Please pardon the shameful sales pitch - Rock Jumper

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

Moderator
Joined
Dec 27, 1998
Messages
11,671
Hi All,

While I must admit that I'm biased as the Rock Jumper is my design. I just received the first production sample of the Rock Jumper, both in plain edge and serrated edge.

The Front/mid-lock folder, created by Harvey McBurnette and a few of his friends. Popularized by Al Mar and taught to me by Al Mar has some real advantages.

1. The kick lands on the lock pivot which prevents the blade from hitting the spring or the spring holder thus dulling the edge.

2. The knife can be easily closed with one hand. Dropping the blade with the kick hitting the index finger and not cutting the finger.

These were real innovations when the lock was first created in the 70's.

We've been using this lock since the early 80's when we began making knives. Al Mar introduced us to his maker and we were graciously accepted by same. We are still working with that maker 40 years later.

One of the complaints of the models was that the distance from the kick to the handle was considered wasted space. Knife afi's wanted that spaced used. That's why we created the fore-finger choils which made the space useful and smoothed out the closed pattern. This also permitted the edge to come closed to the finger in the choil. Choked up if you will.

Then the complaint was; I don't like the finger choil. I want the edge to come to the handle.

This was easy to design with liner locks, compression locks, etc. But a mid-lock-back had it's own challenges. My solution was the "Handle-forward" design. This concept brings the edge to the handle and still permits the other advantages of the Mid-lock-back.

I worked on the design for quite a while and it's finally in production. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on this design.

sal
 
C254SBK_Both.png
 
I really like how the edge is close to the handle, and the palm swell reminiscent of the Stretch (which I love).

I see there is no jimping on the thumb ramp or Boye detent. Is there any performance reasonings or just something artistically different?

Looks like another functional knife from Spyderco!

Thanks for sharing, I bet many of us will be picking one up!
 
I am really looking forward to this knife. It checks all the right boxes.
 
hi sal, i do like the design but it looks very similar to the wharncliffe endura/delica. is the knife pretty similar to those just in a medium size?
 
If i didnt already have a delica, endura, and a worker im thinking about keeping...I would grab one of these. But as it is I am set with the best backlocks on the market already!
 
I’m excited about this one and plan to pick up the serrated version.
 
I like the design and I like the option of not having a choil as well as a short ricasso. Generally, I like choils and tall ricassos, but I dont need one on every knife. I've repeatedly revisited the product information for this knife. I want one.

On a back lock, I definitely appreciate the no-look and one-handed drop close ability that a tall ricasso provides. It would appear, with proper finger positioning, the tall ricasso isn't necessarily mandatory in order for one handed closes to be safe on the Rock Jumper.

Deleting the choil or ricasso enables easier cutting of bunched up materials that tend to get snagged on any unsharpened surface past the heel of the edge. Choking up on a choil accomplishes the same but I can appreciate the simplicity of just keeping my fingers on the handle at all times while cutting. Additionally, by bringing the heel of the blade closer to the shoulder of the handle, it allows for greater leverage and control over the heel while push cutting in that spot.

In comparison with the Delica Wharncliffe, the Rock Jumper appears to be more stout, slightly longer, with thicker blade stock, and a handle that fills the hand better. It seems that the Rock Jumper more closely compares to the Stretch 2, just not as long.

I hope that we see both the Rock Jumper and the Stretch in K390.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I see there is no jimping on the thumb ramp or Boye detent. Is there any performance reasonings or just something artistically different?
Click to expand...

Hi Rider,

I didn't put any jimping in the spine as I didn't feel it needed it. If you say add it, then we can do that in a later run. The Boye dent was to reduce the possibility of accidental unlocking the blade with the fleshy part of your hand. I shrunk up the cavity which does the same job.

sal
 
Any plans for a non FRN Handle Version? Love that Wharncliffe, I really never paid the design much attention until I started into Spyderco buying. I have the Enuff, Jumpmaster 1 and Salt 2(so far).
 
Shrinking the cavity and eliminating the wasted space are great edits. I’ve gotten used to the slight unlocking and rocking feeling when gripping my siren hard, but I’d rather not feel it. The rock jumper is now more appealing to me. Now for the steel...
 
Based on most everything I've read, and including my opinion, I have no doubt that this will be a huge success.
 
I think it would make an excellent Salt series knife.
My Pac Salt recently gone to a watery grave, I would grab one of these in an instant in H1...or better still LC200N!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top