spyderco caly3 versus bradley alias II

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briannife

Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
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Hi All,

I am looking for a nice EDC that I will also use for light camping / hiking. I have narrowed it down to the spyderco caly3 with carbon fiber scales and the bradley alias II. Any opinions on the two knives? What about the mono lock versus back lock on the caly3? Is disassembly and cleaning a problem with the caly3? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
brian
 
The framelock would be easier to clean. When dirt gets into the caly pivot it completely sucks.
 
i'm pretty sure the caly3 is riveted together, so disassembling it would be a problem. At least the G10 version is anyway.

The Bradley would be easier to clean due to the open back.

I've had both knives and really liked both. The Caly3's blade is a bit thinner with its full flat grind. Take that for what it's worth - it could be a negative or positive depending on how you plan on using the knife, but it is a key difference.
 
For hiking I have to agree that the Alias would probably be more suited to that job.
However, as an everyday EDC the Caly 3 can't be beat.
 
I just picked up a CF Caly3. Like others said, the scales are pinned and cannot be taken apart (easily). In addition, the pivot and the clip screws are also different-sized, so user-maintenance is quite limited.

With Aloha,

Clarence
 
I really like the blade and handle shape of the Caly 3 CF. It just bothers me that I cant take it apart and clean. Are there advantages to going with the riveted pin construction (caly 3)? Or is it just cheaper to manufacture? It seems like most knives in that price/quality range are screwed together.

Thanks for the responses!

Brian
 
The pinned construction is just a cost cutting measure. I agree that it would be nice to have screw construction, but at least we have the adjustable pivot.
Theoretically you can still take the blade off, and since there aren't any washers putting it back together wouldn't be as much a pain as it is with many other knives.

you know what, if you really like the shape of the Caly 3, and want a knife that'll do good on the trail, the UKPK is probably one of the better choices you could make. As long as you don't need a locking blade then it should be great. It's got all screw construction (made in the U.S.A.), S30V blade, being a slip-joint there's no lock to break, and it comes in an orange handle version too.

http://www.knifeworks.com/spydercoukpenknifeorangeg-10handleplainedge.aspx
 
briannife said:
I really like the blade and handle shape of the Caly 3 CF. It just bothers me that I cant take it apart and clean. Are there advantages to going with the riveted pin construction (caly 3)? Or is it just cheaper to manufacture? It seems like most knives in that price/quality range are screwed together.

Thanks for the responses!

Brian
Click to expand...

I've never had a "need" to completely open up my knives to clean them. Neither have millions of others with pinned knives.

It's a non-issue.
 
I often recommend the Caly3 but indeed the pins bother me a bit. There was recently a thread on a backlock knife that had to be cleaned as pocket lint made the lock difficult to use. In contrast, a number of cheap Magnum knives are screwed together, so the cost cutting argument isn't that evident in my opinion.
For field use the recent Spyderco Sage may be an interesting alternative. The blade and general handle design are almost a twin of the Caly. As it's an open liner lock design it's also easy to clean. It has a CF handle, and blade steel may not be ZDP but its CPM-S30V definitely good enough.
 
I have a Caly 3 G10 VG10 steel. Its a great EDC. Allthough it is pinned the pivot screw is not. You can take out the blade for cleaning purpose. The backlock spring will rize so even that area is cleanable with cotton tips etc.. Re-assemble is not a problem with a T10 screwdriver.

I disagree with Capt. Carl statement. The knife has no washers as the tolerance between liners and blade is practical zero. I think CNC manufacturing. There is no room for a sand grain to get in between blade and handle. IF there should come anything in between blade and- pivot and handle it would be liquid or nano mm small.

I wonder however if the bladesize & caracter of the Caly 3 will meet your outdoor adventures. For this kind of outdoor stuff imo a nice fixed blade would be better.

Have no experience with the bradley one.

:cool:
 
Pinned construction, according to Sal, is not a cost-cutting measure in this case. The design precludes using screwed construction.
 
briannife said:
Hi All,

I am looking for a nice EDC that I will also use for light camping / hiking. I have narrowed it down to the spyderco caly3 with carbon fiber scales and the bradley alias II...
Click to expand...

