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Or
Down to these two for my next knife ... any suggestions guys?
Thanks!
Ryan
-
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Spyderco Centofante III or Kershaw Avalanche?
- Thread starter RyanMalpiede
- Start date
Or
Down to these two for my next knife ... any suggestions guys?
Thanks!
Ryan
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2003
- Messages
- 369
I don't own either of the knives but I'm going to make an opinion based on my limited knowledge regardless.
I have a Spyderco that I just recently got, a Harpy. I've handled a lot of knives but I was extremely impressed with the quality of this knife. It is sleek, it is solid, it is shaaaarrrrrrpppp. It locks back with a nice "CLICK" and even though it is a lockback it can be closed with one hand. I absolutely love it.
I've never owned a Kershaw but I will say that I've always been interested in their assisted opening knives, such as the chive and I hear they are well made, fun, usable knives.
So it looks like I'm going to have to make my opinion based solely on looks. Which is not the best idea but it might give you something else to think about.
I like a hole over a stud, that Spyderco also looks very nice. It has a spider on the handle, I mean, come on. The spyderco's tip also looks like it will penetrate better due to the false edge. There is also a thumb ramp on the Spyderco which is nice to have for detailed cuts. The Spyderco's handle also looks like it has fine grip without the rugged feel of the Kershaw, if you are looking for smoother over harsher. Oh yeah, and the Spyderco doesn't have a big name written on the blade, which some people don't mind but I'm picky about.
Is that Kershaw a liner lock? The Spyderco will technically be more secure if that is the case, but again, whichever way you like better. Don't be scared about the one hand opening and closing with a lockback, after a little practice it comes naturally.
I just looked up the steels on each, the Kershaw has a nice steel and that Spyderco has vg-10. I noticed that at newgraham the kershaw was almost double the price. So double the price for assisted opening and g10 handles since I don't really consider the steel to be better than spyderco's vg-1o, but again, I have no experience with either knife or Kershaw's steel.
Haha, so there's my "absolutely no experience with these knives but I looked at the pictures" opinion. If nothing else it'll give you something to read.
I suggest getting the Spyderco and then buying a Kershaw Chive, Scallion, or Leek, it'll get you familiar with Kershaw's assisted opening and get you two knives. Or just buy two Spydercos Or buy the Kershaw. Haha, good luck my friend.
-Bryan
I have a Spyderco that I just recently got, a Harpy. I've handled a lot of knives but I was extremely impressed with the quality of this knife. It is sleek, it is solid, it is shaaaarrrrrrpppp. It locks back with a nice "CLICK" and even though it is a lockback it can be closed with one hand. I absolutely love it.
I've never owned a Kershaw but I will say that I've always been interested in their assisted opening knives, such as the chive and I hear they are well made, fun, usable knives.
So it looks like I'm going to have to make my opinion based solely on looks. Which is not the best idea but it might give you something else to think about.
I like a hole over a stud, that Spyderco also looks very nice. It has a spider on the handle, I mean, come on. The spyderco's tip also looks like it will penetrate better due to the false edge. There is also a thumb ramp on the Spyderco which is nice to have for detailed cuts. The Spyderco's handle also looks like it has fine grip without the rugged feel of the Kershaw, if you are looking for smoother over harsher. Oh yeah, and the Spyderco doesn't have a big name written on the blade, which some people don't mind but I'm picky about.
Is that Kershaw a liner lock? The Spyderco will technically be more secure if that is the case, but again, whichever way you like better. Don't be scared about the one hand opening and closing with a lockback, after a little practice it comes naturally.
I just looked up the steels on each, the Kershaw has a nice steel and that Spyderco has vg-10. I noticed that at newgraham the kershaw was almost double the price. So double the price for assisted opening and g10 handles since I don't really consider the steel to be better than spyderco's vg-1o, but again, I have no experience with either knife or Kershaw's steel.
Haha, so there's my "absolutely no experience with these knives but I looked at the pictures" opinion. If nothing else it'll give you something to read.
