Taichung Spydercos (the Domino)

[Popsickle]

this is easily my favorite spyderco. As for those people that say a knife shouldn't cost this much and be made in Taiwan...... you've obviously never handled a spyderco from Taichung. More for us if you don't want them

 

[RamZar]

The grittiness you hear when moving the blade seems to be from part of the steel lock bar insert with a dimple in contact with the blade.

Here's another comparison picture this time with all carbon fiber Spyderco EDCs from top to bottom: Domino, Sage 1, Caly 3, and Chaparral:

 

[Macgruber81]

I love my Southard, Bradley, and Techno Spydies. That said, my PM2 is right up there too. Now I can tell the difference between my Taichung models and my Delicas made in Japan.

 

[bdmicarta]

Once you take out all those excuses the last leg an anti Taichung "knife it all" has to stand on is that the Taiwan spydercos should be cheaper because labor costs are cheaper in Taiwan and therefore the savings should be passed on to the consumer.

I'll agree that there are a lot of factors involved. I'll also agree that some of us may not be informed enough to know how much the products should cost. But if it is not cheaper to make the knifes in Taiwan then why not make them in the US?

Some of these arguments came up in discussions about the Starmate. On the surface the Starmate seems that it would have the same amount of materials and work involved as the Military, but yet it costs about 50% more. The usual explanation was that the knife was made overseas and cost more to be made there, in which case I wondered again why it wasn't made in the US instead.

All other things being equal I would prefer to buy the US-made knife. And if there is no price advantage to buying a knife produced elsewhere then I would especially prefer to see the knife made in the US. And with the high unemployment rate in this country there should be plenty of labor available.

And BTW I have a Bradley Folder and a Vallotton and I like them both. I also have a couple of PM2's and a couple of Mules that I like, as well as a couple of Tenacious, so I have nothing against the different factories producing the knives.

 

[RamZar]

But if it is not cheaper to make the knifes in Taiwan then why not make them in the US?

Capacity and capital investments.

 

[salmonkiller]

i'll agree that there are a lot of factors involved. I'll also agree that some of us may not be informed enough to know how much the products should cost. But if it is not cheaper to make the knifes in taiwan then why not make them in the us?

Some of these arguments came up in discussions about the starmate. On the surface the starmate seems that it would have the same amount of materials and work involved as the military, but yet it costs about 50% more. The usual explanation was that the knife was made overseas and cost more to be made there, in which case i wondered again why it wasn't made in the us instead.

All other things being equal i would prefer to buy the us-made knife. And if there is no price advantage to buying a knife produced elsewhere then i would especially prefer to see the knife made in the us. And with the high unemployment rate in this country there should be plenty of labor available.

And btw i have a bradley folder and a vallotton and i like them both. I also have a couple of pm2's and a couple of mules that i like, as well as a couple of tenacious, so i have nothing against the different factories producing the knives.

"yeeeee hawwwwww!"

 

[senorsquare]

no good! Has anyone called Spyderco to see if any of the clips from other models are interchangeable with the Domino?

From the photos it appears that the Domino has the same clip as the Gayle Bradley.

 

[PURPLEDC]

I'll agree that there are a lot of factors involved. I'll also agree that some of us may not be informed enough to know how much the products should cost. But if it is not cheaper to make the knifes in Taiwan then why not make them in the US?

This question has been asked many times over. And each time it seems that people dont like or dont want to accept the answer. Bottom line, Spyderco's Golden plant can only make so many knives. And right now they are at max capacity yet have plans to expand. But if you want certain new models now, the only way to get them is to source factories to help supply demand. Those factories are chosen due to a number of factors. The most important being 1. Who has the capacity to produce the knife. 2. Who can more importantly manufacture it to the quality level they aim to achieve. It really comes down to a matter of if you want to see new spyderco models then you have to accept the Taichung facility.

Sal has stated many times that the only real savings between taiwan and the USA is the exchange rate between the american dollar and the Taiwan currency. Any speculation as to how much money they save every year due to this exchange rate is mere speculation. And it would seem that they take at least some of these profits and re invest them into the company to ensure they can continue to offer their USA produced products and ensure their USA jobs. IMHO that is money well spent and invested. Many people like to look at overseas production as the root of all evil. The unfortunate reality is if it is evil at all its a necessary evil. People complain USA manufacturing jobs are getting pushed overseas but a good many other jobs other than the manufacturing jobs rely on overseas production and those include quality control foreign relations and communications. You need people who can break down the language barrier, and ensure things are being carried out to the standards we come to expect.

No matter what, I think we as consumers have much too simplified LACK of understanding of what really gos into knife production. And I also think that many people have an unwarranted sense of entitlement. They get mad when they see their favorite company making money. I think if they feel this way they are looking at it the wrong way. Companies need to turn a profit to stay a float and pay their workers. People act as its evil when they make a dollar at their expense. Again a necessary evil. I have never heard a knife company say they are running a charity. It is a business and any business that doesnt turn a profit gos the way of the dodo. I choose to judge a knife based on quality in relation to price. NOT which border the stupid thing was made within.

