Stainless Spyder treasures

[JD Spydo]

One of my favorite "hard use" Spyder models is also one of the most overlooked and ignored Spyders ever. I am speaking of the 2 stainless handled Rescue models i.e. C-14 & C-45 models.

I cut my Spyder teeth on the Original GIN-1 Mariner model and it truly is a great blade. But when I got my first Stainless Rescue model I couldn't believe how much more solidly built that knife is over the Mariner. It even makes the Mariner look anemic. And the Mariner is no bubble gum machine knife by any means.

The stainless handled Rescue model is truly the most solid model I've ever owned. I truly believe you could drop this folder out of an airplane and it would still be usable.

This model never got the respect it deserved. As far as I know it was only made with ATS-55 blade steel. Another reason I treasure so many Spyders that came forth from the ATS-55 era. The blade has a spine just about as thick as the one on the fixed blade Temperance model.

I hope I'm not the only one who appreciates that great Stainless Spyder. As well as a few other Stainless handled Spyders that are finally attaining collectible status.

 

[THG]

I don't care too much for the SS, but I do have a SS Caly Jr. (which I'm still waiting for to come back from the factory...) It's my only SS Spydie. It definitely feels the most solid of the 6 that I own.

 

[Tenacious]

Most folders would be usable after being dropped from an aeroplane.

 

[JD Spydo]

I don't care too much for the SS, but I do have a SS Caly Jr. (which I'm still waiting for to come back from the factory...) It's my only SS Spydie. It definitely feels the most solid of the 6 that I own.

That's interesting you would mention the stainless handled Caly Jr. I had a pair of those at one time and I regret trading them. It is the only Caly Jr that had a hollow ground blade. That's always been a mystery to me as to why they would make that one particular Caly Jr with a hollow grind out of all of the variants of the C-52 model.

If I remember correctly the stainless Caly Jr had AUS-8 blade steel. That stainless Caly Jr. may be the most collector worthy of all the stainless Spyders. But I do believe that the stainless Rescue is not far behind. For some very strange reason it never got the attention it deserved. Never were many sold and I never saw it pushed by many dealers.

 

[THG]

Yes, the SS Caly Jr. has AUS 8 and a hollow saber-ground blade. I kinda got it on impulse, and I'm thinking about getting rid of it once it comes back from the factory (it was in pretty poor condition when I got it) because I really can't see myself using a collectible piece like that. It really is a beautiful piece, though; I held it for hours just admiring it

PS: I think it was a pilot run or something like that. I remember hearing something about it being a test run? I'm not 100% sure.

 

[JD Spydo]

Yes, the SS Caly Jr. has AUS 8 and a hollow saber-ground blade. I kinda got it on impulse, and I'm thinking about getting rid of it once it comes back from the factory (it was in pretty poor condition when I got it) because I really can't see myself using a collectible piece like that. It really is a beautiful piece, though; I held it for hours just admiring it

PS: I think it was a pilot run or something like that. I remember hearing something about it being a test run? I'm not 100% sure.

OH no THG it was a mainline production blade. It was in at least 3 of their main catalogs because I have all their catalogs going back to 1990.

What's sort of curious is in the 2000 catalog they have it listed as the Calypso Jr II.>> They also started calling the stainless Native the Native II.

The bottom line is that there are going to be more stainless Spyders become collectible than most people realize. That Caly Jr II is a prime example for sure. And don't count out the stainless Rescue models. Their time will come. Get them cheap while you can.

Also some of these overlooked Spyders like the Stainless Rescue model are some of their best hard use knives. And it's truly a shame that it was overshadowed and overlooked.

I can't help but wonder what the hollow ground Caly Jr would be like with ZDP-189 or S90V steel. It truly would be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[jill jackson]

These recently became discontinued and I've noticed are going for a bit more than they were just earlier in the year.

 

[JD Spydo]

These recently became discontinued and I've noticed are going for a bit more than they were just earlier in the year.
[/QUOTE]

Hey Jill as dedicated as a collector as you seem to be I would highly recommend you finding that stainless Native in plain edge. Personally I've only ever laid eyes on one of them in PE as long as I've played the game. They do exist and they are made with AUS-10 just like the one you have a photo of but they are as hard to find as a honest politician :D

I bet you are correct about the Scorpius. Although it was never one I really liked. But most the people I knew that had that knife also used it. So it's probably a good idea to throw one of those in a good collection.

Great pics as usual Jill.

Also there was one of the Ladybug models in stainless but I forget which one it was.

 

[jill jackson]

I got that one for about 46 dollars earlier in the year. Didn't see any in PE, or I'd of went for it for sure.

 

[Haze]

I have never warmed up to the SS handles my self and sold on all the ones I have had bar one.
This SS ladybug is a great little knife, the extra weight feels good and the SS handle looks great too.

