No More Butterflys From Spyderco

[shrpshn]

http://lawfuel.com/show-release.asp?ID=11640

Unbelievable!

Accompaning thread from The Spyderco Forum

http://66.113.178.251/forums/showthread.php?t=27656

[Don Gwinn]

You know, I walked into Grand Prairie Knives today with a gift certificate in hand and looking to spend some money . . . and I didn't see any Spyderflies. I got distracted by a Griptilian 550 and a matching trainer, plus my insane kids, so I didn't ask.

Now I guess I know. If I'd used my GC online right after Christmas, I'd have gotten one . . . . but oh well.

[feedthehogs]

It seems to me that under the limited information the lawfuel.com provided, Spyderco thought importing parts and them assembling in the US was okay. I can't believe a company wouldn't have gotten a legal ruling on that before doing so or that Customs decided to reclassify and put Spyderco in violation of US law.
Either way it just created a black market for the knives at hugh prices.

Wonder if knife owners will be getting a knock on thier doors by ICE asking for the knives back as I don't see the recall mailing notice being very effective?

[hso]

I ensure you that Sal Glesser had a review done of all the import law and was confident that the parts were not in violation of the import regs. He goes to great lengths to stay within the law.

CRKT went through a similar bit of stupidity a couple of years ago and had their standard folders seized by customs as "switchblades" because you could fling them open. They were very successful fighting it and got their property back.

I'm frankly stunned that Spyderco was not since there have been recent rulings that butterflys are not switchblades.

[feedthehogs]

They were very successful fighting it and got their property back.


I wonder if their lawyers determined that even with the lost inventory, fines and expenses that fighting it would have cost more.

[shrpshn]

What HSO said...

I am surprised that Spyderco was singled out, with all the junk butterflys & autos being shipped in here from the Pacific Rim countries. Spyderco has always been above board.

Because they operate under Colorado laws, they produced the Spyderflys so they couldn't be locked in the open position - a major reason a lot of butterfly enthusiants wouldn't buy them.

I thought the CRKT situation HSO mentioned, pretty much cleared this kind of crap up. That was resolved by a lot ot intervention from CRKT's Congressmen. I don't know if Spyderco is following up along those lines or not.

Here is post from another Forum earlier tonite...

Spyderco Balisong Update

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just got home from the Eugene show where I spent a little time visiting with Sal and his son Eric who designed the bali's.

Spyderco will continue to make balisongs here in the US. The newer design Smallfly with the G10 handles will be the first to ship. I am not going to quote the date I was told as we all know how that goes. You can also expect to see some new designs in Spyderco bali's. Their new line of autos will also be produced here in the US.

NOW, here is the kicker. Sal will most likely require his dealers/distributors to sign off stating that they will only sell to LEO/Military. His attorneys are still researching this, but this is the way it looks at this time. I won't get into this part of it and neither should anyone else. Think about Microtech and Benchmade and how you got their knives and enough said.

I guess we could say Spyderco got knocked down, but they are already back up on their feet and moving ahead. We will all just have to wait and see what happens after the dust settles. But this was good news.
__________________
ALOHA, Gary

I don't think I understand everything I know about this:banghead:

John

[Valkman]

A guy on a knife forum said he talked to Sal and that Spyderco will continue to make balis. Their sellers, however, will have to sign a document saying they will only sell to LEO/Military. What happens from there no one knows.

[Fosbery]

Spyderco autos? :eek:

[hso]

Yep, they're working on an auto.

[mp510]

I am surprised that Spyderco was singled out, with all the junk butterflys & autos being shipped in here from the Pacific Rim countries. Spyderco has always been above board.
It's not anything against Spyderco in particular. In the fourth quarter of 2006, ICE confiscated a large quantity of the lighter style switchblader knives (you usually see them at gunshows and flea markets for like $7-$10). I believe the fact of the matter is,it is difficult to actually catch the implements coming into the country. IIRC, less than 5% of entering cargo containers are actually searched. Customs declerations and addressees probably play a major role in what gets searched. For example, I imported a Victorinox Bundeswehr surplus SAK from sweden so labeled as a knife, it was incepected and cleared because it was perfectly legal. I have imported countless small items, and I'm sure the words USED KNIFE on the custom decleration lead to it being searched.