Received a full-sized Calypso!

Starfish

Starfish

Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Messages
1,256
Well, on Sunday I completed a deal for a heavily carried, but very lightly used large Calypso with another forum member here, and received a package at my house on Wednesday.

The short review:
:eek: :eek: WOW! Whaddaknife! :eek: :eek:

:D

The more verbose review:
I've been looking for a 4-inch folder for a while now, as I've often felt that I needed a 4-inch blade to complement my EDC, a small Classic Sebenza. The small Sebenza is a great knife, and can do probably everything that a 4-inch knife can do, just like a flathead can work on a phillips screw, but not the best tool for the job!.

At any rate, this feels like it has to be the sharpest knife I own. That edge just bites right into anything I give it, and slices all the way through without binding in the material. Scary sharp!!! VG-10 is a definite winner here!

The black micarta handles are beautiful, and the gold bug on the clip is a nice touch. I really love the way this knife rides so low in my pocket! In addition, this is probably the smallest 4-inch knife that I've handled - definitely not as imposing as the Military, or BM710 or AFCK. A real plus in my book!

All in all, this is a great knife. Apart from wanting a 4-inch folder, I bought this particular knife since I wanted experience with the following:

- micarta handles (I've only handled FRN, G-10, aluminum, and Ti)
- full flat grinds (I've only had saber and high-hollow grinds)
- VG-10 (I've only used BG-42, 440C, and 440V)

I can now understand the disappointment over the Calypso Jr's discontinuance, and the desire to have a Calypso Jr in VG-10 and micarta handles. I'd certainly buy one in a heartbeat!

Matthew
 
Hi Starfish. Thanx for the positive review. The final product pleased the designer as well. It just didn't please enough of the dealers and ELUs to keep the model in the line. Congrats on your purchase. It's a classic piece.

sal
 
Sal, As the pleased owner of both plain and SE Large Calypso I'd
offer the guess that the Calypso design was to subtle for both dealers
and the ELU's . It was probably also over shadowed by some of the
more "normal" knives in you line at the time. To bad.
 
Hi Starfish.

I've got a SE large Calypso, and it's absolutly great, I'm so impressed I'm currently on the look out for the PE version.

I don't know why people didn't get it ??? The cutting ability is extrodinary and it looks very sleek.
 
Thanks all, for the responses to this review. I've really enjoyed carrying this knife for the past week or so - as mentioned in the review, it complements my other EDC very well.

I just wonder if the lack of ELU appreciation for this knife stems from a general lack of disdain toward full flat grinds. After all, outside of the informed knife buyer populace, I think people generally tend to go for the saber-ground with swedges as being more aesthetically pleasing. Just my opinion, though, so take that for what it's worth :)

Matthew
 
You could be right Starfish.
The hollow grind is undeniably elegent, but use really does show IMHO that the flat grind is a better all around cutter.
 
I own the plain edge, large Calypso and everything already written here applies to me as well. It is a very rich design; both in features and class.

Does anyone else find that the blade of their (Calypso) knife snaps back into the handle with a lot of extra force, compared to others? Perhaps it is just that mine has a stronger spring than the average, but I find I must be careful to not have it close on my fingers as once the knife is unlocked and the blade travels about halfway closed it really snaps back into the handle hard! It also seems quite "heavy" to open, likely for the same reason.

Is mine unique in this regard?

Jeff/1911.
 
Hmmm, I'm not sure if yours is unique or not Jeff. I just tested mine, and it looks like the blade snaps closed once the angle between the edge and the handle is approximately 45 degrees. If yours closes when the angle is at 90 degrees, yeowch!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Matthew
 
I just looked at it again, and perhaps it isn't quite 90 degrees, but it is much closer to 90 than 45! As you close the blade, one must slide their fingers around and out of the way before "SNAP", or lookout! What I generally do is to place my fingertip at the (choil?) spot or base of blade and flipping the blade in until it contacts my fingertip at this unsharpened area, then I take control of the blade with the Spyderhole and ease it in. It can be tricky.

Jeff.
 
Just a well engineered knife. Sharp, good looking, tight tolerances, no blade play. Like Sal said, a classic.
 
No Jeff, Your Calypso is perfectly normal. I own
two of them and have handled several more and all
of them open AND close with authority.

This is one knife that when you open it will always
announce that is now ready for business with a
pronounced "Snick". I like that.

The Large Calypso is my dress carry and I want a
knife that will help me avoid a confrontation by
letting others know I will not be toyed with if need be.

Yes, I like that a lot.
 
OK tightwad,

Thanks for the reply. I can now rest easily, knowing that mine is not unusual.

Thanks, Jeff.
 
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