What if?

[STR]

I always ask myself that.

What if, a knife company that made folders offered different clothing for the knives they made?

You know how gals like to play dress up with their dolls? Guys like their toys also. Knife guys, especially knuts, like personalizing things if they can do so cheaply and still get a quality part. No different than new rims on your car I guess.

Example? The new Delica and Endura models with the removable handle scales that are screwed on. Bare with me because this came up in a phone conversation the other night with a friend of mine.

Now, imagine this. Aftermarket clothing for your knife in the way of different scale materials and colors that screw right on after removing the old ones. Say, a set of camo scales that screw right on your new Delica 4 for hunting season, or some black linen micarta ones for business meetings. Maybe some blue G10 ones for the days you want to wear jeans. All readily available at the Spyderstore along with low rider clips, extra screws in case you lose one or three, and maybe even and option for engraving if that suits your fancy.

If you stop to think about it a tool kit kind of like BM did could be put together to be sold also. Something with a neat name maybe or something simple like the handle scale/clip tool pack.

I mean if people want it and are willing to buy it why not?

Feesible? Not?

Just curious.

STR

[VultureParade]

Very feasible.

This is something I keep hoping Spyderco will investigate.

A little store that sells stuff like you've suggested would be nice for people who want to customize their knife. I don't think it would apply much to the general public, but the collectors and enthusiasts would get a lot of use out of it, in my opinion.

It could start out with a few items. A low ride clip. A set of scales for the Delica or Endura. If those sell well, who knows? I think it's worth a shot.

Maybe something like a set of black g10 scales for the Delica. Spyderco already has black g10 made up. Could it be fit to the Delica? It seems like this might be the most cost effective option to start out with.

All it needs is a catchy name. The Spyder Web? .... .. they'll... uh.. come up with something :)

-Bryan

[STR]

Yeah, I don't know so much about the 'regular' public. I can't tell you how many people are out there that ask me weekly if I can do a handle scale replacement or make a custom clip of some kind for them. A lot. (actually I can barely keep up with the low rider clip orders these days.) I just got a PM today about replacing handle scales actually.

I think there are more people out there that would be into this than is generally known. Doing what I do I am always amazed at how many people there are that will spend $45 to embellish and personalize a $40 knife.

STR

[smcfalls13]

I think it's a cool idea, but "changing the clothes" would involved disassembly of the knife, thus voiding the warranty. I can also see a lot of people trying to change the scales, screwing it up, and demanding a new knife.

I think it's feasible, but Spyderco would definitely need a disclaimer of some sort saying they are not responsible for the knife once the "clothes" have been changed.

The idea does have merit, along with other aftermarket toys, like clips, lanyards, or sheaths.

Personally I just want a lanyard for my keys with a :spyder: on it, but that's merchandise of a whole different kind ;)

I still think the change of clothes for the knife is a cool idea, and I'd definitely buy into it. I wonder if Spyderco would be willing?

On a side note, it would definitely say you a lot of free time STR ;) You wouldn't have people constantly asking for mods to their knives(not that I'm guilty of that :o of course not)

[Axlis]

You know, this would help meet the demand for colors that was brought up on the other thread. Spyderco could start out just supplying retrofits for the "take-apart-able" Delica and Endura 4, and then see where it goes from there. They wouldn't have to go through the costs with manufacturing the whole knfe, and I'm sure they could still turn a profit with such an endeavor. I would for sure purchase a G-10 upgrade, and I also like the idea of Camo.

[smcfalls13]

One other point to ponder though? How would it be priced?

If it's too expensive, no one will shell out the money, and if it's too cheap, Spyderco won't make any money.

Hmm....

[raven]

STR, That is a Fantastic Idea. Maybe SS, Ti, or AirCraft Grade Aluminum (sorry I'm an Alloy and SS Nut). They already made the Awsome "Harp" Tool, why not make the "Harp Scale Pack": Includes scales of choice, extra screws (torx), extra clip, bushings (if necessary), and the "Harp" Tool scaled down a bit and only having the necessary "Torx" tools (Mini-Harp). That is a Truely Awsome Idea STR. Thank You Very Much for Sharing such an Idea. :D :cool: :) Take Good Care.

God Bless :)


-raven-

[TheKnifeCollector]

Now THAT is very interesting!! Hmmmmm. Let me think about this one!

[vampyrewolf]

I believe the reason they haven't done this is because of liability. If someone strips thier knife, and fails to get it back together, who's responsible? If someone gets it back together but doesn't get it seated properly, and it fails, who's responsible?

Doesn't mean that you couldn't make a market for it... I for one wouldn't mind custom scales on the ss cricket, a black linen micarta or CF front plate for example.... would be cheap to ship and something like that doesn't interfere with the integrity of the lock.

