Captain... ?

S

Stiletto Raggio

Joined
Jan 29, 2000
Messages
546
Anyone handled one of the new Captains? It looks awesome, though I wish they would make a 3.9" version. Very cool lines and, unlike some other sweet -ooking knives, it appears to be highly functional. Will definitely give one a look, and I would buy a bigger one in a heartbeat.
 
I just received mine about a week ago. As in a previous post, I was kind of "on the fence" as to whether or not I liked the blade design. After getting this knife in my hands, I definitely like it, alot. It is not as big as you think. The pics on the internet make it look a lot bigger than it actually is. However, it feels like it is just the right size. It feels really good in my hand and I have large hands. It is also fairly light for this size of knife and feels good in the pocket as well. I've carried for several days but have not really had the need to use it yet. But I am pretty confident that it will perform quite well. I agree with you that a larger blade model would be nice too. I would definitely buy a larger one.
 
I have had mine for about 2 months now and it immediately made it to my top 10. I have over 150 Spyderco knives and I only keep the ones I truly want and would potentially use.

I immediately fell in love with the C-111 Captain. That knife was one Spyder that I had to handle and see first hand. The potential Slashing power of that knife is beyond belief. It has the capability of slashing like a convex straight razor.

It is a most unique blade design but believe me when you check into it further and see what that knife is capable of it will make a true believer out of you. Right now it is #3 in my top 10. That's how much I like it.:thumbup:
 
I have this knife. When I the first time have seen it in a photo has understood is a knife will be mine. From its outlines blade it is impossible to tear off a sight, its form bewitches. And if its greater variant will be made - I shall necessarily get it.
Some photos:
484239.jpg

490190.jpg

490196.jpg
 
Hello,

today it's Day #1 with the C111 in my pocket.
Been used mainly for kitchen (very easy to clean) and indoors uses.
It's built like a tank and the design is radical and well thought. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder but you can see, there is plenty of use coming to mind which makes it a very creative and efficient tool.:thumbup:

Makes me think of a folding version of The Hunted knife ! :D

The flat ground point is a kind of mini Ulu knife and the recurved section of the blade is great for pulling cuts. The back of the blade got some utility too.

It's also a knife (with its gently blunt nose) is cattle and horse friendly, and it would suit life in a Ranch. IMHO it will make a great Christmas gift for ranchers !;)
More to come soon as it's my first day with it.
Anyway Nemo has found another Captain !

cheers
Nemo
 
I have one I find that the corner of the blade (where the curve meets the front of the knife) ends up taking on the majority of cutting tasks, since it's to awkward to use the tip and with all the pull cuts the material ends up there. The front for push cuts is great, but I'd rather have normal blade shape in the end. The lock leaves something to be desired too. Although I don't think it will fail, but it does move which gives me the willys. I'm not a fan of liner locks to begin with so prehaps it's the nature of the beast.

YMMV
 
It works like a little Ulu then.

It works great actually.
The long recurved edge is whittling wood like butter.
This knife really enjoy wood...
The lock is strong passing all my test with flying colors.
More to come
Nemo
 
zenheretic said:
JD, do you find yourself using that front edge much? If so for what?
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That's funny that you would ask me that because I was playing around with it some this last weekend. I do find it nice to slice up food and vegetables that are normally tough to get started cutting like Cabbage and Cauliflour. The rounded ( but very sharp) end of the knife has cutting properties that are very nice.

Slashing is what the knife really excels at. With the very Un-orthadox blade style coupled with a hollow grind that could only be compared to a premium straight razor. I actually like where the rounded end meets with the curvature. I find that slicing veggies and what little bit of meat I've cut with it are no chore what so ever with the Captain. Now the CAptain I'm sure got the name in association with fishing, maritime and longshoremen type work.

For a workman who would use a lot of rope I would say a combination of the CAPTAIN and a premium Hawkbill like the Harpy or Spyderhawk would be an awesome duo for someone in that line of work.

To answer your question:: I'm still learning a lot about this knife. But what I've learned so far I really like. It's not everyone's knife but I do a myriad of cutting chores in my work and food prep and I can see a lot of viable uses for the Captain. But when you pull that rounded edge into something it slices/shears it like warm butter. Now the one challenge I am having so far is sharpening. This is one that requires quite a bit of patience and a steady hand. But keep in mind I've been doing freehand, benchstone sharpening for years. Get one and check it out.
 
