There are many like it but this Southard is mine!

LonnyRS said:
This will be my first post on this forum.

I went to AIT at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 93/94 for 52D (generator mechanic), and will never forget the indoor/outdoor ordnance museum. EVERYTHING you can ever think of was on display, from a 16 inch gun (Big Bertha), to a V2 rocket. I loved that place.

About this knife: I want one. But I'd REALLY like to have it in carbon fiber, rather than brown G10. Does anyone know where I can find CF scales for it?
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Welcome to BladeForums :)


There have been a few Carbon Fiber scale mods, as well as some different color G10 mods. Here's a bunch of people modding Southard Flippers with CF scales:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-KK-Q_WSEs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW72wP66gJk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCXYl9jizzo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVLdl-jN2oM
 
Did a quick water bottle stonewash on the clip. I need some courser media, but I do like it better than the shiny look.

southardclip.jpg
 
I've had my Southard for a while now and it has kicked every knife out of my pocket except for my small Sebenza Insingo which is what I carry at work since I can't have a knife with a pocket clip. Once I'm home I grab the Southard. Last weekend I used it for cutting lots of cardboard that came from my wife's new elliptical. It did dull the blade but I'm amazed at how easy it was to bring it back to hair popping sharp. Took about 25 strokes on each side using my fine Sharpmaker stones. I really am loving this steel above my S35VN and S30V knives. I now have a collection of CRKs that are sitting in the boxes while the Southard get's all the play.
 
I've had one for a few days now and cannot decide whether I like it or not. It's certainly well made. I presume the steel is excellent, but haven't used it. The ergos are excellent, although I do not especially like flippers -- just the bearing pivot.

It's the smallest EDC I own, and I'm not liking the smallness. I don't like the color. I don't like the G10 insert/lock stopper, which isn't even needed. I don't like the wavy spine. The lock-access relief is perfect, although the double radius looks awful.

What I like best is the balance, which is just behind the first finger. The thumb is in perfect position to oppose the backward tilt, making the knife fast and accurate on detail work.

The point is awesome. Perfect for detail work.

The hollow grind works, and the edge shoulder is just 0.0255 inches wide. By comparison, my Gayle Bradley (also hollow grind) is 0.022 and my Military M4/Ti is 0.031. All good slicers. However, the spine on the Southard is 0.158. The bigger, wider Military blade spine is 0.137 at the same spot. So on deep cuts, the Military is going to shine.

When I handle the M4 Military and Southard together, the Military seems like a much more potent EDC.
 
Nice pictures, Steve. I really like the Southard flipper. It is a more organic, unique-looking piece, IMO. Still, it is way out of my price range. I hope Spyderco can release another flipper at a lower price point (maybe a Southard in S35VN?).
 
For those that don't care for the G10 insert, I bet it won't be long before someone is making some nice looking Ti inserts. Maybe a nice, anodized finish or something unique?

I made the decision to use the hell out of this knife. I have carried and used it every single day at work. I've cut zipties which have chipped S30V in the past, tons of cardboard, stripped wire, cut up lunch, whittled a piece of broken pallet, etc.. and the blade is still shaving sharp. Not sure where 204p falls in the chart, but it has easily outperformed any other steel I've owned. If I put it to the polishing side of my paper wheels it will return to a scalpel in about 60 seconds.
 
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Hey RG, please send me that Southard so I can play with it for a while and see if I want one. In the mail today would be great. Thanks!
 
I don't remember too much about my 33 weeks in APG, except for classes, cold and snow and police calls. Did the 8-month radar repair course there after I left Ft. Monmouth trng and then off to the great countries of Korea and Okinawa for several yrs. APG in 1956. Dang...a long time ago. Maybe I'm in that museum...
Had a good jarhead friend from my small home town that served with me in Okinawa. I was a doggie, of course.
Oh yeah, I like my Brad Southard also. :)
sonnydaze
 
I finally gave in and decided to give the Southard a try. It should arrive in the next several days. I still don't find it visually appealing and that's normally a deal-breaker for me. But I've read SO much praise about the Southard both on and off BF that I felt I owed it to myself to see what the fuss is all about. And with a CF scale, I think I can break below the 4 oz weight limit I impose on all of my EDCs. (The stock Southard weighs 4.1 oz.)
 
I just received mine a few days ago and I am really liking it. I love the amount of blade you get with this knife. I find it to fit my hands very well. The fit and finish are amazing! I plan to buy another. One is none, two is one... ;-)
 
I had to make mine "mine" as well.
I stonewashed the clip and rounded the sharp edges, and beadblasted the screws.
f44f7f5fe341e66f6c17750339e9790f_zps9af9cfac.jpg


c239c2580974b5c6fb246289f762b986.jpg
 
Swoop03 said:
You know the more I see this knife, it grows on me just a tiny bit more. I still think it's butt ugly, but I do think it would be a great performer as many have said so far. I may pick one up in time. I also prefer a US made knife for pride and such, but Spyderco has quality control down pat even in their foreign factories. I won't hesitate to buy an imported Spydie.

I'll have to be honest though, I was more interested in your watch and zippo :)
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Ironic. I have mostly Kershaws and ZTs, but I've been seriously considering this knife because it fits a niche that ZT doesn't have yet and it's the only Spyerco that I don't consider ugly. Not that they aren't all highly functional, but I just don't like that bump at all. To each his own, I guess. I still love this knife.

I guess it's like a Chinese friend of mine who gets a big kick out of the Chinese women that Americans see as attractive.
 
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