



Over the past few months, I've been making major decisions to build Squid Industries. Since I've struggled to maintain a consistent production schedule, I originally intended to collaborate with other companies to manufacture and sell my products. However, after weeks of debate and negotiations, I knew I wanted to remain interactive with the community by being involved in the manufacturing and retail process. Eventually, I decided on a reasonable middle ground: machine shops in the United States will manufacture my parts, but I will still be responsible for the assembly and sale of my products.



Next Release



By now, some of you may have stumbled upon my new website. If you haven't seen it yet, go check it out at Hello everyone,Over the past few months, I've been making major decisions to build Squid Industries. Since I've struggled to maintain a consistent production schedule, I originally intended to collaborate with other companies to manufacture and sell my products. However, after weeks of debate and negotiations, I knew I wanted to remain interactive with the community by being involved in the manufacturing and retail process. Eventually, I decided on a reasonable middle ground: machine shops in the United States will manufacture my parts, but I will still be responsible for the assembly and sale of my products.By now, some of you may have stumbled upon my new website. If you haven't seen it yet, go check it out at www.SquidIndustries.co (shoutout to Justas Urbonas for developing the website!). Note: the Squidtrainer in the home page banner is one of the first 4 original Squidtrainers and not a production model.



On the home page, I've added a countdown to the release of the next batch. Currently, that time is only a moderate estimation of when I'll have the next batch ready. I understand that some of you will be disappointed to hear that I've delayed the batch yet again, but this time I have a decent reason: I will be releasing 600 Squidtrainers.



Please view the following information in regards to the next batch of Squidtrainers: Multiple release dates, with the first one in August 2017

One batch being for international customers only.

Colors available: Silver, Black, Red, Dual-Tone Blue, Dual-Tone Red (quantities revealed in the next newsletter)

Payment forms accepted: Credit, Debit, Paypal

Shipping prices and services will be announced in the future

Limit 2 per customer Squidtrainer V2



After receiving an enormous amount of feedback from many of you over the past year and a half, I'd also like to unveil the next official revision of the Squidtrainer. This is the model that will be released in the batches this summer. The changes are as follows: Upgraded blade steel to heated treated 410 stainless steel (originally non-heat treated 17-4PH stainless)

Increased handle rounding by 25%

Added a milled texture for better grip

Decreased handle spacing

Decreased handle play

Significantly improved fit and finish not be changing the pricing structure. You can view the pricing Hopefully, everyone will appreciate these new changes along with the fact that I willbe changing the pricing structure. You can view the pricing here (all prices are in USD). Please note that the picture above is of Squidtrainer V1s and not V2s.



Upcoming Projects and Blade Show 2017



After the Squidtrainer batches, I plan to release my next upcoming product: Project SE (name pending). Project SE will retail for $90 USD and will be revealed at Blade Show 2017 along with the Squidtrainer V2. For those of you who are unaware, Blade Show is the world's largest annual knife show held in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're attending blade show, please come find me and I'll give you a limited edition sticker. I also may or may not be selling some trainers at the venue.





I'm super sorry for all the delays and I hope that everyone understands the reasons behind them. I will be making more than three times the amount of trainers as last year, so hopefully, everyone who has been patiently waiting gets one. For those of you who have sent me an email through the contact page in the past week, I may not have received it due to the website relocation. Please resend your email and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.



Thanks, everyone!



Lucas Cao



Squid Industries

California, USA

May 11th, 2017