Kopa Cocobolo Wood Not Special?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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I've seen a few Kopa trickle out, but the recent pictures don't really come close to the pic in the Spyderco catalog. I was expecting a deep dark rich color almost like rosewood, but what I've seen is much lighter and honey colored.

If you have one, what's your color?
 
i think that you are right..it looks deep red the cocobolo in the spyderco pics but i've seen one on ebay and it looks not so red and more honey like..as long as it has a high gloss i am OK w.it..i would prefer the deep red..i hope that spyderco doesn't start cutting corners..
 
IIRC, the color of the Kopa I handled at NYCKS was fairly close to that of the box for my 25th Ann. Delica which is fairly dark. Don't have one in hand yet, but have two of them on order, from two different sources. With a bit of luck, the one may very well arrive later today. I'll be in a somewhat better position to judge and classify the color then. While the grain of cocobolo seems to always to be quite dark, the primary color does range from a medium honey to a very dark carmel. I tend to judge it more by the figure of the grain than the background color. Cocobolo is very oily. It defies "plastic" finishes and is usually just waxed. For that reason, objects made of it tends to darken with age and handling. So a lighter background, with good figure, might thus be considered superior by some, at least for a "carry" piece.
 
The one I had was a very light color. Unexpected, but very pretty - nicer IMO than the run-of-the-mill cocobolo that you see on everything else. If it weren't for the promise of Evrina for the 3rd Kopa, I'd probably have kept it.
 
Carlos said:
If it weren't for the promise of Evrina for the 3rd Kopa, I'd probably have kept it.
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I have never seen or even heard of Evrina.

-What exactly is it?
-What does it look like?
-What does it feel like?
-Any pictures of knives with Evrina?
 
Evrina is a simulation ivory that was manufactured in Japan, used to good effect by Moki. It doesn't discolour with age like ivory Micarta.
 
Carlos said:
Evrina is a simulation ivory that was manufactured in Japan, used to good effect by Moki. It doesn't discolour with age like ivory Micarta.
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It's interesting that many seem to see that lack of discoloration as a good thing. I seem to be in the minority, but to me the ability to mellow and yellow with age and handling is one of the traits of real ivory most desirable to simulate. Cracks and check I can live without, but the grain, the "patina", and the "feel" are what make ivory attractive. To it's credit, as Linda Karst has already proven, Evrina does scrim well.
 
I thought I saw somewhere that it was suppose to age just like Ivory.
 
My one cocobolo Kopa just arrived from NGK, Color of the wood is kind of light compared with the box for my 25th Anniversary Delica. Judge for yourselves...

kopa3.jpg

size comparison with a Calypso Jr...

kopa2.jpg

and one with a Kiwi...

kopa1.jpg

First impressions, fairly nice knife, but it ain't no Kiwi.
 
Ooooh! awesome! I've been waiting to see some 3rd party pictures of the Kopa! Good job!!!!
 
Thanks, and someone asked for a "top down" shot so I'm attaching one here. Won't win any photo contests, was taken with a desk lamp lamp and flashlight, but it compares the thickeness of the JB Kiwi, Coco Kopa, and FRN Calypso Jr.
 

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Nice pics Paul, thanx much.

The Cocobolo is our first of a long series. The color is lighter than normal Cocobolo. This will contrast better with darker woods later in the series. It is also going to be one of the least expensive.

All in all, it is, IMO, a fine gents folder. It took quite a while to get it right (1.5 years).

High quality construction, fitted curved bolsers, flat ground VG-10, custom dedicated clip, nice enough not to scare NKP's* and elegant enough to avoid embrrassment. It does tend to "grow" on one when carried.

We were showing samples (at the SHOT Show) of Kopa's with apple coral and tiger stripe coral. Quite exquisite.

Since there are only 600 pieces of each variation, I'm sure something will come along to your liking in time.

Each quarter will change. Black micarta is next with ivory Evrina to follow. The "black & white" combination is striking.

Handles like Dino-bone will be later in the series as they take longer to make.

We are currently trying to decide what to do after the Evrina.

sal

* NKP's = Non-knife people. A poster on the British Blade forums suggested that "sheeple" is a disrespectful term for folks that "just don't know better", or are simply afraid of knives.
 
Beautiful Knife, if I can't get my hands on a UK Penknife to EDC I may switch from Delica to Kopa. Any chance of a more mass produced UK Penknife???
 
Thanks a million Paul! The bird's eye shot helps a LOT. Now I must get one, the harder question is which one(s) to get...
 
Slvgx said:
Thanks a million Paul! The bird's eye shot helps a LOT. Now I must get one, the harder question is which one(s) to get...
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Glad to be of help. As for the other, being indecisive by nature, I placed a standing order with NGK for #43 in each and every flavor Sal dreams up as they are released.

Considering Sal's earlier comment here, and the size of my apartment, I may have to build a Kopa cabana to hold them all.
 
Sal Glesser said:
...We were showing samples (at the SHOT Show) of Kopa's with apple coral and tiger stripe coral. Quite exquisite.

* NKP's = Non-knife people. A poster on the British Blade forums suggested that "sheeple" is a disrespectful term for folks that "just don't know better", or are simply afraid of knives.
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Sal, I am waiting for one of the handle materials to come. The Apple Coral would be irresistable.

It is the very nicest Spyderco clip design since the original Jess Horn. Original, crisp and very attractive. Size is great and really cuts down on the larger blade profile of most Spyderco blades.

Also - NPK sounds fine to me - "sheeple" is a bit offensive.
 
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