Spyderco Junior

brj

Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
1,134
As others pointed out, although this knife was specifically designed with a focus on children usage, the end product is unexpectedly comfortable for grown-ups as well.

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Specs (as per manufacturer's website):
length overall - 7.25 " (184 mm)
blade length - 3.218 " (82 mm)
blade steel - VG-10
length closed - 4.125 " (105 mm)
cutting edge - 3.125 " (79 mm)
weight - 2.9 oz (82 g)
hole diameter - .5 " (13 mm)
blade thickness - .125 " (3 mm)
handle material - G-10

Things I love:
- The streamlined handle coupled with the wide and tall blade. After a passenger ‘what am I supposed to do with this folding kitchen knife’ thought upon opening the package, usage ideas started pouring in, revealing what an excellent all-rounder the Junior really is. The tip is moderately pointy and the blade may not be your regular slicing machine, but it really shines as a general utility folder to have at hand. Oh yeah, and it really excels at spreading PB&J :D

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- Exquisite balance: much like the Street Beat, the Junior perches on your finger

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- Dialex’s logo, incorporating the Neolithic Romanian “thinker of Hamangia” figurine

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- Open back construction
- Compression lock

Neutral:
- Really tight wire clip. Exceeds the comfort zone, but no big deal otherwise

Room for improvement:
- Larger size. A 4” blade would serve, a 5” one would be even better. As the unique handle offers an error-free, natural grip, and you can use the blade for cutting, slicing, whittling (courtesy of the negative angle near the Spanish notch) and even digging (the wide blade helps a lot), this could be the ultimate backpacking folder to have on track.

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- “Friendlier” handles color. In Alex’s initial design the black handles are in line with the need to point out the “knife, beware!” message to kids. However, I feel that the omnipresent and ominous black may well have been replaced with some other non-flashy color, like dark blue or desert tan with little to no impact on the initial message, but with a measurable effect on increasing the target group for this knife.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with the way Spyderco managed to stay true to Alex's design. Now if only Battlestation would be the next colab .... ;)

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Thank you for the review. I'm pretty intrigued by this one and it's on my list as a potential back pocket folder.
 
Love the look of the blade and the compression lock. Hatehatehate the bite-taken-out-of-it handle. Put the Junior blade in the Yojimbo2 handle (don't like Wharncliffe look either) and you've got a sale. Otherwise a definite "no" on the Junior and a maybe on the Yojimbo2. But to each his own.
 
I am not sure at this point if I would get one of these.

(Too many other Spydercos on this list to get before it.)

If it did have a another handle color option or sprint run of one, that would be great though.

I do like the blade shape and the Compression Lock.
 
Junior is a great folder and the review is spot on, including the overly tight wire clip.

I'm not sure I'd use something that sharp for jam!

About the photo: is that a Military and the original Para with your Junior?
 
I think this is a great design but saddened that it's a limited run priced for collectors. Smart business but would be sweet priced around $90... Makes me think of all the Kephart styled little fixed blades that are popular.
 
I am not sure at this point if I would get one of these.

(Too many other Spydercos on this list to get before it.)

:thumbup: +1.

For me, it's just a bit too expensive for me to take the plunge and try out the design, kind of like the Balance when it first came out - very nifty and unique looking, but I don't want to drop that much cash on it to find out whether or not I'll like it, especially with so many other knives I'd want to try out first. At least with the Balance they've since introduced a less expensive model.
 
This is probably the first folder to really grab my attention in years. The handle looks very comfortable and the blade shape is great, too bad it's a bit pricey and limited run.
 
I was waiting for this knife, but when I held one at the outlet store, It feels so different from all my other Spydies ( it feels kind of unnatural,despite how comfortable it looks)I decided I would hold off.

I'm not writing it off just yet,I didn't like the Millies and Para's at first either and now I have a few, and their becoming my favorites EDC

I do love the looks of it ,especially the broad blade.
 
Junior is a great folder and the review is spot on, including the overly tight wire clip.

I'm not sure I'd use something that sharp for jam!

About the photo: is that a Military and the original Para with your Junior?

the pic features a Para 2 next to Millie & Junior

Some of you guys mentioned this being some sort of limited run: AFAIK, this is regular production. Also, I didn't find it priced prohibitively either (on a side note, I still don't own the Rocklobster due to the price tag); as with all things in life, YMMV but please don't dismiss the Junior based on looks alone, after all it is a Spyderco ;)
 
Room for improvement:
- Larger size. A 4” blade would serve, a 5” one would be even better. As the unique handle offers an error-free, natural grip, and you can use the blade for cutting, slicing, whittling (courtesy of the negative angle near the Spanish notch) and even digging (the wide blade helps a lot), this could be the ultimate backpacking folder to have on track.

If this were produced, I would buy. Thanks for the review!

Andy
 
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