Successor to Calypso Jr Ltwt...opinions

L

Little claw

Joined
Mar 4, 1999
Messages
581
So, the time has come.

After nearly two years of faithful, unflinching every-day carry it is now time to (semi) retire her to light service, while there's still life in the old girl, and to find a successor to the throne :(

But I love this little knife so much that even looking at another knife seems....well, wrong. Nothing quite fills the need:

It has to be 3" or less (cutting edge)
It has to be low profile
It has to be flat ground (or cut like it is)
It has to be light
It has to have good steel, and
It has to be Spyderco...

I can see resmblances in the Ti Salsa, Lil Temperance and the Lum Chinese, but I don't have the luxury of being able to handle before I buy, so I beg your input...opinions on these? Suggestions for others?

Who is the true heir?
 
I nominate the Native lightweight. A slightly larger and tougher knife than the Calypso, but still light and easy to carry anywhere. Not flat ground, but it's a do-it-all EDC that does not disappoint, and cuts everything well. Tip up carry, unlike the Calypso Jr., which I personally like better. Note that some people find the Native's blade shape to be less-than-low-profile, but I have used mine in public often and haven't experienced that myself.

My second choice would be the Lum Chinese. A notch up in feel and quality from the Native, and flat grind like the Calypso Jr. The VG-10 steel should be easier to sharpen than the Native's CPM-440V.

The Little Temperance sounds like it's a lot larger than what you're looking for. Big, beefy handle and big, beefy blade. I haven't handled the Ti Salsa.

Good luck, and let us know which one you get and how you like it!

Johnny
 
I've handled the Salsa instore, and may have a different oppinion after the Passaround that is going up north here...

I found the salsa to be a bit wide, almost having too much belly.

Your best bet would be the Lum Chinese, either color... The vg-10 and full flat grind give supurb slicing ability.

The better choice(in handling only experience), is the lil temp...
 
The lum is my favorite of all my smaller knives. It is sharp as hell, easy to maintain.

Read the passaround reviews for a clearer picture.
 
Lil’ Temperance is decently onto heavy side in comparison with Calypso Jr. Ltw. and it is much thicker. Quite naturally it is also much stronger, so it could be preferable for heavy cutting chores.

Bob Lum Chinese is very nicely looking and bystander friendly knife. You wouldn’t be shamed to go with it even being formally dressed. In fact it is also real user, more than enough for every daily cutting tasks.

Ti-Salsa is the kind of knife what is able to do much more than it seems at first look. Also bystander friendly, also great cutter. It is heavier than it looks and more robust. It provides more secure grip than Lum Chinese, at my hand at least. However it is pretty unusual knife and I guess there are some people who could dislike it. For ex. I would like it more with the pocket clip positioned for tip-down carry.

Conclusion: if you can’t handle them before buying and if it might be a problem to trade the knife off if you wouldn’t like it – I could advise you to go with the Bob Lum Chinese. It is the lightest of three mentioned, it has the lowest profile and probably it is the nicest (the beauty is in the eye of beholder, isn’t it? ;))

The steel is not an issue between these three knives - all blades are great. The quality is not issue as well – all are SPYDERCO’s.
 
Whilst the Lil' Temperance is a great knife, a real worker knife, it's also big, both in handle and blade. If your concerned about sheeple then the Lil' Temp might not be for you, the blade actually looks (and cuts) bigger than it actually is.

The Lum Chinese is a touch bigger (but not much) than the Calypso Jnr, but tends to look a little bigger again due to being wider.

The Ti-Salsa is probably the most sheeple freindly of your choices, a bit shorter than the Calypso Jnr, but wider with more belly. The Ti-Salsa doesn't use one of the new fangled steels, but let's not forget that only a couple years ago ATS-34 was THE premier steel.

If your worried about sheeple go with the Ti-Salsa.
If your not so worried about sheeple go with the Lum Chinese.
If sheeple can take a run and jump then go with the Lil' Temperance.

For daily carry I would have a really hard job deciding between the Ti-salsa and the Lum, they are both great knives. Luckily I have both and can swap between them ;)
 
Hmmm... lots to think about. Thanks for your input, guys.

People here jump out of their skins when they see a Navigator, never mind the Lil Temperance, so "sheeple friendly" falls down the list of priorities when you can't please anyone! In this context low profile means that it disappears until I need it, in terms of weight, bulk and visual signature.

I was going to go for the Salsa, but after reading some of the threads here I'm leaning towards the Lum, but I was concerned about grip security. What are your experiences in this respect?

