# Why is it so hard to get a good spork? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485 "2006-05-05T01:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![selby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@selby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/selby)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/1 "2006-05-05T01:44:00Z")
Umm a question…now I know what a spork is, but I have things in the cutlery drawer called splayds (also spelt splades depending on who you ask ) and I’d like to know if a splayd is a kind of spork? or a spork is a sort of splayd ? and if neither, then what defining characteristic/s makes a ‘thing’ a splayd or spork that defines it as belonging to a separate category. please help Selby ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/2 "2006-05-05T02:45:43Z")
Based on the photo [on this page (third tier)](http://www.barlens.com.au/category/category.asp?categorytypeid=2&childid=94) I would say that a splade and a spork are the same thing. I will note that this appears to be a **General Question** rather than a **Comment on [a] Staff Report[del]s[/del]**. I will move this to that other Forum for further responses. (Cecil has commented on sporks in the [Why is it so hard to get a good spork?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspork.html) column, but I have found no spork references among Staff Reports.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/3 "2006-05-05T02:57:15Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Based on the photo [on this page (third tier)](http://www.barlens.com.au/category/category.asp?categorytypeid=2&childid=94) I would say that a splade and a spork are the same thing. [Not quite:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splade) > [@](#): > > A splade is a variation of the spork. In addition to the overall spoon shape and the fork tines, it has a somewhat sharp edge or blade on one or both sides, so it has the use of a spoon, fork, and knife in one utensil. Splade is a portmanteau of the words ‘spoon’ or ‘spork’ and ‘blade’. Splades are also called [Splayds](http://www.splayds.com/). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/4 "2006-05-05T03:40:00Z")
And I apologize. I misread the attribution in linked article and it is, indeed, a Staff Report. So back to the Comments on Staff Reports Forum it goes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/5 "2006-05-05T04:08:26Z")
I find my titanium spork (which others have touted as well) to be a critical camping tool. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/6 "2006-05-05T22:17:17Z")
[Titanium spork link](http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=226&memberId=12500226&productId=24544148) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/7 "2006-05-08T14:04:09Z")
Hmm. [This](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004OCOI/qid=1147096859/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-2085306-9735048?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=kitchen&v=glance&n=284507) is what I always thought of as a spork, but I guess it’s actually a “pasta fork”. Who knew! Of course I refer to both the things you flip pancakes with and the things you scrape down a bowl of icing with as “spatulas” so I guess I have a lot to learn. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/8 "2006-05-08T15:38:41Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Of course I refer to both the things you flip pancakes with and the things you scrape down a bowl of icing with as “spatulas” . . . As do I, and I think we are correct. Doing a search for “spatula” on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) supports this usage, as do the definition on [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) and the article on Wikipedia. Even the “Kitchen Essentials” page on [www.foodtv.com](http://www.foodtv.com) seems to agree. RR ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/9 "2006-05-09T21:50:58Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > This is what I always thought of as a spork, but I guess it’s actually a “pasta fork”. Who knew! I call them “spaghetti dippers.” I don’t remember if I’ve learned another name for them. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/10 "2006-05-16T01:01:13Z")
Pardon my ignorance, but I’m planning a total re-buy of my “daily” flatware, and I simply must ask: What is the proper use (and advantages) of a splayde in a semi-formal or formal setting as suggested by it’s inclusion in the Clarendon range of catering supplies (linked above) “rated as ‘four star’ quality and utilized mainly for weddings and high profile corporate functions”? I’ve eaten with royalty and five kinds of untouchables, and every class in between. I’ve eaten banquets with just my hands or with four specialized forks (but not my feet or nose, I’ll confess – I have to save some experiences for my retirement travels) – but I’ll be danged if I’d know how to use a splayde at a wedding or even dinner with company. Have I missed out? It seems to me that. for most non-camping solid-food uses, it really begs a partner (another splayde, a fork, some other flatware utensil) Enlighten me, and I’ll stock the entire house. So what if the kids need psychotherapy when they grow up? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/11 "2006-05-18T14:14:31Z")
I am going to make a WAG and say it looks like something you’d use in a “formal casual” event, like an outdoor wedding reception, or a BBQ with VIPs. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-good-spork/355485/12 "2006-05-24T07:56:09Z")
> [@KP](#): > > Pardon my ignorance, but I’m planning a total re-buy of my “daily” flatware, and I simply must ask: > > What is the proper use (and advantages) of a splayde in a semi-formal or formal setting as suggested by it’s inclusion in the Clarendon range of catering supplies (linked above) “rated as ‘four star’ quality and utilized mainly for weddings and high profile corporate functions”? The classic usage would be for example eating cake at some sort of reception, where you are standing up. It must be a one handed utensil so that you can hold the plate in the other hand. It has to cut and also to lift to one’s mouth. Obviously just a fork or spoon can do this, but a splayde is just a tad more to the purpose.