Jot Khalsa>>what gives?

J

JD Spydo

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Undoubtedly one of the most overlooked Spyderco Classics of all time is the C-40 Jot Khalsa. I started collecting Spydercos about the time the Jot Khalsa was introduced. I still even have the old issue of Tactical knives magazine announcing it's introduction ( Sept 1998). The combination of the blade geometry and handle configuration put it at the top of Spyders out of that era.

I would love to see this knife make a comeback and have it with a compression lock, ZDP-189 blade steel ( or some very exotic steel) and any other modifications to make this knife appeal to collectors/afficionados/users of this era. It's really funny that most collectors I know that have a Jot Khalsa won't depart with it and speak highly of it. But yet for some mysterious reason it doesn't get the fanfare that so many out of that era did get. But when one does go up on Ebay it doesn't go cheap. It is really hard to find one to buy or trade on short notice.

My question is: What gives? and what would you change about the knife if you could? And if it were to come back what modifications would you desire?
 
I would change the liner lock to either a compression lock or a back lock. Reduce the height of the hump a small bit. Finally, update the blade steel.
 
I had one, it was very comfortable in the hand, very wide in the pocket which is why I sold it off.
 
i had one and due to the hump it would start opening up in your pocket, actually it was my first tac knife and it almost soured me on spydies, i did not like it at all.

the only pro imho is that even 5 yrs ago it was kinda scarce and i swapped it for a BM prototype which i thought at the time was really worth something lol, though it wasnt i still liked it lots better than that khalsa.

of all the disco'd spydies thats the last one i would re-intro myself.
 
This really amazes me. Until I posted this thread I think I only encountered one collector/user who just didn't like the Khalsa. Now they are coming out of the woodwork. Now I know we all aren't going to like the same models no matter what. AS much as I like Spyderco's stuff I will admit there are 4 models I would never own. But with that being said I still don't think you can say that the Jot Khalsa was not a quality built model.

This only proves to me how misunderstood the Khalsa was>> but on the other hand it shows me that a RE-INTRODUCTION model would be much more desirable with modifications. This ought to be a thread for suggestions of such modifications
 
the first mod i would think about would be a stronger detent so it wont open up so easy in your pocket, the hump is the prob though imho, when i carried mine in my RF pocket i would reach in for keys/etc and when i would withdraw my hand the knife would start to open up, the gunting does the same thing unless the pivots real tight, i just dont like to have the pivot so tight.

FWIW i think its a cool looking little knife, i wouldnt wanna edc one though.
 
IIRC they also had alot of problems with the locks.
Last ones I saw was 2 at a gun show.Thought about getting one as the asking price was 50.00 each but both had excess lock travel and a good bit of blade play.
 
The original Jot had multiple lock problems and clip problems related to both knife design and execution. Besides this, the design was not popular and the knives didn't sell. Spyderco dumped them at the end of the run and Smokey Mtn had them on $45 closeout for about a 1/2 year. The gun show crowd had them at about 55-70 for years. Recently, I've seen two NIB in the last year in stores for MSRP. The only one I looked at had liner lock problems.
 
Hi Brownshoe,

Your knowledge of Spyderco's product history never ceases to amaze me. There must still be some interest, despite prior disapointments.

Perhaps if we do an "improved" sprint run, I could offer one to you, to replace the one you currently have that was not up to our normal standards?

As far as the Khalsa,

So far we've got;

high line
slightly larger
exotic steel (ZDP or damascus VG-10)
Compression lock
Exotic handle material

?

sal
 
Mr Glesser, you missed the clip problems that Brownshoe was pointing out :)

I have never had any Lock failures on my Jot Singh Khalsa nor any clip issues. Granted I have never used the knife hard or had the clip snag on anything while in my pocket. I do agree that it was not a popular knife at it's release for the mainstream knife users. It is starting to see some increase in popularity in the collecter market.
 
I really like mine and see no QA/QC problems whatsoever. It's a very unique model and way ahead of it's time in my opinion from an ergonomics and ease of use perspective.
 
Hi Halfneck,

Brownshoe is correct in that we did have clip and lock problems with the first run. That's one of the reasons I'm considering a remake.

We were working with a new maker. Back in the early days, we worked with most of the makers in Seki to determine who had what skills and meet our demands. This maker had difficulty with the model.

A new run would give the model a fresh memory. Made more in the Jot Khalsa style, which is very beautifully high-line. As a sprint run, there would be limited production, known from the outset.

sal
 
Well if you remake it, I will buy it.

Just hope it's a ways off so I can get the $$$ together.
 
The Jot Khalsa is one of the few models that I have bought that so unimpressed me that I never bothered to buy multiples of it. A "Jot Khalsa!, New and Improved, High Line edition!" would be very welcome on my doorstep (where the browntruck leaves my knife packages).
 
Thanks for the offer Sal. I'd love to have a new Jot. That's why the few times I see them, if its a good specimen, I try to talk the price down to less than 100. As a gift, I believe in the old adage, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth", so there would only be positive remarks from this corner. My only suggestions for a new Jot would be to keep the distinctive handle shape, so indicative of the designer and keep the handle material the smooth micarta.
 
I'd like to see it with some the material that Jot really uses on his knives. Perhaps a bit of stone somewhere on the handle!
 
hmm, I got rid of my Jot because it was too wide to EDC comfortably. My suggestion would be to slim it down.
 
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