Spyderco C-111 Captain model: Ideal purposes?

I think you missed the "us". I'm currently at 30 Spydies now and half of them are fully serrated, so you're preaching to the choir. Unfortunately, it's a fact that Spyderco doesn't offer serrations on nearly as many models as they did when I started collecting them 12 years ago. I would love to see a fully serrated Millie offered again. Can't say I've ever seen a serrated Captain model. Got a picture?
 
I don't own one but it does appear to be designed for looks rather than function, like the "nightmare grind" stuff. I can see it might work well for some planing type cutting and skinning, of course, but mostly just for looks.
 
I'm saving for one now, preferably used so I don't feel bad about using it, but even if I have to buy NIB, I'll still use it, albeit with a nagging guilty feeling. Looking at the blade I can already think of dozens of uses in my everyday life. The knife has two usable points, and two blade shapes. Skinning, slicing (rope, leather, etc.), whittling, scraping, chiseling... you know, everything knives are good for already, but including uses usually reserved for specialized blade shapes.
I'm kind of a fan, can you tell?
 
The Captain looks like it was a sleeper "hard use" knife. It is very reminiscent of the Emerson Commander and the ZT 0300 series. I really wish I could have at least tried one when they were available.
 
Agreed. Looks like the Direware Solo took the basic design and "upped" it.

RevDevil said:
The Captain looks like it was a sleeper "hard use" knife. It is very reminiscent of the Emerson Commander and the ZT 0300 series. I really wish I could have at least tried one when they were available.
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Easy--the base of the blade is good for cutting materials like rope that would normally want to slip off the edge rather than be cut...just like a hawkbill. But have you ever tried to cut against a flat or concave surface with a hawkbill? Just doesn't work as well as a convex edge profile. The belly of the point puts a lot of general utility back into the blade while providing the benefit of a hawkbill. :)
 
JD Spydo said:
Well I can tell you this>> I've gotten mine extremely sharp and it slashes cardboard like few other knives I've ever used with the exception of a couple of fixed blades I like. With the double hollow grind it's like a convex straight razor with the belly protruding the way it does. As sharp as that VG-10 blade gets when you really fine tune it I think it's slashing ability is terrific from what I've discovered.

I'm not saying it's the best SD knife at all. I'm not a martial arts expert by any means. But I do know a wickedly sharp knife when I use one and that Captain can get really sharp when you work on it.
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Thanks for input.
Certainly interesting to hear this POV from one who actually own the Capn.
Interesting take on the knife.
Yes, VG10 rocks - Im a big fan.
No 'martial arts expert/F. Perrin' here either, LOL.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Easy--the base of the blade is good for cutting materials like rope that would normally want to slip off the edge rather than be cut...just like a hawkbill. But have you ever tried to cut against a flat or concave surface with a hawkbill? Just doesn't work as well as a convex edge profile. The belly of the point puts a lot of general utility back into the blade while providing the benefit of a hawkbill. :)
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Sounds like you've actually used yours a few times. It truly does have some of the attributes of a Hawkbill for sure. However the Hawkbill does have the luxury of a very sharp, well defined point which I find very handy at times. And you make a great point that Hawkbills aren't good for certain cutting jobs>> I totally agree with that which is why I'm quick to point out that most of my Hawkbill use is as a "Companion Blade" to supplement my main EDC. Been doing it that way for almost 4 & 1/2 years now and I wouldn't do it any other way.

This is one reason I'm picking everyone's brain on the Captain to determine whether or not it would be a great companion blade. I think in a hunting, fishing, or just a basic outdoor scenerio it might be what the Doctor ordered.

Where the concave curve meets the pendulum end of the knife truly does make for an excellent piercing tool. It works on clampacks just about as good as a Hawkbill does. When you mention "rope work" that just makes me want a serrated version that much more. The Captain is a typical special use Spyder in many ways. But mainly because it's like many other Spyders>> it didnt' get popular until it got discontinued. I could list at least 20 Spyderco past models that fit well into that category.
 
Ain't that the truth! :D

Think of the name and what it might tell you about original intended purpose. The Captain? Strikes me as a knife for use on a boat or ship, and lack of an acute point (but still a usable one) is an advantage when working in close quarters around others. The sheepsfoot blade pattern, for instance, was favored on ships for a long time for a good reason.

For reference I don't own one, but I've had the chance to play with one a good deal. :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Ain't that the truth! :D

Think of the name and what it might tell you about original intended purpose. The Captain? Strikes me as a knife for use on a boat or ship, and lack of an acute point (but still a usable one) is an advantage when working in close quarters around others. The sheepsfoot blade pattern, for instance, was favored on ships for a long time for a good reason.

For reference I don't own one, but I've had the chance to play with one a good deal. :)
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Well Brother you really don't have to own one to give valid input. Because I own one and I'm asking what the heck is it good for>> There are a few jobs I've found on my own but it never hurts to compare notes. Only Spyderco would have brought this model to market. The design is just way to unusual for any other company to have put it on the market.

But just because it's unusual looking doesn't mean that it has no viable uses>> just the opposite is true. I was thinking just like you were that with the name "CAPTAIN" would indicate that it was intended for fishermen or some sort of seafaring job. But the knife is truly an excellent skinner and I know first hand that it has other practical uses.

I do find it interesting that it's one of the most coveted Spyderco models that has been discontinued>> but yet very little is known about it as far as it's intended uses. And yes a serrated version ( only in the arched inner curve part) would truly be much more useful for many duties i.e. seagoing and land uses as well. The suggestion that Jill made earlier about it being a potentially great leather working tool I think has a lot of truth in it. Now a serrated version would probably be best as an outdoor companion blade.
 
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