I have both variations of the Caly 3 and it is a fine knife for light hiking / camping chores, but I would recommend the VG10 version (G10 scales), not the ZDP189 (CF scales). VG10 is more suited to all around outdoor use because of it's toughness and corrosion resistance, IMAO. ZDP189 is very hard and sharp, but it may not be as corrosion resistant and it's hardness makes it not quite as tough as VG10.

All Caly 3s are riveted except for the pivot, which does have a screw.
There are no washers, so the tolerances in the pivot area are very close. Too close to get much gunk in there, I think. I d/a a Caly 3 that I had carried and used for about a year and there was nothing in the pivot area except some of the CRK grease that I had used to lube it the year before.
 
carrot said:
Pinned construction, according to Sal, is not a cost-cutting measure in this case. The design precludes using screwed construction.
Click to expand...

I was one of those who complained about the riveted construction and lack of washers in the beginning, but the more I carry and use my Caly 3s, the more I have come to appreciate the fact that the rivets hold everything in place just fine and I don't have to worry about keeping anything tight.

As for the washerless design, I have found nothing but benefits from it in the year and a half that I've been carrying mine and giving Caly 3s to friends who bring them back and let me examine them. As Maarten mentioned, there is no room for anything but liquid to get around the pivot so junk doesn't collect there. And Spyderco's machining and polishing is high enough to make the opening and closing action as smooth as it would be if it had washers.

I think Sal is just a few steps ahead of the rest of us when it comes to knife design and implementation.
 
Here is another excellent and very affordable EDC that's well suited for outdoor work. The Eka Masur (which I admit to often recommend!) is wonderful in being very light yet sturdy with a nice 12C27 blade, an ergonomic grip that doesn't let you accidently slip your hand on the blade, a good backlock and wonderful looks with it's compressed birch handle. This is the product of a swedish company with more than 100 years experience, and that's obvious when handling. All my friends who try it smile as it feels so right. I like it as much as my VG10 Caly3.
Come on, you know you want it:
247310_messer.jpg
 
I really like the Caly3---it's an excellent EDC at a much more economical price point than the Bradley. The VG-10 version is my personal favorite; I do wish they made a VG10 variant with the carbon fiber handles, but that's not a major issue with the knife design. It's your typical excellent Spyderco pocketknife.

The Bradley is also an excellent knife---I love the frame lock---but I would probably buy the Spyderco for myself as an EDC.
 
Joshua J. said:
The pinned construction is just a cost cutting measure. I agree that it would be nice to have screw construction, but at least we have the adjustable pivot.
Theoretically you can still take the blade off, and since there aren't any washers putting it back together wouldn't be as much a pain as it is with many other knives.

you know what, if you really like the shape of the Caly 3, and want a knife that'll do good on the trail, the UKPK is probably one of the better choices you could make. As long as you don't need a locking blade then it should be great. It's got all screw construction (made in the U.S.A.), S30V blade, being a slip-joint there's no lock to break, and it comes in an orange handle version too.

http://www.knifeworks.com/spydercoukpenknifeorangeg-10handleplainedge.aspx
Click to expand...

That's what makes the pinned construction really annoying on the Caly 3--there's a cheaper version with better steel and screw construction, but no lock. It's too bad Spyderco decided to rivet this one together, it would've been much nicer as a screw construction knife, especially at its' price point.
 
I have lots of Benchmades and Spyderco's and for EDC the Caly3 is fantastic. For light hiking use I believe any EDC knife would do just fine. I EDC a UKPK alot and love the blade shape and design. I own a Caly3 that doesn't get pocket time because the UKPK does it all for me. I like the Caly3 better but keep it pristine because I like it better. I know that doesn't make sense to all, but to each his own. I have used a pinned Jess Horn lightweight for well over a decade and have always been able to clean it when necessary and mind you the blade is pinned as well. If you can't clean a Caly3 with or without removing the blade I would be surprised. I would second the suggestion of not using the CF (ZDP189) version for long term outdoor use because of the corrosion potential as compared to S30V or VG10. Good luck, let us know what you end up with and how its working out.

Pete
 
Hi All,

I ended up getting a spyderco sage. For the price I felt it was a lot of knife. I was a little apprehensive about the liner lock but after playing with the knife I find it is very well designed.

-brian
 
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