Like the knives it produces, Spyderco is an unusual company. A relative newcomer to the world of knifemaking, the small, Golden, Colorado-based business launched in 1976 did things differently from the start - and managed to take the knife world by storm in just a few decades. In this book, discover the history and inner workings of the company whose design innovations have redefined the shape of the modern folding knife and taken high-performance cutting to a new level. Find out how these odd-shaped knives with the hole and the hump in the blade have made opening and carry more efficient, as well as how individual models have met the specialized needs of EMTs, police officers, hunters, soldiers, survivalists and more. Spyderco aficionado Ken Delavigne covers each product in detail - from Clipit folders and fixed-blade knives to custom collaborations to sharpeners - describing how it was developed and why, what real-life problem it solved and the design elements that make it unique. In addition, he explores the technical frontiers where Spyderco has made so many inroads and previews what's on the drawing board for the new millennium. Finally, he offers insight into the uncommon business philosophy and management style that have allowed Spyderco to achieve such legendary success.