The meanest cutter Spyderco makes...hands down.

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

Joined
May 25, 2013
Messages
3,700
Is the JUMPMASTER. Plain and simple.

About a month ago there was a thread on here where we were discussing a Spyderco spearfishing knife that was geared towards dispatching fish by stabbing the cranial cavity. Sal chimed in and said he would look into making a prototype by regrinding an aqua salt. A few days later he chimed in again and said he had reground two Jumpmasters and he sent one copy to user Actionyak, and delivered the other knife to me at the blade show. He asked us to try them out on the water and see what we thought. I've had mine in the boat for a couple of weeks now and have formed some opinions.

The first and strongest opinion is that this knife outcuts any knife i have ever used in terms of pure aggression. Seriously, this thing is a chainsaw. Very aggressive H1 Spyderedge coupled with amazing ergonomics and design make this knife an absolute beast of a cutter. I had never noticed before but the Jumpmaster has a negative blade angle kind of like the Millie and this only adds to the cutting power on pull cuts. Handle ergonomics are outstanding too. Shape kind of like a slightly wider Military handle. Thats not a perfect comparison but its the best i can think of. Its every bit as comfy as the millie, I can tell you that.

My copy was sharper than any serrated knife i have ever received from the factory. Hairsplitting. After two weeks of daily use i have not sharpened it and it will still grab the hair on my head on contact. All of my serrated salts have shown very good edge retention but this one is starting to seem like it is significantly better than my folders. Not sure if that is because of the slightly longer cutting edge or the blade angle or if its just my imagination but edge retention seems pretty amazing so far on this model. I will keep y'all updated as I resharpen and keep using. It's easy to compare it to my Pacific Salt as they see the exact same kind of work.

As you can see from the pics, this is not a stock Jumpmaster. This is one of two that Sal reground to give it enough point to brain stab fish. I have used this one in that role for awhile now. It works...ok. Honestly, my reground Pacific Salt probably does a better job just because it has a thinner blade and finer point. The Jumpmaster can do the job (certainly better than it could with the stock sheepsfoot blade) but I wouldn't consider it ideal for the task. I am having a hard time really caring about that though. The knife is proving itself to be such a strong performer as an overall boat knife that I am going to permanently mount the sheath in my kayak.

Thanks you again Sal for letting me try this one out. It will continue to see a LOT of use and I will keep this thread updated with any new discoveries or thoughts. I overlooked this model for a long time because I am not a fan of sheepsfoot blades but man, was I missing out.

I have some pics of some of the actual "brain surgery" but they are a bit graphic. I'll leave you with these.
 
i hate i missed you at blade. i would have had you you buy me a beer if id known you were present. next year i guess.

sweet blade:thumbup:
 
Yeah, when I saw that reprofiled tip, I thought I might finally need a...Fishmaster?
 
As far as stabbing fish I would sure want something more aggressive than a Wharnie>> Although it seems like the Des Horn as streamlined as it is might be good for that job. But the JD Smith model ( especially the SE version) has a really defined point that would be ideal for stabbing.

Now the STREETBEAT might be good for that job>> and I do think it would be a great fixed blade to make a Salt version of. Two more models that I think would be ideal for stabbing/dispatching would be the older Viele and Centofante C-50 models.

You have the right idea because if I were to be stabbing/dispatching I would much prefer a fixed blade>> because even the best folder with the best locking system would not give me the assurance that a ridgid fixed blade model would provide.
 
Hi JD. As to the original intent of this blade, I don't have as big a need for a fish stabber in the kayak as a spearfisherman would. As I said, in the kayak a bat or club works much better and is MUCH safer. A knife can be very dangerous because a large fish (30-50 pounds is "large" for the kayak) can be very hard to control and trying to stick a razor sharp knife into his brain in the confined space of a kayak could end badly. If you got the knife halfway wedged into him and lost control of the fish? It could be really bad. I have had larger fish like that jump and flop with great force and hit me or even land in my lap. The idea of that happening with a few inches of spyderedge sticking out of him is not a pretty image.

If i was making the ideal knife that was specific to this task, I would design something that was very thin and pointy with an unsharpened edge. Almost more of a dagger/spike than a knife. There is no real reason for a sharpened edge on the knife. A "false" edge could lower resistance but theres no need for it to actually be sharpened in my opinion. Like I said, a bat is my best tool on the boat, but I'm just trying to think about this from a spearfishermans perspective. Hopefully some of the guys from that other thread will come along. Hopefully actionyak has gotten to use his on some fish too.
 
