SpyderCard Commentary

[FullerH]

I have finally received my SpyderCard. What the descriptions of the knife do not address is that it is approximately as thick as 3-4 cards and rather heavier. It does not fit into the credit card carrier in my wallet and is very heavy to carry in a wallet. This said, the knife is very well made and sharp as Spydies tend to be. It makes a very good light duty knife to carry in my hip pocket, does not make any tell-tale bulges, and does not seem to alarm hoplophobes. It would likely make a very good "city knife" or dress knife. I am still trying to figure how to use it.

The hole in the handle is, indeed, for access to the liner type lock.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia



[This message has been edited by FullerH (edited 09 November 1999).]

 

[Brian C]

I bought one of the few SpyderCards that were available at the recent NY show & I'm very pleased with it. IMO, Hugh, you're right about it being as thick as several credit cards but I don't see how it could have been made any thinner w/o affecting its structural integrity. My solution to the thickness issue was to simply purge my wallet of most of the junk that had accumulated like credit card slips & the like. Now that I've done so, my wallet is actually thinner even w/the SpyderCard in place.

It is somewhat heavy but I don't find it to be much of a problem. A Ti or Al handle would have been lighter but, here again, structural integrity might have been an issue in such a thin piece. Such a change would have almost certainly changed the price point.

As I said, I'm very happy w/mine. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the ease with which it can be opened w/the "drop" method. In fact, the fit in my wallet is such that I can start to open it before it has completely cleared the cc pocket.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

I may be goin' to hell in a bucket, Babe, but at least I'm enjoyin' the ride.

 

[phantom4]

Thanks for the comments guys! I've got a pair (one of each blade type) on back order with the Knifecenter. Spydercos are one of the very few things I will buy sight unseen. Sounds like another winner. BTW Hugh, I was actually hoping that they would be thicker than a card for the comfort factor in the hand.

phantom4

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who dares, wins

 

[James Mattis]

Yep, it's as thick as maybe four or so credit cards, and it's all steel - an interesting variation on the "integral" concept. As for the weight, I don't know what the complications would be of trying to fold titanium over in two right angles the way the one-piece steel handle has been folded over, but I suspect it would be a wee bit more expensive, and aluminum isn't springy enough to be the locking mechanism.

It't also not the knife you'd want for heavy knife work or constant knife work, but it's a clever knife for carrying without disturbing people who are easily frightened.


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001

 

[Ralf]

"HOPLOPHOBES"???

 

[Rugger]

Those who have seen mine (knife that is...) have all been really impressed- simply put, most folks are not knife people- not exactly blade-haters, but good, clean, God-fearin' folks whose interaction with knives normally stops when the last chunk of sirloin leaves the plate. Whan somebody pops this spiffy grey blade out of a wallet from behind his ATM card, it raises some eyebrows. Add the fact that it's a wacky/cool design & that it cuts like a booger- double the effect.

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107

 

[Nakano 2]

Coined by famous gun guru Jeff Cooper. Hopolophobes are individuals stricken with hopolophobia! Described as indivduals with inornate fear of weapons; a mental illness due to a facet of their imagination.

L8r,
Nakano

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"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."

 

[Rugger]

Comes from "Hopolites" (spelling approximate) The heavily armed & armored warriors of ancient Greece. That's all I remember from that lecture 15 years ago...

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107

 

[FullerH]

Got it in two! Hoplites were the heavily armed and armored classical age Greek soldiers of the phalanx. They were so called from their heavy shield, called a hoplon. Col. Jeff Cooper did indeed coin the term "hoplophobe" to describe one who has an inordinate fear of armed persons, even those who carry innocent penknives.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia

 

[ET]

Ok, enough about Hop-whatever's, back to the card. Just got my serrated SpyderCard. Very sharp out of the box (as with all Spyderco's). Shaved hair easily. It is thick but fits in my wallet just fine. Guess it depends on your wallet type. But it is heavy. After putting this in my wallet, it really feels weighed down. When I open it, the weight of the SpyderCard flips one side of my wallet over exposing everything. But no worry, if anyone tries to rob me, I'll just pull out the card and defend myself.

The reason for the weight is because it is all metallic. It is also all bead blasted for a subdued look. I really have to commend Bradichansky for the design because it's very clever. The way it opens, the placement of the holes and the liner lock all make sense. Comparing this to a Victorinox SwissCard, the SpyderCard is a great deal more durable because of the all-metal construction vs plastic on the SwissCard. The size and thicknesses of the 2 are about the same but the 2 fill entirely different roles. Spyderco was smart to choose AUS-6 to keep the price down and it doesn't make that much sense to put a really high grade steel on it since it won't be used for agressive roles. (I suppose it could in an emergency situation but not normally.) One gripe about it though are the 3 rivets that stick out. They are used to hold the card together and one rivet acts as a pivot for the blade but I can see them doing significant damage to a leather wallet over the course of time. I would liked to have seen a perfectly flat surface with no rivets exposed or at least flat against the card. I'll probably get a Cordura nylon wallet to accomodate this. (The world is slowly evolving around Spyderco

) But all-in-all, the SpyderCard is a great tool and I would highly recommend one. Good for a Christmas gift as well. (If they're not back ordered).

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ET

 

[FullerH]

My wallet is a trifold cordura type that hasn't been made in some years, but it holds my security pass very nicely, so I keep it. I am still working on ways to carry the SpyderCard. You all are correct in the the all metal construction is a winner. I would not and had not even considered the Swiis Card. I do not like the plastic, and, truth to tell, I have found Swiis Army Knives to have rather lousy steel. Now come the flames!

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia

 

[lbwheat]

I just received mine today and it actually works better in my left front inside suit pocket or shirt pocket.I have a trifold wallet so it doesn,t fit as well as it would in my checkbook or bifold wallet.I really like having a larger blade in a compact package.

lbwheat