Super Large prototype Spyder: The Bison???

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
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Back in the year 2004 I attended the Spirit Of Steel knife show in Dallas TX. One of the reasons I went was to see what Spyderco had new at the time to sell or display. They had some prototypes at that show and there was one that really stood out to me. I asked Eric Glesser about one big massive folder in particular that was a prototype that they were contemplating producing at the time. He said it was called the BISON. It was a huge folder with a fairly lengthy and wide blade. I remember that it felt good when I handled it.

It was talked about a lot on the forums somewhat when I joined the Spyderco.com forum back in Sept 2004. After a year went by you would hear about it occasionally but it never made the line up.

I really liked the concept of the Bison model and thought it would be an excellent outdoor folder. I've wondered over the years why it never made the main line up? Most of the guys I talked to during that time period liked it as well.

I'm just curious as to whether any of you know anything about that model and why it never made it to the limelight. It was a massive sized folder and I thought it would be a hunter's dream. But other than some platter chatter on the Forums I never heard anything about it.

So what's the deal with the Bison model? Any information would be appreciated.
 
Would be nice with some pictures. I too have heard much but never seen a picture yet.

Perhaps now can incorporate a ball-lock with large bearing like d'allara. Polymer tab does not fully satisfy me :)
 
Hi JD,

We have it in the prototype case in R&D.

At this time, we're working on a better way to keep it closed. It's a very large knife with a long blade and we'd like a better detent than we have.

We have a few models waiting for this soloution.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi JD,

We have it in the prototype case in R&D.

At this time, we're working on a better way to keep it closed. It's a very large knife with a long blade and we'd like a better detent than we have.

We have a few models waiting for this soloution.

sal
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Great to hear that!

Thanks for sharing.
 
Whoa. Definitely a blast from the past.

I remember talking about the Bison, and another called the Viking back on the spyderco company forum. Then they kinda' went away.

I figured I was just hallucinating.
 
I don't post a whole lot but I buy and use a great deal. I have been wondering what happened to this model myself. The one area that we don't have currently covered is a big, heavy knife with a large, long blade. I for one like a huge heavy knife. I realize most don't really like a lot of extra weight but I myself do. Sal, please bring on the "Bison" and the viking also as I am also a fan of symetreical blades.;)
 
What if you use a bigger detent ball, with a correspondingly larger hole in the blade for it to fit into? I'm thinking like... a detent ball the size of a BB or so (obviously everything else would have to be bigger to fit and I have no idea about the mechanics of knife opening, but it's just a thought).
 
Detent can be increased for the bb lock by increasing the amount of how much the blade curved tang is inside the pathway of the bb (if that makes sense). Secondly due to the increased size then the large bb can be used which in turn enables a stronger spring to improve detent. With strong spring then to reduce wear on the locking face then maybe instead of straight grind on the lock face (on blade) you can incorporate minor curve?

Don't mean to teach the experts but I love my manix2, d'allara and poliwog so much that I spend lots of time on analyzing the design. Nature of my job, force of habit you see. In my opinion, a redesign of the bb lock and with the increased space to play with due to bison's larger size can enable Spyderco to come up with potentially the stongest folder. Then I'd enjoy buying that :)
 
Sal, have you ever considered making the older style liner lock, the type which uses a slip joint style backspring, or even creating a "non-RIL" frame lock to work that way? Definitely would solve the issue of keeping it closed. Or is the lack of resistance to opening the major attraction of the Walker and Reeve locks.

Paul
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pcsheriff1 said:
I don't post a whole lot but I buy and use a great deal. I have been wondering what happened to this model myself. The one area that we don't have currently covered is a big, heavy knife with a large, long blade. I for one like a huge heavy knife. I realize most don't really like a lot of extra weight but I myself do. Sal, please bring on the "Bison" and the viking also as I am also a fan of symetreical blades.;)
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I'm agreeing with what you're saying "pcsherriff1". Ever since I got to handle the prototype at that knife show I've thought "what a great, large sized, folder/hunter knife that would be. And just think of the awesome severing power it would have in full Spyderedge :cool: Not to mention being able to do the cutting chores of a fixed blade.

I still think that the Bison model would truly be a unique model in size and the capability of a huge folder would be quite useful for many outdoor cutting chores. Not the mention the durability it would have.

Yeah I wish someone did have some pics of the Bison and Viking both. I'm sure others are interested too.
 
I don't know what kind of lock was supposed to be on the Bison, but I was thinking that a larger detent ball on a frame lock or liner lock would allow for more pressure to keep the blade closed because there would be a correspondingly deeper hole in the blade for the detent ball to fit into. The spring wouldn't necessarily have to be stronger because detent resistance is a function of the geometry of the detent ball/hole and the spring pressure.

I think I get what you're saying too, Catherion. The cut out where the ball rests in would have to be redesigned to give more resistance, but still allow the knife to open smoothly. About incorporating a curve into the grind on the lock face (on the blade) instead of it being straight, do you mean a U-shaped channel for the ball to travel up? I think that that would not wear as evenly because you'd be increasing the amount of area that the ball is contacting, I don't know though.

I'm sure it can't be a simple thing to design because "We have a few knives waiting for this solution" indicates to me that if there was an easy way to do it they would have done it.
 
Hi Paul,

The first prototype for Bob T Linerlock was made that way. At the time, it was too hard to open. We know a lot more now. R&D came up with 6 methods that we're experimenting with.

Regarding large folders, we have several in-the-works. Probably see something this year. 4.5" - 5.25" blade lengths.

sal
 
4.5 to 5.25?

I usually lurk, never post.

But, I am a fan of large folders.

However, I just purchased my first Spyderco- a Chinook 2.

Completely blown away by Spyderco's fit and finish. Hands down the best of any blade I own. This has pushed all my large Benchmade, SOG, and Cold Steel folders to gathering dust in a drawer. It is now my daily EDC blade.

A 5" blade length Spyderco would literally be the most amazing thing EVER!
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Paul,

The first prototype for Bob T Linerlock was made that way. At the time, it was too hard to open. We know a lot more now. R&D came up with 6 methods that we're experimenting with.

Regarding large folders, we have several in-the-works. Probably see something this year. 4.5" - 5.25" blade lengths.

sal
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Now that sounds interesting.

Going to have to save more.
 
Kenix said:
Sweet, something to compete with the Rukus for folding baton'er :D
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I would not advise batoning the Rukus. Stop pin/bar is thin and would not like batoning as well as a couple more issues :)

Only folder I would baton is my Rao.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Paul,

The first prototype for Bob T Linerlock was made that way. At the time, it was too hard to open. We know a lot more now. R&D came up with 6 methods that we're experimenting with.

Regarding large folders, we have several in-the-works. Probably see something this year. 4.5" - 5.25" blade lengths.

sal
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Sal I love you.
:D:thumbup:
 
A question I must have answered about this Folder In Question i.e. The BISON

Mr Glesser how did you all arrive at that name? :D

Is it because it's proportioned like the beast by the same name? :D

Or is it intended to "BUFFALO" all other big folders on the market :D

And Sir I do hope that if this noble beast ever hits the market I do want to see this great knife with a Spyderedge. Then I can give my SE Temperance 1 a rest ;)
 
I would hope that after awaiting a large-sized Spyderco (like the Bison) for a very long time, that when finally produced it was ambidextrous.
 
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