Spyderco byte - May 2017

The Spyderco byte May 2017 e-newsletter was sent out on 26 May 2017, and it contained the following articles.

C152RNP The Chaparral Raffir Noble

MSRP: $199.95

Origin: Taiwan

The Chaparral is a plant native to the Western U.S. that is known for its amazing ability to regenerate after harsh weather conditions and even wildfires. Its resilient spirit makes it a fitting namesake for Spyderco’s Chaparral series of gentlemen’s knives. Similar to our SageTM series, which expresses the same basic knife with different lock mechanisms, the Chaparral series uses a standard folding knife format to highlight distinctive handle materials and texture patterns.

Designed to be the consummate lock-blade gentleman’s pocketknife, the basic Chaparral design is exceptionally thin to keep its weight to a minimum and ensure ease of carry. Its blade is expertly crafted from premium CTS® XHP particle metallurgy stainless steel for an exceptional balance of cutting performance, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The versatile leaf-shaped blade is full-flat ground to create low-friction edge geometry and has an acute point that excels at detail work. A fully accessible Trademark Round HoleTM allows easy one-handed opening and, like the knife’s sturdy back lock mechanism, works equally well with either hand.

The refined handle shape common to all Chaparral models balances a full-sized grip and user friendly ergonomics with a slim, easily carried profile that tucks neatly into any pocket. In the open position, the juncture of the Chaparral’s blade and handle features a forefinger choil and a subtle thumb ramp on the spine of the blade. Both have jimping (textured grooves) and provide a solid purchase for the thumb and index finger for superior control during use. All Chaparral handles also include a reversible deep-pocket wire clip that provides discreet, ambidextrous tip-up carry.

Where the members of the Chaparral family show their individuality is in their state-of-the-art handle materials and textures. Joining the ranks of previous models, which showcase carbon fiber laminate and painstakingly machined titanium, the newest member of the Chaparral family introduces handle scales made from Raffir®. Manufactured in Denmark, Raffir is a strikingly beautiful composite material that encapsulates metal mesh in a durable, translucent resin. Available in many different color and metal combinations, Raffir has a stunning three-dimensional appearance that makes every scale truly unique. The Raffir Noble pattern chosen for our new Chaparral combines a durable, smoke-colored acrylic with a mixture of brass and copper mesh. When machined and polished to create knife scales, it reveals a stunning, semi-transparent, three-dimensional pattern with amazing visual depth and character. To ensure superior structural strength and further showcase its beauty, the Raffir scales are supported by full stainless steel liners.

The Chaparral Raffir Noble is a remarkable gentleman’s pocketknife that combines exceptional functionality with tremendous pride of ownership. We are extremely proud to add it to our Chaparral family of knives and are confident that you’ll be as excited about it as we are.

Overall: 6.40in / 163mm

Blade: 2.80in / 71mm

Edge: 2.35in / 60mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 65g

Grind: Full-Flat

Origin: Taiwan

Edge-U-Cation®: The Evolution of the Spyderco "MEET"

All smart companies value feedback from their customers about the products and services they provide. The really smart ones actively solicit that feedback through the use of focus groups and other types of consumer research. But the ultimate way for a company to connect with customers and understand what they really want is to do it before that company even makes the product—during the concept and prototype stages.

The risk of this approach is that a company might “tip its hand” and reveal its plans before they can bring the products to market. The reward, however, can be much greater. Done properly, engaging knowledgeable, passionate consumers early in the product development stage can help a company avoid corporate “nearsightedness” and focus its efforts on the projects its customers really want. That revolutionary concept is what Spyderco “Meets” are all about.

A Spyderco Meet is a limited engagement event in which company founders Sal and Gail Glesser and/or their son Eric share prototypes and concept models of the knives we are considering manufacturing with a select group of knife enthusiasts. Besides the knives themselves, they share the story behind each design, its logic, its special features and intellectual property, and Spyderco’s aspirations for the market we hope to reach with it. In return, we are rewarded by the honest reactions and insightful feedback of the attendees, which we use to prioritize, modify, and sometimes even abandon our plans for each model.

Meets are typically organized by key members of the Spyderco staff and close friends of the company, often with the assistance of our major distributors. Notice of an upcoming Meet is generally posted on Spyderco’s General Discussion Internet forum and registration is done on a first-come, first-served basis until the planned capacity—normally less than 100—is reached. Attendees often travel great distances to participate in Meets and are rewarded not only with rare glimpses into Spyderco’s product development plans, but with gift bags packed with one-of-a-kind souvenirs created specifically for these special events.

