Spydero Lightweight Calypso Jr. Serrated (Zytel handle / VG-10 blade)

C

Cliff Stamp

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The knife weighs a mere 35 g, can even be carried clipped in a shirt pocket (tip down). The stock is 0.015", blade is 3 cm wide, 6.6 cm blade (6.2 cm sharpened), which small choil notch.

NIB the serrations are very sharp. Each was tested on light thread and scored a blazing 85 +/- 10 g. This is the sharpest knife NIB I have seen. The teeth are ground very acute, 0.037" thick behind the grind which is ~16-17 degrees *included*.

The handle is very comfortable in a grip high up on the fingers with the thumb resting on the back of the blade. This hold works well in precision cutting which would be the main strength of this blade. The ergonomics are however rather poor in a hammer grip due to the sharp inside edges of the Zytel (sandpaper would fix that) and the bottom portion of the clip is also a high pressure point. It is decently comfortable in reverse grips, more ergonomics with the facing clip out to prevent abrasion. Texture seems secure without being overly abrasive.

The blade opens smoothly and easily through the Spyderco hole. There is no play sideways or vertical, lock is clean and tight. It easily handles various fast spine whacks with no effects, neither release or any induction of play. The indendation in the lock bar release also makes it impossible to white knuckle fail it either in any normal grip. A very secure lock eith easily enough strength to handle the light use this folder is designed for.

No cutting done as this is a gift for someone else. Same person was very pleased with the performance of a serrated Endura (wore it out), so I have no doubt that this one will be put to use.

-Cliff
 
Thanks for the link, that was an informative thread. This is a light use only knife however so I don't see any potential problems forthcoming from the thinner serrations.

-Cliff
 
The real stregnth of the Lwt Calypso Jnr is as a plain edge, where it is deserving of the title "pocket razor", there was even a thread where a person used it to shave anothers head ;)

Even though the knife is discontinued, Sal has said that because of demand there will be a sprint run of 1000 near the end of the year.
For those that don't already own one I suggest you keep your eyes peeled on this board for information, they wont last long, but it will be well worth getting one.
 
The calypso jr's are definately great little knives. Thanks for the review Cliff.
Matt
 
Hi Cliff. thanx for the kind words about the Calypso jr. Sorry you didn't get a chance to use it. I'll send you one of the next sprint (gray FRN, VG-10, plain edge).

Actual lock strength runs just short of 100 inch/lbs per inch (about 260 for a 3" knife). That would be in the upper medium duty range for our models.

sal
 
Wow, 260 pounds is impressive. Sal, would you mind telling me how much the Native, Lum Chinese, and Delica can handle? Thanks, whether you choose to answer or not.:)
-Kevin
 
I discussed the cutting ability with my brother yesterday. He is very pleased with the knife. While we were talking about scope of work I passed him a box of miscellaneous materials I use for cutting and watched as the knife shredded thick tubing, cardboard, and poly rope with ease.

Since the knife is being discontinued, can someone recommend a very similar knife from Spyderco (VG-10 class steel, high flat grind, Zytel grip with a lock back), and/or one which is similar in geometry with a compression lock.

Thanks for the offer Sal, it is appreciated.

-Cliff
 
How about a Spyderco Lil' Temperance. It's leaf blade is very similar to the Calypso Jr's and is also flat ground. The Lil' Temperance is S30V though and G10 Handles with a compression lock.

Also there is one of my EDC's, the Lum Chinese. It has a VG-10 flat ground blade but is a liner lock rather than lock back or compression. (The liner lock is nested though, so it is very strong and has the eccentric pivot pin that adjusts the liner if wear occurs.)
-Kevin
Edited to add: There are no cheaper flat ground Spyderco's at the moment. This is why we have bugged Spyderco to bring back the Calypso Jr., as it is a hole in Spyderco's offerings right now.
 
Thanks the Lil'Temperance looks very nice, solid overall package. I agree strongly though about an intro piece, lockback, flat grind, with Zytel.

-Cliff
 
You might also consider the Titanium Salsa, titanium handle and intergral compression lock, ATS-34 full flat ground blade.
The looks are a matter of preference, but it cuts much, much better than it's 2.5" blade would sugest.

I have 3 Calypso Jnrs (FRN SE, FRN PE and Micarta PE), and I'll definately be getting at least 2 of the up coming sprint run. Personally I think the FRN Calypso Jnr is probably the best cutting ability per price knife Spyderco has ever made.
 
My Calypso jr FRN/PE has a little bit of tip movement, vertically. Just took it out of the box again about 2 weeks ago. I use slipjoint knives heavily now, so I no longer figure the lock is a biggie. ~3mm at tip, forced.

it was "hair runs scared" before, thinned to 20deg ish, and after polishing on the whites, I used an 800grit stone freehand... last night it saw the strop. Today, I *touched* the edge and it cut the first layer of skin.
 
I just got this back off my brother to compare to a Fallkniven U2. After nearly a year of use (construction + edc) :

1) no play in the blade, clip is still solid, just bent out to make it looser (easier to draw, doesn't care about security)
2) two teeth are broken near the tip
3) plain edge near the tip is chipped, sub mm
4) tip has fractured, less than half mm
5) edge is heavily rolled, can see it with eye (not sharpened since new)

Even without sharpening the blade is still cutting well, a plain edge, even with a coarse finish (100 grit AO) would have long since been dull (I have tested him with many blades).

I rehoned the small plain edge section, tightened up the tip, resharpened the whole blade. Took less than five minutes. Except from the small tip fractures (less than half a mm in one, quarter of a mm in another), the knife is pretty much NIB function wise.

-Cliff
 
Hi, Cliff. Thought it worth mentioning since you've updated this thread that I just sent the recent-production gray FRN VG-10 Calypso Jr. I asked you about in email to Eric at Spyderco. After discussing the microchipping problem I experienced during sharpening with him, they're going to take a look at not only my knife, but others from that run. I notice also that there's a recent thread on the Spyderco forum where a new VG-10 Cricket had the tip break off during what sounds like very light use, so perhaps Spyderco has had some recent heat treat issues or other problems with this steel.

Once I hear back from Eric, I'll post anything further that seems pertinent.

Dave
 
To update: Spyderco replaced my Calypso Jr. I haven't had a chance to talk to Eric Glesser since receiving it, but hope to follow-up with him in the next several days.

The factory edge on the new knife is superb, uniform and exceedingly sharp for a production knife. The returned knife was unable to attain a similar level of sharpness despite a good deal of patient effort on my part.
One point of interest is the difference in the finish texture of the two blades. While both blades have an "orange peel" finish—a characteristic of VG-10, according to Eric—this texture is *much* finer on the new knife. Just layman's speculation, of course, but I would imagine this could be related to the apparent heat treat/grain size/alloy segregation problem(s) in the knife I returned.

Will update again after I have a chance to speak with Eric.

Dave
 
Another Spyderco customer service success story. This seems to be the norm.

Are Calypso Jr.'s still for sale? I can't find them anywhere.

Thanks!
 
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