Modified Spyderco Large Calypso

[Ken C.]

Years ago I was given a pretty beat up Spyderco Large Calypso. It was bad...holes drilled out all over, broken tip, the lanyard hole and tube were missing and enlarged....really bad. It looks as though the original owner tried and failed to convert it to left handed carry. I count 9 holes drilled, 6 of which were filled with what I assume to be JB Weld or some other exopy, 1 seems to have a broken drill bit stuck in it, and 4 unfilled. I revived this POS to what you see below.

1. I reground the tip to a wharny.

2. I ground down the butt to remove the ugly ass lanyard hole.

3. I thinned the handle scales down to smooth out the holes and the epoxy.

3. I redrilled the lanyard hole and chamfered the edge.

It looks a lot better now than when I got it. I still don't know what I'm going to do with the holes. I may add a clip but right now the holes are what I need to fix first.

Any ideas? I do have an inquest into STR regarding replacing the bad scale.

Click the pic to enlarge.

 

[DaveH]

Looks quite good. I say leave the holes, makes it easier to blast dirt out and get oil in.

 

[Ken C.]

The original rightside holes will stay for that exact reason. The other side? I may just drill out more holes to decorate it. We'll see what happens.

 

[Blades]

What about a wood scale on the side with all the holes?? Nothing to fancy, just something nice. It will cover the holes, and give you some more grip.



Blades

 

[Ken C.]

Blades,

I thought about that but I'm thinking more along the lines of a very thin piece of orange G-10. I can secure it on using some screws, tape, or epoxy. From there I may be able to secure a clip.

 

[Slim to None]

The blade shape looks awesome kv, I really like that.

I vote for a nice wood scale to replace the drilled one. Purpleheart, ironwood, bubinga, something to contrast the black.

 

[yablanowitz]

I have had pretty good luck with mixing a drop or two of gloss black model paint with clear epoxy to fill holes like that. It sets up hard and shiny if you do it right.

 

[Ken C.]

I'm thinking if I can get my hands on some micarta rods I may be able to fill the holes using that and epoxy. It should work very well. I have a small jewelers lathe that I could use to size them. I could also exopy in some SS rod and drill and tap them to accept a clip.

Anyone have some 3/32 micarta rod they can spare?

 

[The Deacon]

If you like the look of Carbon Fiber, Dragon Plate makes some very thin CF veneer. Some of it even is even "peel and stick".

 

[Ken C.]

Just picked up some CF rod. I epoxied it into the holes and I'm waiting for it to cure. I also picked up some 2-56 threaded inserts that will fit nicely to attach a clip. All I need now is a Spydie clip and I'll be good to go!

 

[Bungwrench]

That looks really nice. It's like a Calypso Salt. Are those the original black micarta scales?

 

[kgriggs8]

Wow! That breaks my heart. I have a near new one that I carry every once in a great while and it is as gracefull as a knife gets. It is a shame to see that someone decided to mess with such a nice knife. It looks like you were able to breath some life into it and make it look pretty decent. I'll bet it is actually a pretty good user now. It is just too bad that it was abused before you got it.

 

[Ken C.]

Well, the threaded inserts are epoxied up and setting. I used a SS Delica 4 clip as a template for the screw holes. I will have to contact Sal tomorrow to see if I can score a SS D4 clip. So far, so good. It's looking pretty damn nice.

The micarta scales are original.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I got to handle the resurrected knife tonight. It's looking REALLY good, like a completely new Spyderco model. Ken's reshaping of the blade tip and handle look like a factory original design. The blade is a cross between a wharnecliff and a sheepsfoot, very strong.

I'm trying to convince him to name it "The Squid". Coming to a Spydero catalog next year !?!

 

[Ken C.]

The CF has had time to dry as well as the inserts. You can barely see the CF rod in the pic. I will be making a custom clip for it. The Delica clip I attached to it swung too high towards the lock. I have an order in for some Ti clip blanks. I plan on having it follow the curve of the knife.

 

[GarageBoy]

Did someone try to sand out the words "Japan"?