Sal is sending me a new knife! what about my old one?

[deadsled]

First off let me say what a great company Spyderco is and how much I love their knives. Now I had recently sent my numbered Bob Lum ti tanto in for repair after the liner lock failed on me while trying to cut some bamboo root. I really just wanted it sharpened and generally "cleaned up" since it I just bought a para-mil and was going to use that for edc. But both of them are numbered collectors Spydies and that's the reason I bought them instead of regular production knives. I talked to Terry today and he told me Sal was sending me a brand new Lum tanto since they couldn't repair my old one but that one wouldn't be numbered. My question is has anyone ever had this experience before? what do they do with blades they can't repair? are they just tossed in the scrap heap or can you get them back? I asked Terry to please try to find it but even if he doesn't a new knife is better than a broke numbered knife! Anyway, thanks for the new knife Sal! can't wait to get it.

[Padawan]

I've not yet had a knife replaced (although my girlfriend will be sending in her infamous Salt 1 as soon as we get a chance and find a little box to pack it in), but I'd imagine the old knife is either used for analysis to help prevent similar future defects, recycled somehow, or simply destroyed. If you're getting a replacement sent to you, I don't think you'll be able to negotiate having the old knife sent back as well.

[Jordan]

My guess is that they go into the vast, underground cavern that Sal uses to analyze defective units and organize his vigilante crime fighting missions.

Also, woo hoo to 400 posts!

[shabbasuraj]

Old knives are melted and are turned into a massive samurai sword.

[zenheretic]

I've not yet had a knife replaced (although my girlfriend will be sending in her infamous Salt 1 as soon as we get a chance and find a little box to pack it in), but I'd imagine the old knife is either used for analysis to help prevent similar future defects, recycled somehow, or simply destroyed. If you're getting a replacement sent to you, I don't think you'll be able to negotiate having the old knife sent back as well.

Padawan, just go to the Post Office, they will give you a free box if you use Priority Mail...which should only cost about $4 to ship a knife to
Maybe wrap it in bubble wrap or newspaper and don't forget to include a note to Spyderco, so they know what is going on.

[Th232]

Not entirely sure what they do with them, but most likely analysis.

Sorry for the OT, but:

If they're sending you a brand new Bob Lum tanto, then that means one of three things:
1) They have spares, like they did with the Lil' Temp. In that case, I will be carefully watching the specials list.
2) They've gone and made another one in the factory. I highly doubt this, since the costs of retooling and all for just one knife would be absurd.
3) They've gotten their in-house maker to actually make a new one. In this case, you lucky, lucky guy!

[The Deacon]

Not entirely sure what they do with them, but most likely analysis.

Sorry for the OT, but:

If they're sending you a brand new Bob Lum tanto, then that means one of three things:
1) They have spares, like they did with the Lil' Temp. In that case, I will be carefully watching the specials list.
2) They've gone and made another one in the factory. I highly doubt this, since the costs of retooling and all for just one knife would be absurd.
3) They've gotten their in-house maker to actually make a new one. In this case, you lucky, lucky guy!

Or, most probably 4) Sal just happened to have an extra in his personal collection, and being the nice guy he is, decided to send it.

Have never had a knife replaced, but as I understand it the general rule is something like this:

New specimen of the same model if available, old one gets used for research and/or destroyed.

If no replacement available, a credit voucher, usable at SFO only, for full MSRP of the original knife, old one gets used for research and/or destroyed.

If the owner has stated in the note which accompanied the knife that it has sentimental value, and they want it returned if not repairable, then it gets returned, along with a note explaining why it could not be repaired. No replacement knife or voucher accompanies it.

If that does not seem totally fair, consider that there are far too many dishonest people in the world for any company to survive for long by both replacing an item and sending back the original so it can be returned again by someone else. Agreed that it would be easier to determine with a numbered knife, but that implies a record keeping system that may or may not exist.

[Th232]

Or, most probably 4) Sal just happened to have an extra in his personal collection, and being the nice guy he is, decided to send it.

Oh yes, Occam's Razor. Good point, that one's definitely most likely

[zenheretic]

Back to what happens to the knife, if it doesn't say Golden Earth on the blade, they ship them back to the original planet of manufacture.

[deadsled]

I believe he said that they had an extra Lum tanto floating around and that's what they're sending me. I am not really picky when it comes to a good knife but since it was a numbered run it kind of makes it different. I held out until I found a numbered Lum when I was looking to buy one so I would like to have it back even if the warranty was void from that point on or whatever...it still would be nice to have. I am not even sure if the new one will be the titanium plain edge like mine was...I hope it is! I would hate to get one with G-10 scales! but then again my para has G-10 scales and I am starting to love it...much grippier than the titanium and doesn't get scratched up as easy if you edc. Either way you gotta Love Sal and co.