How did the Salsa turn out?

wire edge

wire edge

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A short while back, we were all excited about this new model. So, how did it turn out? I have one ordered, but know nothing about it. Will it definitely have the "Cobra Hood", Compresion Lock, aluminum scales, titanium as an option? What steel was finalized for this project AUS-6, AUS-8, VG-10? I know a lot of the online dealers are advertising pre-orders, but even they don't have pictures, or specs.

Also, am I correct in assuming that this is NOT a MBC item.

Thanks everyone for your help.
 
Michael Dye has them for sale, look on the dealers production section of exchange on BF. I ordered one today, he told me that the steel is AUS-8 and that it has the cobra hood and compression lock. The handles are aluminum and he says the colors are really deep.
 
Originally posted by wire edge
A short while back, we were all excited about this new model. So, how did it turn out? I have one ordered, but know nothing about it. Will it definitely have the "Cobra Hood", Compresion Lock, aluminum scales, titanium as an option? What steel was finalized for this project AUS-6, AUS-8, VG-10? I know a lot of the online dealers are advertising pre-orders, but even they don't have pictures, or specs.

Also, am I correct in assuming that this is NOT a MBC item.

Thanks everyone for your help.
Click to expand...

I can confirm that it is not MBC. Spyderco classifies it as EDC.

There are two basic versions:

Aluminum with AUS-8, and Titanium (integral lock) with ATS-34.

The Aluminum is offered in 3 colours: Blue, Green, and Khaki.

The Titanium is natural ti colour only.

The Aluminum has a reversible (ambi) clip. Titanium is right-hand only.
 
I'm confused, does the AUS-8 model have aluminum scales with a steel compression lock or is it an integral aluminum compression lock?
 
Thanks Anthony Cheeseboro. I ordered one from Michael two days ago. I should have my Salsa by tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it is, when I get it.

I ordered it because I knew it would be excellent. However, I didn't know if any of the specs had changed since the last time we all talked about it.

I'd like to see some good pictures as well!!!!
 
Originally posted by ThinkOfTheChildren
I'm confused, does the AUS-8 model have aluminum scales with a steel compression lock or is it an integral aluminum compression lock?
Click to expand...

The AUS-8 model with aluminum scales has a nested steel compression lock.
 
Hi,
how would you compare an ATS-34/Ti Salsa with an AUS-8/Al one, as far as sturdiness and/or reliability (lock) is concerned? The properties of the steels are known to me.
Regards,

Franco
 
Hi Franco,

At this point it is hard to say without having handled them. The Aluminum version is lighter, but has a steel lock. The ti lock on the other Salsa will be thicker due to the integral design -- so lock strength is probably a dead heat. At a guess, I would give the edge to the Ti Salsa for its simpler construction.
 
I haven't handled the Ti version. But, I must say the aluminum model is very rigid. I have had a fair share of aluminum handled knives that I could flex the by squeezing hard. I am unable to do this with the Salsa. The aluminum handles are substantial, not to mention five (5) points of attachment via screws.

The steel Compression Lock is roughly 3/4 the thickness of a Gunting, but it is rock solid. The Ti's frame lock version might have an advantage. But don't quote me on that.

Having showed mine to several people at a Gun and Knife show today, I would guess that the Salsa will be a big hit. Everybody seemed to like it, wives especially. It must be those pretty handles!!!
 
I got my Salsa today from NewGraham and I'm very impressed with this knife. The aluminum finish strikes me as a very strong, a heck of alot tougher than the finish on the Lum Chinese, for example. Spyderco must have applied some its MBC concepts to this knife because it has a great hand filling feel for such a small knife ( just a hair under 6" OAL). This is primarily accomplished by making the knife wide. Instead of the petite feel of the Dyad jr. this knife does not feel much smaller than the Calypso jr. or the old Spyderco Standard. I'm really impressed with this design. It's a step up from the Spyderco sub 2" models like the Navigator or Co-Pilot. (I guess I could put the Meerkat in this category also, but it is awfully cool.)
In a world where larger knives are getting harder to carry, I'm glad to see a really beefy small knife being made by Spyderco.

Finally, who made this knife for Spyderco? I see it was made in Taiwan. Sal, did you use CRKT's contractors? The quality of this knife is easily as good as that of the Seiki City people.
 
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