New Spydies for 2008/2009 - Amsterdam Meet Report with pics

M

Mr Blonde

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Oct 12, 1998
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Yesterday the 5th Spyderco Amsterdam Meet was held; a gathering with Sal, Eric, Gail and Ed Schempp with knifeknuts from Holland. At these meets, we always get a first look and presentation of the new prototype designs that will hit the market later this (and sometimes next) year. I was invited by Spyderco to shoot and post pictures, to share them with the forum. So I thought I'd share these with you guys.



The Wayne Goddard jr. was a real gem of a knife. The white micarta is beautifully done. As a lefty, I would have preferred to see the clip on the other side, but I'm in the minority. Still, great knife!

SpydercoAdam2008_Goddardsprint.jpg




SpydercoAdam2008_Goddardsprint_closed.jpg




Next up, the white Delica 4 and Endura 4 sprint run in white. This is IMO more of an off-white, compared to the Goddard jr. As a certified D4 addict I'm sure I'll add one or two of these Delicas to my collection. Note that these clips don't have hole in them. I did see a different copy of the white D4 that had a shiny clip with lanyard hole in it. I suspect that the final production version will sport a shiny stainless finished clip with lanyard hole.


SpydercoAdam2008_DelicaEnduraSprint.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_DelicaEnduraSprint_closed.jpg




Two more colored little cutters; the Ladybug III sprint run in safety orange and white. I liked these quite a bit. I hope they sell well enough to warrant more color variations in the future.


SpydercoAdam2008_LadybugSprint.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_LadybugSprint_closed.jpg




My personal favorite out of this series of white knives, the Howard Viele collaboration: the Phoenix. It's still just as nice as the concept model I think I first saw at the IWA show two years ago. Really nice ergos and a very aesthetically pleasing design. The whole knife really fits nicely in a variety of grips. I can't wait for this one to hit dealers' shelves.


SpydercoAdam2008_Phoenix.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_Phoenix_clipclosed.jpg




Wouter
 
Allright, time for some green! Foliage green is all the rage this year, many prototypes were sporting this very nice and effective camo color. The Rookie had many fans at the meet, including Ed Schempp. It's a nice design, the first time for me to actually hold a Rookie. It's something in between a Horn FRN model (fine tip) and the new FG Delica.

SpydercoAdam2008_RookieSprint.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_RookieSprint_closed.jpg


The final prototype for now is a real first look; the Jens Anso collaboration model, the Rocklobster. Sal related to us how long development sometimes can take before the designer and the Spydercrew achieve a design. Apparently Jens wanted the handle to be a lot like the Military, without the custom handle finish he is so famous for and a nested liner to make the folder as thin as possible. The blade is 4 inches or slightly under it. To me, the handle looked a bit blocky, but it is surprisingly comfy and secure.


SpydercoAdam2008_Rocklobster.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_Rocklobster_closed.jpg




More will follow,



Wouter
 
I like the Rookie and Rocklobster alot. They look really good with the green G-10 :thumbup:
 
I do not really care for the white micarta on the Goddard or the Phoenix. it looks like shiny white plastic but i like the Rock Lobster, Rookie, and the white Endura and Delica which i thought would be ugly but they turned out to be more off white then bright white.
 
Nice pics. Thanks for posting.

No news about the Kevin Wilkins collaboration?
 
Time to post all the remaining foliage green models. First up, the Ed Schempp Barong. I'm a big fan of leaf shape blades, and this is probably the ultimate folding leaf blade (or perhaps a close tie with the Chinese Folder ) Spyderco made to date. Ed told about his studies in the Philippines, many years ago. Apparently every region has its own barong. So he had a few ideas about a nice folding Barong.



This knife felt a little heavier than a Military, the blade seemed a bit thicker overall. It's a linerlock folder with a very thick liner, that's well

protected between the scales. I don't think accidental closing will be an issue with this folder. The clip can be reversed for left-handed tip-up carry (thank you! ). This is a big folder, the bladelength is probably a hair under 4 inches.



Mind you, the blade grind stop kind of abruptly at the opening hole in this prototype. The grind on the production model will curve under the hole (remain in full stock thickness) and will go much further towards the heel of the blade. So there will be a lot more edgelength in the final production model. This one's on my wishlist for sure.


