Spyderco Ocelot?

barrabas74

barrabas74

Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
8,167
How does it compare to like a military? I have never held one and would like to know more about them. I know they have a VG-10 blade and G-10 handles but thats about the extent of it.
 
Check out my post in the Spydie section here. Great knife--my favorite of the year--but very different from a Millie. Much smaller, two full liners, lockback, different blade shape... Basically there's nothing similar except that they both use G10.
 
I just think that it seems like an aweful lot of money for a knife that does not have S30V and has paw prints on the handle.
 
I don't really understand where this sentiment comes from? What is the big deal with S30V. Don't get me wrong, I really like S30V, and have defended it in those recent threads about S30V not being up to snuff, but VG-10 is hardly a steel to sneeze at. I mean, come on, were do we get if we start looking down on VG-10 :rolleyes:.

Compare it with the AFCK or the 710 from Benchmade for example: About the same price and they don't use S30V either. Its actually surprising that Spyderco can put in the extra work for the paw prints for just a couple of bucks more than you would have to lay down for a Mini-Manix.
 
Often, these connections are all in my head, but when I see the ocelot, I see the Centofante with better scales and minor revisions.
 
artfully martial I saw the same thing, thats why I asked, but I did like your review shmackey. I liked the centofante but not the plastic handles, I like the wenger style blade better too. I saw some of the proto's those ones witht the green handles look pretty good. I personally like VG-10 and I own several blades in s30v and VG-10 so that isnt even really an issue to me, I just really like the blade design and overall look, the idea that the scales are a bit thinner is a plus to me as well. I need to get my hands on one and feel it up to really know though.
 
Sledgehammer said:
I just think that it seems like an aweful lot of money for a knife that does not have S30V and has paw prints on the handle.
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I totally know what you mean, S30V rocks hardcore, VG-10 SUCKS! :rolleyes:

Seems like someone likes to read posts but doesn't know how to form an opinion of their own. . . .
 
LOL. It's funny to see how the Spyderco nuts defend their stuff and take it all personal. :D

I just think the knife looks childish and it only has VG-10. Why would anyone pay more money for the ocelot when you can get a Paramilitary or a Mini-Manix cheaper and have S30V? I don't think VG-10 sucks I just would rather have a good USA made steel in my blade.
 
Sledgehammer said:
I just think the knife looks childish and it only has VG-10. Why would anyone pay more money for the ocelot when you can get a Paramilitary or a Mini-Manix cheaper and have S30V? I don't think VG-10 sucks I just would rather have a good USA made steel in my blade.
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I think the paws make it super cool and I'd rather have VG-10 than any other stainless. I already have a Para.

Sometimes we buy knives because we like 'em.
 
Shmackey said:
I think the paws make it super cool and I'd rather have VG-10 than any other stainless. I already have a Para.

Sometimes we buy knives because we like 'em.
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I can appreciate that. ;) Thanks for responding in an adult manner realizing we all have different opinions :). All I did was give mine.
 
I'm going to say to just buy the Centofante in VG10 for 45 bucks. There's no way G10 is worth twice the price. I personally actually like the scales on the Centofante (a rarity for that material with me, I might add), and I like how it looks better. Otherwise, it's effectively the exact same knife. At the Ocelot's price, I'd go with the absolutely magnificent Para.
 
Artfully Martial said:
I'm going to say to just buy the Centofante in VG10 for 45 bucks. There's no way G10 is worth twice the price. I personally actually like the scales on the Centofante (a rarity for that material with me, I might add), and I like how it looks better. Otherwise, it's effectively the exact same knife. At the Ocelot's price, I'd go with the absolutely magnificent Para.
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I've got both the Centofante and the Ocelot right here, and I can tell you they are most definitely not effectively the exact same knife. The fit and finish on the Ocelot simply blows away that on the Centofante. And the blades are actually quite different.

Actually, the F&F on the Ocelot beats the F&F on any Spydie I've had, including the very excellent Para. Are the awesome F&F, specific design qualities, and paw-enabled G10 worth the price? Depends on the individual, I guess. To me, the Ocelot is the knife of the year.
 
I think that the ocelot will hold diff than the centofante, the ridge on the back of the ocelot is more sloped than the centofante, while the centofante's is somewhat steep in my opinion. There is a finger groove in the handle of the ocelot, and at the base of the blade there is an indent for you finger, while in the Centofante there is not. The ocelot blade and handle flow is diff if you look than the Centofante. Both look similar, however the more I look the more I see blade and handle diff which cause the knives to have different flows to them, which would make them hold very diff. But hay I could be wrong havent held and Ocelot yet, goin by looks.

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Well, minor revisions. I'm not trying to say they're exactly the same. Actually, to be honest with you guys, the Centofante is the knife with the highest F & F I've used from Spyderco. I'm not sure I'll buy more Spydercos without seeing them in real life first anymore, but if I do, it'll probably be the Centofante. Plus, I think it just looks cooler.

I'm not sure if you're going to beat the Centofante for value anywhere in the Spyderco lineup, but if it can be definitively beat, the Ocelot is not the one that'll do it. When Spyderco is doing such great knives for 70 dollars and under, it's difficult for me to spend that much more for something with the exact same lock and blade steel.

Don't get me wrong here, I think the ocelot is a pretty cool knife, and the G10 is a nice addition. The styling isn't my preference, but that's no biggie. Basically, I'm not debating that the Ocelot isn't a very good knife, just that you can do better for the money.
 
As far as the whole VG10/S30V debacle. Spyderco's S30V isn't really that impressive. Not to say it's a bad steel but I've handled the Para/Military/Manix (all using S30V) and it doesn't perform much better than their VG10. That being said, Spyderco's VG10 is excellent. In fact, I personally think it's their best steel (I haven't tried the ZDP yet though). It seems to me that the use of G10/Micarta scales makes the prices of knives skyrocket and I don't understand why. There has been alot of discussion of the Native, which utilizes CPMS30V, being sold at WalMat for $39. You can also buy a BudK knife with G10 scales for about $5. It seems that "premium" scales can almost double the price of a knife for no discernable reason. Benchmade will let you trade out a less desirable steel for a "super premium" tool steel for $20 bucks. It doesn't make any sense. What exactly makes a knife double or triple in price?

Personally, I think the only thing jacking up the price on the Ocelot is the paw prints in the G10. It does look a little childish to me but if I were a tracker and/or went hunting for small game more often, I would probably pay a premium for it. As far as the steel goes, I'd actually pay more for the VG10 becuase it's properties are very similar to their S30V but it has more visual appeal in it's finish and Sal and Co. have been using it so long that it really is about as perfect as it's going to get. In my opinion, they tend to run their stuff a little soft, partly due to the tremendous popularity of the Sharpmaker and people bitching about toughness. Why else are the RC numbers of their newer steels considerably lower than other makers (S30V, ZDP189)? Their VG10 is absolutely spot-on though.
 
Goods points, all.

I'd just like to note though, that my one S30V spyderco noticeably outperforms my VG10 knives for both sharpness and edge retention.

That said, VG10 and D2 are, next to S30V, clearly my favorite steels. Pre Walmart-Native, S30V was a bad deal in spyderco's lineup, you're totally right. When you can get a VG10 knife (Centofante/Native) for under 50, that's going to be a hard deal to beat in general. In many knife companies, you can spend more than a hundred and just barely escape 440C's range.
 
I like the Ocelot. it doesn't matter if it's S30V or VG10...as my own experience is that Spyderco's VG10 outperforms the S30V. This is different from S30V as heat treated by the custom makers. I think the Japanese have the HT for VG10 down pat.
 
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