South Fork Photos and Impressions

Ankerson

Ankerson

Knife and Computer Geek
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
21,094
This is a long overdue Phil Wilson + Spyderco Collaboration.


OAL - 9.5"
Blade length - 4 7/8"
Handle - 4 3/4"
Blade thickness - .120"
Thickness behind the edge - .020.
Weight - 5.4 oz
Blade Steel - CPM S90V
Handle Material - G10

The Sheath is really nice and adjustable for different carry positions.

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Nice clean lines as you can see, and highly optimized design for cutting and slicing.

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With Phil Wilson Custom.

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Fit and finish is excellent and really does this model justice, they really did a nice job on this model. I am sure Phil Wilson will be very happy with how this model turned out. A big thumbs up to Sal and Spyderco for bringing this awesome knife to market.

Full review and performance testing to follow.

Testing and review here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...rco-South-Fork-Performance-Review-and-Testing
 
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Jim, look forward to the testing. Spyderco did a great job with the production on this one. The South Fork has been one of my favorite designs for a long time and it is an honor to see it be re-produced like this. Sal and Eric put a lot of energy into making this happen and I enjoyed working with them. In addition your initial testing on some of my knives brought my work to the attention of Spyderco and got the whole project rolling. You had some great feedback and suggestions and appreciate that. CPM S90V is a challange to work with and Spyderco figured it out so this one should cut nice and for a long time. I also look forward to feed back from others using the knife in the field. Phil
 
Phil Wilson said:
Jim, look forward to the testing. Spyderco did a great job with the production on this one. The South Fork has been one of my favorite designs for a long time and it is an honor to see it be re-produced like this. Sal and Eric put a lot of energy into making this happen and I enjoyed working with them. In addition your initial testing on some of my knives brought my work to the attention of Spyderco and got the whole project rolling. You had some great feedback and suggestions and appreciate that. CPM S90V is a challange to work with and Spyderco figured it out so this one should cut nice and for a long time. I also look forward to feed back from others using the knife in the field. Phil
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Thanks Phil. :)

Now I just have to get to work on the testing process. :)
 
Great looking sportsmans model for the guy wanting a no compromise edge keeper. Congrats Phil, super job from all with this one! :thumbup:
 
Awesome! I will have some time so save my pennies then :)

I love spyderco's dedication to making the best performing knives out there and how open sal and Eric are to not only bringing in the best for collaborations and advice but also using difficult materials like S90V. Alot of companies make sturdy knives that hold up well to tough use but can't slice and apple or fillet a fish. I think the attention Sal and Eric pay to blade profiles and edge geometry really separates spyderco's from
Other knives in the performance department.

This knife looks like a winner in my book.
 
Right place, right time.

It's amazing how many great knives are available right now. :thumbup:
 
Wow. This should raise the bar quite a bit! Thanks for the review, I'll have to start looking for it. Fortunately, I have some business in Golden next week, so that will give me time to stop by...
 
I really do not like the spidie hole on the fixed blades. Yes, it is their trademark but "form follows function" is the base of good design
 
Thanks for the great pictures and information. Can you tell us what the width of the blade from spine to edge is? We are looking forward to the review. I am curious how the trailing point shape works for tasks other than filleting fish. It doesn't look like it had a big sweep to it though.
 
Hi Hansundfranz,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

In todays world of knives, with all of the copies abound and ideas being "borrowed" often, a trademark to identify brands and models is critical to the long term success of a brand. An easily identifyable trademark is better still. A trademark cannot be only a functional part of a product only, or it doesn't qualify as a trademark. It is the shape of the hole (round) in an identifyable location on the knife that makes it a trademark for Spyderco. The "look" of the knife, if you will.

We've had a great deal of trouble with other companies trying to "look" like Spyderco in order to sell their products. They rarely use the good materials, and in many cases, they add a round hole to their own designs. This is our way of protecting our brand. My apologies that you don't like the "look". of the traademark. I hope that doesn't deter you from trying out this excellent design by Phil and our attempt to create an excellent model.

Hi Jim,

thanx for the time and effort. You were certainly a part of helping to make this project a reality. Hope you enjoy playing wit the model.

Hey Phil,

Thanx much for chiming in. A Phil Wilson / Spyderco collaboration has been a long time coming. Good job on the design.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Jim,

thanx for the time and effort. You were certainly a part of helping to make this project a reality. Hope you enjoy playing wit the model.

Hey Phil,

Thanx much for chiming in. A Phil Wilson / Spyderco collaboration has been a long time coming. Good job on the design.

sal
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Hi Sal,

Thanks, the project was a long time coming and a lot of work, especially on Phil's and Your part and to get it out as fast as you did was amazing. :thumbup:

It's been a real blast to work with so far, it has exceeded my expectations and they were very high for this model. :D:cool:

Jim
 
DavidZ said:
Thanks for the great pictures and information. Can you tell us what the width of the blade from spine to edge is? We are looking forward to the review. I am curious how the trailing point shape works for tasks other than filleting fish. It doesn't look like it had a big sweep to it though.
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It's about 1 1/8".

This is a modified trailing point that has added belly to enhance slicing and cutting ability.

The trailing point is an all around design that work very well in a large variety of tasks, just depends on what one likes, some like a drop point, some a trailing point.

This design gives the best of both IMO.
 
While I would prefer no hole in a fixed blade, I understand why it is there. It is near a major stress point for knives, but this wouldn't really matter for a knife meant to be a slicer and not a hatchet.
Couldn't the same trademark deal be accomplished with a smaller hole that would be less likely to affect slicing? It would take up less of the blade.
What is the size of the hole on these knives, and does it have any impact on use, if one were to cut up a fish?
I haven't used this steel in any of my knives. What is the toughness compared to something like VG10, and how is the sharpening.
The knife is a beauty, and that is why I have asked so many questions.
 
@Arty: S90V datasheet http://www.burgessknives.com/media/CPMS90V.pdf

Very high wear resistance. Takes a long time to get dull. Hard to sharpen. Diamond grind stone probably best.

Relatively large carbides so can not reach the ultimate sharpness but it keeps a very servicable edge and keeps it for a long time.
Not the ideal steel if you want to make sushi or do wood carving art in your basement.

@Sal.
Always nice to be adressed by the boss.
I really like the combination of a traditional useful shape (to the competition. If I want a pry bar I get one so make knives that can be used to cut things) with very modern materials for blade handle and sheet!. leather sheets are nice but kydex is functionally better in every way.

Very good if you want to get lots of work done in the field and only resharpen it at home.

250$ Street price in the US means that it will be probably around 300 to 350 Euro over here which already puts it into custom price levels (for the same style nothing to fancy)

Got two of your folders on my shopping list which Ill get the next time I am in the US (Chinese Folder and a Superleaf)
Overall more of a traditionalist when it comes to fixed blades so if I buy one on the US it will be a Bark River.
 
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