a few new spyderco products

[Carlos]

Scorpius and Dodo were both designed by Eric Glesser.


Sal's comments on the Salt:

The Delica handle, with a modifed Delica blade (broader tip). Blade & lock are H-1, pins, clip, barrel are other very good salt water materials.

 

[Dijos]

RL-
What is that thing? Do you have pics of it open? I can't seem to find it. Thanks, Joe

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi guys. I guess I can add some info.

Spyken, Satin, Morgoth & Erint; Some info and history to share that open points of view on the "smooth stainless" concept. The original "Tactical" knives were the Clipits of the 80's. All stainless (before G-10 came to the knife industry). They were carried daily by most, if not all, of the custom and factory makers now making "tactical" knives. We used form to create the "grip". Very few knives "slipped from people's hands, even when wet or oily. We've learned a great deal more about form in the past 20 years.

If you were to take a round rod of textured G-10, hold it tight and stab hard with it on a hard surface, I think I can guarantee that it will slip on you. That is because the texture on the surface does not provide enough secure grip without form. I do not believe you could hold (squeeze) the rod tight enough to keep it from slipping.

Now take one of our "SPOTs", put it in your hand and dip your hand in the slipperiest (is that a real word?) stuff you can find. I can guarantee the SPOT will not slip out of your hand even though it is stainless only. Brass knuckles are stainless or brass. I've never heard of them "slipping" out of one's hand. That's because the "form" is providing the grip. The Scorpius has enough "expansion" in the right areas to virtually eliminate "slipping". Warren Thomas' Kerambits are usually made from Titan. Our version of Warren Thomas original Kerambit (out later this year) is made from SS. There is no question of "slipping".

Try not to limit your understanding of knife function with thoughts of surface texture being the only way of securing an item to the hand. Open mind is best, personal tests are better. Try one.

DanFisher. Forgiven.

BoQ. We fought the name Dolphin very hard. On the next run, we'll move the lanyard hole and the thought won't even occur. We do not normally name our products because of their appearance, but in this particular case, we felt that a Dolphin was contrary to the design of the knife.

PeacefulJeffrey, the "Salt I" cannot be taken apart.

RL, the Scorpius was designed 2 years ago. Even before Warren Thomas made his first Kerambit, but it is easy to see that Warren and Eric are both utilizing the "form" concept in the "tail" for stability and grip.

Hope that helps.

BTW Spyken. I just got back into town and I'll have a chance to inpect your knives. Sorry for the delay.

sal

 

[Morgoth412]

Sal,
Thanks for giving us some insight to designing these knives so that they grip no matter what the handle material. Your input is, as always, appreciated.

I'm glad that you could confirm that the knife RL showed and Eric's are indeed different minds thinking alike.

-Kevin

 

[fishface5]

ERINT beat me to it. Skateboard tape is the insta-fix for smooth SS handles, grippier than G-10 and very cheap to apply. Sal's point about form is well-taken, and you can see the same approach in Hossom knves, which often have very smooth handles but yet remained glued to the hand due to the carefully-formed contours. And those are fighting knives all the way, much lauded by martial artists. However if only for peace of mind and resulting confidence in use, skateboard tape is pretty cool stuff.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hossom is another one that is particularly sensitive to form and demonstrates (IMO) quite well thought out forrm in his designs. But then I would also have to add Bram Frank, Michael Janich and James Keating to that group. I'm sure there are others.

Steve Gartin (another experienced martial artist) used to add skate board tape to his SS knives back in the early 80's. He also put shrink tubing over the clip for grip and less attention.

sal

 

[spyken]

Originally posted by Sal Glesser
Hi guys. I guess I can add some info.

Spyken, Satin, Morgoth & Erint; Some info and history to share that open points of view on the "smooth stainless" concept. The original "Tactical" knives were the Clipits of the 80's. All stainless (before G-10 came to the knife industry). They were carried daily by most, if not all, of the custom and factory makers now making "tactical" knives. We used form to create the "grip". Very few knives "slipped from people's hands, even when wet or oily. We've learned a great deal more about form in the past 20 years.

