Spyderco Calypso Jr. Review (Grey FRN)

F

Fisher of Men

Banned
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
593
Hey all,

I just got 2 Spyderco Calypso Jr's in the mail today.

I like the layout of the knife and how it feels in my hand. It's very easy to open and is truly "scary sharp". Both of them are very sharp. I did noticed (as was mentioned here before) that when closed the blade tips are a bit off center. It almost appears that if you change the clip to the other side they will be off center the other way. I guess it's no big deal. The handle's are really light. This is the first knife I've had with Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) handles. I really like FRN.

I'm a little disapointed it doesn't say "Seki-City" Japan on the blade. It only says Japan. The other side says "VG-10" and "Spyderco". The Spyder hole, while being smaller than the hole on my Scorpius, is not too small. It can open the knife just fine (I have large hands).

PROS:
  • Small - fits in my hand nicely (and I have large hands).
  • Opens and closes smoothly with just the right amount of effort.
  • Really Really Sharp out of the box.
  • Good price at $35.

CONS:
  • After further review...I don't have any cons!

All in all it's a good knife. I've compared it side by side to the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian that boxer93 lent me and I have to say that I prefer the Spyderco. The Min-Grip feels more solid but that may just be due to the stainless liners. The Calypso Jr. has no liner.

I don't think you can go wrong with this knife. If they come out with a new color or a different handle material I will buy another :)

Enjoy,
Fisher of Men
 
It's funny that you should post this. I just got a Mini Grip from Cabelas in D2 today, and it felt flimsy to me. Interesting how we can have 2 identical knives in front of us and reach different conclusions. Don't give up on the Calypso, they're really good knives.
 
I just had a look at mine and the blade is fairly well centred, maybe a fraction of a millimetre off. The handle does seem light but the blade is not that heavy and the whole package seems fairly well balanced to me.
 
A nice honest first impression review Fisher, well done.
I shared many of the cheapness, lightly built concerns when receiving my Calypso Jr, but this is one knife that the more you use, the more you will appreciate. At the end of the day, this knife covers nearly all of my EDC requirement and is always in my pocket.
 
I have a Caly Jr coming... should be here Saturday or Monday. Interesting that you should be comparing it to a mini-Grip. My EDC is a mini-RSK. I really like the feel of FRN, Zytel, or whatever it happens to be called (depending on the manufacturer). I started out carrying a Browning with brass bolsters and wooden handle inserts. Talk about weight! I switched to a Buck 112, but that didn't help much. The mini-RSK that I carry now is weightless compared to them. I have to say that my two Delicas are CF, not FRN, but I actually like FRN better for an EDC.

I've been a fan of FRN since it first came out. My first knives using FRN were Gerbers in the late 80's or early 90's. Since then, everything I've used for an EDC has had glass/nylon handles. I've never, ever had a problem with one.

Anyway, great choice on the mini-Grip. I just gave my best buddy one for his birthday last weekend. He loved it. I think you'll like the one you have. I like full-length liners and washers too, but we are talking about $35 vs. $75 in cost as well as differences in product philosophy between Benchmade's "Blue Class" knives and Spydie's lower end offerings.
 
Feels cheap, but FRN will survive world wars. Haven't ever heard of anyone break em. The Caly is a pocket razor anyways
 
The Calypso is an excellent design, I really liked the full sized Micarta handle model, the best Spydie ever made IMHO.

The full flat grind allows for excellent cutting efficiency, better than say its Delica counterpart by a noticeable degree.

I have found VG10 to be an excellent steel for this class of knife, good edge holding, and takes an edge like a scalpel.

The Calypso Jr. is not a hard use knife for sure, but for a light use knife it is excellent. You can carry it clipped on the inside of your gym shorts, and forget about it until it is needed.

I would prefer a micarta version with the VG10 steel, and a slightly larger opening hole. The tip is also very fine, which is great for delicate work, but you have to be careul with it.

Thank you for your impressions, always nice to read about a good knife.
I do like the spine treatment on the knife.
 
Thanks for all of your additions to this review.

I will have to give it a go as my EDC for a couple months and see how it goes. I am certainly not giving up on the knife. I do really like it. The cool thing about Spyderco's is that when you first get them, sometimes you don't think they're all that great.....and then.....they really grow on you. I think that's why they have such a following. I know that's how I reacted to my Scorpius. I think this Calypso Jr. will do well for an EDC. The cool thing is that if it don't I can always buy something else. Trying different knives is good:D

One last thing. Remember, I'm just a newbie at this. You all probably have a lot more knowledge about knives than I do. :)

Cheers,
Fisher of Men;)
 
Fisher of Men said:
One last thing. Remember, I'm just a newbie at this. You all probably have a lot more knowledge about knives than I do. :)
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter, there is ALWAYS one more knife, no matter who you are! :)
 
Just got mine in the mail today. The blade is off-center, the blade matches up poorly with the locking mechanism (as you look at the back of the knife when open), and the head of the lock pin (the pin the lock pivots upon) looks like it was chewed on by a squirrel with very strong teeth.

