Made in Japan: Seki City that is

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Messages
4,827
The one brother's thread here entitled "Made In The USA" has prompted me to give some credit where credit is maybe long overdue.

Most of you in the Spyderco circles that know me at all know that I am an avid supporter of MADE IN THE USA products of all types. And I do have a special place in my heart for Golden Colorado made Spyders :cool: And this thread doesn't detract from that either.

But in the past 3 years I've seen some Spyderco blades from Seki City Japan that has me re-thinking some of my views. One of the things few of us realize is that the swordsmiths of Japan were beating out great swords and other fine cutlery even before Columbus supposedly found this country ( man is that another can of worms or what :D)

I've been getting catalogs yearly from a vendor known as the Knife Merchant. He is a guy out on the west coast who is one of the biggest purveyors of kitchen/culinary cutlery in the entire USA. And most of his high-end, high dollar culinary bladeware comes from Japan. Let me tell you that these Japanese made culinary knives he sells are truly works of art and fantastic tools of the culinary trade.

In the past few months I've made aquaintances of people who are chefs and 2 other guys I know who work in restuarants in some capacity. And all of them prefer Japanese kitchen cutlery. The more I use, collect and maintain my Japanese Spyders the more respect I gain for their great products.

I'm even beginning to wonder if Japan isn't the real cutlery capital of the world. I'm sure they are in the culinary field because I see much evidence to make a believer out of me.

Oh yes I still hold the Golden CO Spyders the highest. But the Seki City Spyders have won much more of my respect many times over. Quality is what drew me to Spyderco in the first place and QUALITY is what gave me the inspiration for this thread. I'll take a Seki Made Spyder anytime without hesitation ( and I wasn't that way 3 years ago). And a big round of applause for VG-10, H-1 & ZDP-189 blade steels. It's time we gave our Japanese blade brothers a HIGH FIVE.
 
Very interesting...im not too partial to where its made..as long as its high quality, im fine:D:D
 
I completely agree. But let's not forget about Taiwan now!

I've got 16 spydies. Which one has the best action and most flawless fit and finish? My Taiwan made Chokwe. I've handled Sebenzas and my Chokwe opens smoother and locks tighter...

What does this tell us? There is pride to be had in the teamwork and unity that companies like Spyderco and their manufacturers display. Our country's roots are so deep in the economies of other countries, we must learn to respect business partnerships.
 
I still can't grasp how well made the two Gayle Bradleys I have are, regardless of what they cost. I find myself amazed each time I andle them and inspect them closely.

My suggestion is that Seki City and Golden better take heed because the recent spate of Taiwanese Spydercos have raised the bar quite a bit IMHO.
 
Lets face it people Spyderco knives are just some of the best in the world. What can I say their customer service is very nice and efficient and their quality control is superb. As far as I am concerned you will not find a better knife company! :D
 
The first Japanese made knives I ever used were Gerber's Siver Knight line and Al Mar Knives. These were some of the finest knives I had ever owned up to that time. Al Mar's knives were amazing and He stated he had them made in Japan because Japan' makers could provide the highest quality at an affordable price. I do love the Seki made Spydercos and think there lock backs are the best in the world!

RKH
 
quattrokid73 said:
I completely agree. But let's not forget about Taiwan now!

I've got 16 spydies. Which one has the best action and most flawless fit and finish? My Taiwan made Chokwe. I've handled Sebenzas and my Chokwe opens smoother and locks tighter...

What does this tell us? There is pride to be had in the teamwork and unity that companies like Spyderco and their manufacturers display. Our country's roots are so deep in the economies of other countries, we must learn to respect business partnerships.
Click to expand...

Reeek said:
I still can't grasp how well made the two Gayle Bradleys I have are, regardless of what they cost. I find myself amazed each time I andle them and inspect them closely.

My suggestion is that Seki City and Golden better take heed because the recent spate of Taiwanese Spydercos have raised the bar quite a bit IMHO.
Click to expand...

Cisco Kid said:
Lately, I've been liking the knives made in Taiwan more than those made in Seki...
Click to expand...

I'll go along with all of the above. Taiwan is a force to be reckoned with and just keeps getting better. That said, the finest made and finished knife I own is the Italian made Spyderco Volpe. A work of art.
 
I have several Spyderco and in the past had other knives that were produced there and I think the quality is top notch for sure.


RickJ
 
Reeek said:
I still can't grasp how well made the two Gayle Bradleys I have are, regardless of what they cost. I find myself amazed each time I andle them and inspect them closely.

My suggestion is that Seki City and Golden better take heed because the recent spate of Taiwanese Spydercos have raised the bar quite a bit IMHO.
Click to expand...

