Sal, More H-1 Knives please

S

sputnik

Joined
Oct 9, 2004
Messages
53
Sal, I work in a unforgiving salt-water environment. The H-1 steel has proven its merits, for me. It, as everything does, has its weak points. Rust isn't one of them. What, realistically, needs to to be done , by Joe Consumer, to see other Spyderco blade designs in this steel selection?
 
If I can ask for Sal: What would you be looking for in terms of H1 models that isn't already provided for with the 3 different Salt models?

And what advantage would those designs have over the Salts in the maritime environment?
 
H-1 performs great, in SE i saw it's edge holding as similar to ATS-55... & it doesn't rust.. so.. this means, especially to the basic knife USER, that H-1 knives can go maintenace free for a very very long time. to me & i'm sure that to many others, that is a very attractive option & seeing it on various models will help for people in need for smaller\bigger\differently shaped blades & are unable or unwilling to work in order to maintain their knives rust free...
how lazy have we become :D
 
Carlos said:
If I can ask for Sal: What would you be looking for in terms of H1 models that isn't already provided for with the 3 different Salt models?
Click to expand...
A hawkbill.

It'd also be cool to see a diving knife in H1 (like what Benchmade has), but I don't really have a use for one myself, and I don't know if that really fits with Spyderco's main focus (being almost all folders).
 
Hello
Its been a while since I've posted in the spyderco forum.

I too work in an unforgiving salt water environment, (commercial fisherman) and at the end of the day I am usually too tired to think, let alone clean my knife (a full size dyad in ATS-55 and micarta). Aside from some slight discoloration spots, the ATS-55 hasn't let me down in over a year's worth of service. I can only carry this knife at work, because I am afraid that it will stink up my clean pants.

The serrated edge sharpens up nicely and needs very little maintenance, and is the cat's ass for cutting rope.

I have contemplated purchasing a Pacific Salt in SE and a PE Salt I, but I have put it off for some time now. I would like to see how the H-1 performs in continuous hard use in a salt water environment.

Spyderco has knives geared towards the marine industry. These are the:
Catcherman- a filet style blade, for what else but filleting fish. The long, thin, curved blade is geared for filleting fish. I've never used one of these, but I would think that a plain edge would offer a cleaner cut.
Harpy/Merlin/Spyderhawk- A hawkbill blade for cutting rope on a pull cut and/or cutting net twine. a hawkbill blade is almost indespensable for this purpose. For cutting rope, I prefer the serrated edge, while for cutting seine twine or monofilament gillnet, I prefer a serrated edge.
Mariner/Rescue- A sheepsfoot blade, useful for cutting rope, a very traditional design going back to the days when ships captains would remove the points of their crew's knives to prevent them being used as weapons. I prefer this design in SE and it is available in H-1 as the Atlantic Salt.

Aside from the Salt Series, I think that it would be logical to make the knives geared towards a marine environment out of H-1. I however also have noticed that ATS-55 and VG-10 both show limited corrosion in salt water usage.

Personally, I have my own ideas for a knife suited to the commercial fishery and/or recreational fishermen, both in folding and fixed blade styles. I would consider H-1, but I think that there are other steels available that exhibit extremely limited corrosion, and if the knife is being used hard, a few scratches, pits, or spots of discoloration should not matter.

Peter
 
So far, my only Spyderco is the Caly and I love the design. I thought about buying a Salt before...so a Caly in H1 would be awesome. I like the idea of an H1 Harpy also.
 
I suggested to Sal a while ago that a H1 Merlin or Harpy would be a logical step in my opinion.

IIRC he said they were such poor sellers anyway that he could not justify making a H1 model.

Spyderco is a business and Sal knows his business! What we want is often not what sells well!
 
General, I believe what you were told. What makes me go "hmmm" about that statement is that Spyderco not only has several hawkbill knives in its lineup, the Spyderhawk was places in the lineup fairly recently. If they are such poor sellers why 1) Introduce another, larger one 2) not consolidate the hawkbills when adding new models, as other models have been discontinued in the past with nothing really like them to remain in the lineup. My curiousity is piqued.
 
