Spyderco Forums

Spyderco, I sure would like something new; my interest is flagging a bit.

Having said that, let’s enumerate the blowback I’ll get for uttering this sacrilege:

1) You don’t need more knives, you don’t even use all the knives you have.
2) Don’t be impatient. You need to learn patience. Be patient. MORE patient. I said MORE.
3) Just buy another color or steel version of a Spyderco you already own.
4) Spyderco is expanding; how selfish of you to ask for something new at a time like this.
5) They already have some new stuff, haven’t you seen the new G10 colors?
6) All the great designs have already been produced; just go buy a disco’d model.
7) He's obviously an enemy of Spyderco for saying that; get a rope and swing him!

And yet, all these rejoinders don’t help. I still would like something new—a blockbuster. Remember the rush you got when the Manix 2 was first introduced? Or when the Paramilitary was introduced? Or (in my case) when I got my first Caly Jr? Or when your Ayoob v.2 was delivered? Yeah, I’m yearning for that kind of a fix. I’m flexible. A Manix 2 in Magnacut would do it, but so would a CBBL Sage or any number of new designs. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you at the gallows that I'm sure are being prepared for me as I press 'submit.'

I’m hoping that the huge disco will open the doors for some fresh designs . I have more than enough to keep me occupied but a few more is always welcome . Since patience is part of your issue maybe meditation and yogurt may help . 🫣 Buddy Dan

Come on, this isn't going to be any fun without a link to a collection photo so we can tell you what you're missing

I agree with Dan. Mass discontinuation hopefully points to expanding production availability.

Also...

8.) Have you tried customizing them to make them new and your own?

I agree and I’ve been singing this tune for a while now as well. I used to get giddy with excitement scrolling through the Main and Mid-year catalogs because of how many new designs they showcased. I’m ready for some actual new designs again! I’m personally just not so interested in blade shape, color, or lock variations anymore.

Maybe they could bring back more old stuff like the Rubicon for a run or two. I think the Goddard sold well.

I’m hoping for a new high end model like the Paysan next year.

I'm with you. A Sage 6 with the CBBL is what I want to see. Or I'm down for old or previously discontinued stuff reintroduced with new steel.

While you wait, go and buy a CRK to clean your palette.

Y'all can keep holding out for the next best fling, but I think over the years, I've narrowed my search within the vast catalogue that Spyderco has offered and I'm a happily married man to a select few women (knives). My eyes are always open for prospects, but I've found the love(s) of my life.

Seriously though, irregardless on what the horizon is yet to bring, this thread will pop up year after year in expressing disinterest in the "stale" models and choices that we already incessently and obnoxiously get to sift through day-in, day-out. Mondays new-new is Tuesdays old-old. Everyone is too darn jaded these days to think that maybe all they may really be missing is a connection to the things that they already own, in the here and now. Hold hope for the future, but let the future come when it comes and enjoy your here and now. Build a connection to the things that you have, and not so much of a fleeting collection to things that you'll never let become something special.

Rant over.

Funnily and hypocritically enough, the biggest draw for me to the forum anymore are the MULE TEAM releases. I was never interested when I first joined the forum years ago (it was slowly crawling into hibernation, then), so I suppose it's a new concept for me to express excitement in the same old iteration being run in, an albeit, stripped down "variation on the theme". Until something brand new comes, I have the present to enjoy.

Perhaps it's time for a break for a while? I've been there, done that, many, many times, just here on these forums alone (amongst my other interests, hobbies, etc.). Only so many steps can be tread down the same path before that "wonder and lust" starts to diminish. I think we can all agree on that, to a large extent (although I'm often finding myself very, very wrong in my thoughts here on these forums, hahaha!).

Remember, this is our hobby, not our livelihood. Sometimes a step outside and a walk down a trail untrodden for a breath of fresh air can oftentimes solidify why we return, remain, or remove ourselves when regarding the path that we're on (understanding and accepting the current interest in our chosen hobbies). Appreciation, joy, and fulfillment are my priorities for keeping a hobby "stoked". If not, life's too short, I'll find, or make something, worth my time. That's the one thing I can't complain about, nor pay, to get more of; the time that I have left to enjoy what I do get enjoyment out of. Your Mule May Vary.

I am not bored at all, but I do agree that new is cool.

We are aware of some new stuff that hasn’t been seen in reveals yet, including “in house” and collaborations.

I know there is a thread dedicated to talking about collaborations we’d want to see.
I have been meaning to mention a maker there, but hopefully you don’t mind if I say it here first.

The Spyderbyte got me thinking about backlock variations again. It’s something I have pondered a lot.

A Spanish knifemaker, Miguel Barbudo, makes some very interesting traditional style knives or navajas. Many of their knives are also somewhat “modern traditional”, but are more importantly all very unique.

His variation of the backlock is especially intriguing and clever to me.

It makes the operation quite different to Spyderco’s iterations and more similar to traditional variations. However, they are one hand operable and even without the need for your fingers to cross the blade path.

I’ve compiled my favorite examples from Barbudo’s Instagram, just to have them in place.

I’m not necessarily asking for a Spyderco version of any of these exact models (although that would be neat), but a collaboration incorporating some of the unique features of those knives would be very desirable to me.
Particularly the functional form of those “hooded lockbacks”.

Aside from the interesting mechanism, the designs and quality of the knives are beautiful.
I also admire the rich cultural tradition knifemakers like this keep alive.

Miguel Barbudo does occasionally collaborate with production knife manufacturers, but i sincerely think his designs are potentially compatible with Spydercos in a number of ways that I’m sure are recognizable to the forum. Spyderco has a lot of experience with lockbacks and I think could expertly bring that into a collaboration with Barbudo.

