Spyderco Forester (and brethren)

[Merost]

Anyone have any experience with this knife or the steel that comprises its blade (N690CO). I really like Spydercos and the blade shape, but not familar with the steel at all. Suitable for wilderness knife?

 

[Edgyone]

+1

Thanks for the thread Merost , I'm also keen to know more about the Woodlander to Forester range* (Hossum/Spydie collaboration). Obviously there are a range of sizes, from large recurve hunter/skinner to a medium/large chopper.

I've seen video footage on the net of a guy jimmying apart a shed, and someone chopping soft pine. But I'm still undecided re outdoors use.

I think they use that metal (N690CO) in a number of Extreme Ratio blades and I imagine they are not dissimilar to a VG10 Fallkniven A1/2 in terms of edge retention/chipping. Anyone had chipping problems with the spydie?

Some people seem to have had issues with sheath retention, especially coupled with the hook on the handle that can dislodge the blade if it gets caught up on bushes etc. Anyone modified their sheath or bought an aftermarket sheath?

Unless you are a bargain hunter like Jill Jackson, they can be a little spendy - for 'wilderness' use are they worth the outlay compared to a H1 Rock Salt or even a Busse?

Thanks for any corrections/responses!

 

[iamtoast]

For me, the steel is one of the more interesting on the market right now. Different companies have blades with this steel in vastly different 'levels' of knives. Benchmade has its Monochrome in N690, which I guess could be very different from the N690Co version. The Benchmade knife is in its 'Red' class or its least expensive line.

Spyderco also has the N690Co steel in a folder called the Volpe made in cooperation with the Fox cutlery company in Italy. It looks like a really nice knife and might be a nice, less expensive, introduction to the blade steel without spending as much as the Forester. A smaller investment to make sure you like it and getting a classy folder in the process. Its one of the few frame lock Spyderco knives made.

 

[Edgyone]

For me, the steel is one of the more interesting on the market right now. Different companies have blades with this steel in vastly different 'levels' of knives. Benchmade has its Monochrome in N690, which I guess could be very different from the N690Co version. The Benchmade knife is in its 'Red' class or its least expensive line.

Yeah, it's a mixed bag!

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll bet that the frame lock Volpe works well but I'm not sure if it would answer the question of how that metal would perform on a 'chopper'. But but but.. the Volpe does look nice, nice and tempting... :foot: