Bought my first Spyderco today, what did I buy?

A

AndersP

Joined
Jan 5, 2005
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127
Today i found a Spyderco in a local store, first time i've ever seen this.
It was on sale for $85.60 (674 SKR). I guess that sound much to most of you but the original price on Spyderco and Benchmade in sweden are ridiculous
Since i've been having thoughts of buying a Spyderco for some time now, i just bought it, hardly looked at it :)

It has a black handle with a shiny Spyderco spider on it.

On the box it says Frank C Vesuvius and C66PSBK
On the blade it says on one side Golden U.S.A. and on the other siden
Vesuvius ATS-34.

When i got home and examined it I found that the blade came out WAY too easy, i would cut my hand to bits if i had this one in my pocket.

I took the Clip off and tightened the torx that is under it, much better.

So, did i pay too much?
Is this an old model?
Is it regarded good or bad?


Take care
/Anders
 
The knife you bought is a custum colaboration with knifemaker Frank Centofante and you have probably the Vesuvius II model. This model was introduced in 2000 and discontinued in 2004 by Spyderco.

It's a very well made gentlemans folder. A very nice refined model. It's a very good matter seperator due to the grind and the thinness of the blade.

Most people on the Spyderco forum seem to like the model, although this is not the right knife to take to the woods and abuse.

This is a knife you wear during daily life for light cutting. It has a low profile and has a non threathening profile.

Due to the popularity of this model Spyderco has evolved into the 4 model
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=201

You didn't pay too much for the knife. I don't know the retail price for that year but you didn't pay too much for European standards.
 
Hmm....how on earth did that compression lock spyderco get past my attention...I definitely would have bought that knife.
 
Mongo-Man:
Tank you very much for the info!
I bought it for EDC so i'll not cut down trees with it :)

Lenny Goofoff:
Yes it has compression lock, looks exactly like that picture.


Is it a usual problem with these knifes that they open themself when in pocket and so on?
 
Artfully Martial said:
Hmm....how on earth did that compression lock…
Click to expand...
I'm not sure but isn't it the very first Spyderco's compression lock?
AFAIR Vesuvios also came with mother-of-pearl inlayed scales, non?
 
I've always preferred the Centofante designs to the delica/endura lineup...if I had known it had a compression lock, I would have been all over it.
 
I've handled it for some hours now and i think i'll like it.
It does feel a bit slippery though.
I still prefer my Benchmade 960 with Axis lock but it's a bit unfair to compare already.
 
I find that most knives that use a ball detent to keep them closed open fairly easily, at least compared to lockbacks. My Vesuvius can be opened with a sharp flick of the wrist.
 
Flicking! Oho... we've got a discussion couple of days ago wether one can flick open a lockback. The knife in question was Griptilian and after - Endura. I can't open my Endura by wrist movement (( only witha wiiiide hand stroke (linerlock knifes are much easier of course)
 
Your Vesuvius is tougher that you may think. I bought by brother-in-law one several years back. He was needing a new knife but did not like wide the Delica was from spine to back of blade so I found the Ves. at a good deal. I almost wish now I had kept it and just given him Delica instead.

He carried and abused it mercilessly, scraping, light prying, never cleaning. I cleaned it for him once after he had cut a orange, then hauled hay, it was incredibly dusty and sticky, would hardly open. About 6 months after the bug popped out, he eventually lost it. It was still in good working shape last time I saw it, looked rough, but cleaned up nicely.

Use and enjoy it.:)
 
Lenny_Goofoff said:
I'm not sure but isn't it the very first Spyderco's compression lock?
AFAIR Vesuvios also came with mother-of-pearl inlayed scales, non?
Click to expand...

Memory serving, the Gunting was Spyderco's first compression lock model, though I could be mistaken. :D

--------
Hannibal
 
That's a great knife and you paid a fair price (remember you are paying the government a very stiff, way to much, tax everytime you buy something).
 
Congrats Anders :thumbup: Nice buy!

I feel your pain. Looks like everyone outside the States is paying big time. Oh well, at least you know it's a Spyderco :) BTW, i bought a Centofante III last year which is a lock back and it makes a very nice EDC. The blade is thin so it cuts like a razor. I don't know how your older V compares. You were actually quite lucky to still find an older one with a compression lock :thumbup:
 
Dr. Hannibal Lecter said:
Memory serving, the Gunting was Spyderco's first compression lock model, though I could be mistaken. :D

--------
Hannibal
Click to expand...
I do believe the Vesuvious was the first model introduced...but as I type a tiny flicker of controversy seems to spark regarding which was first. :p

I've read several times that the vesuvious was first and got a bad rap due to some issues with "this brand new lock". It was only some of them in the silver shell inlay. It was enough of a problem that they redid the knife as a backlock. By the time the Gunting was out, I'm certain they had it figured out.

The vesuvious has four versions I can think of the "plain version" which looks black but is supposed to be a dark burgundy, and two versions of inlay a pretty blue version inlay and silver inlay...whose looks escape me but I believe it was this version that had the lock issue. ;) this is all from this recent thread: http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20319&highlight=vesuvious

To complicate the issue the further I read, the more likely there are only three versions...no silver inlay...
 
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