What do you guys think of the Spyderco Navaja?

M

mixologist

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
5
I'm new here, so sorry if I'm doing anything wrong. I posted this in the Spyderco forum, but figured it would get more views here and opinions from non-Spyderco people may be more helpful....anyway, this knife:

C147CFP-2.jpg


Bad-ass or gimmicky?

http://www.thespydercostore.com/Spyd...-p/c147cfp.htm

I am having such a hard time chosing a new spyderco to purchase. I lost my knife on a long hike and camp in W.Va last week. Now looking for a new one, am willing to drop up to $150. Want a strong/light folder that is about 3.5"- on the upwards size.

Going back and forth looking at para 2, military (like the reason it was made), superleaf, and Caly 3.5. Saw this one.... it's different...not sure what to make of it.

Any suggestions on these blades would be very appreciated. Thanks
 
I think it would look nicer with a more dramatic clip point blade. Maybe at least a 4" blade would be better yet. The bolsters look nice, not digging the CF. I nice wood scale would have looked sweet.
 
I really liked the photos of the Navaja that I saw before it was released, but ended up not being a fan of it once I actually had one in hand. It's a beautiful knife, and the build quality from Spyderco's Taiwan factory is impeccable as always. However, the ergos, blade shape, and balance just didn't do it for me, so I ended up selling mine.
 
I tried one out in the store. Definitely a nicely made knife, and kind of cool. But ultimately, that clicking feature is useless and gimmicky, and they put out other knives from their Taichung factory that seem to offer a better value (like the Gayle Bradley).
 
I love the looks of it. I've always had a special place in my heart for carbon fiber and bolsters. I am looking foreword to testing it in a few weeks, and if i like the feel of it from the passaround then I'm definitely going to pick one up.
 
I really like Kershaws, a lot of them have assisted openings and are about the same price. If you're not too dead set on spyderco you should check out what else is out there.
 
Can you wait for the Spyderco/Vallotton collaboration? Shouldn't be too far out . . . Obviously I haven't held one yet but I have one on preorder to give it a try . . .
 
Last edited:
I have one, I do like the aggressive look and it feels good in the hand-but it's heavy enough that if your looking for a light knife your going to be disappointed(the handle is beefier than heck,makes you almost want to pry something!!!) get a Paramilitary, initially I didn't understand the attraction and I even have the Military model!!but I relented and took the advice of all the forumites and I'm glad I did
 
BITEME said:
I have one, I do like the aggressive look and it feels good in the hand-but it's heavy enough that if your looking for a light knife your going to be disappointed(the handle is beefier than heck,makes you almost want to pry something!!!) get a Paramilitary, initially I didn't understand the attraction and I even have the Military model!!but I relented and took the advice of all the forumites and I'm glad I did
Click to expand...


Yeah, I'm in between the para II and the military. I'm having a hard time deciding.
 
Gimmicky.

The more older Spydercos I see and learn about, the more I think knives like this one are just overwrought.
 
Nice looking, but way too large for me to reasonably carry and use. Also, the explanation they give on the Spyderco website for the ratcheting sound:

Unique to the Navaja is the Carraca or ratcheting sound it produces when the blade opens and closes. Carraca ratcheting generates a reaction similar to the sound of chambering a round in a firearm, distinctively announcing the knife’s presence and has been attributed to deterring a criminal or criminal behavior.
Click to expand...

...is vaguely reminiscent of some mall ninja I met awhile back. :jerkit:
 
I think the Navaja is a good looking knife with a fairly unique design. At just under 4" long, it's one of Spyderco's bigger folders, yet I would have liked to see a longer blade. Some of the original Spanish Navajas apparently had blades in the 9" range. That makes the criticism of the CS XL Espada as "ridiculously big" , an assesment I've read more than once on this forum, just plain ignorant.
I'm definitely getting the new G-10 XL Espada as soon as it's released. Now I just have to figure out whether I also want to spend $170 for the very nice, but much smaller, Spyderco Navaja.
 
I have the XL Espada and think its an amazing knife. Of course it sits mostly in a glass case for friends to ooh and aah at. Open its about as big as a Busse NMFBM. Not sure what I would use it for besides self defense. I ordered the spyderco navaja tonight for way way less than $200. Nutnfancy has a great video review of it on youtube. Looks amazing.
 
I like navajas a lot, have a few, hand-made ones from old Mexico, new ones fom Spain. An old, old design. They are not one-handed openers. I dunno what the clicking is all about-- maybe to frighten an adversary, or advise him that you are armed and mean business. I would look at Andujar and Exposito websites and get the McCoy. This and the Cold Steel seem to me to be selling the name.
 
I think it's interesting and would be cool to go along with my real Spanish Navaja but i'm holding out for the Tuff or maybe the Spyderco/Lionsteel collab.
 
Has anyone heard of problems with the ratcheting mechanism breaking/failing? One of the youtube comments mentioned it, no idea how common it is or even if it's true.
 
OK, I really can't imagine any adversary that would be scared away by a little clicking sound. Besides, the knife doesn't click unless you open it slowly. And who's going to open a knife really slowly just to sound cool if they need the blade for self defense?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top