Knife11 said:
Any time you cutting something on a table (cutting board) the front edge is your only option.
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JD Spydo said:
That's funny that you would ask me that because I was playing around with it some this last weekend. I do find it nice to slice up food and vegetables that are normally tough to get started cutting like Cabbage and Cauliflour. The rounded ( but very sharp) end of the knife has cutting properties that are very nice.

For a workman who would use a lot of rope I would say a combination of the CAPTAIN and a premium Hawkbill like the Harpy or Spyderhawk would be an awesome duo for someone in that line of work.
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Thanks for the answers, that helps.

JD a Captain and a hawkbill, seems redundant...:confused:
 
zenheretic said:
Thanks for the answers, that helps.

JD a Captain and a hawkbill, seems redundant...:confused:
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No I beg to differ with you on that. I have heard guys on the Spyderco.com Forum say that the Captain is in essence another variation of a Hawkbill>> but no I disagree with that. First of all the Spyderco Hawkbills have a pointed and piercing blade which do work much better when a needle point is needed.

Yes the Captain does have a similar curvature on the main part of the blade like Hawkbills do but it is a totally different blade configuration with different intended purposes. There are a lot of jobs I can do with the Captain that I can not do with a Hawkbill and vice versa.

You really can't do much slashing with a Hawkbill either. You can do some awesome slashing with the Captain. I am still learning about the Captain but I can assuredly tell you that it is not a Hawkbill at all. I strongly disagree with that notion. The rounded sharp tip is capable of a lot of incisions that no Hawkbill could begin to do. And I am a big fan of Hawkbills but I will admit that they have their designated purposes and what they do they do very well. The Captain is more designed for Shearing, Precise incisions and several cutting chores in which the angle of attack has always got a cutting edge coming in at an angle in a constant shearing action. Plus the rounded end of the Captain has much more manuevability than the point on a Hawkbill. But I haven't begun to learn as much as I want to about the CAptain but trust me it is not a Hawkbill; it's an animal all it's own.

And a guy working in those fields I mentioned would benefit from having both of them.
 
JD Spydo said: "Right now it is #3 in my top 10. That's how much I like it."

Makes me wonder, what is your #1 and #2?

Frids
 
JD Spydo said:
And a guy working in those fields I mentioned would benefit from having both of them.
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Well that is why I asked ya. :D I know you are in the field testing it, so I knew you would have some realistic perspective. Mine sits home in the box (did I mean my Captain or my perspective :confused: :p ).

I'm still testing my Volpe. So I haven't had time to look at my Captain yet.
 
U.C.O.K. said:
JD Spydo said: "Right now it is #3 in my top 10. That's how much I like it."

Makes me wonder, what is your #1 and #2?

Frids
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Well I'm glad you asked Brother :) If you get yourself on the Spyderco.com Forum then you would see my top 10 every now and then when we talk about them. But #1 & #2 are:
(1) big C-44 Dyad
(2) C-58 JD Smith
(3) C-111 Captain
(4) C-08 Harpy with a G-10 handle
(5) C-46 Bob Lum Tanto
Those are my current top five favorite Spydercos. Now do keep in mind that they are subject to change. But the big Dyad has been in my #1 slot for 18 months now. Try one>> it will grow on you. If you carry a big Dyad daily you can almost do without any other blade for daily chores. Nice to make your aquaintance Frids :)
 
zenheretic said:
Well that is why I asked ya. :D I know you are in the field testing it, so I knew you would have some realistic perspective. Mine sits home in the box (did I mean my Captain or my perspective :confused: :p ).

I'm still testing my Volpe. So I haven't had time to look at my Captain yet.
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So how is the Volpe passing the test? I assume it is as good as I hear about it. I have many more tests in mind for the Captain. The Volpe is one Spyder that I have not yet had my hands on. Made in Italy if I'm not mistaken.

Another thing today that I found the Captain to be good for is it's striking ability to cut through vinyl and leather. The blade geometry handles those materials pretty well. Also I haven't seen any rope that will hold up at all under the Captain. It is about the meanest rope cutting knife I've encountered yet. Providing you tune up the edge on a regular basis. The fully serrated Spyderhawk being a close second in that area. The Captain has a lot of possibilities. I am hoping to hear good things about it from the Martial Arts community. I am sure it has several uses in that arena. With it's slashing ability I think they would be foolish not to try it.
 
Sorry for the off topics... Please somebody show me the picture of big C-44 Dyad? Just my curiousity!:o

Frids
 
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