Thoughts on the pink Delica

I just talked with our secretary. Yeah, I know, only one woman's opinion:

She thought a pink BCA kitchen knife would be sorta like a pink BCA vacuum cleaner!

In other words, kinda domestically sexist, maybe? :)

I like the idea of any pink knife, but I can see her point.

Sal, I'd rethink the kitchen knife idea for BCA. :D

I'd go with the Dragonfly, Ladybug, or Delica.

Oooo, I'd LOVE a pink Endura! But I don't think it's a good BCA choice.

Karl
 
A kitchen knife didn't go over very well here as well. A pink dragonfly sounded a lot better. What about a compromise, a pink vagabond? This model appeals to non-pocket knife people since it doesn't involve a blade capable of closing on your fingers, and it's suitable for kitchen duty, but also for such family outings as picknicks.

Personally, I'd like to see a dragonfly though. And I would gladly prepay for two.

Wouter
 
I think a pink handled kitchen knife for Breast Cancer has the potential to be disasterous, regardless of the intentions behind it. The act of putting a pink handle on a knife used to prepare food to support a women's charity can send the message that a kitchen knife was chosen because women spend all their times in the kitchen, in heels, anyway, right? They do all the cooking and are obviously not interested in using a knife for anything but.

Add this to the fact that a lot of members of the knife community are seen as reactionary sexists and the fact that any Breast Cancer organization is most likely highly feminist and the chance for a communication breakdown is very real. I just think the possibility of mixed signals is too great for a pink handled kitchen knife to be considered.

Is that the direction we want to go in anyway? I see this project as more of a way to get people who under normal circumstances wouldn't dig knives, into knives.

I mean, the Bladeforums is a large knife community, but it certainly does not make up the entire knife community. I see this Breast Cancer knife having an ad in a magazine and some guy or gal seeing it and buying a few for his or her loved ones, to give those people a knife with a message behind it that can be used as a tool. The fact that the knife will have ties to a charitable cause has the potential for people to look at knives in a positive light, instead of a negative one.

This is why I thought that Delica would be the ideal choice. It represents Spyderco so people not involved in the Bladeforums will be able to immediately recognize it with Spyderco. More so since this model is designed for the general market and is one of Spyderco's best sellers.

I didn't like the Ladybug because, well, honestly the name has me a bit concerned. I know it is the name of an insect, but it can send the wrong signals too. Like this knife was selected for the "ladies" who can't handle a larger knife, how cute. Maybe that is reading too far into things, but I just want every aspect to be covered so this project doesn't get across the wrong idea.

I also didn't like the Ladybug because it doesn't have a clip. I think a clip is crucial to this project as it increases the carry options and function of the knife, especially for people who've never carried a pocket knife and have no idea how handy one can be.

I would be ok with a Dragonfly. It is smaller so that will reduce costs a bit and it has a clip.

What about a Cricket? My gal has one and she loves it. I suggest a Cricket because the liner lock seems to be easier for non-knife people to use in comparison with a lock back. The pink handled version is also hard to find, so another run of pink Crickets would interest collectors (not that any other model wouldn't, but I've been looking for a pink Cricket and I know a lot of people who have been as well).

Whichever model we chose, I think we need to be aware of gender stereotypes and things that may have the potential to shine a negative light on the project.

Sorry for the long post everyone.

-Bryan
 
A few years back a group of strippers raised money for breast cancer research. The charitable group that controlls money for this REFUSED to take the strippers money.Would they hook up with a knife company? I don't know.

http://www.lapdance.com/news_articles_strip_clubs_san_fransisco_california_11-22-03.cfm

As far as people not into knife forums recognizing a Spyderco,most non knife people i know have know idea that Spyderco even exists. Hell how many times have you heard someone call any folder/large knife/hunting knife a"Buck knife"?

I'd still like some more pink Spydies though. ;)

You know I think the time for pink is now,as it seems to be a popular color for a lot of people today even guys! Not THIS ONE but some.
 
