Spyderco Bushcrafter Initial Impressions / Review

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
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Blade (Grind): 3.976
Blade (From handle to tip): 4.079
Handle (Butt to Ricasso): 4.691
Blade Height (top to bottom) 1.092
Blade Width: 0.137
Handle Height (top to bottom - Palm Swell): 1.190
Handle Width: 0.968
Balance Point: Right at the front handle pin

01 Steel, Brass Pins (2), Brass lanyard tube. Spyderco logo on one side - Bushcraft U.K. Logo on the other.

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Box Opening:

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The box was a thick cardboard, the bottom of the box that slid out was foam lined. Both the sheath and the blade were plastic sealed. The blade had cardboard around it to keep it secure and safe.

The knife was COVERED in boiled linseed oil.

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I tried to scrape it off - but tried denatured alcohol as a lark. It worked perfectly and stripped off the linseed oil in minutes.

What came out was simply beautiful. The Spalted Maple was gorgeous*, the blade was pristine, the grinds seemed even, and the blade shaved.

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Handle:

The handle is very well thought out. It is a handful, and is most likely the most comfortable handle I have had in my hands. The butt is flared and it dips to grab the pinky portion of the hand and locks it tight to my hand.

The palm swell is thick, and the handle is tall - all making it fit perfectly to my hands (size L gloves). There is a very slight swell in the front of the knife with a slight chamfer at the front of the handle. This makes the handle VERY comfortable yet very easily and comfortably choked up on for a lever grip.

It is a little more comfortable than my Aurora style handled knives, and just a smidge more comfortable than my Koster 01.

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Aurora Handle - H&C Forum Knife - compared the the Spyderco

Grind:

The Grind was pretty much perfect. It was left at perhaps 200 grit, but easy to sharpen out. The spine was square and left burred for striking firesteels. The hole was .250 and seemed to make no difference either way. I am not a fan of it, nor do I hate it. It is just there.

The grind was a little less steep than my koster - but in using it - it didn't seem to matter in terms of toughness.

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Sheath:

The sheath is thick and quite okay. The back of the leather is skived to a 0.150 and then patterned and stained/sealed to a brown color. It is lined with a plastic liner (which I like) and fits VERY deep in the sheath. It is ambidextrous with six 0.250 lanyard tubes. The welt is very thick but the edging is painted and not burnished. I think it would work forever, but it is a little ugly in my terms. However, I am a sheath maker - so this is beating it up a bit.

I would rate it more robust and thicker than a Sharpshooter, but a world behind a JRE in terms of finish / beauty.

Comparison Pics:

Koster and H&C Forum knife - built on the Aurora Platform:

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Problems*:

The sad thing is that I think the scales shrunk just a bit after manufacturing and caused a crack in one of the scales. I can also feel just a bit of steel around the handles. A custom knife maker would not have had this happen.

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It will be going back to the factory to be replaced. I think when mass producing these, this is just going to happen. This is the trade off between custom and mass manufactured.

I will keep this thread up to date with how Spyderco's customer service is concerning the handling of the exchange or repair. I have let Kristi know and sent a e-mail to Spyderco's website.

EDIT:

Kristi already PM'd me back. She assured me that it would be replaced without an issue. This tells me, as well as all your comments below, that I am going to be taken care of. This is an opportunity for Spyderco's customer service to shine.

Overall Initial Feelings:

I worked with it for an hour or so in the garage switching back and forth with the Koster 01 and the H&C knife. The latter two blades were sharpened to hair wiping by myself and the Spyderco out of the box. It was popping hair.

The spyderco was VERY comfortable in all uses I use a knife for. Stop cuts, push cuts, chest lever, and more. I am really impressed with this knife.

If the scale problem is not one that happens often, and I don't believe it is - This is the best mass produced bushcraft knife out there, in my opinion. It is a benchmark to measure other knives by. Aurora's are like that - people like to compare other knives to it - I think the Spyderco will become that too. Essentially it is a woodlore style knife that the masses can afford.

