superficial spyderco dilemma

williamsld8

williamsld8

Joined
Sep 19, 2010
Messages
226
so everybody talks about how great spyderco knives are,and most people here talk about the ones they own and how great they are. I personally don't own one and was considering buying one to find out if I would like them as well. This has been delayed so far because of the fact that I can't get over how hideous they are IMO. Now I guess it's like cars or horse s or women,what one man finds gorgeous another sees a pile of trash. But is it foolish to skip out on owning/using a particular tool that could be of such great quality,simply because you can't come to terms with it's apearance?
 
williamsld8 said:
so everybody talks about how great spyderco knives are,and most people here talk about the ones they own and how great they are. I personally don't own one and was considering buying one to find out if I would like them as well. This has been delayed so far because of the fact that I can't get over how hideous they are IMO. Now I guess it's like cars or horse s or women,what one man finds gorgeous another sees a pile of trash. But is it foolish to skip out on owning/using a particular tool that could be of such great quality,simply because you can't come to terms with it's apearance?
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Spyderco makes a very wide variety of designs. You find them -all- hideous?
 
Kinda agree.

But it is only until you get one in your hands and begin to play with it for more than a coupla minutes... THEN the beauty shows itself.
 
Buy one and try it out a bit, you may just start to think it's not so ugly after while. Things that work well tend to grow on you.
 
I was hesitent to buy my first for the same reason I would start out with one of their cheaper knives to see if you like them or not.
 
Turbomammoth said:
Kinda agree.

But it is only until you get one in your hands and begin to play with it for more than a coupla minutes... THEN the beauty shows itself.
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I agree that you don't fully appreciate a Spyderco until you handle one. The ergonomics are where the beauty of Spydercos shine. They really grow on you for sure.

Personally, I love the look of Spydercos generally speaking. Some designs are an exception, though.
 
I don't personally find that many of their designs visually appealing either, but I do own a few and am looking to own a few more. They are well executed and funcional if somewhat strange. They just cut so well and Sal is a great guy, you owe it to yourself to try at least one.
If you don't like it they resell very well and at least you won't have to wonder any more.

I reccomend an inexpensive model first in case they aren't your thing, the Delica is a favorite of mine, pick the one that it least fugly to you and try it out.

Sometimes while on the forums, I feel like Spyderco gets overhyped or over reccomended, then I pull my Delica 4 out of my pocket and smile because it is close to perfect.;)
 
Hi williamsld8 -

The idea here is function over form.

The only way you can decide for yourself is to get one into your hands.

Many people in today's world make many choices based on form over function, and that is ok with me, but I like to be a little more open minded when I can.

I too believe that the aesthetics of the Spyderco products are different, and perhaps not as pleasing to some as a more conventionally designed knife.

However, I am willing to buy in so that I can feel what so many people love about Spyderco knives.

If you have the expendable cash to try one, jump in and see for yourself.

I am starting to warm to the the design - the leaf-shaped blade with the "spyderhole". I should have my first "real" Spyderco tomorrow if the USPS comes through with my package from Knifeworks!

I really appreciate how a full-flat grind will slice, which is what I really use a knife for most of the time.

It all boils down to you and what you are willing to open up yourself to experience. Then you can decide if you like them.

best regards -

mqqn
 
I was in the same boat...kinda. I actually liked the looks of them, but always considered them a step below my Benchmades. I only owned one and it was an old cheapo model that I broke the tip off of years ago. I judged them all by that one, so I stuck with my Benchmades. I ended up trying out a Sage II and now own 6 Spydies. Their quality has changed my mind and now I love them.
 
williamsld8 said:
so everybody talks about how great spyderco knives are,and most people here talk about the ones they own and how great they are. I personally don't own one and was considering buying one to find out if I would like them as well. This has been delayed so far because of the fact that I can't get over how hideous they are IMO. Now I guess it's like cars or horse s or women,what one man finds gorgeous another sees a pile of trash. But is it foolish to skip out on owning/using a particular tool that could be of such great quality,simply because you can't come to terms with it's apearance?
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Once it gives you a spydie bite, the deadly potent potion will takes it course. You then will begin to see how an astute scythe it really is. :D
 
I like all types of knives, and have thought Spyderco's looked really good since I first saw an Endura(and bought it) in 1990 or 91.