I don't how comfortable some ppl are, but I have no problem stripping and assembling my knife... fixed my crkt m16-01cf on the weekend, was failing purely under gripstrength(I could close it with my thumb without touching the lock), cleaned it and re-bent the lock, now it hits fully and passes a good spinewhack.
Someone with a little mechanical knowledge and patience could do it, but for the average user, it's not something that would be there as a reason to buy that knife. Lets say it comes with a limited warrenty, if the blade or lock fail due to manufacturing faults, they swap out spare parts... keeping the base price close to the same as a standard model... add $20 per set of scales and that soon starts adding up. Granted you can use the same knife for dress, work and show by swapping scales, but the general public would have no reason to buy it.

There is always aftermarket parts, if you were going to make them and sell em to us ;) ;) ;) I'm sure that a few of us would buy handles to swap out.

[markg]

Oh, now it is bugging me... Either Spyderco or Benchmade has talked about making a knife like this, that you could costomize... Anyone eles know what I am talking about? Won't be able to sleep know! :)

[STR]

You may be right, but it seems to me when a knife is made with a removeable blade, removeable clip and the ability to break it down to clean it because it is screwed together instead of pinned that the liability issue is already staring you in the face even if you don' t sell aftermarket scales and clips with tool kits to use on the knives.

I just thought that with a simple reconfigure of how the knives were put together it is very feesible to make them so the scales could come off without necessarily having to take the whole knife apart. In other words the screws (or pins) that held the knife body together would be hidden under the scales. This could be done without even having to change a mold at all really.

STR

[jon shannow]

Oh, now it is bugging me... Either Spyderco or Benchmade has talked about making a knife like this, that you could costomize... Anyone eles know what I am talking about? Won't be able to sleep know! :)

IIRC its the poliwog ,hence the name
although i dont know if any plans have gone ahead to do so yet

[vampyrewolf]

STR: true, by having minimalistic liners, either Ti or SS, you could feasibly do it with a rivited inner layer and then just have the scales interchangable. I was thinking of dismantling and reassembling every time someone wanted to change handles(essentially moving the blade between complete handles). The latter just begs for something to go wrong(I'm sure you've already had a few locksprings go flying across the shop).

If all you changed was an 1/8" slab and 2-3 screws per slab, the possibilities are endless, as you could then use more fragile material as well. Supply a pattern and the user could make thier own(interchangable wood anyone?).

could just work...

[The Deacon]

If the concept of the Volpe, with its screw on overlays, were to be used on a front lock, it might be very interesting. For that matter, a single overlay which used the existing screw holes and followed the outline of the handle might look a heck of a lot better on the Volpe than the two oddly shaped blobs on the production prototype.

[Slvgx]

Sal did mention that the Poliwog was supposed to be something like this.

The idea of offering these "Accessories" such as scales, clips, etc. has been brought up before. I for one would really love to see it. These threads never seem to get enough hits or attention as I'd think. We all would like to tweak a thing here or there on our favorite folders, and I'd love to see it be through Spyderco.

We also have to remember we are not the people who make up the most sales for Spyderco, we are just the crazies. I want different handles and a different clip on the new Delica 4, and would be willing to pay (if reasonable) for it, but that does not mean Average Joe will.

I'd really like if this thread was not like the others, and we were able to get a little something out of it :) Sal has mentioned some interest in doing the low-ride clips for the new Delica/Endura, so we may be making a little progress towards being able to get Spyderco authorized accessories.

[Gerard Breuker]

While patiently waiting for the waved Delica and Endura to arrive I have been thinking about putting G-10 handles on them more often than I can remember.
I think I will try anyway if it looks within my limited capacities but factory made handles would make it a lot easier of course.

[spydutch]

I like the idea.

It could be done like the same way as on my CRKT D.O.G.

I would very much like an Endura/Delica 4 with camo scales.

[The Deacon]

Here's another thought. Sal has talked in the past of making a bolster & scales version of the Navigator II. Suppose this were done with a single (front) bolster, with a straight back, like the 25th Anniversary Delica, to keep fitting the scales as simple as possible. The bolster could be made long enough that both the blade and lockbar pivot pins ran through it, creating a strong, solid subassembly. The back spacer mounted with flathead screws, which would then leave the liners as flat surfaces for mounting the scales. Liners would also be drilled and tapped to accept screws to mount the scales, prefferably using a standard, hobbyist size screw such as 2-56. The knife could then be offered "pre-built", as a kit where the user fit and finished a pair of supplied roughly shaped scales, and without scales. Different scale materials could be offered by Spyderco, and/or by third party suppliers.

For the Endura & Delica IV, am wondering if the easiest way to customize them would to glue plastic spacers, pre cut to fit around the skeleton liners, to the back of CF, G-10 or stabilized wood slabs. Would eliminate the need to mill out the back of the scales to nest the liners.

[steeldust]

I think it is a great idea! I just got a blue Dodo in G-10. I can't believe how grippy those scales are. I like them better than the older knives with g-10 I have. I would buy this G-10 for my new Endura! :p

[catamount]

I think this is great idea. The Delica and Endura are the obvious choices. :spyder: could fulfill the huge demand for pink Delicas :D

Would it be better to change the main models, or introduce new variants? How about a sprint run of customizable Delicas that come with several different sets of scales?