Comments on using the Caly Jr w/ZDP189 laminated blade

C

chemist

Joined
Feb 26, 2001
Messages
93
I have had a Calypso Jr. with the ZDP-189/420J blade for a little over a month. It has been used to cut quite a bit of plastic and card board. In my opinion it has retained a very sharp edge much longer than any other knife that I have used for this kind of general utility cutting. I have and use knives with ATS-34, VG-10, D2, 154CM and 440C blade steels. In my experience, ZDP-189 is much better as far as edge holding is concerned. This is a conclusion based on very non scientific data and I am happy with the performance of the other steels mentioned. It’s just that ZDP-189 is better IMO. I have one knife with S30V blade steel and it is big so I don’t use it at work and therefore can’t compare it to ZDP-189.

Mine came with the blade wiggle mentioned by several people. After removing the pocket clip, careful squeezing in a vice tightened it right up. No more wiggle.

The 420J layers show some scratch marks but the exposed ZDP does not. I probably would like a solid ZDP blade better but I’m sure the 420J would be easy to buff out.

The Caly 3 and Endura with ZDP should be terrific.
 
I would like the Caly Jr. ZDP more if it had liners. Liners just seem to make a knife tougher, more stable. This is a subjective call, but hey I am careful on how I spend my knife dollars.
 
coop1957 said:
I would like the Caly Jr. ZDP more if it had liners. Liners just seem to make a knife tougher, more stable. This is a subjective call, but hey I am careful on how I spend my knife dollars.
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Well, there's always the CF/ZDP Caly 3. It has dual liners.
 
I'm really glad that the original Caly Jr. ZDP was linerless. I took the clip off and it's *extremely* light, disappears in the pocket. The extra weight added by liners would make the knife's weight comparable to a Delica 4 or a Mini-Grip. I carry both regularly and will NOT take the clips off. Anyway, the Caly Jr. blade profile is not suitable for "hard use," so any extra stability from liners would be utterly wasted. (And yeah, I'm saving for a Caly3 ZDP/CF as well...)
 
spinynorman said:
I'm really glad that the original Caly Jr. ZDP was linerless. I took the clip off and it's *extremely* light, disappears in the pocket. The extra weight added by liners would make the knife's weight comparable to a Delica 4 or a Mini-Grip. I carry both regularly and will NOT take the clips off. Anyway, the Caly Jr. blade profile is not suitable for "hard use," so any extra stability from liners would be utterly wasted. (And yeah, I'm saving for a Caly3 ZDP/CF as well...)
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"extra stability from liners would be utterly wasted" I thought stability was a good thing.
 
coop1957 said:
"extra stability from liners would be utterly wasted" I thought stability was a good thing.
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I don't think anyone disagrees that stability is good, but I agree that liners in a light duty knife like this is unnecessary and will add weight. One thing I LOVE about the Caly Jr is that it is so light.
 
ehhh said:
I don't think anyone disagrees that stability is good, but I agree that liners in a light duty knife like this is unnecessary and will add weight. One thing I LOVE about the Caly Jr is that it is so light.
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You are right. Thank goodness there is a company like Spyderco that can offer so many options and keep us knifenuts happy and broke.
 
My new Caly Jr. is toothy in some areas but cuts clean overall. The lock is snappier than my Delica and I find the grip more comfortable than the Delica and Native. I would like it tip up carry as well.
 
"extra stability from liners would be utterly wasted" I thought stability was a good thing.
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Anything that does not add, detracts. (You could clamp all of your blades in a heavy bench vice for ultimate stability... but would that improve usability?)
 
spinynorman said:
Anything that does not add, detracts. (You could clamp all of your blades in a heavy bench vice for ultimate stability... but would that improve usability?)
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Help me out here. Are you trying to say that liners add nothing?
 
coop1957 said:
Help me out here. Are you trying to say that liners add nothing?
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I think his thought there were that liners would not add anything to that particular design in his opinion. He carries the Caly Jr so that he can have a lightweight knife that disappears in his pocket due to the lightweight but is always there to handle the difficult cutting jobs. Have to say that I do agree with him on this point. If you want an FRN handle w/liners and a ZDP blade go and get yourself the Delica 4 ZDP. If you want an extremely lightweight pocket knife with ZDP get the Caly Jr.
 
MaxFisher said:
I think his thought there were that liners would not add anything to that particular design in his opinion. He carries the Caly Jr so that he can have a lightweight knife that disappears in his pocket due to the lightweight but is always there to handle the difficult cutting jobs. Have to say that I do agree with him on this point. If you want an FRN handle w/liners and a ZDP blade go and get yourself the Delica 4 ZDP. If you want an extremely lightweight pocket knife with ZDP get the Caly Jr.
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Max,

Delica 4 and Caly 3 are really two quite different knives.

Old Delica (hollow grind) and Caly 3 would be more appropriate for your suggestion.

I would be much more happy if CF Caly 3 (with huge MSRP) had torx screws (as Delica), and not rivets.

Franco
 
Again, I am glad that there is a company like Spyderco that has a multitude of options that will fit nearly every need. It is my personal opinion that liners do add a certain degree of strength to a FRN knife. I have both types of folding knives and the liners just seem a bit stronger.
 
Um, have you *broken* an FRN knife? The Caly 3 blade is a thin enough grind that you'd almost certainly break the blade (at least the tip) and damage the edge pretty horribly before you'd even come close to breaking the FRN. Putting liners on this knife would be soething like taking the leaf springs off of an F100 and putting them on a Ducati.
 
Don't change anything. I received mine today. The edge frightens me. I'm happy to own a pair of knitted kevlar gloves.
Any feedback about woodcutting ? I plan to twin it to a Fallkniven F1 in my hike gear. Thanks.

dantzk.
 
I think the point is that adding strength to the handle is useless when the blade is thin and more delicate than a saber ground with a heavier tip. I wouldn't want a solid steel handle on a feather duster.
 
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