Lone Hunter said:
A few years back a group of strippers raised money for breast cancer research. The charitable group that controlls money for this REFUSED to take the strippers money.Would they hook up with a knife company? I don't know.
Click to expand...
Why would strippers object to a knife company? :D
 
...Sounds good to me. :D

Of course Sals going to have to get some stuff on tape, and add that on when 204 goes DVD. :footinmou
 
Ok, I too got a good laugh. I've got to fix my spelling so much that proof reading takes a back seat. Strippers and knives,must be a country song in there somewhere.....
 
Machaira said:
A pink kitchen knife for women sounds a little sexist to me...
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Me too. I wouldn't buy one.

I have an idea!
A Pink Assist

It would have a special and positive meaning IMHO.
 
allenC, sexist or not, the idea was introduced by a woman, Sal's wife. still 1950s? ;)



this idea started off kinda good, but now i'm having some reservations. i wonder if the organization in question would even consider signing on for such a project, and if not, that'd just really hurt my (maybe even others') opinion of them. i'm also with Sal on wondering if enough people will come thru to move the 5000 pieces. the more i think about it, the more doubtful it seems. perhaps a more innocuous color (especially since pink's been done before) is in order? and while we're on the subject, maybe a different cause...

just talkin', don't skin me!
subliminal color message not thread jacking ignore this ;)
abe m.
 
The 5000 was for the Photons. I don't believe there was any mention of how many knives would be made. Couldn't someone, Sal being the most appropriate, call or email them to ask? Exactly which organization are we talking about. Searching google, there are many BCA groups. :confused:

What else can we do besides pink knives/lights/lanyards?

Necklace? Spydie bug pendent in H1? on pink para chord(or some kind of rubber coated/impregnated chord?).

Moneyclip? mmm. Beanie.

Ring, bracelet, bottle opener, stuffed spyder, fully posable action figure (Sal Vs Eric w/dream house, car, boat, dog, etc.)

I hope I made some good suggestions.
 
I'm still trying to find a bug about an inch across to make a money clip with(just weld 2 pocket clips at the screws, and weld the bug to the flat on one)...

wouldn't mind a spyderco bottle opener...

BCA makes a steady amount off the sale of pins ;) ;) ;) and ribbons
 
A lot of good input. Appreciate the detail Bryan.

Has anyone actually spoken to any BCA group? What might their opinion be?

As to dragonfly's, 500 could be done.

Maybe not pink?

sal
 
Maybe I'm just hankerin' for a new Spydie Q, but howsabout a pink Q with the BCA ribbon as a blade cutout? I realize this one might be out of the question, as the Q tooling and molds might be gone, but I thinks it's an interesting idea. The Q was a good, non-threatening size and shape, it'd be an eye-catching look, and there's plenty (by my reckoning) of Q collectors out there.

Matt in Texas
 
Sal Glesser said:
A lot of good input. Appreciate the detail Bryan.

Has anyone actually spoken to any BCA group? What might their opinion be?

As to dragonfly's, 500 could be done.

Maybe not pink?

sal
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I, personally, could take care of 1% of that pink 500 in the blink of an eye, just as gifts to family members. :) And maybe more over a few months.

The real issue may be what the BCA people think. I have to say the pink Dragonfly (as opposed to Delica, Jester, Ladybug ... or Q ;) ) is growing on me. I'd never really payed much attention to that model before.
 
I wouldn't have a problem contacting a couple Breast Cancer organizations and gathering opinions on the possibility of this project.

Now, would this project be for a certain Breast Cancer organization or just a general way to raise a little extra money for the cause? I'm not familiar with how a company donates money to charity. Would Spyderco be able to donate this money directly to some kind of government fund or would an organization have to be gone through?

I also think that the Q idea is an interesting one. But I think it would be more geared towards collectors than the general public.

Which is fine, if that's the direction we want to go with this project. Maybe it would be better suited as a very small run just for the forum members and some of the knife community. But I'd like to see it geared more towards the general public, by this I mean not just the members here on the forums.