And how does the Salsa compare to the Navigator? I like the Nav. overall but I find it a little small for some things.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll probably end up buying them all, but what I'm really looking for is the knife that makes me want to go out and get a spare before getting any other design.

Dom
 
How sad. Those who become accustomed to the virtues of the Cal. Jr. never seem to be truly satisfied with anything else. Including me!
 
Look around for another Calypso Jr. There are probably some around. Try the WTB forum.
 
I may try the WTB forum, but I've never bought 2nd online before. I've managed to locate the FS, but serrations on these detract from the simple elegance of the design IMHO.
 
Hi Dom

The Salsa is like the Navigator on roids. If the people around you are frightened by the Nav, then they'll just out of their skins when they see the Salsa. It's a WHOLE lot bigger. The blade size of the Salsa is surprisingly big.

Needless to say, the Salsa is a slicer supreme.

That said, of your choices, IMO, the natural successor to the Calypso Jr is the Salsa. And if you are going to get one, get the Ti version. Unless you have a penchant for peppers ;)

You can't go wrong with the Lum either, but it's a whole lot bigger and longer than the Navigator & Calypso.

Good luck.
 
For slim profiles the Lum wins hands down.
But the Ti-Sala has IMHO a better grip and feals like it could be more comfortable on the tougher cuts.

From what you say I would go with the Lum.

These two are so close in quality and usability that any difference between them is small. Whichever you go for, your bound to be happy with the purchase.
 
If you loved the Calypso Jr. and want to upgrade, then the Lum Chinese is your best bet. Like the Calypso it's all utility, flat ground, same OAL but more pleasing since it' s got more high class materials and is even more stylish. I use mine daily since I replaced my Calypso jr. and I'm a lefty!!

Wouter
 
how is the lum for a lefty? is the lock fairly accident proof when gripped with the left hand? Is it fairly easy to deploy with the righty clip?
 
I'm a lefty, and I love the lum chinese. I can even open and close it with my left hand, although it's easier with the right.
Another funny thing about the lum, it almost escapes attention. I have had office sheeple comment on a dragonfly, yet not even notice the lum. It certainly doesn't look tactical, or perhaps its the color. For me, the handles are fine, as the shape is very conducive for a good grip. The "slipperiness issue" is overrated IMHO, although I have never used the knife in an emergency or "industrial use" application. I have other cheaper and larger knives to use as saws and prybars.
 
I've decided to go for the Lum first. It'll be a user so I'm not too worried about modifying the handle or using grip tape if necessary.

Thnaks for all the advice. The passaround thread was also instrumental in my decision, esp. the photo of the knife over a credit card, I can't remeber who posted it but it helped to scale the knife in my mind. I also liked the fact that lots of people compared it to lots of different knives, according to their own preference.

Can anybody answer this:

If I found the Lum's grip too slick, and I scratched up the grip, do you think I could anodise the scratches in a contrast colour, without spoiling the unscratched parts?

Thanks again

Dom
 
if you want more grip on your almite handles, scratch it up...

take a dremel(or comparable tool), and cut a design into the handle, even just a crosshatch... the silver from the aluminum will contrast nicely on thier own.
 
The Lum handles fine lefthanded but it seems a much bigger knife than the calypso jrn lw.

The clip placement means it rides up much higher that than the calypso as well, no where near as comfortable IWB and a lot of it sticks out if you are carrying in your front pockey.

Cuts well though.
 
With the lum's clip mounted for tip-up carry, I just cap my index finger over the pivot end for retrieval, and the knife almost automatically rotates in the hand for (single) left-handed opening. Numberthree: for me, there's enough of the opening hole ' left' on the clipside to thumb the blade open, but I can see a problem for people with very big or thick fingers. The linerlock is very smooth, so opening is fluent anyways.

In use, the lock sticks well enough to the tang so it won't close on you easily. Mind you, I use this knife for utility and I live in an urban environment so I hardly get a chance to test the heavy suty rating this lock got from Spyderco. Technically it is possible to close the blade when you want it the least, which is generic in all right handed linerlock folder with gaps in the handle to allow for quick right handed opening. However, in my everyday use it has not even nearly happened. So for me, no problem at all with inadvertent closing, but again it's not my wilderness survival folder. I'm just saying that I see that it could happen. Perhaps you can try another similar linerlock folder lefthanded, and carefully whiteknuckle your grip or torque it a little in the hand (carefully) to see if it feels right for you.

Wouter
 
I to love the Calypso also I am sorry to see it go but you might try the Delica small size and VG-10 steel.
 
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