Caly 3.5 comparison

[kreole]

I got my third Caly 3.5 in today, so now I have one of each. I started comparing them and thinking about when I would carry one model over the other. The CF version is the more classier of the three, so I decided to do a review of that one in how it fills that role, mostly in comparison to the others. Because classy/gentlemanly is mostly aesthetic, that's what the focus of this is; let me say up front some of these things are incredibly picky, but I wanted to show everything I noticed about it. That's not to imply it's a negative review, as I wouldn't have three if I didn't like them, and the CF one has the best f&f of the three. Also, since I only have one of each, I don't claim any of the things I notice are common between the types.


Ok, enough words


Overview shot of all three

The CF is very slightly thinner than the G10 version

The lamination lines are wavy and not symmetric side to side except at the tip

The clip has a lot of tooling marks. A quick dip in a vibrator/tumbler would make it better. All three had such marks. Again, this is an aesthetic concern only, but it lacks something when compared to the Techno's wire clip, for instance.

The lock bar at the unlocking button sticks up on all three. The CF version is just barely above flush, while the VG10 sits well above and the Super Blue falls in between them

CF

VG10

Super Blue

The finish on the CF is closest to mirror, a bit better than the VG10 version (CF on top in pic)

On one side, there is a gap between the CF slab and metal liner. That doesn't occur on either of the others. (bottom slabs in the pic)

The lanyard tube has a smaller diameter than the CF is drilled. It was blatant when I first got it. I had to look at the others to see if they were the same (in other words they weren't as blatant), and they have this trait, though the difference between sizes isn't as large. It was a little tricky to show this well.

The clip screw on the G10 versions are identical, but they differ from the CF version. On the latter, it sticks up higher, which could make it harder to slide it all the way down on thicker pants, as there's less clearance between screw and wire. I tried swapping the sides of the male and female parts, but it didn't matter.

The finish on the spine of the handle of the CF version is better. You can't make out a gap between the liners and back spring. I wonder if this is because the G10 versions have been carried a lot, and the CF version is brand new. (CF on bottom)

Also in that pic you can see the gap between unlock button and back portion of the spine is smaller and more uniform on the CF version.


With the CF version solely, there is no visible gap on either side of the part of the block bar between Boye detent and blade.
CF (with light source in the background--notice nothing comes through)

VG10

None have a flush lock bar when opened, but the CF is best, followed by Super Blue

Both G10 versions scrape the liner on the tang above the jimping, but the CF does not.

The lower jimping of the Super Blue is slightly flattened towards the edge, the VG10 version's looks like it got smashed into something, and the CF version's is nearly perfect.

VG10

CF

The upper and lower jimping both were smoothed along the edge. This only occurs on the CF version and is a nice addition!
CF

G10

Has anyone else with more than one version noticed anything difference between them?

 

[Steel130]

Nice pics and comparisons. I am not able to comment on differences. I was just curious. Did you force the patina on the Super Blue? I just ordered one and eagerly await it!

 

[PanChango]

I like my Caly 3.5's but really only carry the SB one. I like the blue scales.

Did you dye them or use a Sharpie or something? I'm not such a fan of the gray slabs.

 

[kreole]

Nice pics and comparisons. I am not able to comment on differences. I was just curious. Did you force the patina on the Super Blue? I just ordered one and eagerly await it!

Yeah, I used ferric chloride. It patinas naturally fast enough, but I was getting a good amount of red rust from thumb sweat around the hole, so I forced it.

The Super Blue is awesome, so you're going to enjoy that one!

I like my Caly 3.5's but really only carry the SB one. I like the blue scales.

Did you dye them or use a Sharpie or something? I'm not such a fan of the gray slabs.

Yep, Sharpie. I was hoping it would look worn (old blue jeans style) as opposed to the uniform color RIT dye gives. I didn't like how dirty the gray handles started to look, and the Sharpie coloring has been sufficient to keep it from looking dirty.

 

[PanChango]

Awesome. Thanks.

I think I might have to do that to mine as my gray one is pretty grubby looking.

Worn denim jeans is exactly what I thought it looked like after seeing your pics.

 

[alanjeep]

My G10/vg10 has the same non flush lockbar. I rarely cary the knife because of this. Makes the $120 knife look like a $20 flea market special. On top of that the raised lockbar is uncomfortable. I feel the Caly 3 was made much better, have one 3 that is flawless and second that is very close. Do all of your 3.5's have the peened lock bar where it meets the tang of the knife? I fell this will wear away and cause slop in time. The Japanese maker needs to get its act together if this knife is going to carry a $199 MSRP

 

[alanjeep]

The scrapes on the tang near the pivot point are just a result of the design. To me it is no big deal, If i remember, the Caly's dont have washers. Tang rides on the liners.