Spyderco’s first Meet was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2004. Since then, we have returned to Amsterdam numerous times and have conducted other Meets in England, Germany, Colorado, and most recently, Taiwan. Although only the participants in each Meet get to see all the knives we share (typically more than 50 models), thanks to the generous help of our close friend “Mr. Blonde,” our Amsterdam Meets also result in “sneak peeks” of some of our upcoming models. Mr. Blonde graciously posts high-quality photos and descriptions of these models on his web site, Spydercollector.com, and on Spyderco’s General Discussion forum.

Meets are a uniquely “Spyderco” institution. They allow us to connect with our customers in ways that no other company in the cutlery industry can. We are extremely grateful for that and look forward to expanding this unique tradition in the years to come.

UPDATE Reinhold Rhino

Designed by Michael Reinhold, the Reinhold Rhino is one of the most eagerly anticipated designs in Spyderco’s current catalog. Unfortunately, the first production run of this knife did not meet our stringent quality-control standards. We could not, in good faith, release it knowing it was less than what our customers—and the knife’s designer—deserve.

After careful consideration, we have decided to move production of the Reinhold Rhino to our manufacturing facility in Taichung, Taiwan. To take full advantage of their proven expertise, we have also decided to upgrade the design to make it truly worth the wait. The upgrades that will be incorporated into the Rhino will include:

• CTS® XHP blade steel
• Peel-ply textured carbon fiber/G-10 laminate handle scales
• Phosphor bronze washers

We understand that this plan of action is a departure from the original concept of the Reinhold Rhino; however, we are confident that it is the best way to achieve a worthy, high-performance expression of Michael's design. Based on the change of materials, the Rhino will receive a new SKU. We will share that information and any additional details concerning its pricing and availability as soon as they become available. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Blade Show! 2017

Blade ® Magazine’s 36th annual BLADE Show and International Cutlery Fair will be held June 2-4, 2017 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The world’s largest knife-focused event, this amazing show brings together manufacturers, dealers, custom knifemakers, collectors, and knife enthusiasts from all over the globe. The Spyderco Crew will be there in force to show off our complete product line and debut our 2017 Mid-Year Product Guide featuring dozens of new knives scheduled to be released by the end of the year. Visit us at booth #23 and be among the first to see our newest products!

2017 Mid-Year Product Guide

It’s been almost six months since we released our largest, most ambitious catalog ever. Since then, we’ve not only rolled out many of the new products featured in its pages, we’ve also developed an impressive array of even newer knives and accessories scheduled for release before the end of 2017. To introduce those products in style, we’re proud to announce the Spyderco 2017 Mid-Year Product Guide. This stunning 24-page supplement to our main catalog showcases more than two dozen new designs, Sprint Runs, and variants of popular current models that will be released in the coming months.

For instant gratification, you can view or download the Mid-Year supplement by visiting the catalog page of our web site. You can also request that a printed copy be sent to you by completing the request form on that page. Established Spyderco dealers can rest easy, as a printed copy of the Mid-Year and updated price list will be mailed to you automatically.

What’s new from Spyderco? Get our Mid-Year supplement and find out. We’re sure you’ll be as excited as we are!

Law Enforcement Seconds Sale

On April 30, 2017, Spyderco conducted its first Law Enforcement Seconds Sale at our Factory Outlet store in Golden, Colorado. A smaller version of our famous Fall seconds sale, this event was organized specifically for law enforcement officers and first responders in Colorado to give them an opportunity to purchase cosmetically blemished knives and select overstock items at deeply discounted prices.

This inaugural event was organized in close cooperation with the Denver Police Academy and attracted officers, firefighters, and other first responders from various jurisdictions around the Denver metropolitan area. The sale was a tremendous success and we were honored to have the opportunity to share our products with the brave men and women who attended and personally thank them for their service to the community.

Gift Guide!

June is almost here and that means Father’s Day isn’t far behind. If you’ve been wondering what to get for the special father figure in your life, relax. We’ve got you covered with a variety of hand-picked items to fit every budget. Show Dad how much you care with these best-selling knives and accessories:

204MF Tri-Angle SharpmakerTM $104.95

C223GPS Para 3 ComboEdge $199.95 (Multiple Variations Available)

C152RNP Chaparral Rafir Noble $199.95

FB38GP Junction $309.95