 

[jrblucky7]

In simple and short terms... when i look, specifically, at the Domino and take into consideration the mareials used along with innovative design features like the stainless lockface/over-travel stop and the quality at which the knife is put together I honestly feel like the $189 to my door price tag is very reasonable. Of course I understand why some people would think it ridiculous but they mostly aren't understanding of why I think my money was well spent.

Great knife huh? I'm quickly growing fond of what at first seemed to be an extremely wide blade. Also the slight grittiness that was previously mentioned by another member is starting to subside but I do like that there is enough friction between the detent ball and the blade that when closing the knife it doesn't swing so freely that you have to race to get all digits out of the way haha.

 

[PURPLEDC]

Thanks for the review, I wonder when someone will make a new scale for it? I would have to put a new scale on it.

honestly your opinion on this might change if you see one in person. i thought the stock scale looked really tacky in photos but its simply because a camera cant pick up the nuances of carbon fiber and all its reflective properties. In the flesh the scale is actually very very attractive and not like odd looking wall paper.

 

[PC87]

honestly your opinion on this might change if you see one in person. i thought the stock scale looked really tacky in photos but its simply because a camera cant pick up the nuances of carbon fiber and all its reflective properties. In the flesh the scale is actually very very attractive and not like odd looking wall paper.

Thanks

 

[bengaiser]

This question has been asked many times over. And each time it seems that people dont like or dont want to accept the answer. Bottom line, Spyderco's Golden plant can only make so many knives. And right now they are at max capacity yet have plans to expand. But if you want certain new models now, the only way to get them is to source factories to help supply demand. Those factories are chosen due to a number of factors. The most important being 1. Who has the capacity to produce the knife. 2. Who can more importantly manufacture it to the quality level they aim to achieve. It really comes down to a matter of if you want to see new spyderco models then you have to accept the Taichung facility.

Sal has stated many times that the only real savings between taiwan and the USA is the exchange rate between the american dollar and the Taiwan currency. Any speculation as to how much money they save every year due to this exchange rate is mere speculation. And it would seem that they take at least some of these profits and re invest them into the company to ensure they can continue to offer their USA produced products and ensure their USA jobs. IMHO that is money well spent and invested. Many people like to look at overseas production as the root of all evil. The unfortunate reality is if it is evil at all its a necessary evil. People complain USA manufacturing jobs are getting pushed overseas but a good many other jobs other than the manufacturing jobs rely on overseas production and those include quality control foreign relations and communications. You need people who can break down the language barrier, and ensure things are being carried out to the standards we come to expect.

No matter what, I think we as consumers have much too simplified LACK of understanding of what really gos into knife production. And I also think that many people have an unwarranted sense of entitlement. They get mad when they see their favorite company making money. I think if they feel this way they are looking at it the wrong way. Companies need to turn a profit to stay a float and pay their workers. People act as its evil when they make a dollar at their expense. Again a necessary evil. I have never heard a knife company say they are running a charity. It is a business and any business that doesnt turn a profit gos the way of the dodo. I choose to judge a knife based on quality in relation to price. NOT which border the stupid thing was made within.

I agree with this, and it seems like Spyderco strikes a good balance while at the same time opening new markets. What's evil is when a company moves all the jobs overseas. I've worked for several companies that have done this and each one has died. The people at the top made out, so maybe that was the whole idea, but all the US workers get basically nothing (a small severance if they are lucky). :barf:

 

[PURPLEDC]

I agree with this, and it seems like Spyderco strikes a good balance while at the same time opening new markets. What's evil is when a company moves all the jobs overseas. I've worked for several companies that have done this and each one has died. The people at the top made out, so maybe that was the whole idea, but all the US workers get basically nothing (a small severance if they are lucky). :barf:

Totally agree. It sucks when companies completely lose their way. When I see companies get bought out and they change the way they do everything and stop making usa made goods and cheapen the product line and not keep up quality standards its a large bitter pill to have to swallow sideways. But when a company has their heart and heads in the right place and outsources for the right reasons and does it so as to allow their USA facilities to stay up and running then hell yeah make some knives in taiwan. Especially at the exemplary quality level they are known for. Again many people look at it as an asian made imported product of which it should be a budget friendly product. But really what other taiwan knives compare? I dont see any other taiwan knives made at that level of fit and finish with the premium materials found in the taichung knives. Sure a Rolex and a Swatch and a rolex are both swiss watches. But that doesnt mean the rolex should be as cheap as the swatch. I really think the day of "its cheap because it was made here" are over. With the advancements in modern manufacturing technology and it being so much more accessible virtually any country is capable of turning out a high quality product. And making assumptions on how much something should cost simply because it was made by a particular race of people within a certain set of borders is really shameful in this day and age. Especially when the product speaks for itself and should eliminate any speculation whatsoever.