Why has the new Foundry not caught on? Part 2

Brendtech189

Brendtech189

Joined
Jul 12, 2012
Messages
2,174
Well I tried this one before but why does no one seem to like the new Spyderco Foundry? I think that it is a great knife with excellent ergos, a great blade shape, great blade steel, and is an homage to all of the Carpenters of todays and the past. Now I know the first thing that I thought of...Why did they not make the scales Titanium? They could have but they wanted to use mainly carpenter steel so that is what they did. It is beautifully thin at only 0.33 inches thick and hides away in the pocket very easily. A great Reeve R.I.L. frame lock that is rock solid and one hell of a carrier or a back up. Didn't like the graphic at first but its grown on me.
The main thing I think that has done the Foundry in is the price. You can find them for right around $195.00 BNIB but that is just a bit too much. If they were around $150.00 that would be cash money but $200.00 is quite steep. Even so, if you have an itchin' for a great Spyderco with some great features give the Foundry a try. I guarantee that you will at minimum be a bit surprised at how great its ergos are and that blade cuts beautifully.
 
The Foundry is a nice looking Spydie, and I'm sure there are few floating around the forum here. I think you might have answered your own question as to why it hasn't caught on, when you mention the price tag. I'm not willing to shell out 2 bills for an all Carpenter steel knife when I can get a Techno with titanium, a nice thick blade in a length I can carry and use for the same price. Also, with the Slysz Bowie being all the rage I can see where the favor is among buyers. I dunno, I just kind of see the Foundry as being a knife put together with all the left over ideas that couldn't be done on the Bowie.

That being said, the foundry is fine, but IMO I think it's a miss.

Of course, I could be totally wrong...:D;)
 
As with most knives, I'm sure a number of factors influence the decision on whether or not to purchase it. The price seems fairly high for an all stainless knife with no real "wow" factor. Any graphic is bound to turn off as many folks as it turns on, or more. When it comes to RIL and Walker lock knives, flippers seem to be the "flavor of the month" right now, so the lack of one will be a factor for some. Wire clips are in vogue, but some don't like them, and many of those who do prefer the "deep carry" version rather than the Foundary's high ride style. Size may also be a factor, too big for those who have to deal with 3" blade length laws and too small to appeal to those who don't. As for me, the Foundry's wrong handed lock combined with the "unfinished" look that all RIL knives share are reasons enough to ignore it. If I wanted a 'user" in XHP, I'd pick up another CF Chaparral and give my S30V one a rest.
 
Brendtech189 said:
... is an homage to all of the Carpenters of todays and the past.
Click to expand...

Well, I may be wrong, but this is not the case. Carpenter is just the name of the foundry who worked with Spyderco on this knife.
Now about the knife, what I don't like about it is the logo, and the lockbar grooves where it bends, and the use of a deep-carry clip that far from the end of the handle.
That, and the competition of its other brothers (mostly the Native 5 S110V has me waiting, and maybe the Chaparral).

I'm not saying that it's a bad knife, I'm sure it is a great one, but I prefer other Spydies.
 
All steel, heavy, slippery, expensive, blade-shape - things I don't like
 
I think the design team tried too hard to be unique on this one and went a little overboard. The Carpenter logo winds up looking like a Comedy Central logo instead, which cheapens the handle scales quite a lot. the proportions on the framelock and the grooved panel seem off. and the clip placement and sizing seems unnecessarily off-kilter, compared to other Spydercos. the whole thing is just lacking the level of visual refinement that a ~$200 knife should command. I like the blade steel, I like the blade shape, and the handle shape, and don't mind the weight, but if I'm shelling out $200 I want to get a knife that looks like it should cost $200. and I get that that's a personal, subjective decision, but I'm guessing I'm not the only person with that assessment of the Foundry's looks.
 
I thought about it when I first saw it, it reminded me of a Tenacious (I like the look of both) for some reason but with better materials. Then I looked at the weight and price, I carry a G-10 Manix 2 so that wasn't a deal breaker. The real killer for me though was it's built to be a "hard use" folder. It has all the aspects to meet that except one, it's as slick as a used car salesman. If it had been textured then I would have been in. I want traction, the more the better. Texture that steel, or add grippy G-10 to both sides and I'd by it. I don't get excited by R.I.L.s but with one of those changes I'd be willing to give it a hard look. It really does look like a Tenacious though, were both designed by Eric Glesser?
 
Things I don't like about it?

-Frame lock.
-Handle material.
-Price.
-The logo on the side.

I'd rather it have G10 and either a back-lock or compression-lock, but I do understand that they already have lots of models like that.
 
vanslem6 said:
Things I don't like about it?

-Frame lock.
-Handle material.
-Price.
-The logo on the side.

I'd rather it have G10 and either a back-lock or compression-lock, but I do understand that they already have lots of models like that.
Click to expand...

G10 and compression lock definitely would have moved it into the buy column, as a mini PM2
 
I don't like frame locks.

Make it any other lock with black g10 and I would buy one to go with my other Goldens.
 
I've been messing with the idea of fabricating an "inlay" for the presentation side.
I don't really want to drill and tap the stainless, maybe epoxy first, then go to putting holes in it if that doesn't work??

I like the Foundry and I'm willing to bet that most of the posters here have never experienced more than a photo of the knife before posting an opinion. :rolleyes: It's a solid knife but could use a bit more thickness in the handle for my hand. Ergo my plan for an inlay, such as it is.
 
Much as I love my Para 2s, I traded one to get a Foundry -- that's how much I love it!
 
Barman1 said:
I like the Foundry and I'm willing to bet that most of the posters here have never experienced more than a photo of the knife before posting an opinion. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ummmm ya.... like I need to hold one to know I don't buy frame locks.

:rolleyes:
 
Barman1 said:
...I'm willing to bet that most of the posters here have never experienced more than a photo of the knife before posting an opinion. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That's probably the biggest drawback for me. The knife looks appealing, but I won't shell out $200 for a steel handled knife if I can't handle it first to make sure that it is money well spent. There are still plenty of other knives in the same price range that I have handled and that are on my want list, so my money will probably go toward purchasing them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top