whats the news on the paramilitary

Hi Kudzu. Thanx for the input. I realy labored over the decisions on those two issues; color and clip. In the end I decided that first I must test the pattern and make sure that we refine the pattern (shape) to please you and the guy next to you. Once the pattern is refined, then we can make variations and refinements.

We got the best reaction at shows from the black (over the green or tan) and the forumites did present enough argument that the general ELU would prefer the standard Military style clip for the smaller version.

sal
 
No matter what the color I will get one or two but I would really love to have had one in desert Tan.Is there any plans to do a tan Native without the engraveing on the blade?
 
What's the blade length going to be? :confused:

Also, how similar is it going to be to the Military? (asides from the lock change)
 
Hi Jeff. I personally liked the tan. If the design is well received, we'll make whatever the ELUs want.

The tan Natives were built in Golden with a specific purpose. We are following through with that purpose at this time. The Native with S30V is probably the most performance bang for the buck of anything made today anywhere, so it is a good tool for the purpose.

At this time, there are no plans for tan Natives to be delivered in the USA with or without the engraving.

Perhaps in the future, any color is possible. The problem is whether or not the number of customers are there to support the run. If we have to sit on inventory, then we're tying up funds that would be better used elsewhere (being a small company, these funds are important). We don't mind doing that with low key low volume pieces like the Civie, but it's nothing we would want to do with a colored Native. A short run of ParaMilitary's in Tan would have to answer the same questions.

There were many posts indicating a plain edge edge SpyderHawk in blue would be special. Actual sales did not support the project. A lot of forumites don't put their money where their keyboard is. That's OK, now that I know what to expect. So when I hear "We want" or "we would buy", I have to think more realistically on what it actually pays to do or what will end up being a liablility. "Wishing" for something is fine. I can "wish" as well as anyone. Investing in those "wishes" needs thought.

Hi Sph3ric. 3.25" in blade length. It "looks" like a smaller Military. Same blade steeel (S30V), same liner material, same G-10, same lanyard pipe. Same edge to spine flat grind. Same hole size. Different serations on the back of the spine over and behind the hole. It is different in that we didn't just "shrink" the Millitary. The ergos are different as the hand is not smaller, only the knife.

sal
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser
3.25" in blade length. It "looks" like a smaller Military. ... It is different in that we didn't just "shrink" the Military. The ergos are different as the hand is not smaller, only the knife.
sal
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What about the handle length? The Military is often described as having a lot of handle given the blade size. Will the Para still have this feature/advantage?
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser
...There were many posts indicating a plain edge edge SpyderHawk in blue would be special. Actual sales did not support the project. A lot of forumites don't put their money where their keyboard is. That's OK, now that I know what to expect. So when I hear "We want" or "we would buy", I have to think more realistically on what it actually pays to do or what will end up being a liablility. "Wishing" for something is fine. I can "wish" as well as anyone. Investing in those "wishes" needs thought.

sal
Click to expand...

Sal, another thought on the "specials". I didn't chime in on the Spyderhawk run because I wasn't interested in getting one regardless of the handle color. However, I imagine that one reason that the forum runs have not gone so well in the past is that when they are sold direct from the SFO at MSRP - well, a lot of folks have to ask themselves whether they really are willing to pay the difference between the MSRP for the "special" color versus the standard black color that can be had from an internet discounter. Sometimes, the cost difference is quite substantial.

No knock on Spyderco, just a thought.

As far as putting money where their keyboard is - maybe it's one part over-enthusiasm, one part crappy economy.
 
Thanks very much for the post Sal.
A trainee or junior manager could learn a serious amount about good buisiness practice just by reading your post. Even for world-wise cynics like me, it is good to see such an open and responsive customer buisiness practice such as that practiced by yourself and Spyderco.

Yes, I've come to realise that the internet promotes the fiction that he who shouts loudest wins. It's a sad fact but true, especially when the silent/quiet majority loses out. That's probably why despite what we might wish, some of us rely on you and Spyderco to make the informed calls, especially when it produces philosophyis like the "Little Big" knife series, which frankly was way ahead of it's time.

That said as a long time Military user, that has had to reign back it's use due to increased office duties, I can garantee that I will be purchasing a Paramilitary, and at least two of the reported Calypso Jnrs (more if I can find others to give presents to :D )

Keep up the informative posting, it's apreciated.
 
I still think the forum spyderhawk would have done better if it had been posted on top of all the bladeforums boards.I saw were several people posted that they had just found out about them a good while after they came out.
Also I am not a big fan of hawkbills and wouldn't have bought a Spyderhawk if it wasn't the for the fact that I have all the other forum models.
I do understand though that you can't produce a batch of knives and sit on them a couple years before they sell.
Maybe next year pick a design in Jan,let it be for both forums Blade and Spyderco.com and take preorders,pay up front and not produce them until there is at least 300 orders.
 
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