Spyderco's ZDP 189 Calypso Jr....WOWZA!

misque

misque

Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Messages
3,316
I just got this today from New Graham and I gotta tell you, this is the sharpest OOB knife I've ever pulled out of the box. I won't bore you with all the "hair ran away in fear as the blade approached!" tripe. :rolleyes: :barf:. Charmin Ultra T/P parts easily with a stroke of this blade. This is virtually never the case with other knives I've just taken OOB. Even a couple of my Mora Clipper's had to be brought up to speed before they could do this.The sharpness level is easily on a par with the zero edge bevel found on the Scandi knives from Frost's of Sweden and Helle. I should add this knife has a secondary edge bevel too. The blade's edge comes down to a really thin edge(.0175" on mine, I compare this to the .022" on my original Calypso Jr.) and the bevel looks to be around 15 degrees or so.
The lock up on my sample is very tight and crisp. Dimensions appear to be the same as on the original Calypso Jr.'s we know and love.
Now, if the edge is as tough as it is sharp, this is gonna be one hard cutter to top this side of a fresh razor knife blade.

Just wanted to give ya'll yet another heads up (like this knife needs it :rolleyes: ) on another good looking Spyderco product. :cool:
 
DUH!!

Cougar,
Could you please move this thread to the reviews forum?
I gotta quit takin' those pain pills before turning the computer on. :rolleyes:
 
I totally agree, my Caly ZDP is awesome. I just wish it was tip up carry. This steel has ruined me. ZDP189 is all I want now. The edge is the definition of scary sharp.
A mini Manix with this steel would be incredible.
 
I just gave mine the "box cutter" test. Getting our middle son ready to move off for Grad School, we have been finishing and painting a bunch of unfinished furniture. Each piece comes in very heavy corrugated packaging.

I took my new Caly in ZDP and proceeded to cut up, into a number of pieces, about 8 of these large boxes so I could fit them in the trash container. This obviously is about as unscientific an approach versus Cliff's invcredibly scientific approach, but the results were still most impressive.

After going through a lot of lineal feet of corrugated and double corrugated boxes, including strapping tape, etc. this baby is still extremely sharp. It still cuts hair, not as easily as first out of the box, but still cuttin'. I'm going to give it a little touchup on the 30 degree Sharpmaker rather than my Edge Pro and I'm guessing, it'll be right back to being new.

I'm so impressed with this thing, I bought 4 more to give to the guys who work for me. I just hope OSHA doesn't outlaw them.
 
I just received mine from New Graham and am looking forward to giving it a try. BTW, I like the color.
 
Yes, the color is a refreshing change from the regular black. The gold spyder on the blade and the black clip with the gold spyder on it gives the knife a bit of a classy look. Whoda thunk it?! An FRN handled gent's knife. :cool:


I'm a bit surprised this thread is still in the general forum. I meant to put it in the review forum but had a senior moment...oh well!
 
I liked the color even better after I got mine. My gold spyder is wearing away though. :(
 
After reading all the various posts on this zdp calypso jr I broke down and just ordered one from newgraham. Rockwell scale 68! And not prone to chipping.

Can't wait for it to get here. Thanks for everybody's comments and reviews on this amazing knife. The burgandy color seems to be very attracive also. Makes it easy to find if you accidently drop it in the field.
 
Carl64 said:
I liked the color even better after I got mine. My gold spyder is wearing away though. :(
Click to expand...

It looks like the "spyder" is a cut out that goes all the way to the ZDP-189. Like a window. I may be wrong, but it would be the first time though,... :rolleyes:
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I don't think Spyderco is running them that hard.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Sorry if I made a mistake but I was just going by what I read on the Knifecenter.com website which said "...This steel is actually closer to 68. Normally, a steel of this hardness would be chip easily, but this steel will not..."

I should know better than to believe what I read - thanks for the clarification.
 
Let me just make a comment on the color of the handle. I wasn't in favor of it when it was first shown to us but now that I have it in my hands, I definitely like it. The pics that you guys have seen on here don't do it justice. Its not pink in the slightest. Its a nice medium shade of burgandy and I have no qualms about carrying it. So don't let the color stand in your way of this GREAT knife. Unless you only buy black knives that is...

Mark
 
digdeep said:
Sorry if I made a mistake but I was just going by what I read on the Knifecenter.com website which said "...This steel is actually closer to 68. Normally, a steel of this hardness would be chip easily, but this steel will not..."

I should know better than to believe what I read - thanks for the clarification.
Click to expand...

William Henry is running the steel at that hardness. Spyderco's have been noted to be 64/65 on the forums.

-Cliff
 
I recall some semi-official note that it (the calypso blade) wasn't 68 also, but rather a few points lower than the high point mentioned in various general discussions about the steel.

Maybe they will make the Delica, which will have a thicker blade, the whole 68?
 
It may not be possible due to the soak temp required, though that is where I would be curious about the steel. I'd like to see some data, Catra or otherwise behind the hardness Spyderco has chosen.

-Cliff
 
I haven't done a CATRA or Rc on the production model, I'll try to get to that next week. Been pretty busy.

On my portable goniometer that I have at home, the inclusive angle is about 12 degrees on the one I have.

So far I'd have to say that Hitachi did a beautiful job on the steel and our Seki maker did a beautiful job on the model.

sal

---------------------------------------------------------

The entire "business chain" from; raw materials, manufacturing, marketing, selling, distributing, shipping, warrantees, insurance, credit, etc. ALL EXISTS to service the ELU (End Line User). Remove the ELU from the equation and the entire business chain falls like a house of cards. We all work for you!
 
ThreadMoving.jpg
 
Sal Glesser said:
On my portable goniometer that I have at home, the inclusive angle is about 12 degrees on the one I have.


---------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE]

Does this mean that the primary bevel is only 6 degrees per side? That seems unreal though without a doubt, this is the sharpest knife I have ever handled.

Great job! I think that you converted a "BM" guy.
Click to expand...
 
I would say that is a misprint. My Caly is about 13 deg. per side edge and about 3.5 deg. per side primary blade bevel of the full flat grind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top