Aluminum Civilian?

D

Ducktaper

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
250
Hi Folks. I picked-up a Civilian the other day that has grey metal scales (with rubber inserts) and a G2 blade. Is this metal a coated aluminum? Can someone fill me in on the production years for this G2 blade? This knife is fitted like a piece of jewelry. Thanks.
 
From doing a little research today I think it is a Tuffram model. The scales have the same color as a Salsa Ti, but from what I have read they are aluminum with inserts. What I would like to know from one of you model historian's is what time span was the Civilian made with G2 steel. Thanks.
 
Civilian went into production in 1990. Earliest version was plain aluminum with kraton inlays. Tuffram coating was added fairly early on. Spyderco started marking the steel on its blades around 1992 and originally labeled blades of GIN-1 as G-2. That changed began around '94-'95, when they started stamping them with the actual name, GIN-1. Knives made prior to '92 do not have steel type stamped on them.

For what it's worth, the handful of Tuffram Civilians I have handled were all marked G-2, so I cannot say for sure that the steel marking on them was ever changed to GIN-1.
 
Thanks for the education, Deacon. It's a real pleasure to stumble upon and admire a piece of the Company's earlier works.
 
Update: Deacon, just as you have pointed out about the Company placing "Gin 1" on an era of earlier blades, I came across a Tuffram Civilian today on the 'Bay with "GIN 1" clearly stamped.
 
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