Taiwan Spyderco's and American manufacturing.

[chickenfried]

even if it means we would have to pay $300 for a plain jane PM 2.

 

[timberweasel]

I trust Spyderco. I like their products and corporate ethics (which really says something about the people behind the business, imo.) They go to great lengths to bring us quality products at a fair price, and to do this, it is not a matter of 'where' but of 'how' and 'who'.

If the cutlers in Taichung Taiwan could not meet Spyderco's standards, many offerings we presently enjoy would simply not exist. At all. Anywhere.

Please try to remember that Eric and I have the final word on every detail of every knife. (...)

(...) we have the experience and knowledge to use our own eyes, hands and minds to determine which is the best decision. (...)

If a knife is good enough for Spyderco, it's good enough for me. :thumbup:

Spyderco Phil Wilson South Fork in S90V


-Brett

 

[BMCGear]

The knife I plan on getting in the new year is the Euroedge.
A European inspired blade, designed by an American, manufactured in Taiwan for an American company, to be purchased by a Canadian.
Planetary unity at its finest.

Stabman continues to win the internet.

 

[JD Spydo]

First of all I want to say to "BlueMetalChurch" who started this thread I want to THANK YOU for bringing up this subject. Because I have a lot of the very same sentiment that you have on the subject of "Buy American". And trust me I've fought a losing battle over the years trying to do just that. But after reading several of the posts put up by many of the good Brothers here at BF I have to say that when it comes to the knife business it's just not as easy as you would like it to be.

First let me give you an example of a recent battle I've had with two close friends who really don't know any of the real truth about the cutlery business. Because during the Thanksgiving holiday I was showing three of my Japan made Spyders to these friends who immediately said stuff to me like "You Paid Over $100 For A Japanese Made Knife!!">> or another friend said that they only good knives made in the entire planet are USA and German made >> well yes I just had to roll my eyes on both of those totally ridiculous statements.

I tried in vain to let them know that "High End Japanese Made Knives" are some of the highest quality blades made on the planet. But to no avail they all said that they could go to "Super Flea" ( a local trash dealing flea market here in Kansas City) and get the same thing or even better There was no convincing them that Spyderco shops for the best quality all over the globe and that they do indeed make a superb line up of their USA, Golden, Colorado units.

Most of the chefs and people I know here in Kansas City, Missouri USA that work in the culinary field all use the extremely high end Japanese made culinary knives with a couple of German exceptions I'm aware of. Again there is no cure for stupidity Because when I tried to tell these guys that they all said so much as I desperately needed a laxative and I didn't know what I was talking about

The bottom line to all of this is that you can't educate a bunch of self righteous moron idiots who don't have a clue about the big picture of the cutlery business world wide. And if it's high quality stuff not made in a tyrannical third world hell hole I'll consider buying it. I won't name these countries that I personally boycott because there is just no need to. Just buy what you feel right about buying and there is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to support American jobs. But also don't throw the baby out with the proverbial bath water because it is a much bigger picture in the cutlery business than most people realize.

 

[BMCGear]

First of all I want to say to "BlueMetalChurch" who started this thread I want to THANK YOU for bringing up this subject. Because I have a lot of the very same sentiment that you have on the subject of "Buy American". And trust me I've fought a losing battle over the years trying to do just that. But after reading several of the posts put up by many of the good Brothers here at BF I have to say that when it comes to the knife business it's just not as easy as you would like it to be.

First let me give you an example of a recent battle I've had with two close friends who really don't know any of the real truth about the cutlery business. Because during the Thanksgiving holiday I was showing three of my Japan made Spyders to these friends who immediately said stuff to me like "You Paid Over $100 For A Japanese Made Knife!!">> or another friend said that they only good knives made in the entire planet are USA and German made >> well yes I just had to roll my eyes on both of those totally ridiculous statements.

I tried in vain to let them know that "High End Japanese Made Knives" are some of the highest quality blades made on the planet. But to no avail they all said that they could go to "Super Flea" ( a local trash dealing flea market here in Kansas City) and get the same thing or even better There was no convincing them that Spyderco shops for the best quality all over the globe and that they do indeed make a superb line up of their USA, Golden, Colorado units.

Most of the chefs and people I know here in Kansas City, Missouri USA that work in the culinary field all use the extremely high end Japanese made culinary knives with a couple of German exceptions I'm aware of. Again there is no cure for stupidity Because when I tried to tell these guys that they all said so much as I desperately needed a laxative and I didn't know what I was talking about

The bottom line to all of this is that you can't educate a bunch of self righteous moron idiots who don't have a clue about the big picture of the cutlery business world wide. And if it's high quality stuff not made in a tyrannical third world hell hole I'll consider buying it. I won't name these countries that I personally boycott because there is just no need to. Just buy what you feel right about buying and there is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to support American jobs. But also don't throw the baby out with the proverbial bath water because it is a much bigger picture in the cutlery business than most people realize.

