Why do Spyderco's show marks on the blade and others do not?

S

Sledgehammer

Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Messages
96
I have been looking at pictures and reviews of many knives as I'm looking to buy my first folder.

I have noticed that in pictures of knives that have been used there are wear marks on the Spyderco's. I mean right close to where the pivot is. Not out in the middle of teh blade or anything.

It's like you can see that there was grit or something or that the blade was/is rubbing on the liner of the knife. I don't see this on the most used knives I have seen from Benchmade, Buck/Strider etc.

Can someone explain this to me?

:thumbup:
 
There very well may be something causing premature wearing at the pivot or you could be looking at well used examples.

You also have to realize that anywhere that there are moving parts, there will be wear. So after hundreds of openings and closing, any knife will show signs of wear. The extent of wear can be lessened by cleaning and proper lubrication, of course.

Also, the FRN handled Spyderco knives don't have the big spacers between the blade and handle like some Benchmade and Striders do. So a little foreign matter can wear in that area becuase it's so tight.

But, I don't think this says anything negative about Spyderco, they're made to be used. All knives are made to be used. And while I appreciate art knives and fine handmades, I have a little more respect for an old scratched and banged up Buck 110 or sharpened away slipjoint.

Then again, fit and finish is in the eye of the beholder, and since I'm a user little things like that don't really bother me.
 
You are probably seeing these rub marks only on the lockback spydercos and if you checked out other lockbacks you would also see them. Gerbers, scrades, bucks lockbacks, every one that I have had eventually got the marks.

The Benchmades, Buck/Striders that you mention probably use a different lock type (axis, liner) that doesn't use the end of the scales for support of the blade in the open position.

In addition, if the blade/scale tolerances weren't tight on the spydercos, making the marks more pronouced, everyone would bi**h about the "major blade play that completely ruins" their wonderful knife.
Adam
 
On the knives made without phosphorus bronze or nylon washers there can be wear marks or scratches on the blades. My Buck Strider knives both have washers in the pivots that keeps the blades from contacting or rubbing the surface of the liners or FRN handles.

These marks don't detract from any of the abilities of the folder. If you are like any of us guys that actually use your EDC there will be other scratches and dings before too long on it anyways.

STR
 
Thanks for clearing that up. I just wondered why the marks were there on some and not on others. I plan to use my folder (when I get it) so I don't care.
 
On my Dodo, the tolerances between the handle and the blade are so tight that scratches were pretty much inevitable. It's a real B*tch to get water out of there. :D
 
Spyderco uses ultra-thin washers in their folders. I haven’t taken apart any Spydies with the newer PB washers, but the older plastic washers are so thin that they’re actually translucent. On some knives, there isn’t even a visible gap between the opened blade and the two handle slabs.

I think one advantage to using really thin washers is that it makes the pivot area stronger. There’s not much room for side-to-side play when the pivot is tight. Disadvantages though are that you can get those arch-shaped scratches above the tang and some knives may have a gritty feel when opening the blade.
 
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