Why did they discontinue the G-10 Harpy ?

C

carbonsteelfan

Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
382
Having used my G-10 Handle ATS-55 Harpy for 11 months now ; l must say l am very pleased with it. The grippy G-10 Handle really makes a difference ; especially when l am gutting fish or cutting the tendons or ligaments of big game after hunts. So why did Spyderco discontinue the G-10 Harpy ? It seems quite superior to the SS model ; especially considering that stainless steel can get slippery in wet places.
 
If I had to guess, I'd say it was probably discontinued for the same reason all but a couple models were, namely lack of sales. It's poor sales may have been due to the roughly $20 higher MSRP compared to the SS version, the lack of a drying vent, the availability of the less expensive FRN Merlin, or the alignment of the planets.
 
The Deacon said:
If I had to guess, I'd say it was probably discontinued for the same reason all but a couple models were, namely lack of sales. It's poor sales may have been due to the roughly $20 higher MSRP compared to the SS version, the lack of a drying vent, the availability of the less expensive FRN Merlin, or the alignment of the planets.
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Thank you ; Mr. Deacon ; sir :-) . It is sad though ; that they eould discontinue this little gem. The only thing l dislike about the knife is the ATS-55 steel. I wish they made these in S30V
 
carbonsteelfan said:
Thank you ; Mr. Deacon ; sir :-) . It is sad though ; that they eould discontinue this little gem. The only thing l dislike about the knife is the ATS-55 steel. I wish they made these in S30V
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YVW.

For whatever reason, the G-10 versions of some knives have done well, while others have gone over like the proverbial lead balloon. In addition to the Harpy, the G-10 Police and the G-10 versions of the Delica and Endura were all flops in terms of sales. Does seem odd, given how many forumites appear to be madly in love with the stuff. Personally, I think stabilized road apple scales would look better, but I know I'm odd man out here.
 
The Deacon said:
YVW.

For whatever reason, the G-10 versions of some knives have done well, while others have gone over like the proverbial lead balloon. In addition to the Harpy, the G-10 Police and the G-10 versions of the Delica and Endura were all flops in terms of sales. Does seem odd, given how many forumites appear to be madly in love with the stuff. Personally, I think stabilized road apple scales would look better, but I know I'm odd man out here.
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We're all odd in our own ways. Unlike many spydiefans ; I never figured out how a boye dent makes a knife more secure. On a related subject ; how come Spyderco stopped using ATS-55 altogether ? I mean ; sure its not as good as S30v but it is a good steel.
 
Hi Paul,

It was the planets. Mars was in Uranus and it killed sales......just kidding.;)

Hi Carbonsteelfan,

As Paul mentioned, it's usually low sales that forces a disco. Hawkbill blades are a much smaller market in general than other shapes. On the steel, we tested ATS-55 and VG-10 at the same time. One was a new steel from Hitachi (ATS-55) and the other (VG-10) was a new blade steel from Takefu. Both were good steels. After a few years testing, we opted to go with the VG-10 as our "basic steel from a Japanese foundry. It's an excellent all around steel that has served us and our customers well for a long time. We introduced VG-10 with the Moran in the late 90's.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Paul,

It was the planets. Mars was in Uranus and it killed sales......just kidding.;)

Hi Carbonsteelfan,

As Paul mentioned, it's usually low sales that forces a disco. Hawkbill blades are a much smaller market in general than other shapes. On the steel, we tested ATS-55 and VG-10 at the same time. One was a new steel from Hitachi (ATS-55) and the other (VG-10) was a new blade steel from Takefu. Both were good steels. After a few years testing, we opted to go with the VG-10 as our "basic steel from a Japanese foundry. It's an excellent all around steel that has served us and our customers well for a long time. We introduced VG-10 with the Moran in the late 90's.

sal
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Thank you for such a prompt answer ; Mr. Glesser. I'LL always prefer G-10 over stainless steel for the Harpy though. L suppose the ATS-55 stint in the late 90s was just a prototype before you realized that VG-10 was superior. But still ; it must have been nice to be the only company to use ATS55. It was a steel unique to spyderco and spyderco only. Last question : What is the difference between ATS55 and ATS34 ? which is better ?
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Paul,

It was the planets. Mars was in Uranus and it killed sales......just kidding.;)

Hi Carbonsteelfan,

As Paul mentioned, it's usually low sales that forces a disco. Hawkbill blades are a much smaller market in general than other shapes. On the steel, we tested ATS-55 and VG-10 at the same time. One was a new steel from Hitachi (ATS-55) and the other (VG-10) was a new blade steel from Takefu. Both were good steels. After a few years testing, we opted to go with the VG-10 as our "basic steel from a Japanese foundry. It's an excellent all around steel that has served us and our customers well for a long time. We introduced VG-10 with the Moran in the late 90's.
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Mr Glesser with all of that considered and with rising popularity of Hawkbills across the board and with the G-10 POLICE model enjoying a successful second go-around can't we at least try a Sprint Run of G-10 Harpy models? Because with all of the new Hawkbill fans I've seen on both forums I'm willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy Sprint would do well and you could use that as a barometer to see whether or not it would be wise to have another G-10 Harpy in the main line up.