:thumbup:

 

[JD Spydo]

Haze I agree with you that there are better working handle materials than stainless. I mainly launched this thread to make folks aware that there are a few Spyders with stainless handles that are on the verge of becoming collector pieces. And I will stand by that statement.

Albeit I will still sing the praises of the Stainless Rescue models C-14 & C-45 because they are truly built like a skyscraper. And there are many guys in the fishing industry that used to swear by that old Mariner model as well.

That Scorpius that Jill put up along with the plain edged, stainless handled Native is a good one to throw in a collection. That SS Ladybug is a good one too. I think that the SS CAly Jr. II is one day going to be very coveted. Because they are now getting to be a rather tough find in mint condition.

One SS Spyder right now if you had one in mint condition would bring some very serious money. If you could find one of the original "2 screw" C-01 Worker models. That is one of the first run Worker models and even in used, beat up condition those are getting to be a very tough find.

SS Spyders up till now have been mainly overlooked for collectible status but I think that is about to change.

 

[Haze]

It's pretty safe to say if it's not in or going out of production, it is or will be a collectors item regardless of handle material

I just remembered I actually still have an SS Delica in the collection back home. I have thought
"I should have kept those" once or twice since I sold the the SS knives but they're gone now :foot:

 

[dantzk8]

The one i do regret, the one i still look for: The C01 Worker.

dantzk.

 

[Morrow]

Hey Jill as dedicated as a collector as you seem to be I would highly recommend you finding that stainless Native in plain edge. Personally I've only ever laid eyes on one of them in PE as long as I've played the game. They do exist and they are made with AUS-10 just like the one you have a photo of but they are as hard to find as a honest politician

I bet you are correct about the Scorpius. Although it was never one I really liked. But most the people I knew that had that knife also used it. So it's probably a good idea to throw one of those in a good collection.

Great pics as usual Jill.

Also there was one of the Ladybug models in stainless but I forget which one it was.

I have 2 NIB stainless Native PEs. I chased one for a while until I found it and stumbled upon the other with little effort. I guess that's how it goes sometimes.

 

[JD Spydo]

I have 2 NIB stainless Native PEs. I chased one for a while until I found it and stumbled upon the other with little effort. I guess that's how it goes sometimes.

I know you want to keep both of those new PE stainless Natives for the collection but if you were to ever find a used one I sure wouldn't mind having a used one for a rotating EDC.

I know what you mean by finding a tough find and then just running into another one without even looking for it I've had that same thing happen with a PE Blue Spyderhawk and a Mini Micarta Dyad almost the same week.

Another stainless Spyder that's not only elusive to find but it is getting borderline collectible and that's the old Spur model. About 3 years ago I had 2 of them in mint condition and I ended up trading them because I couldn't find anyone interested in buying them. But just in the past 6 months I've had people tell me that they would now pay big for a Spur model. They're an interesting blade; they are like a shrunken version of the ProGrip. A sweet small Spyder needless to say.

 

[Morrow]

I know you want to keep both of those new PE stainless Natives for the collection but if you were to ever find a used one I sure wouldn't mind having a used one for a rotating EDC.

I know what you mean by finding a tough find and then just running into another one without even looking for it I've had that same thing happen with a PE Blue Spyderhawk and a Mini Micarta Dyad almost the same week.

Another stainless Spyder that's not only elusive to find but it is getting borderline collectible and that's the old Spur model. About 3 years ago I had 2 of them in mint condition and I ended up trading them because I couldn't find anyone interested in buying them. But just in the past 6 months I've had people tell me that they would now pay big for a Spur model. They're an interesting blade; they are like a shrunken version of the ProGrip. A sweet small Spyder needless to say.

The SS PE Natives have somewhat of a sentimental meaning with me. I saw one posted here and instantly knew I had to have one. I emailed the person who posted pics and asked where to get one and his answer was "I don't know...good luck" which was an honest answer. You don't come across them often. As luck would have it.....the same person emailed me about 6 months later directing me to one for sale. He told me to get it or he was going to....I grabbed it. The whole quest for this knife got me hooked on chasing down other knives from a variety of companies. I enjoy the hunt and this was the knife that got me going.

 

[JD Spydo]

Along with the Spur model you have the long sought after PE SS Harpy and the PE SS Mariner. All three of these Stainless Spyders have been in the category of "cult classics" for some time now.

But I do think that even the value of those 3 will really catapult once some of the other aforementioned stainless Spyders attain collector status. Which I don't think is too far away for some of those models if not all of them at some point.

The SS PE Harpy especially in VG-10 would be a great user model which will in turn just add more collectibility to it. But the Spur in particular is one that is going to surprise quite a few collectors because there are very few people that even know that it exists. Trust me there will be a run on selected Stainless Spyders and it could happen within the next year.