traumkommode
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 4,631
I've sampled a pretty fair cross section of the popular Spyderco knives - Delicas and Enduras, Slipits, PM2s, Calys, Dragonflys, Chaparrals, and a Manix 2 Lightweight. I think my first was a black FRN Native 5 Lightweight, and for some reason, I wasn't enamored with that one. They've all been fine; some have been really nice, some have been just knives. Recently, I was researching the wharncliffe Delicas, wanting a utility blade. Knifeworks jumped the gun and sent me an email stating that the Hap40 wharncliffe Delica was available, and even though it isn't, that lead me to Cutlery Shoppe where I saw an S30V exclusive in safety orange instead of burnt, at a pretty nice price point. As I scrolled down the page to read specs, I saw similar item links, one of which was to another safety orange exclusive - the Native 5 Lightweight with an S90V blade. Holy smokes, I thought. I want to check one of those out.
I put in my order with some order notes about blade particulars. A couple days later, the knife arrived. Volcano grip FRN may not be the hottest handle material, but I have to say, that this is probably the sweetest made Spyderco I have ever handled. The fit and finish is on par with the Taiwan knives, and to be honest, this knife looks like it could have been made in the CRK factory. The grinds are perfect. I've never seen a leave shaped blade this symmetrical. The blade is rock solid and perfectly centered, and even drops free part of the way. It is so smooth that it feels like it's on washers, but I'm pretty sure it isn't. The jimping is straight, heck everything is straight on this knife. If the swedges aren't totally symmetrical, you'd probably need some kind of machine to tell.
This is my first S90V blade from Spyderco. It came just as sharp as they ever do, which I've got to hand it to you guys,
Sal Glesser
- no other production knives come with factory edges this nice. I decided to give it a kiss more microbevel than it had, and it just whispers through receipt paper. I've read that S90V has trouble getting a really fine edge, but those statements seem erroneous to me based on this sample (I understand that sharpening techniques, abilities, grits, etc. all vary, and that S90V may shine with a coarser edge for maximum longevity.
Enough words. Here are some pictures. See how immaculate it is.
I put in my order with some order notes about blade particulars. A couple days later, the knife arrived. Volcano grip FRN may not be the hottest handle material, but I have to say, that this is probably the sweetest made Spyderco I have ever handled. The fit and finish is on par with the Taiwan knives, and to be honest, this knife looks like it could have been made in the CRK factory. The grinds are perfect. I've never seen a leave shaped blade this symmetrical. The blade is rock solid and perfectly centered, and even drops free part of the way. It is so smooth that it feels like it's on washers, but I'm pretty sure it isn't. The jimping is straight, heck everything is straight on this knife. If the swedges aren't totally symmetrical, you'd probably need some kind of machine to tell.
This is my first S90V blade from Spyderco. It came just as sharp as they ever do, which I've got to hand it to you guys,
Sal Glesser
- no other production knives come with factory edges this nice. I decided to give it a kiss more microbevel than it had, and it just whispers through receipt paper. I've read that S90V has trouble getting a really fine edge, but those statements seem erroneous to me based on this sample (I understand that sharpening techniques, abilities, grits, etc. all vary, and that S90V may shine with a coarser edge for maximum longevity.Enough words. Here are some pictures. See how immaculate it is.
