My New Massad Ayoob Defensive Folder

misque

misque

Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Messages
3,316
Here is a folder that is ugly, comfortable to hold and brilliant all in one package.
When the lockback folder is open, it has the curving shape of a banana and the handle's curve fits the hand quite nicely Thank-You-Very-Much! The blade has an almost brutal forward cant reminiscent of a Khukri. The blade itself looks like it escaped from the Spyderco "Catcherman" fillet folder but, at approx. 1/8" thick, it does not have the flex that a fillet blade has. The VG10 blade is 3 3/4" long, the handle is 5" long and, when folded, it makes for a relatively slim and compact package easily clipped to the pocket. Handles are black Aluminium, with double steel spacers, it is equipped with a black, tip down clip, and it rides fairly low in the pocket. The clip also has a right or left hand carry option.
I went into Ruff's Saddle Shop to browse and talk knives, so when I asked Frank "Soooo, What's new?" He walked over to the display case and pulled out this bizzarely curvey folder, handed it to me and I instantly knew this was gonna cost me, because I fell for it right away. You have to hold this baby to really appreciate what it has to offer. The radical forward cant makes using this knife a joy for me. Cuts are easier to make. They feel more, "natural", if you will. Your not bending your wrist to make a cut as much as you would with a normally set up kind of knife.
The defensive possibilities of this knife are scary. It should be a brutally effective slashing type of defense knife and it is, for me at least, a very accurate stabber. It feels as good in a reverse (ice pick) type of grip as it does when you hold it in a hammer grip.
I like this rascal A LOT!
Thanks Sal!
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I have just one question to ask....
are those three numbers followed by the capital V a serial number?

BTW, my apologies for not posting a pic of the knife. I do not have scanner capability yet.
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu

[This message has been edited by misque (edited 02-09-2001).]
 
I received mine last week and the jury is still out. It may be just a bit too "purpose built" for me to carry it much.

I think the handle slabs are micarta, which I like very much.

The "V" designation is given when a Collectors' Club member orders a variation on a knife. CC knives come combo edged by default, fully serrated if there is no combo, or plain if there is no Spyder Edge version at all. If the collector wishes to receive any of the other variations available (I'm guessing yours is plain edged), the knife is engraved with the collector's number, followed by the "V".
 
BTTT. Can anyone else comment on how they feel about their new Ayoob??? I just handled one at my local knife shop...very interesting knife. The pictures don't do this knife justice, it feels great in the hand. Now I have to decide between the Ayoob and the new Viele.

T
 
I love my mine!!! The handle is a little slipery but really nice looking. I have the partially serrated one and it is one hell of a slasher. I haven't had the chance to test it yet but it looks like it will really perform best when thrusting. One of the nicer lock backs I have come across. It has a bit of a ramp around the opening whole, nothing like the Gunting but I think it will tomahawk nicely!!! I have also played around a bit with the horns on the top and the botttom and while not as pronounced as the Gunting's they still hurt like hell if applied right. Another big plus is you can flip the clip to the other side and have a left handed version too. Those of you that shoot handguns will find the handle very similar to a semi auto. I really liked it when I first got it, and the more I play with it the more it has grown on me....
 
I don't think it's ugly.
Mine is really pretty.
A little slippery compared to the G-10 handles but really sexy !

cheers,

JM
 
Guys,
I just went and bought one on an impulse. I took Mas' course way back in '85. Was quite the course, really sobered me up regarding guns. I figure this would be a great buy since Massod thinks about this stuff 24/7. I should get it next week, will let you know what I think.

------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
Hello,

Really the Ayoob is an excellent knife who desserve a lot of attention !

I have mounted the clip on the other side of the handle and now I can really grab the knife and open it with my ring finger to have it in reverse grip or handle in front to present it !
Really grooovy !
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The pointy blade shape is really good for utility chores involving deep piercing ... with handle angle the strenght you can give to a thrust is incredible.
And VG-10 take and keep its lightsaber edge.

And despite my thick silver heirloom ring there is no marks left on the handle...

I am simply in love now. AaaaAArgh !!! Not again !
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cheers,

JM
 
misque,

Congrats on the new blade.

I'm extremely jealous that you live near Frank Ruff's Saddle Shop. He's a standup guy with good prices. I've probably order 5 or 6 Spydercos from him as well as my Sharpmaker.

I'd like to see a pic of this knife. Anyone?



