Help me decide: Calypso jr Micarta or steel

C

Costas

Joined
Feb 22, 1999
Messages
485
If I'm correct, micarta handle goes with flat ground blade and steel with hollow ground, is that so?
For a utility blade without serrations, which one should I choose?
 
Micarta. Trust me, you will love it. Micarta is both strong and light -- and it looks very classy to boot. The flat ground blade is thin and is one of the best slicers I own. The handle ergonomics are equally impressive with the choil and front end of the handle forming a convenient index finder rest a la the Dragonfly.

Honestly, I can't think of a better knife for the money. Mine is in my pocket right now. I am uncharacteristically wearing a suit today, and the Calypso, Jr goes perfectly with it.

My only nitpick with the Calypso Jr is that the blade steel is AUS-8. If it were upgraded to VG-10, I think it would be close to the perfect folder.



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Clay Fleischer
cdfleischer@yahoo.com

Knives are for usin' -- Pictures are for looking at...

 
I agree Clay, the micarta with the flat grind would be best, also agree that they should bump up the steel on this to VG10 like it's big brother, which I bought and love. When I first saw the Jr. I wanted it but held back because of the steel, not that it is a bad steel, just that as I gather more and more knives, the steel I want needs to be of a higher grade or why bother?

I also use my knives, I had two of the bigger Calypso's and traded one for a Howard Viele because I liked the style of that knife and wanted one with serrations, I'd of liked it better with 440V or something else, but it still sharpens up razor sharp.

My .02
G2



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When a fellow says, "it ain't the money but the principle of the thing,"
it's the money.
F. McKinney Hubbard

meltingpot.fortunecity.com/haiti/688


 
For pure cutting performance, go with the flat-ground blade, regardless of handle material. I have the Micarta Calypso Jr., and I love it. The handle is classy looking and more than strong enough for a folding knife of this size.

David Rock
 
Oh, and a comment on the use of AUS-8 steel in the Calypso Jr:

The edge on the Calpyso Jr. BM is nice and thin. If you sharpen the AUS-8 steel thin it cuts very well for quite a long time, even after the sharpest portion of its edge has worn down a bit. I spent some time whittling a hard stick the other day, and I was surprised at how efficiently this knife cuts, even after it gets a bit dull. In other words, don't worry about the AUS-8. It gives you a good edge that is easy to maintain, and a fairly high degree of corrosion resistance. Performance-wise, what the Calpyso Jr. BM lacks in terms of edge retention, it makes up for in edge geometry.

David Rock
 
I picked the steel handle version. The hollow grind also makes for a scary sharp blade and the steel handle can take a lot of abuse. I carry it in the same pocket with my keys and you should see how scratched even the steel gets over time. The weigth is still not too bad, since the handle is fairly short.

But I'm still considering getting the Micarta version. Maybe the big one...? The VG-10 is tempting.
 
I have a Calypso Jr winging it's way ato me currently.

And Sal said that the AUS-8 has a really fine grain structure which gives itthe good performance.

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I'm with these guys, for pretty much the same reasons. I think I did a full review on the Calypso Jr., check the old posts on the Knife Reviews forum on Knifeforums.

Most of the really positive reviews you see on the Calypso's (& Jr.'s) performance are done with the flat grind, which has some nice performance characteristics. That means the micarta version!

I'll second David Rock's comments on the steel. This isn't the best edge-holding steel in the world, but the edge geometry is so outstanding, it keeps cutting nicely for a long time.
 
Micarta, is so confortable, feels real good in the hand.
Stainless steel, not as soft, not as rounded, not as smooth.
With that flat grind on the Micarta, even opening a letter takes on a new meaning...
 
Micarta definitely! I've had a chance to use both the steel and micarta Calypso Jrs. and have discovered that the micarta one is more comfortable in the grasp because of the rounded edges. And the flat grind makes for a blade that'll cut like the dickens. Flat grind and micarta - my idea of a perfect mid size folder!

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Dexter Ewing
Knife Reviews Moderator

"The keystroke is mightier than the sword"

 
I would pick the Mycarta flat-ground version anyday. Mine is perhaps the smoothest cutting blade of all my knives. The Micarta is light, comfy, and surprisingly tough as well. I feel it is the overall shape and wide flat grind that makes this knife outstanding. Jim
 
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