...

Our version of Warren Thomas original Kerambit (out later this year) is made from SS. There is no question of "slipping".

...

BTW Spyken. I just got back into town and I'll have a chance to inpect your knives. Sorry for the delay.

sal

point 1 - agreed, just wondered why the knife didn't have BOTH form and surface grip - thought that would bring the cost down even more? But, I strongly agree on the form bit - I personally like my knives to have a finger groove. And the SPOT is an amazing knife.

point 2 - A spyderco kerambit? Sal - pls show us pictures of the prototype - I've been waiting for a spydie kerambit....but perhaps you could 'texture' the SS handles? Or use tuffram or textured aluminium for weight reduction?

point 3 - ok, thanks for personally attending to my knives Sal - I appreciate that. Will wait to hear from you....

cheers,
spyken

 

[satin]

Originally posted by Sal Glesser
Hi guys. I guess I can add some info.

Spyken, Satin, Morgoth & Erint; Some info and history to share that open points of view on the "smooth stainless" concept. The original "Tactical" knives were the Clipits of the 80's. All stainless (before G-10 came to the knife industry). They were carried daily by most, if not all, of the custom and factory makers now making "tactical" knives. We used form to create the "grip". Very few knives "slipped from people's hands, even when wet or oily. We've learned a great deal more about form in the past 20 years.

If you were to take a round rod of textured G-10, hold it tight and stab hard with it on a hard surface, I think I can guarantee that it will slip on you. That is because the texture on the surface does not provide enough secure grip without form. I do not believe you could hold (squeeze) the rod tight enough to keep it from slipping.

Now take one of our "SPOTs", put it in your hand and dip your hand in the slipperiest (is that a real word?) stuff you can find. I can guarantee the SPOT will not slip out of your hand even though it is stainless only. Brass knuckles are stainless or brass. I've never heard of them "slipping" out of one's hand. That's because the "form" is providing the grip. The Scorpius has enough "expansion" in the right areas to virtually eliminate "slipping". Warren Thomas' Kerambits are usually made from Titan. Our version of Warren Thomas original Kerambit (out later this year) is made from SS. There is no question of "slipping".

Try not to limit your understanding of knife function with thoughts of surface texture being the only way of securing an item to the hand. Open mind is best, personal tests are better. Try one.

Agreed, form & texture have to work togather. I was trying to say that, but guess I didnt.
I am still of the feeling that unless an all stainles sknife has a hole (ala the SPOT or other Perrin "Griffe" type designs) or a deep finger-choil/integeral subhilt like a Crawford KFF, the all stainless features worry me.
I've used knives for utility in a wide variety of conditions, and covered in a variety of different stuff, water, mud, gas/keronsene, blood (mine), etc. and am sorta set in my ways about all stainless handles that dont basically trap the hand with finger rings, or shapes that are retentive in the serious extreme.
I like the concept of the design though, and do plan on at least getting a chance to handle one when they eventually hit the market. Since thats sorta "my thing" anyway, tactical/defensive knives, I like to be familiar with whats out there. And has been said, adding some 3M stair tread tape (or skate tape, the 3m stuff just beats the hell out of skate tape IMO, much better) can add texture for those of us who are overly picky. (Some nice engravers out there too, could probably come up with some patterns to add texture AND look good as well.)

 

[Moving Target]

Anyone have an update IF or WHEN the Scorpius model will become available?

Also curious what the actual blade length on this folder will be?

 

[Sal Glesser]

Scorpius is availabole now. Collectors were being numbered today. I don't have one here, but I believe we're right about 3" in blade.

sal

 

[Moving Target]

Thanks Sal! Do you know who has them in stock, or when I can get them on you website? I'd like to order a pair!

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Moving target. I'm sorry I don't. You can probably ask your regular dealer to order one for you.

sal