Help on 2 Spyderco Purchases.

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Well, I am the proud owner of a 204 sharpmaker and a Ladybug which goes everywhere with me and I have found extremely useful.

I am now looking to purchase 2 larger models and would like some help picking them out.

I would like one with a spyderedge (possibly with a curved blade like the harpy or matriarch) and a plainedge model. They would both have to be reasonably lightweight and stand up to field use. For the plainedge I would prefer a blade length of 3" or less, so probably the delica, calypso Jr., dragonfly or standard.

What do you reckon would be my best choices?

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Andy
 
The Sharpmaker will turn out to be the best investment you could have made.

Which knife is a lot harder, a lot more subjective. All of the choices you have listed are good ones, you are going to have handle the knives if possible and decide which you like best.

Now, rather than pick one from your list, I am going to add two to it. First is the Native. Just a whisker over 3" depending on how you measure the blade, but by all accounts a wonderful knife. The second is the Wegner Junior. No longer in production, but they are still out there if you look a little.

Good luck, and let us know what you pick.


Mike
 
Hi Andy,

Of the knives on your list,I would pick the Calypso Jr.lightweight. The flat ground blade out of VG-10 cut very smooth through a variety of stuff.The lightweight version rides very well in a pair of jeans.IMO this is one knife purchase that you won't regret.

Hope this helps,

Bruceter
 
The Matriarch is not designed nor warranted for "field" or utility use. The Harpy on (or in) the other hand is (or was) designed for that purpose. It and the Calyso Jr ltwt would be xlnt choices.


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Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult
 
So is it the general opinion that the Calypso Jr. in plain edge is a better purchase than the delica or native (both FRN)?

 
Spadeworx,

I have owned a Delica, and when I did it was my only "good" pocket knife, and I carried and used it every day. You really can't go wrong with it, although I prefer the feel of the old-style (molded clip) version.

As for the Native, I have handled one, but I ended up buying an Endura that day. The Native is cool, but I would prefer this design in a G-10 handle with liners. Something also annoys me about the look of it as-is, and I can't quite place it. Maybe the polished clip, maybe the web-design on the handle, maybe the fact that it is just a wee bit "fat" and boxy for a such a small knife, I just don't know.

Now, my current every day carry is the discontinued (boo!) Calypso Jr. in Micarta. I suppose that every good thing that I have to say about this knife applies to the lightweight version also, even though it is FRN-handled... (But then you get better blade steel and right/left reversible clip!)

Of the three knives I prefer the Calypso Jr. design. The flat ground edge is better than hollow for most of the things that I cut. The screwed-in clip design is nicer to me than the "thru-the-lanyard-hole" clip style on the Delica, Endura and Native also. I believe the point of the Calypso to be stronger than the Delica's. My Delica's point was so pointy that I was alway in fear of snapping it off.

PM
 
You can't go wrong with any of them. I'm partial to the Native & Calypso Jr. In my openion serrated edges are the worse thing that has happened to knives. But the Native does well in this regaurd. RKBA!
 
I personally carry my Gunting everyday and love the compression lock and the many options the knife gives me. It's kind of pricey though. The Ayoob, Chinook and Starmate are all real nice too. For the price it's hard to beat a Endura or a Delica... Now that I think about it I don't own a spydie I don't like LOL
 
Another vote for the Calypso Jr. I wasn't sure if I'd like the FRN handle material, but I like everything about the knife. I may just by another couple of them, just in case mine gets lost/stolen/etc...

--Matt
 
For plain edged smallish spydie calypso jr is hard to beat (any small knife has hard time beating it as a user - including my small sebenza). I have bougth wenger, sandard, rookie, natives after my calypso jr (today I have wenger jr in my pocket) but still Calypso jr is my favourite small spyderco (in all flat ground configurations). Large calypso is my favourite spyderco vg-10, flat ground, micarta handles, nice ergonomics...


problems with my browser...


For serrated spyderco harpy/merlin is nice but how much do you cut rope? I don't have many serrated spyders but if I bought one rescues, endura, delica or native would be on top of my list. Although I have sharpmaker and do get my other spydercos sharp I have newer have had luck with my harpy. Serrated hawkbill seems to beat my sharpening abilities :O

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"Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient"
-James Mattis


[This message has been edited by Tommi (edited 03-29-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Tommi (edited 03-29-2001).]
 
ya know i gotta second the gunting for short blade - i am gonna get 1 next month i think - almost got this month but got matriarch instead - and i dont see how or why ya could use harpy for utility and not matriarch - i must be missing something......they look remarakably similar to me.....
 
Vet95LT1, I think it is a matter ot tip strength and the amount of leverage you will exert on the Harpy and Matriarch for utility use. The tip on the Harpy is thicker/stronger than the Matriarch. The Matriarch was never designed for utility use, whereas the Harpy is. At least that's what I've learned from the forums. I don't actually own both models, so YMMV.

Wouter
 
A lot of the knives mentioned will do the jobs you asked. Remember the most important knife to buy is the one that is COMFORTABLE in your hand. It can have the best grind, steel, and scale materials, but if it doesnt fit your hand like a glove, you wont want to carry it. With that, there are a few knives that I enjoy and would like to recommend to you. Most have already been recommended, but perhaps I can help re-affirm their recommendations and your opinions.

For 3" plainedge folder, I think it all depends really on what you want to use it for. For daily utility chores (light/medium/heavy cutting) I recommend these top 3 knives:

Native
-CPM440V blade, holds an edge forever!
-comfortable spyderweb pattern FRN handle with dual finger choils, including one on the blade itself for detailed cutting
-deep carry clip, reversible and easily adjusted
-swedge grind for increased stabbing/plunging cuts (self defense if needed)
-hollow blade grind, with thick blade stock for durability

Calypso Jr. Lightweight
-VG-10 steel. Holds a great edge, very stain resistant
-flat ground all the way to the spine for increased slicing over hollow grind
-unique FRN pattern (fish scales) with finger choil
-reversible clip

--there are 2 schools of thought on which is more comfortable between the Native and Calypso Jr. Ltwt. Personally, I think they are both great in my hand and fit well with how I like to hold them. (pushing the bottom of the handle into my palm). Also, they are nice in reverse grip. (I have medium/large hands)

Delica/Standard
-ATS-55 steel
-standard has g-10 scales, which are a giant improvement, IMHO, and can be had cheaply at smokey mountain knife works http://eknifeworks.com
-comfortable handle
-pocket clip
-hollow grind


As for the spyderedge knife, for daily utility, I dont really advocate the matriarch. I look at that knife more as a self defense/scare the bad dude out of his pants type knife. The harpy comes a little closer for general utility, but personally, I would throw down a nice large serrated Endura or Wegner.

Also, if you want to throw a little self defense into the mix with your plainedge 3" try a Gunting!


hope I could be of service

--defiant
Heading up the SERE support coalition since 2000.

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God made man short and tall.
Samuel Colt made them equal.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">......they look remarakably similar to me..... </font>
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Similar, butt quite different in overall size and length of the tapered tip. The Harpy also has G10 slabs with a full length steel liner and a steel spacer, while the Matriarch has FRN handles with no metal spacers or liners.
The Harpy feels much stronger and more rigid and I use it for tougher tasks (like pruning) than I would subject the Matriarch to. The Matriarch is purpose-built for penetration and slashing and I want it sharp and ready if ever needed so it does not get used for anything else.


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Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult
 
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