They do have some funky looking ones at times, but I like the looks of all there regular productions that stay in the lineup a while. Now that I think about it, I can't think of another modern production company that has had as many great looking folder models as Spyderco IMO.

If you think they look hidious, the look probobally won't grow on you much. The ergonomics and performance may cause you to forget about the looks though.
 
I feel the same way about the aesthetics of Spyderco, however I purchased a Gayle Bradley and it is one of the best knives for the money I have owned.
 
with the exception, yes i do find them all hideous. and the only one i wouldnt consider hideous would be the tenacious. something about the tenacious is pretty on par with the size and shape and all that design what-have-you. but i honestly really dont like holes in my blades. never have. and not sure if thats something i can look past. and although it has its strong points, flat grinds are not exactly my favorite. so all in all the most appealing (to me) of all the spyderco's already has two hits before i even try it, on top of the fact that i still dont care for its looks next to some of my favorites. but if i were to try one, it would have to be the tenacious. anybody have a tenacious fine edge they would like to share their opinions on?

@mmcc100: so do you now like them more than your benchmades? or are you just saying that now they are on the same level, where as before you held them to a really low standard?
 
If a knife - any knife - doesn't "speak to me," then I don't buy it. I would suggest finding a local gun & knife show and checking them out in person. Who knows, you might end up going home with one (or two).

Surely you can find at least one Spydie that speaks to you.

spyderco-jess-horn-rare-jigged-bone-original-nip_300456246934.jpg


002_c27_jess_horn_pe_open_right.jpg
 
I thought Spydies were kind of odd looking but had to buy something beside Benchmades so I went whole hog and bought a Police 3 G-10 (4 1/2" blade) and a Military (4" blade) because I like big blades and their reputation for sharpness and "in hand" ergonomics is well known.

I love them now. Their beauty is found in your hand when you lock into a knife that you know you could stab as hard as you wanted - to the point of possibly breaking one, and make any ort of cut w/o fear of losing your grip on the knife.

I have bought a 2nd Military today because I got a great price on it. I've also bought Endura 4 G-10, Tenacious ($35) a smaller big blade knife that won't dent you wallet, Persistence and a Centofante 3 which is like a light saber for slicing and so light that I often carry it clipped in my shirt pocket like a ball point pen.

Get off the fence and go to Google Shopping results and get the best deal you can on a Tenacious or an Endura 4 FFG w/FRN handle. You'll soon find out they are beautiful knives once you grip one and use it for cutting. ;)
 
after seeing many 1000s of beautiful old knives with great polish & fit an objective look at spyderco shows a blade & 2 pieces of black plastic. however in my work a spydie makes things so much easier. the tolerances are increadible & it's hard to beat the blade to weight ratio. spydies are sorta like an sniper rifle not pretty but the function is wonderful. a spydie will never command the attention that a remington whittler but when they go to work you love them.
dennis
 
Spyderco to me is like a Glock pistol. While they may not have all the flash and appeal of say a gold glass benchmade, or the tiger stripes of a stider; its all about functionality. I have been a firearms instructor since 1995 and I listen to all the Glock hate and I have decided what most of it boils down to is its lack of tacticool look. They are plain jane but when it all comes down to is does it shoot where you point it and does it reliably go bang? In glocks case, it does so as good ro better than any gun I have fired; and I've fired truckloads. Spyderco is SOMEWHAT the same. While the weird lines my not be someones cup of tea, if you purchase the model for the use that you will be using it for 90% of the time, you will fall in love. I have several auto knives and while they are cool, if SHTF while I'm out patrolling and in the worst case scenario, my life depends on a knife, I don't want to rely on a spring to function correctly. I can flick my spyderco's open as fast as my autos and they will open every single time. They are also built very well in various choices of steel so every type of user should be able to find something that suits their needs. Try one, you'll be hooked.
 
williamsld8 said:
so everybody talks about how great spyderco knives are,and most people here talk about the ones they own and how great they are. I personally don't own one and was considering buying one to find out if I would like them as well. This has been delayed so far because of the fact that I can't get over how hideous they are IMO. Now I guess it's like cars or horse s or women,what one man finds gorgeous another sees a pile of trash. But is it foolish to skip out on owning/using a particular tool that could be of such great quality,simply because you can't come to terms with it's apearance?
Click to expand...

Spyderco's are beautifully pragamatic examples of quality imo...even the Byrd lines are really good.

I have a Manix 2 and it is as close to perfection as it gets.
 
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