The Hump is Ugly????

P

phone_archer

Joined
May 2, 1999
Messages
135
Many times I've seen the hump/hole combo on Spyderco's called ugly (magazine articles, on this forum, in person). Am I the only person that likes it? The distinctive look of the delica and endura is what attracted me to Spyderoco knives in the first place. I fell in love with the quality and functionality afterwards. The success of these knives would make me think that people like the hump, but you only seem to hear negative comments about.

Sal, perhaps you would be in a better position to comment. Are the knives popular because of the hump or in spite of it?


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Bill (Yes, we carry knives in Canada - we need them to fight off the polar bears and militant Eskimos ;) )
 
I think that the "hump" is an aquired taste. I haven't been a "knife guy" for very long, about six years. For the first two I hated the hump. Then it started to grow on me, as I associated it with the quality of the products that bore it. Now I kinda like it.

I still can't stand when it just sticks out like an afterthought (e.g. the Herbst), and I do prefer when the hole is simply inside the natural blade shape (the Centofante, the new Shabaria, etc.), but to my eye there's a "beautiful ugliness" to knives like the Police and the Delica. Some of the designs, like the Dragonfly and Calypso (in fact, all of the former experimentals), even make the hump such a striking, integrated part of the design that it's really cool. Just my opinion
smile.gif


In short, I think the hump is ugly to those who have not yet seen the light
wink.gif


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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)
 

I didn't really like the hump at first either. But I have found that it makes it alot easier to get to the thumb hole and flick the blade out faster.
I jsut got a Centofante II for a someone and found the hole to be to small and to hard to get at compared to other Spydies.
And like Corduroy said, the hump on the Herbst really does look like an afterthought.
 
I think the hump is ugly. 'course I don't care that much. I also think my Sig is ugly compared to a Beretta. Who cares, I'll keep my Sig any day. And I'll keep my hump, because the hump gives me hole baby!

I also find that as I come to appreciate the utility a feature provides me, then that feature starts looking more aesthetically pleasing too me. I *still* can't say I think the hump is pretty, though!

 
The hump never really bothered me at all. Back when I started buying Spydercos, I thought the hump looked different (in a good way). Those humpbacked blades are like a trademark for Spyderco, just like the round hole and the Volcano Grip pattern are.

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Dexter Ewing
Knife Reviews Moderator

"The keystroke is mightier than the sword"

 
I was totally turned off when I first saw a
Spyderco in the mid 80s; and it took me a couple of years to finally realize the utility, not only of the hole, but the pocket clip also. It is the same thing that happened to me before I bought a Glock 19:
Ugliest damn gun made; until I handled it;
and discovered how great it handled and fired.

So much for appearance: The utility wins
hands down.
 
The ugliest hump I ever had was still great.
smile.gif


I have the Viele with barely a hump, yet my thumb finds the hole easily. The Dragonfly is a very practical use of the hump.

The only one that looks a bit overdone to me is the Jot Singh Khalsa, butt then I have not handled one.

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><CHINOOK*>
--
Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult
 
The first knife I got was an Endura. While I didn't particularly find the hump attractive, I found it made the knife far easier to use.

Having used this knife and seeing all the other Spyderco knives, I guess I feel about what Corduroy does now. On some of the knives, the hump looks out of place. However, on some, it genuinely looks like it's a part of the knife's design and greatly adds to the overall look of the knife.

JP Bullivant
 
Those that don't know don't like it, those that have used it, appreciate it. Those of us who have grown to appreciate the quality of a Spyderco Love it!
'nuff said.



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~Greg~

 
Hump?...What hump? ;-)

It bothers me when it's too pronounced for the blade and/or handle design, but otherwise, it's supposed to be there - function over form!
 
I don't have any problem with it.
I am not into artsy looks for knives at
all.
The hump is not, IMHO, ugly. I think it adds to the distinctiveness of the knife. It also aids in quick indexing and ease of opening.
Just my $0.02

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God bless!

Romans 10:9-10

"Military" Fans Unite!!

 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Simple, some say ugly, some say good looking, some don't care.

From a classical standpoint of esthetics it is ugly, visually. From a modern standpoint it stands tall in the new design of things.

But function is everything with a knife, if it looks good but cannot cut anything, back to the drawing board or you are insulting your customers.

Spyderco is into high quality matter separators, you need the hole because it is the most efficient of the opening structures, and hole sometimes leads to a hump.

So be it.

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Check out the future possible Spyderco Worker 2000 www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000224.html

One may want to keep an Eye out for my review of the Bob Kasper designed, Kevin Gentile modified AFCK and interview of Bob Kasper. Sorry about the wait, my review and interview should be online shortly, luckily Spark has graciously offered to do the pictures, look for it right here at BladeForums.com.

Marion David Poff ska Eye, one can msg me at mdpoff@hotmail.com

"A journey of a thousand miles begins but with a single step" Lao-Tzu
 
I think the first time i saw a Spyderco, in a movie years back, I thought it looked kind of weird in a way (I figured they were designed for military use...shows you how much I knew!)...but I love the practicality and distinctiveness of it! I find that the blade wident to accommodate the hole, and wider blades for me make very good cutters for their size.
Although i handled a Jot Singh Kalsa, the hump on that one makes me feel uncomfortable looking at it, even though the knife itself is very comfortable to handle. At least that's my initial impression.
Jim
 
I always thought Spyderco has dorky looking knives. The hole seemed like a decent idea, but the blade shapes were ho-hum and the handles were just plain weird on most models. With some coaxing I was persuaded to buy my first Spyderco, a pre-'98 Endura (thanks, Bruce Bullman!). After using this knife, my entire view of Spyderco changed. Since then I owned a Viele, which got traded for a Calypso. I have gone a complete 180 since then. Many models are still just plain weird looking, but I've realized that the hole is highly functional, and the hump serves several purposes, including a slight guard, a thumb ramp, etc. Every aspect of Spyderco knives seems to be thought out to unbelievable detail, which results in non-traditional, non-tactical knives that are wicked as can be! Ti amo, Spyderco!
 
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