First model:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BohtEbxgEnF ... BiNWFlZA==

Second:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BinYu3agWEu ... BiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfjgBXKFlgi ... BiNWFlZA==

Third:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0OGSo2Fyss ... BiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5dp63gCSa4 ... BiNWFlZA==

Bolster wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 31, 2023 5:58 pm

Spyderco, I sure would like something new; my interest is flagging a bit.

Keep your pants on, cowboy.
The new reveal is just weeks away.


However, I agree with the need of a Magnacut Manix... as long as it's LW and SE.

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 31, 2023 9:17 pm

Seriously though, irregardless on what the horizon is yet to bring, this thread will pop up year after year in expressing disinterest in the "stale" models and choices that we already incessently and obnoxiously get to sift through day-in, day-out.

No and yes.

No, this theme didn't used to pop up so frequently. I'm an old timer on the forum and malaise was hardly an issue when Spyderco was constantly churning out new, exotic, startling designs. One would hardly get accustomed to one year's crop when the next year's crop was upon you, filled with striking new creations, and inciting fierce desire to own so many unique designs.

Yes, this theme has been more prevalent of late; I'm far from the first to make it. Actually, that's my point and I hope Spyderco lends an ear.

Now it may be, that business dictates "stick to your knitting" and "do only what you do best" and perhaps the tremendously creative designs of years past were not selling sufficiently (though it's hard to argue that the tremendously creative designs of the Manix 2, for example, or the Paramilitary, didn't sell sufficiently).

In that case, I guess my problem is that I remember the years of amazing creativity and variety and miss them. But I don't know how you create the next superstar knife without putting out lots of variety and letting 'survival of the fittest' take its course.

weeping minora wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 31, 2023 9:17 pm

Funnily and hypocritically enough, the biggest draw for me to the forum anymore are the MULE TEAM releases.

Same here!! I think the mules have become (in a somewhat illogical way) my outlet in a desire for more diversity. Even though the design of each is exactly the same. It is an odd thing.

And I think your advice to "step outside and get some air" is good advice, and I intend to take it!

My knife joy has been collecting knives I like and modifying them (Mostly Spyderco knives) but also designing and making my own knife designs. With the help of others some are getting production but I have so many designs that I would love to see made some day. I would try designing your own knives and making some custom knives to see how the process works and have the satisfaction of seeing your ideas come to life. Don’t totally rely on Spyderco to make all your knife wishes come true. Sal, Eric and team have done more than their share of industry innovation. I would hate to see the knife world without them and am grateful they are doing and have done what they have. Spyderco has been a major part of my knife hobby.

To me the Rock/Leaf Jumper approach is pretty "new" and "fresh" - and while the RJ sadly got discontinued already again, I have high hopes for the upcoming (??) larger Cliff Jumper / Sequoia and then hopefully more variations based on that general idea...

I've been down this road before, in fact I'm still there . The last (IMO) 'fresh' designs from Spyderco have been the Kapara/Ikuchi/Watu quite a while back (2019-2020). Past that moment I've only bought iterations/sprints of older designs (GITD Jester, Ayoob, StNick's Millie, etc). I have zero interest in the existing catalog and I have pretty much exhausted the 'customize what you have' approach as well. While I still enjoy using my existing Spydercos, I'd be really glad to see something innovative, quirky, fun and surprising (attached a more or less illustrative pic for what I have in mind when I say this) coming out sometime.

video killed the radio star. we all know the demand for exclusives got so high that spyderco could barely keep their production models stocked. it was so bad they had to pump the brakes on exclusives to catch back up.

not saying you're guilty of this, bolster, but i see the complaints about spyderco doing nothing but releasing different colors and steel combinations all the time, yet almost every exclusive run sells out in minutes. they're making tons of money on those exclusives and it's driving the expansion.

i like to see innovative designs too, but i think the knife community is less adventurous than old school sypderafis. maybe i should say they're less adventurous when it comes to the type of unique spyderco produces, like the dodo or poliwog, for example. they seem to be more into crazy, weird-looking, futuristic designs from chinese companies, or more standard, vanilla knife designs. spyderco already pushes the limits of the latter.

what they have works for now and the exclusive thing is working as well. i hate to think of how many knives were missing out on because of exclusives, but i'm also buying exclusives i don't want to miss out on, so it's hard to be too upset about it. all that said, spyderco is innovation at its core and i don't think we'll ever stop seeing new designs and innovation, even if it slows for periods.

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:24 am

not saying you're guilty of this, bolster, but i see the complaints about spyderco doing nothing but releasing different colors and steel combinations all the time, yet almost every exclusive run sells out in minutes. they're making tons of money on those exclusives and it's driving the expansion.

That's my understanding of the change in direction, too. It's just a different business model than before. Safer, more traditional, and more lucrative. I used to buy Spyderco for quality and wild new innovations. Nowadays I buy Spyderco for quality and past innovations. I understand the change and I'm very happy Spyderco is doing so well; it just doesn't stop me from wanting wild new offerings...once in a while...as in days gone by.

I hope my post reads more like a request than a complaint about their products, which are very good. I think Spyderco wants to know what's on the minds of its customers, and innovation is what's on mine.

Bolster wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 8:35 am

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:24 am

...

..... I think Spyderco wants to know what's on the minds of its customers, and innovation is what's on mine.

Honestly: If Spyderco would not like posts like yours (but just to get only constant, non critical fanboy-praise), I would not like Spyderco as much as I do myself.

I’m now wondering whether I can use a Sharpmaker to sharpen my pitchfork….