I would like to chime in and second the motion for more knives in H-1.
I do not work in a salt water enviroment, but have managed to induce rust on many Spyderco steels nonetheless. I am a professional dog trainer and live in South Georgia. During the summer, I sweat...yep, flat out stinkin' sweat from 8AM to 8PM. I carry a knife in my pocket the whole time. I have carried, among others, a Military(S30V), Police(ATS-55), BM mini-AFCK(154CM), BladeTech Pro Hunter(S30V), FRN Cricket(ATS-55), Pegasus(Gin-1), various Case, Schrade and Buck knives and they all have one thing in common...they all start to rust... sometimes after just a day's carry. Oh yeah, I wipe them down and even oil them, but most will show rust spots once again after only a day or two of carry.
Guess which steel I've never had a rust problem with...yep...H-1. I've yet to place the first drop of oil on it's blade. I rarely wipe it down at the end of the day or even after use. The bottom line is it doesn't rust or show any spots or discloration.
Another great thing is that even after cleaning a mess of ducks or squirrel, about 10-15 swipes, R & L, on the sharpmaker and its back to hair shaving sharp again.
You will find no bigger proponent of H-1 steel than myself and I for one would take all Spyderco's knives in this steel.
 
one2gofst said:
General, I believe what you were told. What makes me go "hmmm" about that statement is that Spyderco not only has several hawkbill knives in its lineup, the Spyderhawk was places in the lineup fairly recently. If they are such poor sellers why 1) Introduce another, larger one 2) not consolidate the hawkbills when adding new models, as other models have been discontinued in the past with nothing really like them to remain in the lineup. My curiousity is piqued.
Click to expand...

The Spyderhawk was made for the South African distributor. A search in this forum should turn up some more backstory.
 
generally speaking, i think H-1 will be good on knives that are most likely to be uncared for or bought by NKP... so to the salts i would add the FRN dragonfly maybe, a jester or ladybug, a cricket. it'll also be good for knives carried close to the body like the SPOT.
& of course other knives for the marine enviorment like the catcherman & harpy.
i think H-1 will also be great for the spydersaw because it is a very likely piece to suffer neglect, one more reason is, & i'm guessing here so please correct me if i'm wrong, saws can get very hot which could damage the temper, since H-1 does not acheave it's hardness by a heat treatment, it may be immune to the effects of overheating by intese sawing.
 
I believe a fix blade can compliment the folding H-1s, maybe the Moran handel with lanyard hole and two H-1 blade styles- blunt traditional sheepfoot and pointy modified warncliffe with small curve/ belly like AG Russel utility. For diving especially i think fix has advantages over folder- no lock for sand or gunk to get stuck in, also it is easier to draw and more comfortable handle. Maybe Termperance handle will work too.
Martin
 
Carlos said:
If I can ask for Sal: What would you be looking for in terms of H1 models that isn't already provided for with the 3 different Salt models?

And what advantage would those designs have over the Salts in the maritime environment?
Click to expand...

There are three different models ???? :eek: :eek: :D
 
I'd love to see a filet knife in H-1. There are so few good production filet knives out there. I'm sure Spyderco could really nail this one.
 
Any kinds of blade (folder or fixed), which can be used in marine environment or keep near body (neck knives and most tactical folders) should be with H-1. Humid summer in any where in the world is the enemy of any folder or fixed. Imagine wearing a neck knife in hot humid summer can cause what kind of damage to the knife. This is just my opinion :p I just don't want to have a rusted knife with me.
 
Well I'm back and we did get quite a bit of additional input.

Hey General, thanx for the time in Germany, a smiling Guiness just isn't the same in the US.

We did get quite a bit of input. Suggestions are as you have indicated. A hawkbill, a Dive knife and filet knife. We'll probably go with the hawkbill next and see if the market is there. We're working on a Dive knife design now.

Maybe a Dive knife desigbn would be a good topic for another thread?

The Salt 1, Pacific and Atlantic models are getting great revues.

thanx for the interest.

sal
 
Sal,
Any possibility of a Calypso Jr. in H-1 somewhere down the road. I was wondering about this since it seems to be such a popular design. Thanks.
 
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