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Guyon
AKTI Member #A001044

"The hardest knife ill used doth lose his edge."
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 95
 
Guyon,
biggrin.gif

Frank is a pleasure to do business with. I wish all knifenuts had access to a shop like Ruff's in their neck of the woods. IMO, they are that good!


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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
Seems to be very limited interest in this knife.
I really believe if more Spyder-fans took hold of this folder, there would be a Helluva lot more reading and info to be found on this knife in the Spyderco Forum.
If you haven't held one, go check one out. You may be quite surprised at what your initial impressions might be in regards to the Massad Ayoob/Spyderco folder.

I remain, one perplexed misque.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
A quick scan for reference...

Spyderco_Masad_ayoob_copy.jpg



larry@bladeart.com



[This message has been edited by chess (edited 02-25-2001).]
 
Hi guys!

I just have to share this info with you. I received the Ayoob for about 2 weeks ago and the first thing that happened was me dropping it on the floor making a mark on the Almite surface of the front scale
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So I thought what the ... and started to use this one. So far I have been slicing food like bread, sausage and vegies. I also cut some chickens in half.

But the most radical usage I exposed this knife to was in connection to a fishing trip. I caught a cod and 1) cut of all the fens and the head 2) opened the belly and took out stomach and guts 3) cut out two fillets (nice and clean).

The knife works exceptionally well!! It is now my "fishing buddy" as well as a EDC knife (one of them).

Have a knife´s day!
 
Damn shame that does not have the new Compression Lock.

I think that alot of criticisms about lockback knives with regard to thrusting has been written about. The lock can disengage, has anyone thrusted into a medium to semi-hard target with this knife?

Like, very dense packing foam that is duct taped tightly???

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"You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." ~Jeff Cooper
And the same goes for a knife...
And, I'm a Usual Suspect.
 
Does anyone know the purpose of the "big head" (where the serial no. appears)? Although it looks like it could have been streamlined in this area, it appears to be intentionally designed that way (ala Gunting?). Massaad researches his designs extensively so I'm sure it's a "form follows function" thing. Although unconventional in design, I think that there is much to like about this knife once we learn of the designer's intentions.
 
I just picked up a Catcherman last night and was thinking that the only thing that could keep it from being a supreme tactical knife might be the thin blade.

Then I saw your picture.

I opened my C'man up 'til it matched the angle in your picture, adjusted for handle differences, and then started saving up for my next Spydie!

Gads!! Are those Spydiefolk talented or what?

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All you need is love... a sharp blade and a full clip
 
Got the Ayoob today...finally. Took forever to get here.

This knife will grow on folks who get it. My initial impression is that this is a bad a$$ slasher. The spydie hold isn't as smooth as some other spydies but the knife feels good to hold in the hand. Action is smooth and your wrist stays straight when using it to cut. I like the smooth feel of the Almite scales.

Will report more later after I give this baby a whirl or two.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
And it is sharp as Hell!!! cut me yesterday while cleaning it..Probabbly needs a stich but I hate getting stiches..LOL Had to many allready ...LOL
 
HolyMoly, two "must have" accessories for Sypderco knives are 1) a Sharpmaker to keep a sharp edge and 2) a do-it-yourself suture kit to fix-up mishaps.
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Have knowledge, will share.

Mas does not draw his designs, so the development of a design with Mas is based on a back and forth communication. "Start with a comibination of the catcherman and the Wegner and bend it this way, etc". Then drawings are initiated in our R & D dept and sent to him, which he modifies, sends back and the proces is repeated until a final design is reached.

Toothed, the forward cant eliminated the thumb rest provided by the hump behind the hole. This is a significant functional feature in saber grip and needd to be added. The "woodpecker" head was the result of this function.

Chess. Thanx for the pic.

My approach to collaborations has always been; to provide an opportunity for a knife designer to see his design in production and provide the ELU with all of the possible varieties.

All good, just diffferent.

sal
 
Sal, thanks for the information. I'm glad you're the one that first used the "woodpecker" head description--that was my first impression of the blade design but I was reluctant to mention it since I didn't know how the Mas fans would react to a novice (like me) making such a statement.

Your comments continue to support the fact that Spyderco has some talented people designing and making fantastic knives.

I purchased an Ayoob as a collection piece for its unusual design but found that it is not a limited use knife. It is a slim, lightweight, and highly ergonomic knife that can be used effectively as a utility cutter if desired.
 
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