 

[kreole]

My G10/vg10 has the same non flush lockbar. I rarely cary the knife because of this. Makes the $120 knife look like a $20 flea market special. On top of that the raised lockbar is uncomfortable. I feel the Caly 3 was made much better, have one 3 that is flawless and second that is very close. Do all of your 3.5's have the peened lock bar where it meets the tang of the knife? I fell this will wear away and cause slop in time. The Japanese maker needs to get its act together if this knife is going to carry a $199 MSRP

I think recently I saw a post by you in another thread about that and meant to mention that. Only my Super Blue version has the peened lock bar (coining I think it's called). I can't tell if it has flattened any. Your VG10 version has it?

I agree with you the non-flush lock bar is kind of cheap looking. The amount of room between the the lock bar and liners on my VG10 version doesn't help in that regard, either. The Super Blue version is a bit better, and the CF version is much better. The latter is perfectly flushed closed, and open you can see above (it's pretty close).

The scrapes on the tang near the pivot point are just a result of the design. To me it is no big deal, If i remember, the Caly's dont have washers. Tang rides on the liners.

It's part of the design but not essential. On some slipjoints, the liners are milled thinner in that area specifically to prevent it from happening. Also, since it only occurs on one side on my VG10 version, either something isn't flat or something isn't lined up straight; at least make the scrapes symmetrical


edit: I've been playing with my CF version all day, and it also has scrapes on both sides now. I figured it would've started to show up earlier so assumed it wasn't going to, but I guess I wasn't patient enough.

 

[alanjeep]

I hope someone at Spyderco sends this picture to the maker and explains to them that this is unacceptable and needs to be checked before passing the quality department. My 3.5 looked like this out of the box and i don't think it will get any better in time.

 

[alanjeep]

I think recently I saw a post by you in another thread about that and meant to mention that. Only my Super Blue version has the peened lock bar (coining I think it's called). I can't tell if it has flattened any. Your VG10 version has it?

I agree with you the non-flush lock bar is kind of cheap looking. The amount of room between the the lock bar and liners on my VG10 version doesn't help in that regard, either. The Super Blue version is a bit better, and the CF version is much better. The latter is perfectly flushed closed, and open you can see above (it's pretty close).

It's part of the design but not essential. On some slipjoints, they mill back the liners in that area specifically to prevent it from happening. Also, since it only occurs on one side on my VG10 version, either something isn't flat or something isn't lined up straight; at least make the scrapes symmetrical

Yes, I mentioned it a few days ago and my vg10 has the coining. Remember that term now from a thread a few years ago, thanks. If it is not on all of the 3.5's i wonder if they made a bad batch of lockbars and reworked them to use them. I worked in a Japanese plant for 12.5 years and know how much they hate to scrap anything.

 

[Frozy]

I just received my caly 3.5 (VG-10) last week. I love its slim handles, long blade in a short handle, and the deep wire clip carry.
However the fit and finish is disappointing. There's an unslightly gap between the G-10 and stainless liners, and the steel liners are not finished smoothly. Also, the lock bar is sticky.
The finishing on the Caly 3.5 is much worse than my Stretch and i don't understand how can this happen. I was really excited and thought about purchasing the newly released Caly 3.5 in Carbonfiber but after receiving this knife, no way...


The half finished choil.

Gap between the G-10 and steel liners.

Poorly finished liners.

 

[dark impaler]

My super blue has the same non flush lock-bar and when I first
saw it, I was quite disappointed. But I realized that if I don't
flick it open and just open it deliberately, it doesn't protrude and
I don't really feel it when I use it- so in short, it's fine. I would
rather have it flush though, without thinking about it. I still
enjoy the knife.

I'm liking this series' form factor so much that I may spring for
the 3.5 in vg10, with the issues kreole pointed out in mind.

My caly 3 (vg10) on the other hand just rocks. It's taking up
so much pocket time. I can't believe I waited so long to pick
it up.

 

[Fredde90210]

I just received my caly 3.5 (VG-10) last week. I love its slim handles, long blade in a short handle, and the deep wire clip carry.
However the fit and finish is disappointing. There's an unslightly gap between the G-10 and stainless liners, and the steel liners are not finished smoothly. Also, the lock bar is sticky.

Gap between the G-10 and steel liners.

Poorly finished liners.

That is also the case with my vg10 3,5... I stonewashed the thing and the gap I have to live with...the Taiwan made Spydercos have completely overrun the Seki City Spydies...Still the Caly are a great user but not as classy as I thought before...

