What's your favorite Spyderco custom collaboration?

gorlank

gorlank

Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
237
I haven't had all of them but I recently picked up a Spydie Viele off the Knife Exchange and I am really impressed by this elegant folder. First of all the fit and finish is excellent. When I opened the knife for the first time I was shocked at how silky smooth the action of this knife is. It glides open with nary a hitch. This is the slickest folding knife I have ever handled. Hard to imagine even a custom job being this precise. I also owned a herbst that I really liked though the aluminum handle scales were a bit too smooth for my liking. What is your favorite custom Spydie collaboration?
 
A lot of REALLY AWESOME designs have come and gone.
It's a real pity that many of Spyderco's designs are no longer available.
My favorite Spyderco (and very high on my list of overall favorite knives) is the Jot Singh Khalsa (hope I spelled that right).
Most people think it's funny looking, because it is, so they don't even consider it, but it's ergonomics are perfect for me, and the blade shape is like that of the native, but the hole sticks WAY out, so it can be used, very effectively, for fine work.
I also really like Bob Lum's Spyderco collaborations (both of them)
And the Masad Ayoob folder.
Another long retired model is the Robert Terzuola model.
This was an AWESOME knife, and I really can't figure out why it didn't very well, when it's so similar to the Benchmade Warren Osborne model, and that was one of Benchmade's best selling model, which says A LOT.
I hope you have the opportunity to handle all of the above listed knives, because some of feel a lot better in the hand than they do on paper.
PS, If you're really interested in obtain a Jot S K, let me know, I have a couple stashed away, that I would be willing to sell to an interested knife-lover
 
Oh, yeah, I also like the Viele.
That guy has EXCELLENT designs,
I suggest doing a websearch and checking out his handmade work.
The wasp by CRKT is one of his also.
 
WAYNE GODDARD! PAPA, JR, BABY. The one that started it all.

S/F,
Ceya..Ceya Knife Designz
 
I'd have to say the Herbst PE/VG-10 is my favorite out of the collaborations that I have owned at one time or another.
 
Hey Ceya, the Bob "T" C15 is the one that started it all. The Goddard was 2nd.

The Viele was a beautiful model and probably one of the best. It is a good example of how a design can be eliminated when a cheaper version comes into the marketplace. The CRKT Viele was smaller, les expensive, lower quality (IMO) and stole the market. Sales on the Spyderco Viele declined significantly after the CRKT intro. It was a shame because we'd just upgraded the design to VG-10 and added the concave arc ramp like the military has.

sal
 
That's weird.
I wouldn't have thought the CRKT would have made such a difference.
It's got a completely different blade design and Spyderco's is much bigger.
To me, it appears they were on two seperately competing markets.
Sorry to see it go.
 
I think that the original Jess Horn with the bone scales was awesome. I give up most anything to get one. I also think that both the Lum Chinese and the titanium Lum Tanto come very close to real custom Lums
in terms of their overall construction.
 
This was probably the best gentleman's folder spyderco has done.
Really follows Viele's design and motives with a spyderco influence.
discontinued - only one year after it was reintroduced with improved VG-10 blade - Reason given by SAL - sales dropped due to Viele's CRKT WASP collaboration.

The Jot Singh Khalsa was great too, a real collector item and also quite easy to hold - although it was a little to big and wide for my taste. I haven't seen other Khalsa collaborations with Spyderco nor with any other company - so this is quit unique.also discontinued

SHABARIA - that is a very original concept folder. both blade and handle have a distinct shape, maybe not the most practicle but still very special and I like mine alot. also discontinued
 
My favorite Spyderco collaborations are the Wegner, Starmate, and Viele. Great designs, excellently made by Spyderco.
 
I would have to say it is the one I will never be able to get,the CF Walker.
 
There are several custom collaborations I like very much. First, there is Edward Bradichansky with his Shabaria and Spydercard, than there would be B. Terzuola with the Starmate of course, Wayne Goddard with the Baby Wayne and how could I forget Bram Frank? I also like Frank Centofante's C25 (and C50).
But what I'd like to have now is Sal Glesser's custom collaboration "Solo buttonlock" :) It doesn't even have an opening hole, imagine that!
 
Sal, thanks for the correction but for me it was the Goddard that got me hooked on to Spyderco knives.

S/F,
Ceya Knife Designz
 
my personal favorite is the lum chinese folder, a beautiful knife and an excellent cutter
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser
The Viele was a beautiful model and probably one of the best. It is a good example of how a design can be eliminated when a cheaper version comes into the marketplace. The CRKT Viele was smaller, les expensive, lower quality (IMO) and stole the market. Sales on the Spyderco Viele declined significantly after the CRKT intro. It was a shame because we'd just upgraded the design to VG-10 and added the concave arc ramp like the military has.

sal
Click to expand...

Till now I could not figure out why you discontinued the best Spyderco ever - IMO... Oh well - I did not even notice there was a CRKT version of it...

David
 
Out of the Jot, Starmate, Lum Chinese, Shabaria and Spydercard, my favorite is the Shabaria. It's a weird design that works in many ways. I first thought it was ugly and uncomfortable, but after handling it a few knife shows decided to risk it. Found out that the blade shape grows on you and although the handle isn't perfect for any grip, its good in a lot of grips, which in some ways is better. My only wish was that it had a rounded spine.
 
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