Any Calypso Jr. owners out there?

K

komondor

Joined
Jul 2, 2001
Messages
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I ordered a Calypso Jr. FRN handle (serrated blade) as a gift for my brother for Christmas.

I have never seen or handled the knife in person before. Is this a pretty decent little blade? Would a non-knife type of person tend to like it?

The cutting power to weight ratio of this knife must be respectable.
 
I bought the same model a couple of months ago as my jogging knife to be clipped to my shorts. It was the light weight that sold it to me.

The cutting power to weight ratio is very good especially in the serrated edge version. I am not sure how non knife people react to serrated blades?

I carried the plain edge micarta handled version as my EDC for a couple of years and they are a great knife.
 
I love this little Spydie, it can easily handle tasks far beyond its' size. I prefer the PE because of the versatility over a SpyderEdged blade. However, the Calypso Jr. IS one of the best models that Spyderco has ever developed whether PE or SE, IMHO. ;) (The ergonomics alone are awesome on this Spydie!!)

The blade shape was a real eye catcher for me when I first saw it, however, IMO, it wouldn't be one to scare the sheeple. I think that it's such an attractive folder that even a non-knife person would like it. ;)
 
They are very nice folders IMO! The thing that sold me though was the yellow bug on the clip!!!
Matt
 
The Calypso Jr is a <b>great</b> knife; definitely the best small EDC _I've_ ever handled. I used to think that my Delica was the perfect knife for general utility, until I tracked down one of these in PE at a local sporting goods store.

I've heard mixed things about the SE, but I'm sure a non-knife person won't be quite as picky. The big problem, in my experience, is whether they can get used to holding a knife that close to the blade. Some people just don't seem to _get_ the finger choil, for some reason.

It's a real shame that these were discontinued, and just before I "discovered" quality knives. I understand that nothin' lasts forever, but man, what a knife to discontinue. Wouldn't it be better to save the Calypso SKU's at the expense of, say, the pro-grips, or the Snap-it, or one of the three Salsa colors, or one of the three Jester colors?

If the PE Calypso Jr _alone_ went back into production, it'd probably sell like crazy.

And I'd _kill_ for the micarta version.

Okay, maybe not "kill", but definitely "go out of my way to obtain" :D
 
Komondor,
Is this a pretty decent little blade?
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Yes, by all means! With its thin acute high performance edge and excellent steel it is awesome cutter. It handles nicely and provides the great blade control, very suitable tool for precise daily cutting tasks. Please don’t get me wrong, it is no way week and would hold up at all cutting chores the lightweight folder should. However I would go rather with plain edged...
Would a non-knife type of person tend to like it?
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Hmm, here the answer is not so clear. This knife got a lot of praises among knife enthusiasts but it basically wasn’t accepted at the general market. Some time ago Sal have started the thread, something like Delica vs. Calypso Jr. Ltw. Why the first is one of continuous SPYDERCO bestsellers and another sells barely acceptably? If I remember well this was pretty extensive discussion, however it brought close to nothing. The general market evaluation quite frequently doesn’t match knife enthusiast opinion. Basically the general market is pretty capricious “beauty” and nor God neither devil could always guess in advance what item could satisfy it...

So looking from statistic viewpoint you have more chances that your brother could like Delica more than Calypso Jr. However nothing lost, Delica is currently in production and you or he could buy it each moment. Calypso Jr. is discontinued and quite soon might become a rarity. So use the opportunity to get it as long as it’s available!
 
...in my humble/honest opinion.

For all the reasons above. I've had stronger, tougher, cleverer, tacticaller, prettier but never sharper. This knife, which is not particulary pretty, is a work of art. It sets out to be a great little cutter, and achieves exactly that by purity and economy of design. It doesn't try to be tactical, or bullet proof, or high-tech or sexy, everything about it is in the cut.

It is kung fu.

This is a great first/sheeple knife and I think a great project would be to revive it (perhaps with cheaper steel at a lower price point) and market it to non-knife people packaged with a 'Knife Basics' book, a small sharpening stone and a booklet with a set of suggestions for how to use it (perhaps different booklets aimed at different markets, ages, sexes, special interests, etc.)

Otherwise, like kung fu, its true essence will soon be lost in the mists of time.
 
I bought the SS Dragonfly PE for work, and about a week after, I was looking in the books for a larger version. A month later(when the wallet recovered), I ordered my C52PBK. The ergos on this model are what makes it. It flows, open or closed. The grip I end up with has the knife almost in line with my wrist, making for very easy cuts.

The VG-10 blade takes a sweet edge, and I've played a bit with it... putting everything from a 20 inclusive to a 30/convex edge.

Even non-knife ppl have enjoyed using it(I let my mother, queen of the sheeple, use it, and now she carries a ladybug).
 
It's no secret that I'm a great fan of these knives, either PE or SE. My wife carries an SE and loves it. I carry one of each. To put it bluntly, Calypso Jr's. rock!!!
 
I was lucky enough to pick up 1 on a trade and then bought a 2nd from a local dealer both are SE.
I'm amazed at how light they are, when you lay a Delica FRN beside the Jr they appear the same size, but pick it up and you can definatly tell the difference.
I've always been a fan of larger knives, but my last 7 bought have been midrange to small.
Yesterday I just happened to have a SS Dragonfly and a G-10 Navigator with me at our hunting club.
As many clubs do we share all meat taken on the hunt, and i couldn't resist the temptation to see how these 2 worked on skinning deer (a job usually left for guests or 1st yr members)
They aren't in my Moran skinners class but they did work fine especially around the THUMB KILLING! area around the neck.
My point being a small blade with a sharp edge and a good handle design means more than blade length.
The Calypso Jr is one of Spydercos best designs ever.
Maybe they will bring it back later in a limited run :D Ron
 
Excellent input, guys!

Thanks for the stories. I think he will like it. Maybe I will pick one up for myself.
 
Hey Guys...

I've got both a large and small C-jr. in G-10 and I really like both of the knives.. Really nice designs, both are full Spyderedge...

Actually I had the large with me today in the post office, and had to pull it out to cut a label off of a box. The girls there all know me,so it didn't bother them at all.. They've seen me produce far worse than that..the people in line though were giving me the eye..:)

I usually carry a small SAK for chores like this,but didn't have anything else with me,,so had no choice.. Keep in mind this is a small town PO...I think you'd have a problem in a US PO with something like that..You may even be breaking a federal law...

Anyhoo,,enough of the rant...

I think its a great knife for anyone,,but some non knife people may have a problem with the "Look" of the Spyderedge...
Plain edge in my opinion would be a better choice,, but if it were me,, I'd be smiling BIG..:)

ttyle

Eric....
 
had to use my C52PBK about 2 weeks back, packing up a knife.

I had 2 knive with me... millie CE or calypso jr PE. Didn't want to scare them.
 
Have my Micarta Jr. in my pocket right now- great EDC. Bring it back please?
 
When I got married I bought all my groomsmen Calypso Jrs (PE micarta version, but same diff, right?). All of them loved it. The guy who is not at all a knife knut, who was a bit puzzled at first about what he'd do with such a thing, was even swayed after carrying it and cutting with it a bit. In short, I think anyone who cuts with a Calypso Jr. will come to appreciate it very quickly.

It is, as I've opined all along, the best knife Spyderco ever designed!

Joe
 
Wow! When J.T. speaks, people interested in knives listen. This is high praise indeed!!!
 
Joe,

What a wonderful, thoughtful gift for your groomsman! Now that's class.

All the best, Jeff/1911.
 
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