About two years ago I either lost or had my G-10 Harpy stolen and I've missed it terribly. I would be willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy with VG-10 steel would be a success and it would even be cool have a few out of the run in PE. I love the extra ridgidity of the Harpy compared to the TASMAN and older Merlin models and I know I'm not alone with that opinion either.

With the Harpy being one of the iconic models it just makes perfect sense to at least give the G-10 model one more try in a Sprint Run if nothing else. I hope you all at least give it some thought. Because I would grab a SE and PE both with a G-10 handle if they ever become available again.
 
JD Spydo said:
Mr Glesser with all of that considered and with rising popularity of Hawkbills across the board and with the G-10 POLICE model enjoying a successful second go-around can't we at least try a Sprint Run of G-10 Harpy models? Because with all of the new Hawkbill fans I've seen on both forums I'm willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy Sprint would do well and you could use that as a barometer to see whether or not it would be wise to have another G-10 Harpy in the main line up.

About two years ago I either lost or had my G-10 Harpy stolen and I've missed it terribly. I would be willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy with VG-10 steel would be a success and it would even be cool have a few out of the run in PE. I love the extra ridgidity of the Harpy compared to the TASMAN and older Merlin models and I know I'm not alone with that opinion either.

With the Harpy being one of the iconic models it just makes perfect sense to at least give the G-10 model one more try in a Sprint Run if nothing else. I hope you all at least give it some thought. Because I would grab a SE and PE both with a G-10 handle if they ever become available again.
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It's very possible that a G-10 Harpy would do much better now and a Sprint would almost certainly be a fast seller, especially if offered in both PE and SE, like the CF version was.

Truth is, the way knives are marketed has changed more in the 18 years since the G-10 Harpy came out than in the hundred years before that. Online sales were still in their infancy in 1997, virtually all knife purchases were either made in person, from a brick and mortar store, or by mail, from advertisements in magazines and from printed catalogs. Stores almost always have a finite amount of display space they're willing to devote to a "line", so Spyderco felt the need to keep the number of models and variants of those models down. Today, that's obviously no longer the case. Internet sales, by both brick and mortar shops like New Graham and merchants only a "virtual storefront", probably make up the vast majority of all knife sales and display space is not the consideration it once was.
 
JD Spydo said:
Mr Glesser with all of that considered and with rising popularity of Hawkbills across the board and with the G-10 POLICE model enjoying a successful second go-around can't we at least try a Sprint Run of G-10 Harpy models? Because with all of the new Hawkbill fans I've seen on both forums I'm willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy Sprint would do well and you could use that as a barometer to see whether or not it would be wise to have another G-10 Harpy in the main line up.

About two years ago I either lost or had my G-10 Harpy stolen and I've missed it terribly. I would be willing to bet that a G-10 Harpy with VG-10 steel would be a success and it would even be cool have a few out of the run in PE. I love the extra ridgidity of the Harpy compared to the TASMAN and older Merlin models and I know I'm not alone with that opinion either.

With the Harpy being one of the iconic models it just makes perfect sense to at least give the G-10 model one more try in a Sprint Run if nothing else. I hope you all at least give it some thought. Because I would grab a SE and PE both with a G-10 handle if they ever become available again.
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You guys spoke my mind. I would certainly buy a plain edge one in the upgraded steels and a serrrated one too.
Ps: For the serrated ones might l suggest using H1 ? I hear it is the best for SE blades. For the PE ; S30V perhaps ?
 
Brock O Lee said:
Another vote for the G10 harpy !
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Brock you and I and quite a few others have been screaming for another G-10 Harpy over at the Spyderco.com forum for some time now. When Mr. Glesser says he'll take to his staff about it really gives me hope for at least a Sprint Run of these most useful of the mid sized Spyderco Hawkbills.

To me the only other Hawkbill that would get me more excited is if they would do a Spyderhawk model with a G-10 handle>> but right now I want another G-10 Harpy since I got mine either stolen or lost. VG-10 steel would be great but this could also be a great model for a newer Japan steel would be super as well.

There is something really nice about the G-10 Harpy>> I have so much more confidence handling G-10 handles over the stainless ones when working in wet conditions. This could be the Sprint of the year if it comes to fruition. I would also be up for a newer colored G-10 handle>> but black would also be fine with me as well. For all of you interested in a G-10 Harpy Sprint please chime in and tell us why you want one.
 
JD Spydo said:
For all of you interested in a G-10 Harpy Sprint please chime in and tell us why you want one.
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Count me in for one in SE and at least one in PE. I know you're the champion of Spyderedge blades, JD, but you have to admit that collectors love PE. Heck, the SE half of the CF Harpy Sprint run a few years back must have taken at least a couple weeks to sell out completely, while the PE ones were pretty much "gone in 60 seconds".
 
I didn't get any resistance to a G-10 Harpy sprint. The question presented was what steel to use? Also, what color G-10?

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
I didn't get any resistance to a G-10 Harpy sprint. The question presented was what steel to use? Also, what color G-10?

sal
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Nice!

I'm cool with VG-10 steel, although ZPD-189 wouldn't be terrible. ;)
For colour, I always like blue or red, but green can look pretty good too. :thumbup:
 
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