I suggest getting the Spyderco and then buying a Kershaw Chive, Scallion, or Leek, it'll get you familiar with Kershaw's assisted opening and get you two knives. Or just buy two Spydercos
Or buy the Kershaw. Haha, good luck my friend.-Bryan
- Joined
- May 10, 1999
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- 2,769
I too would get the Spyderco. I had the Avalanche and the scale material was bad.... The surface was very rough and sharp and you would have blisters on your palm just after few minutes (and it was not good on my pocket either)... The assisted opening was nice but the spring pushed the blade to one side and it was touching the liner. You could tighten the pivot (to straighten the blade) but then the blade would not open. I liked the shape of the blade but the handle was terrible. I never handled this Spyderco but it looks nice, very nice.
David
David
- Joined
- Nov 28, 1999
- Messages
- 14,985
I picked up one of those Centofante IIIs recently from fellow forumite Anthony Cheesboro, and frankly can't figure out why he would want to sell it. It's damn nice, and VG10 steel too. I'm not a big fan of that particular Kershaw knife, so this is an easy choice for me. Spyderco!
- Joined
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Ryan,
I can highly recommend either knife. I have had both and they are both great knives. Buy the one that you like.
Having said that I must observe that you are comparing apples and oranges. The Kershaw has CPM S60V steel, assissted opening, G-10 handles, liner lock and ti-nitride coating on the blade. The spyderco has VG-10 steel (while very good it is not in the same class as CPM S60-V), and a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle. As good as the Spyderco Centofante III is it is not in the same class as the Kershaw Avalanche. The Spyderco Chinook, Military, or ParaMilitary would be a better comparison to the Kershaw.
Tom
I can highly recommend either knife. I have had both and they are both great knives. Buy the one that you like.
Having said that I must observe that you are comparing apples and oranges. The Kershaw has CPM S60V steel, assissted opening, G-10 handles, liner lock and ti-nitride coating on the blade. The spyderco has VG-10 steel (while very good it is not in the same class as CPM S60-V), and a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle. As good as the Spyderco Centofante III is it is not in the same class as the Kershaw Avalanche. The Spyderco Chinook, Military, or ParaMilitary would be a better comparison to the Kershaw.
Tom
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
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Since I will be wearing it in the waistband ... sometimes against bare skin, I think the handle material will be the deciding factor. Thank you to all for your help!
PS. I will most likely get the avalanche too, just not right this second.
Ryan
PS. I will most likely get the avalanche too, just not right this second.
Ryan
- Joined
- Nov 28, 1999
- Messages
- 14,985
Sorry, Tom. I have to respectfully disagree with you on these blade steels. IMHO S60V(440V) was/is a very overrated steel that was hard to sharpen and easily chipped. I, and a whole bunch of other people couldn't get near the same kind of edge on their 440V Spyderco Military as their ATS34 version.Either it was too soft and the edges deformed, or it was too hard and the edges chipped. I have never heard anybody complain about VG10.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
- Messages
- 5,094
That Centofante III was so good that I had to get another. 
It has taken the place of the Native as my favorite mid size zytel Spyderco. Between the Centofante III and the Avalanche, the Sydie is head and shoulders better. My Avalanche has had problems with vertical blade play and a lazy assisted opening action.
It has taken the place of the Native as my favorite mid size zytel Spyderco. Between the Centofante III and the Avalanche, the Sydie is head and shoulders better. My Avalanche has had problems with vertical blade play and a lazy assisted opening action.
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Danbo,
No need to appologize. I personally never had any problems with my CPM S60V blades. In compairing CPM S60V and ATS-34 you are right that ATS 34 will take a finer edge and be easier to sharpen. The edge on ATS 34 can be "slick" (or not toothy). CPM S60V takes a more toothy edge that makes a great working edge. I recomend not trying to get a fine edge on CPM S60V it just doesn't work that well. The assissted opening on the Spyderco is REALLY lazy. 
No need to appologize. I personally never had any problems with my CPM S60V blades. In compairing CPM S60V and ATS-34 you are right that ATS 34 will take a finer edge and be easier to sharpen. The edge on ATS 34 can be "slick" (or not toothy). CPM S60V takes a more toothy edge that makes a great working edge. I recomend not trying to get a fine edge on CPM S60V it just doesn't work that well. The assissted opening on the Spyderco is REALLY lazy.