New Hybrid Viper EO Teardrop

[draggat]

USPS finally got it together and my package arrived safe and sound yesterday.

I think there’s a misconception of the mechanics of this knife. It’s not a slipjoint and any comparison to a slipjoint makes it seem like it comes up short. It’s really just a friction folder with the added strength of a pair of detent balls.

I agree with jrawk A clip probably wouldn’t work on this and I believe Mike already said no to those earlier in the thread. Personally, I like the spear. If I could change one thing, I would say lose the half stop detent. It seems a bit pointless, although I understand the aesthetic value.

One thing that really stands out with this knife is that there are no sharp edges, except the cutting edge of the blade. The liners are rounded, the blade spine is crowned, the edges of the handles are all rounded and smooth. The satin finish of the carbon fiber and the polished finish of the bocote are outstanding and both feel great in hand. In fact, I greatly prefer that both handles are finished as they are. The satin cf just seems to melt in your hand.

knifeswapper if you do another run of these, please offer them in buffalo horn! I would have to get a blond and dark version....

I took a few shots with an 85 for comparison. The Viper blade is actually a bit pointier than the 85’s. I like the thickness of the handle. I didn’t pull out my calipers but it’s about the same thickness as a 2 blade 85.

 

[kaput]

Mine arrived yesterday and i am very impressed with the quality, this is very much a modern knife styled after a traditional. Don't expect a firm snap since there is no backspring but I love that it has a halfstop. I can understand if you don't want to stray to far from the porch to purchase one of these, but know they did a excellent job.

It still looks peculiar the angle which the blade is half stopped in relation to the end of the blade... it's as if it doesn't pivot on the end.

My natural canvas was waiting for me after a long day and made for a nice ending
Solid, centered and RAZOR sharp
I look forward to the Micarta covers darkening with use and age

Shown with another modern traditional.

I like that natural just like that!! Too bad you couldn't freeze the coloring and wear just like that.

 

[kaput]

@Collector Knives

Is this looking like it is going to be a knife produced in runs again, like the Roundhead? Or is this a single run? Thanks

Looks to be popular, I hope you continue with them. Homerun in my opinion!

 

[knifeswapper]

@Collector Knives

Is this looking like it is going to be a knife produced in runs again, like the Roundhead? Or is this a single run? Thanks

Looks to be popular, I hope you continue with them. Homerun in my opinion!

Undetermined. You can't really tell until people have a couple weeks with them.

 

[JustinR]

Got mine in bocote on Friday. Wicked sharp, love the higher end bladesteels you have commissioned in the last several euro made knives. Nice to see in a "production" knife that doesn't have a custom price.

I'm not sure of the technical feasibility of a shadow pattern in stag or horn, but I'd sure like to see you try if you do another run.

Peraonally, I like the mechanism.

 

[PirateSeulb]

Undetermined. You can't really tell until people have a couple weeks with them.

I feel like even the Roundhead wasn't a clear winner out of the gate, might have had a better start then this knife, but it was how impressed people were with them that fueled the fire behind them.

 

[JTB_5]

If I was buying I’d buy this knife. The blade steel is awesome and the modern features don’t, in my opinion, disrespect traditional knives.

 

[Stammoss]

Since Collectorknives asked me on Instagram how I like the knife, might as well post my findings here:

I like it a lot! Super steel, voidless carbon fibre, everything is nicely rounded, Only the blade is sharp, already cut myself. Like the detent system (do hope that the detentballs stay in over time), smooth opening and closing, no snap like on a slipjoint. Maybe expected it to be lighter because there is no backspacer and full CF handle. But it weighs about the same as the Lionsteel Roundhead which has titanium bolsters. Maybe some milling on the liners to make it lighter? Like the lanyard hole and that there is no exposed back of the blade (like on the roundhead). Overall it makes for a very nice knife to use and it is also very aesthetically pleasing to look at. Tiny thing that could be improved is the minimal space between the liners and the handle, tiny specks of dust seem to get in there. Might get another one if there is a second run with a different handle.

