Centofante III REVIEW

F

Fisher of Men

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Feb 22, 2005
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I gotta say that I think the Centofante III is a really good knife. I would have never even considered buying it. I got it by trading a Benchmade of mine for it. I really like it. The blade length is just right for me. It’s like 3.125 inches long. The FRN handles feel almost like G-10. I think it’s because of the partial liner and also the fact that the texture is really fine to the touch.

Been carrying it for a little while now and I have only one complaint. I don’t like how the blade comes to a point above the Spyder-hole. I prefer it to be rounded there (this is however just my personal preference). The one thing I noticed right off the bat is how thin the blade is. I mean when you put it up next to a Calypso Jr and look at the spines side by side you can tell how thin the Centofante’s blade is. I think that’s why it’s a good slicer.

I also noticed (thanks to DAYWALKER) that you need to be really careful when closing this knife with one hand. If you don’t choke up on the handle a little before you unlock the blade you might find the blade sliced part of the way through your index finger. When I close this knife I make sure my index finger is sitting right under the pivot pin and then I unlock the blade. You can’t get cut like this and then you can close it the rest of the way with your fingers out of the way.

Just like DAYWALKER showed in one other thread, this thing cuts through soda cans like butter. It is also very good at slicing food, like some fruit, and ham and whatever else you want to cut. I like the fact that the blade is just a touch longer than my Calypso Jr’s blade. It is not much but it seems like an inch when you’re using it.

I’ll have some pictures up when I get back home so you can see what I mean. Right now I’m out somewhere waiting on a server process to finish.

Here are the pics:













EDIT: One last thing I forgot is that it carries tip up or tip down but not lefty. That's OK with me because I'm a righty :)

Cheers,
Fisher of Men
 
I consider this as sort of the "thinking man's" folding hunting knife. The size and blade shape allow great cutting control and easy point guarding for field dressing tasks. The blade is thinner than almost any high grade lockblade that I have found. This might not suit mall ninjas, but it is very practical. It reminds me of folders from before the advent of the Buck 110. Enough steel to get the job done and no steel to get in your way. The hollow ground blade is easy to get wicked sharp. This knife could easily skin anything up to deer size and would make a good adjunct for caping larger game.
 
Actually, I had intended to write a review of this knife, I got it about three weeks ago, and it's been my EDC ever since. It was razor sharp fresh out of the box, and three weeks of cutting plastic and some cardboard later, it's still that sharp. I love the ergonomics and the appearance, my only complaint is that the FRN handle feels flimsy, even though it's not...
 
Nice review of an even nicer knife. This knife is a lot of knife for not much money.
 
I just picked up one of these recently, too. I liked the elegant lines, the curved flutes in the grip, and the silver Spyder; it impressed me as a bit more "gentlemanly", less unabashedly practical than most Spydercos these days.

Gotta agree about the point above the hole, though. My finger wants to stretch out over the top of the blade for delicate work, but the point makes that a bit uncomfortable. Otherwise, it's one sweet knife!

(PS: I can't think of another Spydie bigger than the Jester that has a blade that thin. Anybody?)
 
On both my of my Centofante IIIs I rounded out the pointed peak above the thumbhole.
Just rub the peak down with something coarse and abrasive. I used a coarse AO sharpening stone. Rubbing on concrete or brick, etc. will also work. It takes a minute or two.

Also, I lightly sanded the FRN handles of my Centofantes with 220 grit sandpaper to give them a little better grip.

Yeah, the Centofante is lot of knife for the money.
But I guess you say the same about a lot of other Spydercos as well.
 
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