It is VERY comfortable, VERY well made, the price point is good (I got mine for 159.95 shipped), and the Spyderco name is behind it. I am REALLY excited to get mine fixed and REALLY put it through its paces. I will update the thread as that happens.

TF
 
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Talfuchre, as always thanks for the review. Too bad about the crack. No doubt Spyderco will take care of it pronto.

You didn't mention, or I missed it, where is the balance point on the knife?
 
I don't need another bushcraft knife but after looking at those pics if I did there's no doubt this would be my first choice. It really looks like a winner. The handle looks nice and big and my pet peeve is small handles. I've had two BRKT knives that went down the road because they had handles seemingly made for the hands of an 8 year old (I wear a large glove).

That's too bad about the scales but I bet they'll take care of you with no problem.
 
Great review. Stuff like that crack is always something that can happen in a production. I'm positive spyderco will take care of you with little issue. Looking forward to more...
 
That looks pretty damn good:thumbup:

Excellent handle contouring!

I figured the one the company posted on here was the best but the wood on that one is super pretty also:thumbup:
 
I like it, the handle looks great ! Sorry to hear about the crack, that's a bummer having to send it back etc !!!!
 
nice review and nice score man! for the price you got it at i think it will sell perfectly fine!

i noticed you said the knife fit deeply in the sheath...and when i look at the spyderco shots they seem to show alot of handle sticking out....would you happen to have an in sheath pic? thanks again!
 
Ramm9 said:
Talfuchre, as always thanks for the review. Too bad about the crack. No doubt Spyderco will take care of it pronto.

You didn't mention, or I missed it, where is the balance point on the knife?
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Balance point appears to be right at the front pin.

TF
 
That looks like one cool dude!

In my opinion, if you are sending it back, you might as well knock the snot out of it a bit before that :p

It is a bummer that you had issues with the handle. I am sure you will be taken care of, but just the hassle of sending it back and all. I really don't see away around stuff like that happening. The important thing is that they do, and they will take care of you :thumbup:

I am looking forward to when you get it back, and get some more play time with it.

I am assuming we are going to see a new sheath for this baby?

I ended up making a very similar knife to this yesterday. Scaled down, completely different purpose. But, so highly inspired by it that it will only be my own personal knife.It will be done tomorrow AM, and I am pretty pumped about it.

That sure is a nice one!

B
 
Brian Andrews said:
I ended up making a very similar knife to this yesterday. Scaled down, completely different purpose. But, so highly inspired by it that it will only be my own personal knife.It will be done tomorrow AM, and I am pretty pumped about it.


B
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u cwazy!
 
Do you really think it's that good a deal, considering it's made in Taiwan? (It is made in Taiwan, right?)

I don't doubt for a minute that it's an excellent knife; I have some Spydercos and I love them. But mine have the "Golden Colorado, USA, Earth" birthmark on them.

I love the looks of the Spyderco Bushraft, but I know that personally, my eyes would be drawn to the "Taiwan" mark every time I unsheathed it.

Thanks for the excellent review, by the way.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
Do you really think it's that good a deal, considering it's made in Taiwan? (It is made in Taiwan, right?)

I don't doubt for a minute that it's an excellent knife; I have some Spydercos and I love them. But mine have the "Golden Colorado, USA, Earth" birthmark on them.

I love the looks of the Spyderco Bushraft, but I know that personally, my eyes would be drawn to the "Taiwan" mark every time I unsheathed it.

Thanks for the excellent review, by the way.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...

5 seconds with a Dremel will fetch that off !;):thumbup:
 
Kristi already PM'd me back. She assured me that it would be replaced without an issue. This tells me, as well as all your comments below, that I am going to be taken care of. This is an opportunity for Spyderco's customer service to shine.


Pit dog,

It is silk screened on - you can simply scrape it off. ;)


TF
 
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