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No love for the "R"?

I've honestly never really seen this one, I do quite like it. I just found a few online and one new in box original R with the skeletonized handle and blade but the prices aren't what I'd call favorable for what you get. Shame, I'd buy an FRN one. I would most definitely buy a G10 one but FRN is nice too. I like it a lot, there is nothing wrong with it.
 
I'm a fan of nishijin, so this knife really hooked me. It has the ndle of a delica with the blade similar to a caly 3.5. Everything Li d of works for me I. This knife, and I have my eye on an r2 with the lattice scales. They're just a great size and great blade profile for an edc or gentlemans carry.
 
My "R" arrived about a week ago and I've been EDC'ing since.
I love it, feels great in my hand! F&F is perfect! VG-10...well I'm a big fan. It's thin and fits well clipped in my pocket. Love mid-locks!!
And I don't own a Delica or Endura so no cross over in size and design.
I do have a Domino that I acquired about two weeks ago (first two knives in a while). The "R" feels better to my hand. I like the Domino a lot but the "R" is the bomb IMO. The smooth handles are a none issue to me as the jimped thumb ramp and choil allow all the grip needed in a slick or wet situation. Damn fine knife design. That said G10 would be very a nice option.

This list is my current Spyderco knives. I carry and use them all, and like them all. Of course, the Tenacious is my hard use beater when needed or the knife my buddies get to carry when they fly up to visit.

"R" Nishijin
Domino
Caly 3 ZDP-189 Laminated CF
Sage II Ti
Sage IV
Para-Military 2 Black G10 w/ S30V
Tenacious
 
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Lock backs aren't my favorite lock. I prefer the frame lock, compression lock, ball bearing lock/axis locks.
If a knife really speaks to me I'll buy it even with the lock back lock. However like all the others they never make it into rotation. Just handled every now and again.

The r is a good looking knife but I have a lot of knives that are similar in shape and size in the locks I prefer.
 
I like the older R2's more than the new R's (have 4 of them ~~ so I guess you could say I liked them when they came out.*)
You all can fight over the new ones and I will stick with the old R2's.!** TYVM
 
I love Nishijin, especially my Dragonfly version, but the R is such a big knife that the glass fiber and steel liners really start to weigh a pocket down. For carry knives, Nishijin seems to work better for the smaller models.

I am jealous of the R having such a big slab of that woven pattern though, real great collectors piece to look at.
 
I loved mine, but for completely different reasons than I thought I would when ordering it. It was very Para-2 like, only with a back-lock. I thought it was going to be a smaller knife and those beautiful scales (and limited production) meant to me that it was a larger utility knife that I wasn't going to use as much as it needed using, so it had to go. I kind of regret it as it would have made for a very nice larger gentlemen's folder (now that I'm into carrying larger gents folders).


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I've looked at one several times, and it is very nice. The problem for me is that there are always others that I would prefer to have over the R, so my money always gets spent elsewhere. It just hasn't made it to the top of my must have list. I think it mostly comes down to styling and size. I don't find it to be unique in any special kind of way and the folded width is a little more than I like to have in my pocket.
 
Thought of this thread while looking through my knife case this morning. All this talk about R's and no pics of an original just seems wrong to me.



Bruceter
 
I had an R 2 in SE that I sold a couple of years ago. I carry a small se everyday....much easier to carry than the R 2.
 
Still EDC'ing my "R" and loving it. Frankly, VG-10 is just great blade steel.
I have been thinking of my Sage IV of late though!
 
For the money I'd rather get a G10 Police. Choil, big blade, better jimping. The R is okay, but not my style.
 
Now I am feeling bad as I am down to only 2 of the old "R's" and they just lay in the Safe and say to me ~~ we want out.!**
LOL
 
I've got one..... And for some reason it just fails to excite. I can't put my finger on why, because I really like my other Nishijin scaled Spydies. Currently it's boxed up and sitting in my "Sell or Trade" box.
 
Well the sage 2 didn't come out of the cigar box...still happily EDC'ing my "R"
I'm starting to think its about perfect.
 
Here is why I have no desire for the R.

-Jimping looks too deep or weird or something.
-Blade has an odd shape. It's not a leaf shape but it's just weird. It looks like an unfinished blank to me.
-Nishijin scales are too shiny and slick.
-I don't want to pay that much money for VG-10 when I can get S30V or CTS-XHP for the same price.
-Back of the handle is too fat.
 
I handled one in the store and my issue with the Nishijin GF model is the weight. At 4.3oz/122g, it is heavier than a Millie and about the same weight as the Sage 4.

That's just too much weight for the size knife that it is.

TedP
 
Lots of Pro's and Con's on here, I guess just like guns and motorcycles (my other two major hobbies) it's all about the user in the end. I have yet to come across an original, but here is my other R, a Plain Edge R2!

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