Where Spydercos Fall Short

Little boys, please lets not grow up!
Spyderco's are fugly, always have been. Serrations don't last long and no one can get them back to factory.
Thing is they are darn good knives. Even serrations have a place, a very specific one. Best bit they make them well too. I've bought for function and they deliver, still think they are ugly.

Spyderco have always sold their look. Benchmade have their look too. In a crowded market its good to have a recognisable look.
This thread sort of suggests why doesn't Spyderco make a Case or Benchmade knife? Well then others will make Spyderco style knives.

As for cutting surface, all depends on what you like. There are plenty of grind and design varieties out there. I can never see the point of Tantos as a tiny corner edge get far to much use.

Think the OP real gripe is Spyderco hasn't made his perfect Spyderco, but then his perfect Spyderco isn't really a Spyderco. Well I think thats the issue, though might be wrong.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Not if I sacrifice literally any aspect of the knife that I like. And, since it seems you're referring to the Delica, it must sacrifice that space to have a back lock, which I significantly prefer to a liner or framelock.

To clarify, if you're all about great blade-to-handle, that's all good, it's just literally a nonissue for me, personally. I want a specific blade length and I want it attached to a big enough handle. Beyond that, the relationship between the two just isn't important to me.
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That is pretty much where I fall. I look at the knife and how I expect to use it and decide if it works. I think Spyderco does a fabulous job overall with their many different models.
 
I evaluate knives on the basis of their intended application. Did the maker successfully design a knife that excels at the intended application, or did he miss the mark?

I select knives that best meet my cutting needs and that appeal to me.

I own a lot of Spydercos.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
Attempting to use quantitative analysis to push forward a qualitative agenda is just another way to blow smoke. People see tables and graphs and get intimidated by numbers, but the only thing here is a handful of cherry-picked data points. If the sole criteria for Quality is this ratio of blade to handle, then by all means get out the ruler--but it's not mine. It doesn't matter how many charts you use if your argument boils down to, "Spyderco suxxorz cuz I say so."
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I'm surprised at how many negative replies this thread has gotten, probably because the subject is Spyderco. A "catchy" title caused Spydie fans to construe it as an attack on the brand.

I think the OP presented a well-framed discussion of something he values in a knife. Considering all the navel gazing that is done about other metrics here, I think folks should be a little more accepting of the OP's discussion, and should contribute in the vein of the thread, or just resist the urge to bash him.

A ton of people basically said, "If I like a knife I buy it". Well, what the OP did was take a hard look at WHY he likes WHAT he likes. What's wrong with that?
 
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The OP posted the same thread on the Spyderco company forum. Since Sal has not chimed in here I figure I will quote his post for those who do not go over there.

sal said:
Hi Indoril,

I disagree with the value of your premise. Blades are for cutting. Handles are for holding (purchase). A scalpel would not be more efficient with a longer blade or a shorter handle. We design knives like the Polestar and Tenacious for those people like yourself that think blade to handle ratio is an important thing. More important to the eye. In my opinion, not to function or performance.

sal
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I think that many of us who are fans of Spyderco are fans because they march to the beat of their own drum. Spyderco continually tries to innovate and push the industry forward. Spyderco listens to it's customers and tries to make something for everybody and they are very responsive to customer input. They do not like to compare themselves to other companies and this thread in my eyes is asking them to do just that.
 
jerok8 said:
I'm surprised at how many negative replies this thread has gotten, probably because the subject is Spyderco. A "catchy" title caused Spydie fans to construe it as an attack on the brand.

I think the OP presented a well-framed discussion of something he values in a knife. Considering all the navel gazing that is done about other metrics here, I think folks should be a little more accepting of the OP's discussion, and should contribute in the vein of the thread, or just resist the urge to bash him.

A ton of people basically said, "If I like a knife I buy it". Well, what the OP did was take a hard look at WHY he likes WHAT he likes. What's wrong with that?
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I think the OP would have gotten a better response if he added two words to his title..."Where Spydercos Fall Short For Me." Blade-to-handle ratio is a personal preference. It's not a universal metric by which all knives must be judged. Perhaps the OP did not intend to convey this message, but I suspect it's how many of us interpreted the title and opening post.