Thanks for the post, JD!

So to let everyone know, I just put in an order for a Sage 5 for office carry. Love the PM2 so much (but it's a little large for khakis in the office) that I wanted another Spyderco in my pocket!

 

[bearfacedkiller]

If you want a US made GB then why don't you call Gayle, he is an American who lives in America and makes knives in America. It is gonna cost you a bit more than $200 but at least you know where your money is going and on top of that you are supporting a craftsman.

I will keep using my GB2 that was made in Taichung with steel that was made right down the road from my wife's parents house in Syracuse, NY. Syracuse like many mid sized cities is struggling with the loss of blue collar work. At least Spyderco is shipping Crucibles steel to Taiwan instead of using some steel from china. The GB2 is one of the best values in the knife world and some of the money from it goes to Gayle (a Texan), the Glesser's and Spyderco (Colorado) and Crucible (New York) as well as wherever all the other components come from.

Spyderco started with two employees, Sal and Gail, and now employs dozens of Americans. They also support a supply chain made up of many Americans like the good folks at Crucible. Considering they built all that with money from overseas I would say they are a shining example of how globalization can actually be used to grow US jobs and the US economy.

 

[BMCGear]

Spyderco started with two employees, Sal and Gail, and now employs dozens of Americans. They also support a supply chain made up of many Americans like the good folks at Crucible. Considering they built all that with money from overseas I would say they are a shining example of how globalization can actually be used to grow US jobs and the US economy.

And for me that sums up what I've learned from this thread. I will proudly carry my Sage 5 when it comes in.

 

[stabman]

Stabman continues to win the internet.

Yay!

Spyderco started with two employees, Sal and Gail, and now employs dozens of Americans. They also support a supply chain made up of many Americans like the good folks at Crucible. Considering they built all that with money from overseas I would say they are a shining example of how globalization can actually be used to grow US jobs and the US economy.

Now all they have to do is expand operations to Windsor as well, and I'll be even more enthusiastic about Spyderco.

 

[BMCGear]

Sage 5 received today. An absolute winner!

 

[linuxology]

Some of the finest spyderco knives I own are from the Taiwan factory.

 

[ericlosh]

Even after the recent factory expansion, Spyderco does not have the production capacity domestically to keep up with the demand for their current offerings. Sal has spent many years developing good relationships with makers all over the world in order to bring more offerings to us, the End Line Users. The maker he has found in Taichung, Taiwan is one of the best in the world in my opinion. To avoid a Spyderco product simply because it was made overseas is counterproductive in my mind. Spyderco started out having all of its knives made overseas. Profits from selling imported knives was what allowed them to build a production facility here. I seriously doubt the factory expansion was paid for by sales of US made models alone. Buying Spyderco knives has created more US jobs, regardless of where in the world those knives were made.

this is a 10/10 post

i can not wait for my lil nilakka.

 

[ericlosh]

I buy Chinese knives. I do business with Chinese people every year. I have Chinese friends. I bought four reate knives and four we knives and still have six of them. I bought 8 zts and have one left. Their (Chinese) quality control is better than zts in my experience. I have dozens of spyderco from all their makers and have little issue with any of their QC.
My opinion...


Russ

I have two rikes, love them. They are just amazing

in my experience china gives you exactly what you pay for. if you pay $12, you will get a $12 knife, no more no less. If you get a $400 knife you will get no more, no less. Delivering the exact quality of a price point helps make it feel like it should be worth more. Spyderco is excellent at this. You will not get overcharged and everyone walks away a winner. Plus its cool to hear from Sal on the forums. The active involvment in his community is just awesome. He makes knives for us and he sits down and talks to us. Its a beautiful beautiful thing.

 

[ericlosh]

Hi Elly's Pa,

I'm pleased that you are so pro American. I understand and agree with America first. We fly a Garrison flag in front of our factory. We have been growing our US production facility for many years beginning in the mid 90s with some antiquated equipment and untrained workers. Often while our competitors were moving models over seas.

I will say that every Spyderco knife is 100% hands on by Eric and myself. Even collaboration designs are thoroughly gone through. Designs, steels, parts, materials, tolerances, makers, etc. are all Spyderco. The demand for our knives is greater than our ability to produce in Golden. It's very difficult for us to find makers with the passion and skill necessary to meet our standards. Those that do are quite proud of the fact that they can build for Spyderco. They work hard for us, and you.

The profit made from the knives made by our partners over seas, goes to pay our US staff, and grow equipment and talent. We extend our best effort to conduct business in an honest, fair and proper manner where we do business. Perhaps being able to provide quality product for our customers, which we couldn't do without partners, might carry more weight that shipping jobs overseas?

sal

and i have been extremely impressed with every spyderco out of every plant i have had. Spyderco tends to be my number one recommended company, cause if you see something you like then you cant go wrong. The entire thing on every level is done by folks that give a damn and you see it in the end result, the knives.