Question on Starmate

R

RAGS

Joined
Jul 11, 2000
Messages
534
Hi.Just picked a Starmate,my first Spyderco.What a sweeet knife.I really love that blade shape.I know these have been around for a while now,so I'm asking everyone out there who has one:how are they holding up over time?Have any problems developed that I should worry about?The area I'm concerned with is the blade stop pin.I don't see any screws holding it in place.Will it stay secure over time?Also,what is the best lube to use with a G-10 handled knife?Thanks for your help.
Kevin
 
I have never heard of anyone that was had any problems with wear on the Starmate.
 
I like mine (#384), been carrying it for some time now(two years ?) only problem I have had with mine is when I first resharpened it I put too fine (steep) of and angle on it, and twice I have chipped out the edge in a couple places,an easy fix, but had to resharpen it to take out the little chipped places. If I had been smart, I would have rebeveled the edge the first time it happened, but I really like the way it cuts. Come to think of it, neither time it chipped was I actually cutting something. (scraping paint, removing broken dome lamp bulb in my truck)HMMM. I also like the flat design of the knife while still having a sustantial blade. Also I have been flipping mine open since I got it with no stop pin problems .fuzzy
 
I've had my Starmate for 2 or 3 years and have not had any problems with it. The Starmate is one of my favorite Spyderco knives. I really wish they would bring them back. (With S30V steel of coarse.)
 
Only problems that usually happens with Starmate is just like any CPM440V... it tends to be hard to sharpen if it gets dulled/damaged. Spyderco will sharpen for $5USD (to pay for return postage, really). When I sent in my starmate, they also clean out some wax from oranges that was stuck on the G10.
Never have a problem with the stop pin. Personally I think I like this setup better. It seems like to be a solid pin that's prevented from moving by the G10. G10 is pretty damn strong stuff, so wear would probably be on the metal pin, and I suppose because the pin is solid, it's less prone to damage... but that's just speculation.
 
OK,thanks guys.I won't worry about the stop pin,I'll just enjoy my new knife.S30v blade would be nice though.....
 
I have had my beloved StarMate since they first came out. I think that mine is a serial numbered version with a number in the 700s. I have carried that knife almost continually when not going into DC for work (since the blade exceeds the maximum length allowed by DC law, 3") and I have had but one concern about it. That concern was sharpening the bloody thing when the blade finally lost its edge. I pride myself on my ability to sharpen knives, having learned at my Dad's knee, so to speak. but that CPM 440V beat me. I finally broke down and bought a Spyderco 204 Sharpener and I have never looked back. It is, far and away, the best knife sharpening system ever. And it makes relatively easy work of resharpening the CPM steels, or any others.

The StarMate has a very sturdy blade, with a spine that extends well out to near the tip, so that the tip is well supported and quite sturdy. The blade stop pin on mine shows no sign of wear and the liner/blade tang engagement is still only about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way across, just where it was when I got the knife and the resulting liner lock is still as secure as a bank vault. My only problem with the StarMate is that Spyderco has discontinued it so that a replacement is becoming more and more difficult to find. I have, therefore, become reluctant to carry mine for fear of losing it and have sought a replacement. I believe that I have found one in the Chinook II.
 
I became interested in the Starmate when trying to find an inexpensive way to have a Terzuola designed using folder. I managed to find a new one for a reasonable price.

I really love the knife. Superb quality and an efficient slicer in a easy to carry package.

I certainly think it's time for a re-issue in S30V (even ATs-34 or VG-10) with gray G-10 scales or maybe CF.
 
I've had my starmate for 4 years. After 3 months it started rubbing against the scales. I tried adjusting it but it would only last about 2 weeks. I used lock-tight and it lasts about a 1-2 years. After about 3 years, it became loose and wouldn't align w/o being too tight for quick opening. I took it apart, cleaned it and reset the eccentric pivot. It now rubs a little on one liner in opening but doesn't need locktight.

I do abuse the knife. Lost about 0.5 mm of the tip prying a nail out of the tire. I've put a tiny chip in it from hacking at bone. I throw into tree stumps and boards. No problem. It gets razor sharp on the sharpmaker and can shave hair, slice tomatoes and push cut newspaper. One thing for sure, the armchair experts who say you need dual steel liners are wrong when it comes to this knife. The stop pin is fine, a little wear, but it appears to be hardened. I always flick this baby open. It's a perfect example of why knife makers who say you shouldn't flick open a knife are just making excuses for an inferior product.

I liked it so much, I bought the Benchmade Park Avenue. It's a Terzuala gentleman's knife now discontinued. It's an excellent companion to the starmate. If you want carbon fiber, Terzuola is now selling an knife that is S30V and carbon fiber, but "mid-tech" (I believe) for about $ 300. If I remember correctly, Terzuola inspects each finished knife, parts may be machine produced but assembly and finish is by hand in the US.
 
I have S/N 400 sitting in my safe.

I have owned a lot of Spydies over the years ranging from a damascus Worker to well you name it....

What I currently have are:


--Moran (original Moran edge model with leather sheath... still have 2, bought 5 and gave others as gifts) Had custom sheaths made for them.
--Military CPM440V straight edge (gift from Sal for first post in this forum)
--Starmate CPM440V S/N400
--Blue G10 Native BFC special in CPM440V w/Mike Sastre neck sheath
--Delica black blade collectors S/N 070V in VG-10
--Civilian (original aluminum-tufram)
--Sankotu (several more given as gifts)
--Kitchen serrated knives (several sizes and some duplicates)
--Sharpmaker (original and current flavor sets)
--8" benchstones (all grits)
--Doublestuff sharpeners (several)
--Police necklace
--Stag Spyderclip tie clip (gift from Sal)

With each I've ever owned I've found tremendous value, quality, and utility. It doesn't get much better-:)

--Bob Allman
Member from the very beginning
Original General Forum moderator

Not to be forgotten: James Mattis, Walt "Doc" Welch, and Rob Simonich
 
Bald1, Nice to see you posting again. Have not seen you in a while.
Click to expand...

I got kinda burned out (and bumed out) with first James and then Doc passing away, plus the Forums were getting so huge...... Then Rob died so unexpectedly. Went to his funeral and it acted as somewhat of a catalyst for me to notch from up the infrequent lurking I had been restricting myself to.

Appreciate the welcome John -:)

Now what I need is to drive the 5 hours to:

SPYDERCO ANNUAL SPRING FACTORY SALE
SAT. APRIL 24th 10am-4pm
Sale is at Spyderco’s Headquarters:
820 Spyderco Way
Golden, CO 80403
1 block north of Golden Gate Canyon Road on Hwy 93


--Bob
 
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