Got the "R" in today...

[EZ Bake]

And it's awesome.

None of the pics I've seen online do it any justice at all.

It is a very good bargain for the price and if you have any doubts, you should toss those aside and pick one up (keep in mind, it's a Sprint run and won't be around forever). My only complaint would be that it might be a little too large for me (and only because it fits into "dress" or "classy" knives by my taste - and I usually prefer those to be a bit smaller). This is a big knife. It has a lot more blade-to-handle ratio than the majority of Spydies (a bit more blade length than the Para-2, but less handle).

Scales were beautiful indoors, but then I took them outside and looked at them in the sun... Holy crap there is some pretty 3D detail underneath that glassy finish.

I'll say this though - it needs an uncoated matte clip badly (IMHO).


Here's pics. I'm still not capturing the overall look of the scales (part of that is because my greasy fingerprints are all over it).

Tried to get some different angles here (but the camera just doesn't pick up how cool these things look - the videos I've seen on Youtube show it much better when it's moving and the light reveals all of that detail).

 

[RickJ]

I would love to have a Military with that handle material, hint! hint! Great lookin knife, you have there. Congrats!

 

[TaTaToothy]

Looks awesome. I just wish they could give it something like the CF twill finish that would provide more grip. It looks so slippery . . .

 

[SCREEM]

it's different, high thumb ramp and deep choil, usually don't see that....nice

 

[eloreno]

I like this knife quite a bit. Mine was a little stiff, and a little gritty at first, but a little washing and some break in time, and it's much better now.

Size comparison pic:

 

[Cynic2701]

Interestingly, with leather gloves on I get a lot of traction.

 

[arrowhd]

Never heard of this model. Interesting handle design. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[EZ Bake]

I used to be worried about slick scales, but it doesn't really bother me anymore (especially on a gentleman's knife).

The locking finger on the lockbar is a little longer than any of my other lock-back Spydercos, but to be fair - it is the largest lock-back I own (I don't have a Police or Endura to compare it to). When this thing engages, it makes a big fat "SNAP" and you know it's locked. It also requires you to push the lock-bar a tad further down than some of my other lock-backs before it disengages (and the spring is more than stiff enough to let you know it's got good tension).

I don't know if this is typical of larger lock-backs, but it would make sense to have a lock that's built a bit more stout since it is a larger knife. It's definitely not a bad thing, but it's just a little surprising how "over-built" it is - especially for being a very slim fancied up Sprint-run knife. The liners are almost as thick as those on my Superleaf. The blade-stock is a tad thinner than that of the Para-2's (which I think is 3mm, so the R is probably at 2-2.5mm? - man I need some calipers) so overall, its absolutely perfect for a large slicer, but being that it's a gorgeous Sprint-run that I can't just go out and replace in a few years, I'm hesitant to use it like it should be used (and I'm trying not to have any shelf-knives anymore).

I fear that I may not keep this one for that reason. It is absolutely perfect for me in almost every way other than it contradicts my norm for a pretty knife. I don't have any large Gentleman's knives (my biggest "fancy" Spyderco is probably my Sage) as I don't normally carry a larger knife when wearing nicer clothes.

I sold my CF Stretch for this same reason (but in reality, I sort miss it). This R fits my hand more perfectly than just about any other Spyderco.


Hmmm - Decisions... Decisions.

 

[Cynic2701]

Para2's are 3.5 mm. Unless I'm mistaken, the R Nishijin uses 3mm blade stock. One thing that is interesting about the R is that the blade is very wide--as wide as the blade on a Military (which is 4mm thick), while being 1 mm thinner. This makes the R an excellent slicer when shallow bevels are put on it.

I agree EZ Bake; the R Nishijin might become my favorite EDC Spyderco. For the time being, at least, it's kicked my Super Blue Caly 3.5 out of my rotation.

 

[JD Spydo]

Never heard of this model. Interesting handle design. Thanks for sharing the photos.

The old original "R" model had a skeletonized blade and in my opinion is one of the most beautiful Spyders ever made. However I do like the style and proportion of this newer one and I do love the handle on this newer one as well. The older "R" also had a skeletonized handle to match made of anodized aircraft aluminum and it truly has become one of Spyderco's most envied collectibles.

This newer "R" model is so very well proportioned and the blade geometry just says "Spyderco" through and through. This would also be a dandy model to do with one of the Super-Steels. This "R" model would also be a great candidate for a Titanium handle as well IMO. I also use to have a "user" of the original in full Spyderedge and it was a great SE user as well.

I think this knife was truly made to have some type of a metal handle if you ask me.

 

[EZ Bake]

Para2's are 3.5 mm. Unless I'm mistaken, the R Nishijin uses 3mm blade stock. One thing that is interesting about the R is that the blade is very wide--as wide as the blade on a Military (which is 4mm thick), while being 1 mm thinner. This makes the R an excellent slicer when shallow bevels are put on it.

I agree EZ Bake; the R Nishijin might become my favorite EDC Spyderco. For the time being, at least, it's kicked my Super Blue Caly 3.5 out of my rotation.

Hahaha - yeah man, this knife made me go out and buy a set of Digital Calipers (well, I've been looking for an excuse anyways) and the R is right at 3mm where as my Para-2 is just about at 3.69 at the top of the Spyder-hole (and my Super-leaf is at almost exactly 4mm).

Since I had calipers and was curious, the Spyder-hole on the Para-2 is 14.5mm, where as the Super-leaf is only 14mm, and the R is 12.75mm

And that's crazy that I was just thinking that this is basically what I sort of always figured that the Caly 3.5 should have been (classy as the Caly 3 CF, but better built, and with a proper choil/thumb-ramp ratio).

 

[jsp]

I got mine about a week and a half ago. Gotta say, it's one of my nicest folders.
Here's some pics......

Here it is next to a Caly 3 CF. Love the "R" much better.

Here are some close-up shots using a 15x light loupe at different angles.

Close up

15x magnification

And of course, familian Spyderco. So far.