SpydercoAdam2008_Barong.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_Barong_closed.jpg




The Ed Schempp Khukri is a wonderfully "odd" but ergonomic design. It looked kind of 'off' to me, but it certainly felt right in the hand. The cutting edge is right where you want it, there's hardly any need for moving the wrist in most cutting chores with this design. I suspect it could make a handy picknick folder too, cutting food on a board and such. The blade size is around 3 inches and the clip can be reversed for left-handed tip-up carry. It should carry very easily too, it's a slim folder when closed. I'm amazed how 'straight' the knife is when the blade is folded. The opened Khukri is extremely curvy. Again, like the Barong, this one is a linerlock folder, with a thick liner.


SpydercoAdam2008_Khukri.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_Khukri_closed.jpg
 
This one's for you Carlos!

Despite the ideas some may have, after waiting for about 2,5 years, the Bob Lum ZDP Chinese Folder is still on track! Here's the evidence, a real deal living production prototype! It was a sad day when I heard of Bob Lum's passing, but this is a tiny fitting tribute to this gifted designer.

The blade is indeed full ZDP 189. The almite finish felt rougher than the previous Chinese Folders.


SpydercoAdam2008_ChineseFolder.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_ChineseFolder_closed.jpg
 
Time for some fiber in this diet of protos; carbon fiber to be precise. Sorry for the bad pun, I just couldn't resist.

The cf insert on this Kiwi isn't quite as polished as my left-handed Delica III that was made a few years ago, but it's not as dull as the CF on my ZDP Caly III either, somewhat in the middle. Perhaps some of the shine is lost because the insert is rounded and 3D, as opposed to the flat slabs of CF on my Delica 3. Still, very nice Kiwi. I'm positive I'll pick one of these up once they hit the market.

SpydercoAdam2008_Kiwi.jpg


SpydercoAdam2008_Kiwi_closed.jpg


I haven't been too interested in the Native design the last few years. Although I still really appreciate the 'lock in' grip that the Native's handle offers, I've become much more interested in full flat grinds.

The Native IV could tempt me back to the design. The Native has become a very elegant, much less 'threatening design'. The grip is still as solid as I remember from the Native III. The blade is a bit skinnier compared to the earlier Natives. If the market likes this one, then an FRN version will be made in Golden of the same pattern. The 4-way clip is a nice touch. So all you Native collectors out there, get this 'NASA version' of the Native while you can.


SpydercoAdam2008_Native.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_Nativeclosed.jpg



There was only one (1) Byrd prototype of concept model present at this meet. And no, this is not an indication of a complete production-to-China-of-round hole knives-move. Spyderco is currently sitting on around a 100 new designs in various stages of development. This year they seem to focus on bringing more new Spydies to the table, rather than Byrds. I am certainly not complaining!

This Byrd Wings prototype with very shiny CF inserts is in fact a slip-joint. Blades are around 2,5 inch I think.


SpydercoAdam2008_ByrdWings.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_ByrdWings_closed.jpg



I'm saving the best carbon fiber of this meet for last (I got more pics, no worries ). The Sage really impressed me a lot! This model is intended to be a design to honor all the innovations in locks. If it's up to Sal -there are patent holders (designers and corporations) who have to give permissions of course- we'll see the Sage with locks ranging from Buck's Lock Back, Al Mar's Mid-Back-Lock, Blackie Collin's bolt action lock and many others. The first Sage honors Michael Walker's linerlock (with ball bearing detent).

The handle is not just shiny CF, it's more of a bubble-wrap pattern. It's a very mesmerizing pattern. The fit and finish is up there with the best of Moki's work (I'm not sure if this model was made by Moki though), it's definitely up there with the Kopa and Persian etc...

Blade-wise, the Sage is sort of a compromise between the Caly III and the Native IV. Again, I really enjoy seeing a left-handed option for the clip. I'm not sure if I'll get this linerlock, but with a true lefty friendly lock (lockback, ball lock etc...), the Sage will definitely be in my pocket.

SpydercoAdam2008_Sage.jpg



SpydercoAdam2008_Sage_closed.jpg




More to come...



Wouter
 
and the new native and the chinese are my favorites now, ill definatley go pick up a chinese
 
Thanks for the pics Wouter!!! I did not know about the Rocklobster and now I REALLY want one :D And the Native 4 :thumbup: Wasn't so excited about previous versions but that one looks amazing.
Was there any sign of the Leafstorm there?
Cheers,
scrumps
 
Great pictures Wouter!!

I can see now that all of the Schemp designs will have a spot in my collection. The Khukri and Barong look awesome!

I'm also glad that there is physicall evidence of the long awaited ZDP Lum, can't wait for this one either.

Bruceter
 
I would take the rookie and the rocklobster,and zdp lum.I wonder when I'll see
them in my local store fall maybe?or even some in 2009.:(
 
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