Spyderco R-2, overlooked.

"The R2 was designed to be an EDC versionof the R1 which was more difficult to use daily because of the cut out blade."

In that light, I think it shines. The original "R" was a cool knife but just being cool doesn't make it a good EDC. Maybe the R-2 is a little less "cool" than the R because it doesn't have the cut out blade but it sure is more practical.

One of other things I really like about the R-2 is the flat grey finish on the handle and the clip. On some of my pants, it blends in better than either black or polished metal. Green pants or olive drab seem to make it almost dissapear unless you really look at it.

The thing I like most if the flat ground blade. I am not really a collector as much as a user but if I were to actually try and start collecting seriously, I would collect all the Spyderco full flat ground blades. Some of Spydercos very best knives are the flat ground blade (Centofante II, G-10 Police, Lil Temp, Manix, Para, Yojimbo, Calypso, ect.) The sabre grind works well if the blade is kept thin like on the Delica but even there, the Calypso Jr. out slices the Delica.

Try cuting a stalk of celery lengthwise with Delica and with a Calypso Jr. You will notice that the Delica will split the stalk more than actually cut it. It wedges through and you get breaks along the cut. It is not a big deal as you still get the same results but it shows the difference in cutting ability. If this was looked into by someone who knows more than I do, I am sure you would find other differences that would show how much better full flat grinds are for certain tasks. In fact, I don't know of a cutting task that can be done better with a hollow ground blade or sabre grind than a flat grind.

The Manix actully a usefull knife despite it size and blade thickness just because it is flat ground. If you took the same blade and made it a hollow grind or a sabre grind like the Delica, it would not work as well and it would just be another big beefy knife that looks cool but isn't very usefull. Take the Al Mar Sere 2000, I love Al Mar's knives and think they really do make good quality stuff but the Sere 2000 would be a real winner in my eyes if it were flat ground. It could compeat with the Manix on the same level. As it is, it is just another mall ninja knife. People in the know carry a Manix, people that carry knives based on the cool factor, will carry a Sere 2000 or a Emerson. Those are really well made knives but it has been proven in tests that the Manix will out slice them.
 
A Sprint Run with thin, solid G-10 handle slabs would be very nice. Gray G-10 would fit the R theme. Don't change any other aspect of the design if possible. The ergonomics are great now. The evolution of the R family of folders. The R3.

I'd buy a couple and EDC one for sure.
 
I think the R2 is just about perfect. It only lacks Titanium handles and a high alloy blade. The Blade style, shape and size is perfect for me. I got mine for $80 NIB so I don't mind at all EDC it. Joe L.
 
I just discovered the R2 today in the knife store. It feels great in the hand, and I am drooling over the flat ground blade. I hope to get one real soon, it looks like a great EDC.
 
gunmike1 said:
I just discovered the R2 today in the knife store. It feels great in the hand, and I am drooling over the flat ground blade. I hope to get one real soon, it looks like a great EDC.
You let it get away???? Must be a money thing.:( Be sure to get one if you can. The R2 is a very nice knife.
 
Sal,

how about another sprint run? Solid scales (either almite or G10), 4 way clip, and a solid ZDP-189 blade :D I bet it'd sell out very quickly.

Tom
 
IUKE12 said:
You let it get away???? Must be a money thing.:( Be sure to get one if you can. The R2 is a very nice knife.

Yeah, it is a money thing. I don't have the $135 to spare that the store was asking.
 
Well, me IS one of this poeple begging for a slightly larger Caly or Calylike...

Could someone do me a favor and tell how thick and long the handle is?
Bladethickness would be interesting also.
I cant find the information on the web and didnt find it on Spyderco's website.

Many thanks in advance.

Amilo*


*my always overheating crappy notebook that is. 4 minutes of typing and my hands feeling like a medium steak :D

Have fun all
 
zenheretic said:
The R2 can still be had for roughly 80 bucks online.

Yeah, I found a couple places that were $75 to the low $80's. Hopefully in the next month I can round up the cash to get it.
 
Hi Catamount.

We have many other "sprints" in the works to make, so it will be quite a while before the "R" gets another shot, if at all.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Catamount.

We have many other "sprints" in the works to make, so it will be quite a while before the "R" gets another shot, if at all.

sal

Thanks for the reply Sal :) I have an R2 on the way to tide me over.

I am looking forward to the other cool things you have up your sleeve. Hopefully one of them will have a 3 1/2", full flat ground, solid ZDP-189 blade ;)
 
Spyderco offers a lot of good stuff for collectors. I just hate it when the perfect user becomes so valuable that I can't afford to buy one as a user. This has happened with a lot of great designs. The G-10 Police is starting to gain in value a little bit. It hasn't gone up in price so much as it has become hard to get ahold of.

The R-2 is a sort of a larger Calypso. I am one of the ones that asked for a larger CJ. Maybe that is why I like the R-2 so much. I am glad I have 3 of them to tide me over. I have one user and two NIB for the future.
 
Well, I finally bought one. $75 bought me a new plain edge, and it will be here before the end of the week. I feel like a kid in the candy store! This will definately be a user for me. That flat ground, leaf shaped blade just screams "scalpel". I was going to buy a Pacific Salt next and send it to STR for a wave and splinter picker tip, but I couldn't pass this up for $75. I'll have to buy the Pacific Salt next paycheck.
 
Back
Top