Nice review of a very special purpose knife. :cool:
Surfingringo said:
If i was making the ideal knife that was specific to this task, I would design something that was very thin and pointy with an unsharpened edge. Almost more of a dagger/spike than a knife. There is no real reason for a sharpened edge on the knife. A "false" edge could lower resistance but theres no need for it to actually be sharpened in my opinion.
Click to expand...
It sounds like an ice pick might be your best choice for kayak fishing? ;)
 
It's a wicked looking knife and I can see how a spearfishing guy would want a stabber, but yeah, in a kayak I don't really like exposed edges that much.
 
I've never handled a Jumpmaster yet... but kind of reminds me of what a fixed blade D'Allara might be like!
 
come to think of it, i haven't read any feedback on how well (or how bad) a fully serrated zdp 189 blade will cut.
 
Hi hank, I imagine they cut fine. I believe that Spyderco quit cutting serrations into their zdp because the found the teeth to be not quite stable enough with that steel.
 
hank_rearden said:
come to think of it, i haven't read any feedback on how well (or how bad) a fully serrated zdp 189 blade will cut.
Click to expand...

Full serrated ZDP works pretty well and has held up well to moderate use in my experience.

16955589266_3037ee38cf_z.jpg



My modded Mariner has the sharpest serrations of any knife I've ever seen; just like you've experienced with the Jumpmaster Surfingringo... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

16467507450_a2700bf799_z.jpg
 
Good read as always SurfinG :thumbup: I would say you are living right :cool:.
Might just have to screw a sheath with one of the Jumpmasters onto our small sail boat.
You never know when my wife might need to stab a mackerel brain :) - me? I just need it to slice some cheese to go with my beer and hard salami and maybe to shorten a line in a hurry.
 
Surfingringo said:
Is the JUMPMASTER. Plain and simple.
The first and strongest opinion is that this knife outcuts any knife i have ever used in terms of pure aggression. Seriously, this thing is a chainsaw. Very aggressive H1 Spyderedge coupled with amazing ergonomics and design make this knife an absolute beast of a cutter. I had never noticed before but the Jumpmaster has a negative blade angle kind of like the Millie and this only adds to the cutting power on pull cuts. Handle ergonomics are outstanding too. Shape kind of like a slightly wider Military handle. Thats not a perfect comparison but its the best i can think of. Its every bit as comfy as the millie, I can tell you that.

My copy was sharper than any serrated knife i have ever received from the factory. Hairsplitting. After two weeks of daily use i have not sharpened it and it will still grab the hair on my head on contact. All of my serrated salts have shown very good edge retention but this one is starting to seem like it is significantly better than my folders. Not sure if that is because of the slightly longer cutting edge or the blade angle or if its just my imagination but edge retention seems pretty amazing so far on this model. I will keep y'all updated as I resharpen and keep using. It's easy to compare it to my Pacific Salt as they see the exact same kind of work.
Click to expand...

Dammit @Surfingringo, now I'm looking at the Jumpmaster too lol.

Not for fishing or boating, but how would you say it is as a sturdy, aggressive, and effective general purpose fixed blade?

Mainly for random cutting jobs around the house, yard, be it the occasional hose, rope, etc.

Or does a different model come to mind?

Also had my eye on the upcoming Aqua Salt Black Blade as a possibility...


I have others, like the KA-BAR Becker BK7, BK9, KA-BAR Kukri, and some others, but haven't found one I really love for this role, a "go-to", if you will.

Your Military comparison struck a chord with me as well, LOVE the Military, excellent EDC. Just feels great in the hand, perfect size blade, etc.

Thanks!
Dan
 
DansGunBlog said:
Dammit @Surfingringo, now I'm looking at the Jumpmaster too lol.

Not for fishing or boating, but how would you say it is as a sturdy, aggressive, and effective general purpose fixed blade?

Mainly for random cutting jobs around the house, yard, be it the occasional hose, rope, etc.

Or does a different model come to mind?

Also had my eye on the upcoming Aqua Salt Black Blade as a possibility...


I have others, like the KA-BAR Becker BK7, BK9, KA-BAR Kukri, and some others, but haven't found one I really love for this role, a "go-to", if you will.

Your Military comparison struck a chord with me as well, LOVE the Military, excellent EDC. Just feels great in the hand, perfect size blade, etc.

Thanks!
Dan
Click to expand...

Hey Dan, I had an aqua salt but never really loved it. I much prefer the handle and the cutting performance of the Jumpmaster. I would think this would make a fine blade for the uses you describe.
 
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