Why was the Spyderco Wegner series discontinued?

Durwood

Durwood

Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
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I always liked the Wegner Jr plain edge, and have had 4 of them. I bought the first two for $60 on closeout, the dealer said they never sold well for him. I bought the other two online. These knives always command a premium now, and I admit I took my profit...I wish I could have bought a bunch for $60. Does anyone know why the Wegner Jr was dropped, was it a licensing issue?
 
My guess is that other dealers shared the experience of the dealer you spoke with. They just didn't sell well enough to justify continued production.

I feel the same way about the full-sized Calypso, now extinct.
 
I don't know why Spyderco stopped selling them but Tim is now selling the knives through his company Blade-Tech Industries www.blade-tech.com
 
Durwood said:
the dealer said they never sold well for him.
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I believe thats it. It was a real shame though because the Wegner designs were brilliant. They were one of the few that transcended its original purpose to excel at a variety of tasks. The good news is that Tim's company, Blade Tech, is making an improved version of the large version.
 
If you liked the Spyderco Wegner's then you will probably like the Benchmade Griptilian and Mini-Griptilian, designed by Mel Pardue.
And they have the Axis-Lock instead of the liner-lock.

Check them out if you have'nt already done so.

Allen.
 
The Spydie Wegner is one amazingly tough mofo, and it blows my mind that a knife that good dies while so many inferior ones live on. Maybe it just didn't look sexy enough, I don't know. :confused:
 
I think the Wegners were just not popular for their principal intended use. I got the full sized version in large part due to the rave reception they got on the forums. Mine mostly gathers dust now, and when friends of mine who had field dressed dozens of big game animals examined it, they just weren't impressed. When I asked on hunt forums for assessments, I never got a reply from anyone saying they had used it. People whose experience is principally with tactical knives apparently loved it in part because of the thin slab handle. That just isn't a comfortable handle for extended use or butchers would have adopted it. I much prefer the Griptilians: better shaped handle, better lock, and with D2 steel at $70 from Cabellas, a great bargain. I think it is hard to beat the combo of a mini Grip and a Grip.
 
A company like Spyderco can't continue to carry every model. There simply may not physically be enough space in the factory for all the tools. Keeping employees trained on all models is a problem. There's only so much you can fit in a person's head. And every time you switch models, you say "Yesterday we were making Model X. Now, we're going to make Model Y for a while," that costs money and time. So, there comes a point when sales of a given model fall off, that you have to look at a given model and say, "This is a great knife. There's nothing wrong with it. But, it's just not selling well anymore and it's not economical for us to keep making it." And, at that point, that model gets a gracious retirement.
 
I think the fact that it was marketed as a folding hunter didn't help with sales. The knife is every bit as "tactical" as other knives. It also wasn't "pretty". the knife really couldn't be appreciated until one handled it. That being said blade-tech's version is significantly better.
 
Thanks for pointing this out. I personally live the original Spyderco Wegner, but the Blade Tech version in S30V will be a nice addition.
 
For a review on the Wegner go here:

http://www.folders-r-us.org/full_tests.htm

The Spyder version is heavier and somewhat thicker than the ones Tim is making trhough his company Blade-tech. I have an original Spyder Wegner [ large ] and comparing the two knives side by side shows many differences in wieght, thickness, construction, etc.

Brownie
 
I bought one based on an early picture in a magazine that showed a nice dropped point. When the knife arrived it was much "pointier" than I wanted for a hunting knife so I sent it back. It was a very good knife, just not that good a hunter.

Bruce
 
If you liked the Spyderco Wegner's then you will probably like the Benchmade Griptilian and Mini-Griptilian, designed by Mel Pardue.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I did for my EDC, in fact I've used my 556 MINI GRIP for field dressing and other than clean up, I love it. I agree the slim lines of the Wegner made it less than ideal for field use, but I loved it for carry. Overall I think the Benchmade Griptilians are an excellent balance of price and performance...I guess I better buy a few to set back, if I like 'em they are bound to be discontinued :D
 
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