THIN LINE SERIES
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- SKU: C10FPSBKBL
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ORIGIN: Japan
When Spyderco revolutionized the form of the modern folding knife back in the early 1980’s, many traditional knife users were skeptical of our unorthodox designs. The Trademark Round Hole™, the pronounced “hump” on the spine of the blade, the pocket clip, and the aggressive serrated edge made our knives very different from the brass-bolstered, wood-scaled back lock folders they were used to.
Some of the very first end users to embrace the Spyderco approach to knife design were law enforcement officers and first responders. As duty-bound professionals, they valued performance above all else. Convenient carry, instant access, rapid deployment, and extreme cutting power all overshadowed conventional aesthetics, and soon these uniformed public servants were among our most dedicated customers—and most passionate word-of-mouth advertisers.
As time went on, we began to get feedback from paramedics, fire rescue personnel, law enforcement officers, and other professional end users about the real-world performance of our knives. Although we, as a company, already had a healthy respect for the services they provide for our community, the more we learned about their day-to-day duties, the more our admiration grew. The heroic efforts of the first responders and police officers during and following the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, forever cemented that respect.
To honor the service and sacrifice of our nation's law enforcement officers and firefighters and the pivotal role they continue to play in our success as a company, Spyderco created the “Thin Blue Line” and “Thin Red Line” series of knives. In addition to symbolizing the critical roles these institutions play in our society, these unique knives also help support worthy charities that serve those who have given their lives in the line of duty and their surviving family members.
The term “Thin Blue Line” is a symbolic reference to the role of law enforcement as the barrier that prevents society from descending into violent chaos. It is derived from the “Thin Red Line,” a term coined to describe a British military formation at the 1854 Battle of Balaclava—one of the most famous battles of the Crimean War. That battle, which took place on October 25, 1854, began with a Russian infantry and artillery attack on the Ottoman forts that served as Balaclava’s first line of defense. When the Ottoman forces were forced to retreat, the Russian cavalry moved in to assault the second line of defense, which was held by the British Sutherland Highlanders 93rd Regiment, a small force of Royal Marines, and a few Turkish infantrymen. The British fought valiantly, holding off the Russian assault and ultimately positioning the allied forces of the French, British, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia to force the Russians onto the defensive.
In his vivid description of the battle, W. H. Russell, a press writer for The Times, stated that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenseless British base but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel of the 93rd." That metaphor was paraphrased as "The Thin Red Line" and later immortalized in Robert Gibb’s famous 1881 painting with that title.
The original phrase was first believed to have been adapted to the "Thin Blue Line" in a 1911 poem with that title by Nels Dickmann Anderson. The poem references the original British Thin Red Line, and then extends that concept to the United States Army, whose soldiers wore blue uniforms from the eighteenth century through the nineteenth century.
It is unclear exactly when the “Thin Blue Line” was first applied to law enforcement, but one of the earliest known references was by New York police commissioner Richard Enright in 1922. Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Parker frequently used the term in his in speeches in the 1950’s, and by the early 1970’s it was in common use by police departments across the United States.
Spyderco’s “Thin Blue Line” series brings the symbolism of this concept to life in unique versions of some of our most popular lightweight knives. Their tough, fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) handle scales are injection molded in black accented by a bright blue lining. When assembled with a matching blue FRN backspacer, they create a compelling visual metaphor for the "thin blue line." The knives in this series include the Delica® 4 Lightweight, Endura® 4 Lightweight, Endela™ Lightweight, and Rescue™ 3 models. The blades of the first three knives are full-flat ground and have partially serrated CombinationEdge™ edges—a unique combination not found on other expressions of these models. True to form, the Rescue model features a sheepfoot blade profile with a fully serrated SpyderEdge™. All the blades of the knives in this series are crafted from VG-10 stainless steel and proudly laser engraved with the motto “To Serve and Protect.” Although various versions of this saying exist, we chose this particular phrasing because it is used by the police department of Denver, Colorado.
Spyderco will donate a portion of all sales of the “Thin Blue Line” knives to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This remarkable organization operates multiple charitable programs that support first responders and military personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.
In a similar spirit, the knives of our “Thin Red Line” series feature black handle scales accented by a bright red lining and a matching red backspacer. This distinctive color theme symbolizes the "thin red line" firefighters and first responders represent between the normalcy of our daily world and the chaos of life-threatening emergencies. Sometimes also called “The Thin Red Line of Courage,” it represents the last ounce of courage firefighters find deep in their blood to conquer their darkest fears in order to protect and save life and property. Again, the precise history of the use of this term to describe the role of firefighters is unclear, but its powerful symbolism is unquestioned.
Spyderco’s Thin Red Line series showcases the same models as our Thin Blue Line Series. These knives also feature full-flat-ground VG-10 stainless steel blades and are proudly laser engraved with the motto “Save and Serve” to honor the selfless service and sacrifice of our first responders.
A portion of all sales of “Thin Red Line” knives will be donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. This worthy charity provides immediate financial and ongoing emotional support, advocacy, and recognition to fallen and injured wildland firefighters and their families.
We understand that, in today’s world, people have some very strong opinions about the roles of law enforcement officers and first responders in our society. We respect those opinions, and humbly ask that our choices are viewed with the same level of respect. Spyderco would not be where it is today without the loyalty of the duty-bound personnel who believed in our products from the very start. Our “Thin Blue Line” and “Thin Red Line” knives are just one way we choose to express our gratitude for that support.