This is kind of opening up a whole side to this that I'm not familiar with, but maybe a Q run could be done for a certain Breast Cancer organization and then distributed through that organization. This would require all kinds of business relation between Spyderco and the organization, however. So I don't really know if that is a feasible idea.

I guess my main concern now is figuring out how this would be gone about. Would the knives be sold, and then the money distributed by Spyderco as Spyderco sees fit? Or would it be beneficial to network with a Breast Cancer organization and actually make the knives for that organization (whichever model, pink dragonflys, Q's, whatever) that can then be distributed by that organization and by Spyderco, in order to garner more exposure. Or would the knife be produced by Spyderco, sold by Spyderco, and then possibly endorsed by several Breast Cancer organizations in order to bring attention to the product? The money could then go to some kind of government fund or donated to a place of Spyderco's choosing.

Maybe I'm breaking this apart too much. I would just like to be certain about how the actual marketing side of this project is going to be handled.

I guess that's not really my business, but if I'm going to be contacting organizations I'd like to know how we see this project fleshing out incase there are any questions.

What would be best for Spyderco as far as selling the knives?

and I guess the next question, as far as moving along with the actual project specifications is concerned..

Is everyone cool with the pink Dragonfly? Keep the model ideas rolling if you think there's a better choice.

I personally would be fine with a pink Dragonfly and I would buy at least two.

I'll go about contacting a few organizations and getting some preliminary opinions on a possible knife or item from a knife company with some of the proceeds going to charity.

Haha, maybe I should have just typed out that last paragraph instead of rambling for a mile, eh? eh? :)

-Bryan
 
I just went and checked out the Spyderco catalog to see if there were any model ideas I hadn't thought of.

I don't know why I didn't notice this, but the FRN Dragonfly's come with plastic clips? Is this a concern to anyone? How do the clips function in comparison to metal clips? Any input on this?

This also got me thinking about a comment made earlier in this thread, about a pink Kiwi

Now, I don't know if Spyderco has plans for a FRN Kiwi in the future, so this might not fly (get it, Kiwi, fly, ...... *cough*) But another idea is doing a run of pink Kiwi's as the Breast Cancer knife due to the fact that I'm sure people would buy a pink Kiwi anyway, just to have a FRN Kiwi. It could kind of be like the Ladybug's and Jester's. A new FRN color every once and a while for a different charity, while perhaps lowering the amount of money deducted from each sale in order for Spyderco to make a profit.

Again, I don't know if this would be feasible, but I'm sure a FRN Kiwi would sell in whichever color. We would also be talking about an whole new model so that would involve design time, and cost from Spyderco. So I don't know if it would work. Just another idea.

-Bryan
 
Not opposed to plastic clips, as long as Spyderco will have some to send out, for the ones that do break.

I'm a lefty, so if it has an intergral clip, and this is not going to be a gift; I'll have to pass.
 
For models, I'm thinking not Delica (first choice), or not Dragonfly; Cricket, Pride, Meerkat, Kiwi.

Cricket: it's all good, I'd take the clip off and just pocket it.

Pride:I've never actually seen this one, so IDK if it's a good EDC... For the flag insert, put a ribbon, or a pair of breasts. :) (I'm kidding). Has a lanyard hole, can put ribbon if wanted. Legal thoughout the world, Sheeple friendly design. Fairly inexpensive, "group logo (minimum order 350)" put ribbon flag. Minimum of 350 pieces... Can do... Discontinued......F***! :)

Meerkat: w/liner lock. You can close it one handed(lefty), but you can't thumb it out lefty. :mad:

Kiwi: I like the design, can't imagine it pink..

If not the Delica/Dragonfly, Pride has my vote.
 
I emailed a question about who does what to the OSU Med Center to see if anyone is involved in BCA fundraising. I'll post when and if I find out anything.

My preferences are now:

Dragonfly
Ladybug
Cricket
Delica

in approximate order.

Karl
 
Sal Glesser said:
Maybe not pink?
Click to expand...
perhaps not. i doubt i'm alone in thinking that pink is probably one of the most difficult colors to "move", regardless of the tie-in. i don't see why a BCA knife couldn't be just about any color.

abe
 
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