very positive. I would think this would translate to higher demand and sales for those steels than some others that are not as well known.

How do you handle this? Also, as far as prices go it will be difficult to project the true costs of an unknown ( to Spyderco) steel. Some of these will obviously have higher processing costs. Do you wait untill you know the real costs before setting a price? I'd bet if you took a vote you'd find most people would be against Spyderco taking any loss at all on this project, just as they would be against paying too much.

Not knowing true costs is the one problem I have with paying a subscription for a year ( 4 knives). If your people are good enough to project for the extra wear and usage on tooling & belts for working high speed alloy steels then more power to them.

and.....

I'll make up a list of 5 steels. If you get around to using them all I won't have Thom Brogan dress up in a tutu and dance around the storefront in golden, scaring customers away. :') heh, heh, heh, Pimp daddy Joe/Raleigh NC
 
The Mastiff said:
Understood. I do have a question that has been bothering me. ok, here it is.

Some steels are obviously going to be more popular than others. As an example, the response to 52100 and M4 are very positive. I would think this would translate to higher demand and sales for those steels than some others that are not as well known.

How do you handle this? Also, as far as prices go it will be difficult to project the true costs of an unknown ( to Spyderco) steel. Some of these will obviously have higher processing costs. Do you wait untill you know the real costs before setting a price? I'd bet if you took a vote you'd find most people would be against Spyderco taking any loss at all on this project, just as they would be against paying too much.

Not knowing true costs is the one problem I have with paying a subscription for a year ( 4 knives). If your people are good enough to project for the extra wear and usage on tooling & belts for working high speed alloy steels then more power to them.

and.....

I'll make up a list of 5 steels. If you get around to using them all I won't have Thom Brogan dress up in a tutu and dance around the storefront in golden, scaring customers away. :') heh, heh, heh, Pimp daddy Joe/Raleigh NC
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Good question Joe. That's why I want to do a test run. Some steels cost $6-$8 per lb. Some cost $22-$25. I would guess the blade for this piece will be a lb. Some steels grind in one pass (D2), some take 4 (S90V), processing costs will vary greatly. Some are oil quenched and must be cleaned, etc.

The only way that I've come up with is to monitor costs, add a small margin and post the price. That's where the rubber will meet the road, and that will determine the viability of the project.

Whatever will have Thom dancing in front of the store in a tutu, I'm in for.

sal
 
The Mastiff said:
I'll make up a list of 5 steels. If you get around to using them all I won't have Thom Brogan dress up in a tutu and dance around the storefront in golden, scaring customers away.
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I'm glad to see the word pimp correctly applied to pandering for a change. Modern American English has grossly declined in quality during the past score years. I'm admittedly appalled to be subject of said pandering, pimp daddy Joe.

Sal Glesser said:
Whatever will have Thom dancing in front of the store in a tutu, I'm in for.
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That's an easy list:

  • Smallfly w/g-10 scales
  • Caly3 w/carbon fiber scales
  • Stretch w/carbon fiber scales
  • H1 Schempp Camp Knife
  • Golden-made Schempp Camp Knife
  • Paramilitary w/four position pocket-clip
  • 3V Schempp Tuff folder w/four position pocket-clip
  • Military w/mid-lock or front-lock (better yet, Compression Lock)
  • Lil Temp2 w/nested Compression Lock and four position pocket-clip
  • 12C27M Manix w/four position wire pocket clip
  • Smallfly w/g-10 scales
  • Caly3 w/carbon fiber scales
  • Test Mule w/CPM M4HC, 52100, D2, or CPM154

Just a bare-bones, no-nonsense list. ;)
 
Hi Thom,

It does give you an idea of how many models we work on at one time, and your list is only about 25% of the projects.

The new Millie has a stop-lock.

I'll buy the tutu, what size do you where?

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Thom,

It does give you an idea of how many models we work on at one time, and your list is only about 25% of the projects.

The new Millie has a stop-lock.

I'll buy the tutu, what size do you where?

sal
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OOOOHHHH, what's a stop-lock?

Can we geta video on youtube with Thom dancing???
 
I've got dial-up, so not much chance of online vids, but I am in the market for a good dvd camcorder. Does anyone know of any for under $425 shipped?

Sal,

2XL should cut it, but I'll gladly take a g-10 Smallfly as soon as you can sell one.

What's a stoplock?
 
Sal:

I do not understand, why would you do a survey on the forum when you must have 100,000 or so email addresses that you could send a survey to and get feedback from people you know are customers?
 
Hi AG,

heavy question. Had to think about how to explain it.

1. Our email addresses are for the most part dealers and distributors. The percentage of dealers and distributors that actually know or care about the steel in the knife is a small minority. (not like the "old" days ;) )

We really don't have a retail email list. Just a few addresses for our local retail customers.

2. The "survey" was really whether or not there is enough interest in the project to bother. Determining steel types, sizes, parameters, etc. comes out in the dialog. Dialog is more informative than "one shot" surveys.

3. A "Steel Junky's" thread in a less popular section would attract those interested in one steel from another and may want to get a piece without having to buy an expensive custom knife. It narrows down the group by interest.

4. I am an admitted steel junky and many of the "junky's" that are here, I have met at shows or Spyderco "meets", many I have been communicating with on these forums for 6 or 7 years. They have established credibility and/or interest.

Hope that anwers your question.

Say "hi" to Goldy for me.

sal
 
Stop-lock.

I believe I've mentioned this before. We came up with any idea for a lock back about 2000. Actually engineering and creating a working model proved very challenging for many years. The solutions were incremental and involved a number of people in R&D. We got a patent on the lock about a year or so ago. We made a working model early this year that held "very heavy duty" (MBC).

I would like to introduce the lock on a refined Military model. We'll be making a number of "improvements" to the new model, that we have come up with of have been suggested by our customers, but I think that is a subject for another thread.

sal
 
Sal, that prototype looks sweet, sign me up for two of each and let me know where to have my paychecks direct deposited :D
 
I for one am very glad you did not do this through email, and did it on the forums. As I am a Spyderco customer, I have more than I should or need, I’m sure Sal or spyderco does not have an email address for me.
 
I really like the prototype as well. I'll be interested in checking out the different steels.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Sal:

I do not understand, why would you do a survey on the forum when you must have 100,000 or so email addresses that you could send a survey to and get feedback from people you know are customers?
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It is hard to have an open discussion via e-mail surveys. I'm glad Sal choose this media for the discussion, as I am still trying to learn about steels.
 
Sal -

Handle design modifications sound good.

I wasn't advocating different blade thicknesses - just one thickness that would be enough to test properties beyond just slicing ability. 3mm sounds like a good compromise.

One of the things that keeps me coming back to Spyderco is that you're willing to try things that make better knives, not just add to the bottom line. Putting some real testing behind different steels will do just that.

That said, are you sure you want to exploit Thom for commercial gain?
 
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