What About Me?

C

Clay Kesting

Joined
Oct 10, 1998
Messages
648
I've already posted this on the other forum, but wanted to give it a run here as well. It didn't get as many replies as I expected so I'm thinking that perhaps I don't represent as large a group of ELU's as I thought.

No this is not a OT post about the Moving Pictures song of a decade or so ago. It's my lament that I don't seem to fit into Spyderco's concept of an ELU anymore. For the second year in a row there doesn't seem to be any new models coming up to tempt me. In fact the last new design I bought was a Kiwi, although I did pick up a forum Native III. Can you imagine how sad that is for a Spyderco fanatic :(?

Just so it doesn't sound as though I'm being hard to please, let me explain why there's nothing that rings my bell. I use my knife for what I consider to be the usual "gentleman's tasks". Peeling and cutting up fruit, opening mail, sharpening pencils, removing splinters, cutting loose threads off clothes etc. with the occasional heavier task like trimming woodwork joints. For these I need a blade around 3" long with a fine point and preferably flat ground. The Wharncliffe blade shape has proven to be ideal. My most carried EDC is one of my old aluminium Centofantes with their wonderfully thin, flat ground, modified Wharncliffe blades. Second most carried knife would be one of my Calypso Jrs. followed by the Kiwi and CF Dragonfly for more formal occasions. There is nothing current or forthcoming that could replace any of these knives. I really like the look of the Dodo but couldn't imagine trying to cut up an apple with it. The Paramilitary is a wonderful design and has a flat ground blade but it is much more knife than I need.

The trend seems to be for knives with smaller blades like the Dodo for use in an urban environment. However the small blade limits their usefulness for many of the tasks for which I need my knife. Sal has said elsewhere that he might put a Wharncliffe blade into the new lockback Vesuvius and I must say that is my idea of the ideal knife. I'd be onto one of them in a flash. Am I alone in wanting a knife like this or do I represent a whole group of ELU's whose needs aren't being met by the current Spyderco line-up? Inquiring minds need to know :).
 
Clay, I think that the new Yojimbo will be just the ticket for you. It will have a 3" S30V wharncliffe blade. If you search this forums, you can find a picture of it. As for the Centofante III, it will have a modified spearpoint just like the old compression lock Vesuvius.
 
How about the (possibly) upcoming Kopa, a three-inch-bladed Kiwi?

It'll probably be hollow ground, but it should be a great classy knife anyway.
 
Hi Anthony,

I think the Yojimbo is a fabulous design for it's intended purpose...an MBC knife. The blade may only be 3" but the handle is 5" long which makes it an excellent impact tool but much too big for my uses. I also find that very wide blades like the Yojimbo, the Native and even the Chinese Folder do attract unnecessary attention from non-knife people. Blades which are closer to traditional pocket knives are less likely to cause comment which is another reason why I prefer the Centofante and Kiwi.

The Kopa does interest me, but at the moment is still only a "possibility". In any case it would need to be flat-ground to really get my juices flowing. OK, so I'm hard to please :grumpy:.
 
Hi Clay. That is a predicament of concern....and perhaps a good topic of discussion.

As the knife industries changes, one must keep a close eye, if one's business is dependent on the industry. Today's knife industry is a much different industry than it was even 5 years ago.

10 years ago, Spydercos offerings were "reliable high-performance" with features like; superior materials, hole openers, clips, teeth and a large variety of interesting new ideas. Todays competition uses hole openers, clips, teeth and some are even dabbling in the superior materials. Many have offered new ideas and with the addition of custom makers now involved in the factories (a very valuable union IMO), this is likely to increase.

We continue to offer or "reliable high-performance" and we do a great deal of expesnsive testing to insure this. I'm noticing more and more "claims" of high performance among our competitors.

But let's take a look at the market. Most knife purchases are made by "eye". 3D art if you will, or made by price. With performance and ergonomics foremost, the "eye" is often forsaken in our "in-house designs. For that, we appreciate the custom collaborations.

Todays market is doing well with "autos" and "semi-autos". The Chinese makers have taken over the "low price" end of the industry. The "eye" get's more popular day by day. Fewer and fewer people use knives.

The makers have now exceeded the customer demand both in the custom world and now the production world, so competion now becomes stronger. This seems to have a real benefit to the ELU, in lower prices, but I question the long term benefit. As lower and lower prices determine sales, quality and materials will eventually be compromised to compete. Something we refuse to do, so our products become even more expensive, by comparison.

When I see people on "General forums" comparing a knife with a 420J2 blade to a Spyderco with CPM-S30V, I am reminded that few really know the difference.

So now, we have to expand the area of our offerings, but retain the "reliable high-performance".

MBC is a growing trend and requires our attention. It is also an area where our niche (delivering "RHP") has greater value. The SAS is generally our number one market as they are forced to learn the diffrences. You will see more "Gent's folders" like the Kiwi, Centofante, Kopa and Nav II. I imagine these designs will hopefully "ring your bell".

Fixed blades is an area in which we're constantly growing (and learning).

We're getting into "Marine models" (salt water), Butterflies, non-lockers, neck knives, etc. all within our niche of RHP.

Knife "Users" are always looking for, with some knowledge, the "better knife". Collectors move around quite a bit. Laws are having their effect on influencing the industry. The next 10 years will be a roller coaster in the knife industry. Hope you stick around nd watch.

sal
 
G'day Sal,

Thanks for your reply. I understand completely your comments about market forces. In fact the main reason for my post was to try to gauge the size of the market which I think I represent. The small number of responses here and on the other forum suggests that it is not very large. The fact that the Calypso Jr. did not succeed in the marketplace also reinforces the idea that there is not a large demand for this type of knife.

I think there may be several reasons for this. Firstly perhaps many uses find a traditional slip-joint more suitable for this purpose. Do you really need a high-end lock-back to peel an apple (I do :))? Also I agree that knife laws may be having an impact. Here it is illegal to carry any knife in a public place without a "lawful" excuse. It won't worry me until they make sharpening pencils illegal but I'm sure it deters a lot of people. Finally I think it takes an "educated" user to appreciate knives like this. I've carried and used almost every small folder that Spyderco has made before I learnt which blade shape was most suitable for my use.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Kopa and I still hope you'll put a Wharncliffe blade in the Vesuvius. In the meantime I still have my old Centofantes. No matter what I'm a certified (or certifiable :)) Spyderco nut and I'll definately be around for the long haul.

Take care,
 
Sal,
I believe that there is a market for a good fixed blade paddling/kayaking fixed blade.
 
...And I'd LOVE to see Spyderco come out with a large fixed-blade "fighter" (10-11 inch blade)...Sort of an "extended" version of the Fred Perrin.
 
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