What does everyone think of the 25th anniversary model

TDE

Joined
Jan 17, 2003
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Just put them on our site and wondered what all the Spyderco fans thought of them? Also, I wanted to open up to you guys and gals to lend us a hand! My question is... Do we have enough Spyderco on our site. Are we missing your favorite? We just want to be the best we can. Thanks to all, Have a great night. Paul signing out!

http://www.the-distinctive-edge.com/25anknbrjigb.html
 
TDE,
I haven't seen one in person, don't know if I will. I like the damascus bolsters, nice touch. I'm not a great fan of the delica blade, but the scales are nice.
As far as your website, I didn't see the native in a picture. IMHO This is a very nice, and popular, knife amongst those that own them.
Chris
 
I would love to have one.
They are a bit spendy for me right now. Maybe someday :)
Nice site.
 
Thanks guys! I will get that one on, don't want to miss anything. Thanks! Paul
 
TDE,

I wouldn't stock up on a lot of them. They appear to be nice knives, but are neither fish nor fowl. They're not quite striking enough to command a collector's status, yet "too nice" to take out and use.

I like Spyderco products a lot and I hope I'm off-base, but the aftermarket seems to be bearing me out. With and MSRP about $350, I've seen them sold on eBay recently for barely $200. That's not much of an investment! Perhaps if only 100-200 had been produced, not 500, they might be more attractive for collectors. On the other hand, I've heard that the factory store is sold out, but I bet a lot of dealers are finding that those collector boxes collect dust just fine.
 
It is a elegant knife, but at the price point I think the market would have been happier paying a bit more for a knife with a damascus blade rather than damascus bolsters. I also agree that a smaller run would probably have been better collectors-wise.
 
Well...if the 200 collector's club folks actually kept their knives, then that would leave 300 pieces out there. I assume Spyderco kept some/gave some away as gifts - lets say 30 pieces.

So in theory, you have 270 knives floating around.

Benchmade seems to have the most success with limited edition knives when they sell only about 100. These have retained their value quite well, even in the short term.

So maybe Spyderco made a few too many - although from Spyderco's point of view, when they sell them to stores and distributor's - they are done and gone. Who knows what will make a collectible anyway? I saw a Stag Spyderkey go for $187 on Ebay about a year and a half ago. I found one at a brick & mortar shop for $35, below the original dealer cost if I am not mistaken. When and where you find these things and at what price only time will really tell.

I find the bolsters to be an interesting novelty, although they somehow lack the beauty of the patterns that I typically associate with damascus steel.

The scales are some of the nicest dyed jig bone I have seen on any knife, production or custom - so I would say they are a great success.

In the end though, it is just a Delica - a perfectly good using blade, but not very distinctive in grind or profile as to warrant immortalization treatment, IMHO. This design take one of the greatest attributes on the Delica/Enudura concept (lightweight, easy to carry, multi-purpose) and pads it down to the point where it is not really a knife I would choose to carry much if at all. I am pretty sure that Spyderco did not intend for these to be carried out and about, but it would have been nicer to get a new blade design or other innovationi for the anniversary model, instead of a dressed up low-end model.

I am sure it was a very tough decision in any event.

BTW - this post is meant as constructive criticism, not to trash the Spydergang.
 
I saw one at the Spyderco Store in CO recently. It is a beautiful knife! I just placed an order for one, so I should have it early next week. If you judge this knife against other Spyderco's, it stands out as a beauty, since Spyderco's seem to be produced to perform first and for appearance somewhere lower on the priority list (my opinion only). I carry at least one Spyderco everyday, so for me, this gives me a handsome alternative to my Calypso Jr., Starmate, Dragonfly, Native or Rookie. I intend to carry and use this one, as even if it doubled in value over many years, it wouldn't become to valuable to use. I have always regretted not getting one of the Jigged Bone Spyderco Jess Horn folders and I know I would regret not having one of these.
 
I love my FRN Delica, but I gotta admit, I think Spyderco may have made some questionable decisions around the 25th anniversary model.

Why take a dark jigged bone handle and a dark, highly figured damascus bolster, and install a bright stainless triangle at one end? The Delica blade clashes horribly with the rest of the knife.

Admittedly, I can't afford even the lowest eBay prices right now, but a bone-and-damascus Calypso Jr. with a carbon steel blade would make me seriously consider living on Ramen for a few months. :D
 
The Delica is my love. The Anniversary Delica is a knife I'm not interested in. It's ugly :(
 
I think such item as Anniversary Knife can’t be evaluated in simple price-to-usefulness categories because it is not a user. It is some kind of symbol, the knife what once issued in limited quantity never will be repeated. Some kind of milestone in manufacturer’s history...
I would consider it as my gift for myself, maybe a small bit as my modest support for one of my very favorite manufacturers.
 
We picked the Delica pattern because it is our most popular model and probably the most copied design of the past decade.

Considering that there are probably not 20 people in the world that can even make such a mosaic damascus pattern, I would say that it is quite unique. Guys like Schempp, Schwartzer, etc. are a very small group. We're also not going to be able to meet the demand so many will not even receive one.

Ebay sales are currently running close to MSRP and I imagine they'll just go higher in the future. I guess it's a good thing that some people don't like it.

Architect, good analysis, time will tell.

Carlos, not too many damascus blades will cut alongside of VG-10.

Ed, Serg, I appreciate the kind words, thanx.

sal
 
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