C-56 Zowada: Gone but never forgotten

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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Due to some financial turbulence I've had in the past few months I was forced to sell 3 of my "Grail" category Spyders. However the one that truly grieves me the most and I can't even bear to let it into my thought process was the sale of my Spyderco C-56, VG-10 Zowada model :(

Truly a forgotten super Spyder Classic that mostly only hardcore Spyder-heads like myself and a mere handful of others fully appreciate and covet to the highest levels.

I do make an appeal to all of you newcomers and Spyder converts to take a serious look at the C-56 Zowada model. This one definitely slipped through the cracks while few brethren were even noticing.

I actually carried an EDC of an earlier AUS-8 version of that blade for a while until I made a trade for another Spyder ( regret, regret). It performed admirably and fit my hand well. AS far as spear point blades goes the Zowada was truly a winner both functionally and for beauty as well. Anyone remember this one? Would the C-56 be on your wish list for a re-intro?
 
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Hey JD, sucks to hear about selling your grails. Hopefully in time you'll be able to get them back.

I agree, the C-56 is an amazing knife, if they ran a sprint, I would buy a couple.
 
That is a nice knife, you don't see or hear much about that one at all.
It looks kind of like the Al-mar S-2K but much classier IMO :cool::thumbup:
 
Definitely the only coffin handled Spyder ever. I'm also a sucker for the black micarta from that era. I picked up a used CE AUS-8 model on eBay awhile back and I'm glad that I did. I carry it once in a blue moon because I don't want to lose it!
 
There is a rumour of a Zowada sprint run (Shabaria, also) in the works, but nothing confirmed.

Sal, Kristi?
 
catamount123 said:
There is a rumour of a Zowada sprint run (Shabaria, also) in the works, but nothing confirmed.

Sal, Kristi?
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WhooA!!!! A Sprint Run of the C-56 Zowada!! Hey Catamount and the rest of you Spyder Brethren? Do you all realize the potential of a Zowada with a CF handle and a ZDP-189 blade. That may be asking too much but it's very good dream none the less >> and one I really don't want to be woke up from either :D

The possibilities are extremely intriguing needless to say.
 
CombatGrappler said:
Definitely the only coffin handled Spyder ever. I'm also a sucker for the black micarta from that era. I picked up a used CE AUS-8 model on eBay awhile back and I'm glad that I did. I carry it once in a blue moon because I don't want to lose it!
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Hey brother I'm with you concerning the black Micarta from that Spyder era of the late 90s early 2000s ;). That's one reason I'm not EDCing my big Dyad as much as I used to.

That even takes me back to the days of the original JD Smith. And even the original Caly Jr with AUS-8 and the black Micarta was very regal looking even by today's standards.
 
I had one that I sold a few months ago. I was surprised at how much it sold for. It was a beautiful knife but as a lefty, its ergos never grabbed me and I'd never done anything other than take it out of the box and put it back in. :) The micarta was absolutely beautiful; in fact, it was the reason I originally bought that knife, believe it or not.
 
The era in which the C-56 Zowada was given birth was to me the most elegant period of high class Spyders and unfortunately some got overlooked by the buying public. The Zowada model to a great degree suffered the same fate as did the C-52 Big Calypso model. The problem was that there was so many super classics that were selling during that era and the ones that sold the most is what the dealers focused mainly on.

Even the Titanium Herbst which was also overlooked at that time is now deeply embedded in the "sacred cow" sector of Spyderco collectibles. The Zowada was totally overshadowed by such stalwarts as the Wegner, The Viele, The Centofante, the Jess Horn and even the Goddard models were such blockbusters during that period that it was just too easy to have a great design like the Zowada and Big Calypso overlooked. And unfortunately that's what happened.

I still believe the true golden era of super classic Spyders were the ones made during 1998 - 2003. For that reason I do believe there should be serious discussion and consideration for a re-intro of the Zowada and big Caly. The Zowada is a super Spyder-cult classics which needs a second go around. Again I would love to see the Zowada with either the same Micarta handle or CF or even Titanium with a ZDP-189 blade. If that's wrong thinking then tell me why.
 
It's very rare when I give my own threads a bump upward. But it just baffles me that this Classic Among Classics ( the C-56 Zowada) is not getting any recognition to speak of :(:confused:

Could it be that there are just so many new folks that just aren't aware of the C-56? Or could it be that folks just aren't aware of it period?

At least go to Ted's Spyderco webpage and take a good hard look at it if nothing else.

What's funny is that it's usually the other way around. During the tenure of the Dodo, Original VG-10 Spyderhawk, Ronin, Yojimbo and Gunting were all sort of taken for granted and didn't really get the super fanfare until they were discontinued. But put one of them up for auction now and see them shoot skyward. Those aforementioned models were so accessible and for very reasonable prices I might add during their time on the main line up that it truly makes me wonder what it was that catapulted them so high.

But models like the C-56, Stainless Rescue, STainless Caly Jr, Original G-10 Police and original G-10 Harpy never got their due respect it doesn't seem.

The C-56 Zowada is definitely one of the top 10 Spyders of all time IMO. From the stand point of design, function, ridgid construction and style. But it seems no one wants to dance with it :confused:
 
I'll dance with a C-56 for the right price. I like many old school Spydercos. :D
 
Funny..I know where one is available.

But as it's on my side of the Atlantic, seeing the price tag would just kill you. :D
 
I'm sure you would get many more comments from people who have never seen one if you posted a picture.

I have never seen one and I might not unless I go try to find a pic. If you are so enamored by the design then I would think you would want to provide a picture for others to see and maybe spark further discussion. If you are going to take the time to start a thread spend the extra 20 seconds to track down a picture to add to it.
 
I have some pics of the one I sold earlier this year that I'll upload later today.
 
amen74 said:
We need pics of this Spyderco classic. Come on JD! :)
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Right now I'm jobless and low on cash. My HP R707 Camera needs new batteries which are going to cost me around $40 to $50. I can't get either one of them that I have now to take a charge. Like I said anyone can view it over at Ted's Spyderco website where every Spyder that was ever sold to the public can be viewed.

Also I don't currently own a C-56 :( As I said in my opening post it was one of the 3 Grail Spyders I had to sell just to keep the wolves away from the door.

Also I would assume that many Spyderco fans already have seen several pictures of the C-56.

But the one brother said he'll post one later today and I hope that will help. JD
 
Here are two really crappy cell phone pics to tide everyone over until some quality pics get posted.
 

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