 

[nccole]

It is very interesting the small things that seem to be common in terms of fit and finish. You hear all the time how Taiwan's fit and finish is superb, and I always thought people overstated it, but when I compare my Taiwanese knives to the Japanese knives the Taiwanese knives really are better in the details. My Stretch (which I really enjoy) has the lockbar issues, the spydie hole has a pretty noticeable burr on it and there are gaps here and there. My Caly 3 CF has similar things that just look unfinished. Very interesting how times have changed, and although many people will not openly admit it, the Taiwanese seem to have surpassed the Japanese in knife making. You do hear praise for the Taiwanese, but the noticing of Japan's slips is not voiced. None of it matters much to me, I will not hesitate to buy any Spyderco from anywhere. I would bet if Spyderco did not use VG10 and other Javanese steels, they would not use Japan as a manufacturing facility.

 

[jnichols2]

My Caly 3.5 CF ZDP-189 has none of those issues. It was so fine it took me two days to work up to putting it in my pocket.

With that said, I intend to make it my #1 ECD. In a few months it will be a little beat up anyway. I know these knives aren't cheap, but sometimes we expect them to be works of art rather than tools.

Kreole,

Your knives actually look pretty good. I could have handled them for days and never noticed any issues except the patina on your SuperBlue. And I know you see that as a positive.

Beyond the perceived aesthetics, do you like the knife? Does it work well?

 

[kreole]

My Caly 3.5 CF ZDP-189 has none of those issues. It was so fine it took me two days to work up to putting it in my pocket.

With that said, I intend to make it my #1 ECD. In a few months it will be a little beat up anyway. I know these knives aren't cheap, but sometimes we expect them to be works of art rather than tools.

Kreole,

Your knives actually look pretty good. I could have handled them for days and never noticed any issues except the patina on your SuperBlue. And I know you see that as a positive.

Beyond the perceived aesthetics, do you like the knife? Does it work well?

I wouldn't have three if I didn't like them . I think there is only one knife I have two of (M4 and M390 Militaries), and the rest are singles, so that should say something.

The only thing I don't really like is how far the lock bar sticks up the VG10 version. The corner there is sharp, which isn't very fun. The rest of the 'flaws' are just being picky in terms of aesthetics.

One thing that might not have came through on the review is I thought the VG10 version was decent when I received it, then the Super Blue seemed better, and finally the ZDP189 version is the best of all three and nearly flawless. My point wasn't to say they're all flawed in various ways with no relationship between them. Part of the reason I compared them was to find out the reason for the progression, to see if others' experiences correspond to the factory getting better over time as mine does.

 

[Cynic2701]

The fit on my CF Caly 3.5 is better than the Super Blue one I had. Finish-wise it is pretty good, a bit better than my CF Caly 3.

I've had pretty good luck with my Taiwan-made Spyderco's; their fit and finish was very good, but I wouldn't say that it was perfect.

Overall, whether made in Japan or Taiwan, I've been pretty happy with what I've gotten for the price point.

 

[cyd8187]

Hey Alanjeep, I was reading the thread here, and you said you have 2 Caly 3's, Would you be Interested in Parting with one?...
Been on the search for Caly3 Vg-10 W/ G~10 handles,
As of past few weeks , none to be found...
Let me know..
Thanks...

My G10/vg10 has the same non flush lockbar. I rarely cary the knife because of this. Makes the $120 knife look like a $20 flea market special. On top of that the raised lockbar is uncomfortable. I feel the Caly 3 was made much better, have one 3 that is flawless and second that is very close. Do all of your 3.5's have the peened lock bar where it meets the tang of the knife? I fell this will wear away and cause slop in time. The Japanese maker needs to get its act together if this knife is going to carry a $199 MSRP

 

[alanjeep]

double post

 

[alanjeep]

Hey Alanjeep, I was reading the thread here, and you said you have 2 Caly 3's, Would you be Interested in Parting with one?...
Been on the search for Caly3 Vg-10 W/ G~10 handles,
As of past few weeks , none to be found...
Let me know..
Thanks...

Sorry, but they are not for sale. I bought the spare a few years ago when i learned that they were going to be discontinued. Don't feel bad or feel that you are the only one not to get a certain Spyderco you wanted. This is how this business works. They make a knife for so many years and if the demand goes down or the manufacturing space is needed for a new model, they discontinue the model. To get a old Spyderco you have to be very patient and watch Ebay like a hawk. This forum might have a "Wanted" section that you can post that you are looking for a Caly 3. I and many others have been in your boat on more then one occasion. I looked for a good C44 for years and had to pay a premium when i found it. If you watch this forum and the Spyderco site forum, you will be able to catch the discontinued list at the end of each year. If a knife on the list is something you want, and has been popular through the years, better make sure to get one right away. good luck in your hunt.

Sorry to go off topic