+1 ;)

My two Bradleys are exceptional. The Stretch CF I have is also very well made in Japan.

Those who 'look down' on the oversea's manufactured knives... they're missing some very high quality.

Sal knows not only what he's doing... but with also whom he collaborates with.
 
Very interesting feedbacks thus far :) And please understand that I am in no way using this thread to bash any other country's products. It's interesting that the country of Taiwan has many of you admiring their Spyderco pieces. Because back around 5 years ago I was collecting many of the Spyderco Salsa models. And I still believe without any hesitation of a doubt that the ATS-34 bladed, Titanium handled Salsa that came from Taiwan was the very best Salsa model in the entire series. And there is no shortage of people who agree with me on that one.

But the more I use and collect the Seki made Spyders and the closer I look them over I see a style of quality that is unequalled in the knife world. You can immediately see that Japanese blade smiths truly take tremendous pride in their workmanship like many American companies did at one time.

Oh I still bleed "red, white & Blue" when I get cut by one of my dearly beloved Spyders and I see this great country making rebounds in many areas so please don't think for a second that I'm abandoning my love for Made In The USA blades. Quite the contrary because I think we've got a lot to re-learn seeing what our Japanese Blade-Brothers as well as some of this great new stuff Spyderco is bring in from Taiwan.

I've also looked back at my 1997 Spyderco dealer's catalog and saw the great blades that they used to sell from Moki, G-Sakai, Solo and some other great Japanese blade companies. And I can say with utmost certainty that those companies easily top many American and German knife companies. And it pains me to admit that but to be like an umpire you got to call them the way you see them.

AGain; Quality is what drew me to Spyderco in the first place. And I see their quality even getting better yet not only from Golden Co but some of the other sources as well. I can say this without hesitation>> if you pick up a Massad Ayoob model or an original C-54 big Calypso model and you can't see great quality then I say you need a trip to the optometrist.

But as far as "Hard Word Spyders" are concerned; I truly believe the Golden Co models are still ahead by a nose.
 
I have always had high regard for the Seki-made knives, even more so than the Colorado ones.

Lately, I think the QC has been slipping tho'. The Lum Chinese ZDP has handle issues (cosmetic), and recently I had a warped ZDP189 blade in my Walker.
 
I'm a big fan of the Seki-City made Spydercos. They have always been fantastic. I have yet to experience a flawed blade coming from Seki-City. The steels they give are truly some of the best. VG-10, ZDP-189, and H-1 are truly phenomenal steels. Don't get me wrong, I have high respect for any place where Spyderco chooses to produce. However, because of the steels Japan offers, I must say that for me, they are at the top of the list.

Canis
 
In general, I like to see Golden or Seky on my Spydies, but I am fine with Taiwan (I will probably buy the new PPT:cool:, in the future) or China made knives, the thing that I really don't like is to see a Taiwan or China model sold at the same cost of a Japan/USA model.
I hope that the Spyderco catalog will remain mainly USA/Japan made, with some models made in Taiwan or China, but not the "workhorse models" (ex. Delica, Endura) or the top models (...read "expensive": Military TI, Native4...) and most important I would like to see the prices of the USA-Japan models to remain at an affordable level.
 
The Japanese Spydies I've had(And I've had a bunch) can't hold a candle to the Tawain made Sage2 I have. The Japanese Spydies are pretty much guarantied to have off centered blades ranging from moderately(at a glance they're clearly off centered) to severely offcentered (hitting the liner). Contact W&R and you'll probably be told there in spec and they won't fix it.
 
My last few Seki Spydercos have left me kind of sour on the Japanese knives.

Slightly warped blades, lockbar mating problems or liner lock face hardeness problems were present on most of the last few I've purchased.

I've seen nothing but excellence from the Golden factory though.
 
spoonrobot said:
My last few Seki Spydercos have left me kind of sour on the Japanese knives.

Slightly warped blades, lockbar mating problems or liner lock face hardeness problems were present on most of the last few I've purchased.

I've seen nothing but excellence from the Golden factory though.
Click to expand...


Just curious, but how would you tell a liner lock face hardness problem?
 
Damage to the lock face, hard to photograph. This is after a only a few weeks of use, no spinewhacks, no hard use, just cutting cardboard wine boxes. Either the interface was off or the lockbar wasn't hardened properly. But I'm not an expert, these are just the conclusions I came to after a lot of reading online.

Note the very rough stamping as well. When it's present on moving areas such as the pivot hole and lock face it's a problem, not a cosmetic issue like some would have you believe.

DSCF0050.jpg

DSCF0048.jpg


Here's what a proper contact surface looks like. Area is prepared for interaction with the tang and is finished correctly.

DSCF1207-1.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top