I was so upset I quickly logged back onto Spyderco.com and ordered two more. $35 for this cool knife, are you kidding me? Love the feel of the handle and the blade shape. These will be the best stocking stuffers ever.
 
Patapsco Mike said:
Just got mine in the mail today. The blade is off-center, the blade matches up poorly with the locking mechanism (as you look at the back of the knife when open), and the head of the lock pin (the pin the lock pivots upon) looks like it was chewed on by a squirrel with very strong teeth.

I was so upset I quickly logged back onto Spyderco.com and ordered two more. $35 for this cool knife, are you kidding me? Love the feel of the handle and the blade shape. These will be the best stocking stuffers ever.
Click to expand...

LOL....so was your knife messed up at all or are you just messing around?

Please don't get the impression that I don't like mine. I like it very much.

Your post is nuts. :)
 
None of what I posted was untrue. The metal to metal contact from the blade itself to the lock is very sloppy and that pin is absolutely mangled. But at that price I find these things easy to overlook given the nice blade material and geometry as well as the super-comfy handle. It is one if the most comfortable small knives I have ever held. Much nicer IMO than the BM mini-grip. That felt very small in my hands, to the point of being uncomfortable. This knife feels like it was made to fit your hand, not your eyes... I really do like it a lot.
 
Most spyderco's tend to underwhelm on first handling, then gradually impress with extended use. The Military, Native and Calypso Jr have all done this with me. I'm still coming round to my Calypso - although it's sharpness is a source of wonder and amusement (amusement to my friends who keep asking about that huge bald patch on my right leg - I tell them I shaved the leg for taping a knee sprain)
 
I would like to clarify a few things.

First thanks for all of your replies. :D

I think I will be giving this thing a 5 star rating out of a max of 5.

You guys are right. The FRN is light, but just after one day of use I love it. I've had to cut some boxes today that had boat loads of tape on them. Spyderco goes right through and makes a nice straight cut. Wipes off clean. I have never had my 880BT Benchmade cut anything this fast and precise. I also love the matte grey clip with the black Spyder on it. I can even Spyder-drop this thing and it has FRN handles. I really like it. I get a weird good feeling when I carry and use a Spyderco knife. I don't get any feeling like that when I carry other knives. I really can't explain it. I'm not being goofy either. It's just a weird thing.

I'm going to get a lot of use out of this Calypso Jr. My wife likes hers too.

Thanks Spyderco! :)
 
Fisher of Men said:
CONS:
  • After further review...I don't have any cons!
Click to expand...
You missed one:p
CON: Sometimes makes you wonder why you bought all those more expensive knives.
The Calypso Jr. is THE "best-buy" of the knife world, IMO.
 
OK! OK! you talked me into it! I just placed my order.
(I've been thinking about it for some time now anyway - you guys just pushed me - thanks.)
 
the calypso is the knife I carry and use every day.its the one knife I would be lost without.
I carry in my shirt pocket since pants pocket carry is out for me, being a wheelchair user.
I tryed carrying a spyderco rookie on my belt but, it opened and poked a hole in me so I gave up that mode of carry up
 
1gailt said:
the calypso is the knife I carry and use every day.its the one knife I would be lost without.
I carry in my shirt pocket since pants pocket carry is out for me, being a wheelchair user.
I tryed carrying a spyderco rookie on my belt but, it opened and poked a hole in me so I gave up that mode of carry up
Click to expand...

I love how you say it "poked a hole in me". That's just a good choice of words :)

Is your Caplyso an FRN model? If so I would imagine that shirt pocket carry is very light.

You talking Calypso or Calypso Jr.?
 
I carry the grey frn plain edge jr and I also carry the black serated when I'm doing some odd jobs around the house.
they're so light I forget its there until I need it.in my shirt pocket its always handy.
the bad thing about getting poked with the rookie is I didn't know it until later.
 
I'm pretty sure I drunkendly ordered one of these this weekend thanks to this thread.

I hope you guys are right. It was only 40 bucks anyway.

I'm a benchmade whore so it will be my first Spyderco, first FRN, first Lockback, and first VG-10.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top