What are Spyderco's factories in China and Taiwan like?

Why is this such a hot topic lately? I swear there's at least one post on all 3 or 4 of the major knife forums. I really don't want to gas the fire or anything, but I can say that when both The Deacon and Sal post in the same thread about something, take note, because they both know what they are talking about and have experience beyond all of ours.

I currently own 3 knives from Spyderco that were made in Taiwan. Personally, they are some of the nicest knives I own. The Sage II is flawless, one of the best fit and finish of any production knife available. The maker Spyderco utilizes in Taiwan is skilled, you can tell by the product, it's as simple as that.

Don't feel like your question wasn't justified, because it was. We were all skeptical at it's introduction.

Like Sal said, focus on the brand name.
 
SecSpyral said:
Why is this such a hot topic lately? I swear there's at least one post on all 3 or 4 of the major knife forums.
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What may seem moot to you, may be important to others. The forums are here to discuss all opinions, popular and unpopular.
I am sure Spyderco is interested in hearing feedback from it's buyers whether it's positive or negative.

EDIT: Also, I don't think it's realistic to "focus on the brand name." I can't say that I like ALL Spyderco's, just because they're "Spyderco's." Most, if not all, manufacturers will have quality issues at some level.

This is not a big deal, but if you want examples, Spyderco has had an issue with their ZDP line being improperly stamped. Also I have earlier UKPK models with laser burn on the choils. And H1 tooling marks have been known to rust on the Salt series as well.

Thanks to the forums and feedback, Spyderco has addressed these issues. But "brand name" shouldn't be the end all point for your purchasing decisions. Research and feedback is a good way to go about it. That being said, Spyderco has been a relatively high quality manufacturer of knives. :)
 
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"focus on the brand name."
Not for me,too many names out there that used to be the tops in what they did that now make crap.
Colt and S&W plus a few others but there name on items that are not guns that are mostly junk,the name brand there does nothing for you.
I think most of you are missing the point of the China import stuff,its not that it is all junk it is more that with it coming in at the rate it is the US job market is dyeing.I here people complain about all the people around here that is on welfare,even if they wanted to get off welfare and get a job there is no jobs here for them.This is a county that used to have 4 major mills in it,there are none now.
 
How about a round of applause for the deacons speach on the first page!! You sir have the gift to control words however you like.

I could personally care less where a knife is made. I will trust what a manufacturer says about their product until i have it or if i hear multiple bad reviews and cments about it. Especially spyderco :) i would like to say more but typeing on an ipod sucks;). Maybe ill come back on my laptop later


(my 0.02)
 
Greater, you seem to lump Taiwan and PRC ( China) together as if they are the same country, and do business the same way. You do realize they are in no way the same, right?

One problem I see is the corporations have established themselves world wide (perhaps they always have) the union needs to do likewise. That would level the playing field
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Well, considering the unions bear a large part of the responsibility in running the companies into the ground or out of our country it will be a bit difficult to try to talk other countries into "unionizing" their workers.

The only playing field it would level is the unions. It would be a totalitarian system too, in case you hadn't thought about that.

So no James0723 you are not totally off track you seem to have more of an idea what is going on than some of these corporate kissasses that have been flaming you
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Yeah, ok. He was being flamed by "corporate Kissasses". Funny though it may seem, I can't find it. Where did this happen? Are you being a tad bit histrionic perhaps?
 
jill jackson said:
That way of thinking is exactly why many third world countries hate America.
The attitude that their lives are less important and valuable than ours.
I have friends that were adopted as babies from India and they are warm wonderful human beings. Their lives are not any less important than mine and neither are the ones still living in the country they came from. Just because we are born in the USA does not make us superior.
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Totally agree. Humans can't be rated by their country of origin but by their character. This is the same for products as well. Although I wont buy from China because I dont like how they treat their workers (at least when I have a choice)
 
I've seen cheap Swiss watches, cheap German knives, and junk made by Americans. There's isn't an industrialized country out there that doesn't make junk. There isn't an industrialized country out there that can't make really good stuff, if they want to.

I don't care where you buy it from. Buying American isn't a guarantee of good quality. "Let the buy beware." applies everywhere.

I believe Sal to be the sort of person that if he's willing to put the name of his companies on a product, it's going to be a damn good product, for the money, no matter where it's made.

Word to the wise: the only printing on a Spyderco or Byrd knife that means anything is either "Spyderco" or "Byrd". That's how you can tell that it's a good knife.
 
u812 said:
A knife to me is something that should be the best you can afford and IMO most people can afford one that is not made in China.
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Unless this is a working knife used in an abusive environment, in which case I'd argue that a knife should be the best that you can afford to lose.