But I agree with you on the subject of negatively charged responses ("bashing"). They aren't helpful.
 
GatorMedic said:
The biggest gripe I personally have with the Delica is the 2.5 inch cutting edge. That's just too small for my tastes, especially considering how wide it is in the pocket for that tiny edge.
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That's not bad for a knife with an OAL of 2 15/16". That keeps the blade under 3" which is the legal limit in such states as VA.
 
Modoc ED said:
That's not bad for a knife with an OAL of 2 15/16". That keeps the blade under 3" which is the legal limit in such states as VA.
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I would rather the blade be 3" or just a touch below, if legality is the concern. 2.5" is just too small for my personal preference which is why I sold my Salt I
 
Spyderco makes something for just about everyone! Problem is I reckon , they just don't know it . :)
 
I can't remember where I heard or read this but supposedly scientists have PROVEN bees can't fly. Seems the ratio of their body mass to the size of their wings is all wrong.
 
In the past I have looked negatively on Spydies because of the thinness of the blade, the bad cutting edge to handle ratio and the overall appearance of them. I was very avid about beefy blades and as much cutting edge vs handle length as possible.

When I entered the advanced knife world from a OKC RAT II, I got a BM grip, then a mini, a 940 and several other knives I can remember. I wouldn't consider a Spyderco because of the reasons above. My Buying continued without them.

At one point I was looking for a small knife, that offered a four finger grip and that I could use hard and needed low maintenance. In my search, I found the Dragonfly 2 Salt. I picked one up in the exchange and one thing happened; I really enjoyed the DF2, light, capable, very secure grip, and it was so small I never noticed it. So, I decided to give them a shot.

I picked up a GB2 and fell in love. Best action ever, awesome F&F, great edge geometry and just solid knife. I needed more, and this is where it clicked. I got a PM2 in M4, a knife that I never imagined I would get. Big handle with a finger choil and terrible CE:Handle ratio, thin at the tip and a massive hole in the blade. But when I got it, I compared it to my GB2 and noticed; The finger choil makes it very comfortable, the CE: Handle ration is not very noticeably in hand, and if used right the thin tip isn't a problem. The PM2 is a great knife.

I let the numbers get to me, as actual numbers they seem to be significant, but when seen in person it's so small you can't really notice it. Overall, I learned that I can't let little things determine my interests and buying decisions. Just my story of how I hated them and then turned to really like them.
 
I see where the OP is coming from, I don't think anyone should take offense either, especially if your relationship with Spyderco is simply as a consumer.

Sometimes I wish their blades were less stubby but I've gotten over it for the most part.

I want to like Spyderco knives, really want to. As someone else mentioned, the "pocket obstruction" factor of most of their knives make them not work for me which is frustrating. I do have a Bradley Air on the way and I really hope it will be slim enough (from spine to handle when closed). I'll be machining a pocket clip for that if it is.


Totally not Spyderco's fault but i always picture grown men thinking it's cute and talking in a faux child's voice when I read people referring to their knives as "Spydies" or "Millies".
 
Indoril,

At first I thought you were going to go on about how the spydercos don't have enough belly and so the cutting edge is less long than some and I was going to point out the Slysz Bowie (which is not what I would want) and then I opened the thread and see you are talking straight line as the crow flies length.

First off I like knives with significantly longer handles than blades : Para 2, Endura 4 (but that has significant blade length to go with the long handle and off topic the Cold Steel Holdout I

heck on huge two fisted handle pocket knives I've been known to cut the blades shorter for more control e.g., Cold Steel Ti Lite Six and Opinel No 12

. . . so Spyderco isn't lacking FOR ME.

Then I thought of my Grail and wondered how you would compare it. My Grail is a highly modded Boker / Brad Zinker Urban Trapper. The mod is a fat boy handle of Kray-Ex and titanium. Stock handle length though. Can't hardly get the handle shorter and still keep the blade tip covered.
So hows that one grab you ratio wise (pun intended; that's one grippy handle) ? . Granted it's not a Spydie.
 
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