Why blue G-10?

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
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Curious if there is a rationale behind the use of blue G-10 on the Dodo and Yojimbo. I suspect it's to make them looke less threatening. It doesn't bother me at all, but the color is rather shocking, and I think it draws attention to the knife whereas black or something darker wouldn't so much. Is it an aesthetic choice, or is there different rationale behind the use of the blue color? With blades like these two I'm not sure handle color would lead one to think "Oh, that knife is not a threat!" Both are fantastic designs, though, and it's exciting to see Spyderco producing knives that are SOOO different from others out there.
 
I assume, they were made to match blue jeans. I personally really like it.
 
Possibly. Anyone familiar with the psychology of color, how the mind tracks colors, etc?
 
Any color out of the ordinary is more likely to be caught by the human eye. So the blue G-10 is less likely to be seen as it blends in with blue jeans which are an ordinary thing.
 
But if the colors aren't matched up pretty good wouldn't the eye latch onto it just as easily? Also, the big silver clip is a dead giveaway even if the little bitty piece of handle that is sticking out does happen to blend a bit.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything, but I'm just curious what the official reason for the blue G-10 is, and more importantly, does it actually work that way psychologically/physiologically or is it "hype?" It's possible that the answers would only come from some experimentation (I'm sure Spyderco does double-blind studies with each new model! :D ). Regardless, the knives are awesome, so don't get me wrong, but I guess what I'm really getting at is:

1) Is blue being used as urban camoflage?

2) Does it really make the knives less noticeable, considering breaks in patterns are strong attractions to the human eye/mind and the fact that a big shiny sliver clip is right there?

3) Is blue used to give the impression that the knife is less threatening? Does it actually work?
 
Chiro75 said:
1) Is blue being used as urban camoflage?

2) Does it really make the knives less noticeable, considering breaks in patterns are strong attractions to the human eye/mind and the fact that a big shiny sliver clip is right there?

3) Is blue used to give the impression that the knife is less threatening? Does it actually work?
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1.) If by urban camouflage you mean something that won't scare timid city dwellers (like your boss) then yes.

2.) I don't think it makes it less noticeable at all. Nor do I think it makes it any more noticeable.

3.) In my experience yes it does work!

Here's my take on it:

Consider the Dodo. The whole point here is to make a high performance little knife that will fill in for a high performance big knife as best it can. Why a little knife? Because little knives are socially acceptable.

Why is it blue? Why does it look so weird? To throw people off. To most people (not us) a knife has a wooden, stag, or black synthetic handle. "Dangerous weapons" have long blades and black handles. Take a look at any movie or TV show where knives are used as weapons and generally they all conform to the same pattern of long blade, black handle.

The blue makes it "Cute" to quote someone who was nervous around my Leatherman Supertool but didn't mind my Dodo. My female coworkers in particular like it because it's colorful.

The truly great thing is people laugh at my Dodo and tell me how "that's cute but I bet it's pretty darn useless". That's fine with me they think that.

Some people criticize me for "Caving In" and not standing up to my right to carry and possess knives. Well I can't afford to make my coworkers uncomfortable. It could cost me my job and even my career. It must be nice to be so independently wealthy so you can do whatever the heck you want to; I have to think about things like this. The Dodo in blue G10 makes me happy and it makes them happy. I see no problem here.

I am not a politically correct person but politically correct people decide whether I work or starve, go free or go to prison.

Really it's quite brilliant I think. All it takes is a colored handle and it saves you so much grief.

That's a small part of the reason I want a blue Yojimbo. If the Dodo is so well received I bet the Yojimbo with its unconventional design, reasonably short blade, and blue handle offers an interesting option as well.
 
Hey, there are some of us who like blue. :) One of my favorites is the blue that BenchMade uses on its SwitchBack model, but the first blue folder that I ever saw was the BFC blue Native, way back when. It stands out and it should.
 
I think people see black as bad :rolleyes: .The outlaw cowboys-black hats, black leather jackets,black guns vs.nice wood stock ones like gramps has and so on.So I would think blue is "softer" more friendly.

I also think that with thin blue handle ends and wire clips(even the shinny yojimbo one), make it look like more of a pen or highlighter

When my oldest daughter heads off to college I was thinking of a Delica for her,but a big black clip and a big wide handle sticks out more than say a blue Dodo with its narrow blue end and short wire clip.

just my 2 cents
 
I very much disagree.

The bright blue G10 with shiny clip against any sort of pants besides an absolute matching color would stand out. I can't recall the studies, but I'd wager that "pop-out" effects can be observed with dissimilar colors that are at the physiological limen of just noticeable difference. I just rely on the fact that darker colors (i.e. black) tend to pop out less than brighter colors.

I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't have jeans the color of that G10. Mine are darker or less saturated.

My experience is that anything in the pocket that's ANY color tends to attract attention, whether in faded or darker blue jeans or khakis, whether it's a knife (even green Micarta), a pen (green, blue, red, what have you), or even a shiny mobile phone.

Chiro75, I can't understand the blue G10 either. The only time I haven't been asked about a knife in my pocket is 1) bead-blasted natural titanium 2) black G10 with black clip. This is with jeans, khakis, or dark slacks. Micarta, colored G10... it all attracts attention.

(Well... I take that back. The Strider AR in my rear pocket attracted attention and it was black and titanium. But it's a brick-shaped and brick-size knife.)