Very pleased that Collectorknives works together with knife companies to bring us these 'modern traditionals'. Looking forward to see more knives like this in the future!

 

[RobertK]

Man, I am loving this knife. And FWIW the grind is amazing. Cut an apple this morning and it slices like a kitchen knife. So thin.

I’m liking this more each day.

 

[kaput]

Man, I am loving this knife. And FWIW the grind is amazing. Cut an apple this morning and it slices like a kitchen knife. So thin.

I’m liking this more each day.

Agree. I cannot wait to receive mine in Burl!!

 

[HST]

This knife has been cutting all week. It push cuts through cardboard boxes from Costco. It’s thick corrugated paper to say the least.

It still shaves my leg hair. It will still slice paper like a razor. I really like the grind now, even more. It’s a workhorse of a pocket knife. The extra belly on the blade gives it a real advantage for cutting tasks. I have used it in suburbia daily and it’s not wavering one bit. This weekend, it gets a track day.

I’m really impressed with this knife. I waffled at it for less than 24 hrs. By the end of that I was sold...again, I guess.

I really urge you all to try this knife. It’s my favorite of the Italian CK SFOs.

 

[kaput]

I absoloutley love this knife. I think it is just about perfect! It is simply amazing!

Thank you for making these Viper Knives and @collectorknives you hit it out of the park. I hope these become a constant success for you, people should own these!

 

[Will Power]

kaput That's the knife I want and need But as I'm in Europe they're probably all spoken for, tragedy

 

[jprime84]

I'm really thrilled with this one. I did figure out more about how the pivot worked after I recorded the video, but I had to get a flashlight in there to see the springs cut into the liners. Super cool.

 

[gaj999]

I couldn't carry mine for a week because of a trip, but I'm back now and loving this knife. I put my usual 10dps bevel on it with a 15dps microbevel and it's hair-popping sharp. The grind is nice and thin, so even without the reprofiling, this knife really cuts. It carries small. Some 4" traditionals can be bricks. This one disappears into my pocket due to the nice shape and light weight. Home run for sure.

 

[kaput]

I'm really thrilled with this one. I did figure out more about how the pivot worked after I recorded the video, but I had to get a flashlight in there to see the springs cut into the liners. Super cool.

Great review! Thanks for taking the time to do that. It really is a unique and intriguing knife they melded new and old together.

 

[jrawk]

Have been carrying mine a bunch. It's fantastic. I will, however, admit i almost had an accident. I was cutting through a cardboard box, but not slicing all the way through on purpose. The blade detent system would not hold open when backing out the blade through the cuts because the unswedged part of the spine was biting into the cardboard.

Two suggestions for improvement on the next run:

1) Continue the swedge all the way back to the top of the plunge grind.
2) Lose the lanyard tube to make room for a fat wharncliffe blade

 

[Jody744]

I just got mine in bocote, great knife!

 

[kaput]

Love the feel of this knife! And styling too!

 

[spyderg]

Just got mine, (thanks to a new friend as I’m in Canada and for some reason CK won’t ship here). Kinda surprised there’s not more talk about it, I guess everyone’s waiting till after they’ve carried it a bit before passing judgement.

I got the bocote, I really like it out of the box. F&F is top notch, everything lines up perfect, centering is perfect, grinds are even, (I especially like the tip, well done) and it’s sharper from factory than any other traditional I’ve had. Probably sharper than any moderns either and I’ve had a few lasers from Spyderco. Nice and thin behind the edge. The action is very smooth and there is a nice definite detent in all three positions. I like both the handle and blade shapes a lot. The handle is a bit thicker than many single blade traditionals of this size but it fills the hand nicely. Without a backspring the knife feels very light.

I might at some point round off the chamfered edges at the butt of the handle, I’ll see if the slightly pointy tip bothers me in use first. I think I might have preferred a nick and no easy open notch personally. And the detent could be a touch stronger.

I think this is a nice blend of old and new, could make for a nice gateway knife for modern guys to get into traditionals, and vice versa. I hope this is just the first of this style of knife and I’m looking forward to testing it out as my main edc for the next little while.