SPYDERCO Volpe...Opinions??

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JTR357

JTR357

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Hi,I'm sorry if this was already posted.I'm just looking for opinions on this model.SPYDERCO C99P Volpe, Stainless Handle With Blonde Olivewood Overlay, Plain
Features a 4.31 in. stainless steel handle with blonde olivewood overlay, a 3.45 in. N690Co plain blade. Comes complete with pocket clip.

I've never heard of that steel before.Is it stainless?If so,what it be closest comparable with...AUS-8,13C26,440C...etc?How does it feel in the hand?Is it made in US or China?What type of locking mechanism?
I generally don't like SS handles,but I really like the olive wood inlays in this one.I checked on Spyderco's website & couldn't find any info.Is it a Byrd?

Thanks in advance for all your helpfull input:)....sorry about the million Q's,but this one really caught my eye & I want to learn more about it.
 
Framelock. Made in Italy by Fox I believe. The steel, from what I have read, is comparable to AUS8 and 440C, with better edge holding.

Cannot offer feedback about ergonomics, have not handled one. IT is a beautiful knife in person though.
 
Vivi said:
Framelock. Made in Italy by Fox I believe. The steel, from what I have read, is comparable to AUS8 and 440C, with better edge holding.

Cannot offer feedback about ergonomics, have not handled one. IT is a beautiful knife in person though.
Click to expand...

Thanks Vivi:thumbup: Anyone know what type of grind on this one?
 
Taken fron Aussie outlet KnifeSite..........

The blade is available flat-ground in a PlainEdge configuration. It is made of N690Co, a cobalt additive steel manufactured in Europe.
Click to expand...

I received mine on Friday and boy, oh boy do I like it! ;)

A very sweet knife and quite elegant. :thumbup:
 
I think it's a very cool knife. Made in Italy, as mentioned above, and it has nice F&F. Very smooth action with solid lockup. The grind is as flat as they come and the edge is very keen. Mine hasn't cut much in the way of materials like cardboard or rope but in the kitchen it works great. Like most of the SS-handled Spyders it's pretty slim and slides easily in and out of your pocket.
 
Great blade.


The handle.. i'm not so fond of. A little on the slender side, and not very grippy, makes unlocking a little more awkward than i'd like.
 
N690Co is an Austrian steel. We get it in a lot of Italian knives now. The first I saw it was in the Extrema Ratio line.
 
Here's a few shots over in the Spyderco Forum:

http://spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=406592&postcount=6

The knife's fit&finish is pretty close to perfect, the details (see pics) are amazing and more than you'd expect in a "typical" Spyderco. Never seen a Spydie where's so much to look at! Rumour has it that there are even some "easter-eggs" hidden in the knife.....
The steel is better than 440C (which is already a good steel) and comparable to VG-10 when it comes to edge holding IMO.

There's two things that may be problematic so some people: One is the lack of a choil (but since the Tenacious, the people get used to it :D, and I don't have a problem with it) and the other is that the framelock is kind of hard to release compared to a liner lock. In my opinion, it does work ok, and if you don't play with the knife for hours opening and closing it multiple times, it works fine. But in deed, after 50 opening and closing cycles in a row, your thumb may hurt a bit ;)

This may be a good read about the Volpe, too:

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24863

The Volpe is a VERY special and fine Spydie and a piece of art, too.
If you like the looks, get one while you can.

Dennis
 
I'll just repost this from the thread the Murdoc linked...it is still valid today:

I've been carrying mine almost daily since it came out. As has already been said, the fit and finish are top notch. It is still as tight as the day I bought it. None of that blade play that seems to plague some good folk's knives. It has open construction which is nice to clean it out and screws to take apart. It has nice heft, but doesn't weigh down the pocket. Since it is SS it has no need for liners. The lock is top notch, solid and once you get used to it, easy to manipulate (I posted pics some time back of one handed opening and closing). The finger groove on top of the blade works very well for pointer finger guided detail cuts.

However, if you have gorilla hands, it probably won't fit four fingers, but might be a better fitting three finger knife than the normal four finger hold. The olive wood gets nasty looking after months of pocket carry, been thinking of replacing it with some CF or colored G-10. The wood side has tiny rust spots but not large enough for my camera to show well (I've also not read of anyone else suffering this problem.) One of the torx screw heads came almost completely stripped, and the spydie hole had a sharp burr that needed filing down.

None of the negatives are anything more than minor gripes. I've carried it for months and will continue to do so. The blade steal is excellent, the grind cuts well...that is what I want in a knife.
 
Thanks for all the info everyone:thumbup:

Doesn't take much to convince me.I'm getting one soon:)
 
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nice pix zen, exemplary closing technique ;)
Volpe has great F&F, the styling is somewhat "radical" but unique; the Austrian steel IIRC has been compared to VG10 in its properties; not lefty friendly and the main caveat is that unlocking the framelock is not "easily" accomplished due to the high polish and soemwhat shallow "lip" (not the easiest to purchase with your thumb). Solid lockup though...confidence-inspiring :thumbup:
 
It will not work in a left hand pocket unless clipped backwards. However it can be opened and closed left handed; in a similar manner as demonstrated above...assuming no arthritis or missing thumbs etc.
 
I love mine. I can't add any more about the steel than what's already been said in the above posts, except for it's one of my sharpest (and easiest to re-sharpen) knives. Cuts like my own little scalpel, very comfortable to hold for a smaller knife (I have a 10 1/2 in. span). One thing to note, it's the only knife I own that I cannot close the way Zen demonstrates, but that doesn't bother me at all. That just means it's a tight lockup to me and less likely to close under accidental sideways torquing if that were to ever happen.

Rik
 
I handled one just last week at a knife shop in Ft. Mill S.C. and while it was definitely another high quality Spyderco folder, the handle just didn't feel very comfortable in my grip.
Otherwise, it appeared to be a great knife.
 
All the technical stuff has already been said, I'm just going to say that the Volpe is a great little framelock, sharp as can be, I like the olive wood accents, and the blade shape is wicked. Definitely a recommended knife!:thumbup:

I carry mine fairly regularly.

Cheers,
Jon
 
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