That's precisely what Byrds are for as far as I'm concerned -- a good knife that I can afford to lose. I don't care where they're made or what's printed on them. I'm not looking at it, I'm cutting things with it. And when my $20 knife gets dropped off the caisson or into a dry dock, or someone steals it, or I forget to unclip it and it goes through the wash, or I snap the tip off while inadvertently cutting through something...how bad do you think that I feel about this?

How bad would I feel if it were my Manix instead?
 
I try to stick with "Made in the USA" when reasonably possible. I don't have any bone to pick with other countries of origin. I've had very good products from countries all over the world. And I've had crap products from those same places. Including the US.

So I'm not on some high horse, but I don't see where national pride is such a bad thing either. Purchasing goods made in and of US companies has a domino effect that ultimately helps this country. It helps to keep the money spent on labor, materials, energy, transportation, communications, etc. in our economy. It helps to create jobs – both skilled and unskilled. It encourages the continued education of our workforce. The constant pressure and competition from domestic manufactures to remain viable despite higher production and compliance costs as compared to the non-domestics helps to breed innovation. We are forced to find ways to improve quality and reduce costs in order to make US products the premium choice that can support the higher retail prices that will offset the disparity that exists in the world economy.

I certainly don't mind that Sal searches out quality business partners from around the globe. And I can appreciate that sending money overseas can help to keep Spyderco in high cotton so to speak, which in turn ensures that we will have a quality product to choose from. But all things being equal, or even just some things being equal, I would hope that Sal's first inclination is to expand operations in Colorado. To bolster our country's manufacturing capabilities, our pool of skilled labor, our economy, our welfare. In the long run, I can only imagine that this will ensure the long term health of this country and the continued strength of Spyderco and the other home grown knife makers.

I don't have anything against the other knife making countries, but I'm very much FOR America, so all of my Spydies are stamped CO,USA. :thumbup:
 
5.56 said:
What may seem moot to you, may be important to others. The forums are here to discuss all opinions, popular and unpopular.
I am sure Spyderco is interested in hearing feedback from it's buyers whether it's positive or negative.
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Never said I thought it was moot (awesome word btw). Simply stating that it is a hot topic and wondering why. Don't take that statement for more than what it was. I think that it is a more than justified question. :)

5.56 said:
"brand name" shouldn't be the end all point for your purchasing decisions. Research and feedback is a good way to go about it.
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I agree with you. I think it should be the focus, not end all be all. Maybe I should not be commenting on this topic, I'm too much of a Spyderco Fanboy.
 
SecSpyral said:
Never said I thought it was moot (awesome word btw). Simply stating that it is a hot topic and wondering why. Don't take that statement for more than what it was. I think that it is a more than justified question. :)
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Sorry, I guess I misunderstood you, I get deluded by the fanboys sometimes. :p:D
 
SecSpyral said:
Don't apologize Rob, I know that you can come and say whatever, but I bet right now there's a spyder in your pocket :p
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And you would be correct. ;):D

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I love and have a few Spyderco's but refuse to by any non Golden Colorado made knives.
 
spyderco is a great company that makes good knifes . does if really matter where the knife comes from if the QC is good. the cold steel voyager was made in japan but in 6 months very very light work there is plenty of blade play. My endura has no blade play at all and going on year 3 with it . its all about the QC
 
Putting my 2 cents in, my most recent Spyderco was a Taiwan-made Gayle Bradley. Suffice to say, go ahead and not buy Taiwanese Spydies-that just means more for me! (In other words, yes, it's good, exceptionally so. Don't worry about quality coming from this plant.)
 
I think we are seeing Chinese based companies that are producing good products. Rather than an American company going overseas for cheap labor we are finding Chinese companies that are reaching out and selling to an American market.
This has certainly happened in the flashlight market, but not so much in the Knife market I think.

I bought a chinese or taiwan made knife from benchmade (red box) and one from spyderco (byrd series). I found both to be decent knives, especially for the price (about $30 i think) but they were not as nice as the America or Japan knives. They did not open as smooth is the thing that sticks out in my mind.
 
I do not understand these slights against China. At one time Japan and Korean products were looked down upon. Now look at it. Pretty hard to find a quality USA made product.

There are many predictions i go along with that China will be the next super power.
Look at the developing economy,population and the fact that our own government borrows huge from China. Wait until they all own cars to see what happens to oil prices.

Learn to speak Chinese fellows!!
 
I am the proud owner of a Spyderco Bob T Slipit. A great knife, it has kicked quite a few folders to the curb, it's my EDC. Is it my small micarta Sebenza? No. The S30V and carbon fiber help out a lot, but the basics are down pat. Still opens smooth, no problems. Pretty good for a daily user.
 
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