Spyderco Knife: How It All Began

by Zoe Paige on 2012/01/26

In 1976 in Golden, Colorado Sal Glessar founded the Spyderco company. At the time Sal had a love for ultra high-performing vehicles, often given the name Spyder and also believed his company should be named after top-quality and high-performance. By simply adding "co" to the end, Spyderco was born.

Professionals from many industries own a Spyderco knife including police officers and fire and rescue employees as well as hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. They are fans of this company's products because of the simplicity and reliability of the knives. The company also has gained credibility through its numerous awards and recognitions including the president, Sal Glessar, being inducted into Blade magazine's Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2000 for his innovation in the industry and for creating unique knives that were both comfortable for the hand and came in different sizes. He did this with the help of more than thirty custom knife-makers, self-defense instructors, and athletes as he consulted with them for design ideas based on their specialized knowledge.

In 1981 the C01 Worker folding knife was produced. It was the first Spyderco knife ever made and the first knife on the market to feature a round hole cut out in the blade. This aided in fast, one-handed opening and has since become the company's trademark. The company has also claimed to be the first to produce a knife with a pocket-clip in the right side of the handle and serrations on folding knife blades. They are also known for their wide-array of different materials that are used in the production of their knife blades.

This round hole in the blade was named the Spyderhole and was created by Sal Glessar after committing to creating a knife that could open easily with one hand and without placing a spring in the knife. Sal attempted many creations before this knife like placing different studs and discs on the knife blade to open it. He soon realized thought that the extra parts on the blade weren't as effective and soon after created the patented Spyderhole. This innnovative idea helps to open the knife effectively single-handed by simply placing a thumb in the hole and then rotating the blade open.

Knife blades are offered by the company including the plain-edge, the partially-serrated edge, and the fully-serrated edge (called the Spyderedge). Most of the handles are made from a strong fiberglass-reinforced nylon and some versions carry other types of handles. The company specializes mainly in folding knives since there is a stronger market for that but also produces some fixed blade knives for those who like that kind of knife more.

Sal Glessar's world-renowned company features many of their knives in many movies including some Sylvester Stallone movies. His passion for knives and for his company have sky-rocketed his product line to the top in the industry and his determination and passion for knives, including the history and design, will continue to give him the edge in the industry.

Learn more about Spyderco Knife. Stop by Zoe Paige's site where you can find out all about Spyderco Native and what it can do for you.


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