So I'm holding out for a black G10 Yojimbo. If the blue were much darker, I'd be happy with it.

-j
 
My thoughts are not that blue makes it blend or hide,but that a thin blue end with small wire clip make it look less like a knife.(dodo,which is what i own)

To me it looks more like a pen/highlighter.I think it would work(hide) great on a backpack with other pens etc.or even a front shirt pocket,but since I wear t shirts w/o pockets everyday I have yet to test that. :) and hope to never have to wear shirts with pockets or buttons,or God forbid I have to buy a tie. :D
 
biogon said:
My experience is that anything in the pocket that's ANY color tends to attract attention, whether in faded or darker blue jeans or khakis, whether it's a knife (even green Micarta), a pen (green, blue, red, what have you), or even a shiny mobile phone.

-j
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I think you guys are missing the point of the blue color when I read something like this.

Have you ever heard of the concept of hiding in plain open sight? That's exactly what the blue G-10 does.

The sheeple of the world gaze upon its bright blue color and their brain registers "Not dangerous" because kittens, rainbows, and brightly colored objects are not "dangerous".

It's a basic design element that has been used on other types of knives for decades. The Victorinox Classic is a socially acceptable knife and it comes in every color of the rainbow. Case knives are another great example. "Ooooh look at this one it's red/green/blue/whatever!"

And to make a point I should have stated already, that's why it comes in both colors. We can disagree on this and both be right.
 
DeadManWalking said:
Have you ever heard of the concept of hiding in plain open sight? That's exactly what the blue G-10 does.

The sheeple of the world gaze upon its bright blue color and their brain registers "Not dangerous" because kittens, rainbows, and brightly colored objects are not "dangerous".

It's a basic design element that has been used on other types of knives for decades. The Victorinox Classic is a socially acceptable knife and it comes in every color of the rainbow.
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I can see what you're saying, but we must hang around really different types of sheeple.

For me, invariably, colorful knives seem to attract attention. This leads to the, "Oh, what's that in your pocket?" (or in the case of the SAK, "What's that on your keychain?")

Once they see its a knife, it doesn't matter if it's a MT LCC, a Strider AR, a multi-hued shiny Leek, a bright red BM 940, a BM 690 with wood and carbon fibre, or even, heaven forbid, the generic red SAK, I get the "ACK! Who are you going to kill?"

I never get the "Oh, that's cute," comment, even to the shiny Leek or the BM 690/940. I suppose I've never tried the Classic or the Case or the Dodo.... but I don't like the Dodo's blade and I don't like slipjoints.

In both business and academic environments, the type of people I'm around are attracted to things that pop out at them, then they just have to ask, and then they always recoil in horror when they find it it's a knife.

Doesn't matter if it's an unusual color or an unusual shape; they jump to the conclusion that sharpy == dangerous. I would much rather they just don't see it, don't notice it, and don't ask. For me, black doesn't get noticed. Dunno why.

Added>> Oh yeah. I forgot. I got the same shriek of horror when a woman saw a Leatherman Micra on my keychain. But she was one of very, very few who noticed. Unlike the red 940, which attracts attention like nobody's business.

-j
 
I have a whole box of black-handled knives. Boring!

I understand the political reality, but we are not here to please the sheeple.

I think it is a "fun" knife and very functional. It has attracted good attention for me.
 
Joe Talmadge had some very interesting comments about the color black for knives, and how people see it, in the "Pikal" thread, this forum.
 
black works for me. blue doesn't. I don't wear jeans now and when I used to, they were never in that colour. A lower riding clip which is half the length of the usual clip would be more discreet.

nice knife nevertheless altho handle seems a wee bit long?
 
spyken,

IMHO I'd rather have a normal-sized handle with a small blade, rather than a short handle with a small blade. The blade is 2.75" for legal purposes, which means that a proportionately long handle would be incredibly small.

A number of folks now have said that the handle on the Yo' is apparently quite comfortable and the tail doesn't protrude beyond the base of the grip. I'll let you know when mine gets in... I have small-ish hands. :)

-j
 
The blue G-10 doesn't match any jeans I've ever seen, and sticks out like a sore thumb.
I think the people who are talking about the blue color making it seem less threatening are right on, though.
I've carried blue anodized Al and Ti folders like the blue BM 940, a Darrel Ralph Apogee. The Apogee was a big folder, but the only comments I ever got were about how good it looked...
 
I don't know about the color. Maybe. I don't break knives out in front of people all that often, so I really don't know. I think the average sheep would freak from the Dodo's blade, if nothing else. It's short, but it's pretty darn aggro if you ask me. "Ohhh what a cute blue knife... EEEK!!!! What's that!!!!????" :D

Well, it'd be nice to have Sal ring in on this one since I really want to know officially why the color was picked rather than speculating. Regardless, both are great knives, so they'd do fine if they were in pink G-10 or whatever. Just tell me that Spyderco will never do something like the Rainbow Leek or whatever that thing was. Blech!
 
Chiro75 said:
pink G-10 or whatever
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Hmmm.

You know what.

I bet a pink Yojimbo WOULD look more innocuous than a black or royal blue one.

That would get a TON of attention to my rear pocket, and honestly, probably NOT the KIND that I WANT, either... <runs away>

-j
 
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