Selected Industrial Views with Eric and Sal Glesser, Owners of Spyderco Inc.

On the occasion of SHOT Show 2017, MILITARY TECHNOLOGY publishes the Second Annual Rugged Tactical Tools for Extreme Conditions (RTTEC) Series that conveys the thoughts and messages of the world’s tactical equipment leaders, according to the question: “As soldiers and Special Forces operators expect their gear to be 100% reliable, how do you step up to offer extremely durable, rugged gear to keep operations running?”

1. Testing. 2. Listening. 3. Improving. 4. Experience. These four elements are the key to Spyderco knives. Spyderco performs rigorous internal and external testing and prototype making. We analyse our knives in-house as well as have off-sight customers testing our blades. We seriously reflect on all feedback for improvement and frequently implement these suggestions. We have a sophisticated testing facility in our corporate headquarters where we perform tests on cutting edges, heat treating, corrosion resistance, locking mechanism data, and microscopic materials review. Much of the machinery and technology used in our lab we developed on our own as it doesn’t exist elsewhere. We don’t test just our products; we test everyone’s knives to understand exactly where we stand in the cutlery industry.

An open line of two-way communication with customers is vital. We perform lab testing; they experience “real world experience” under conditions we cannot replicate in-house. The ELU’s (end line user) input and recommendations is the steering wheel, driving a process we apply to all of our knives. It termed C.Q.I. – Constant Quality Improvement.
In our 42- years in business, Spyderco has overcome manufacturing and designing obstacles and trials in the knifemaking experience. From our first day of business to today, we maintain a “never good enough” attitude and a “never give up” mindset. That is why Spyderco knives offer Reliable High Performance for our military personnel. We won’t be letting them down anytime soon.

SHOT Show is showcasing the future of innovation across the tactical gear and weapons arena and https://monch.com/mpg/news/shot-show-2018.html brings together key developments from the show. For more information and a print version of the RTTEC series, please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #1/2018, available at the show; and frequently check back for more NEWS FROM THE FLOOR.