What is Spyderco Captain designed for?

bladeprince

bladeprince

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
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The new Spyderco Captian is a very unusual looking knife. I'm not sure what I would buy it for. The rounded end would be nice for skinning but a hunting knife also needs good belly in the blade and this a reverse curve (I didn't call it a recurve since they have a belly at the front of the blade and then curve up). And I sure wouldn't want it for self-defense because of the rounded tip. Don't see it on the Spyderco web page. Wonder if they stopped making already.

Regards
 
Many sailors' knives were made without sharp points on them for whatever reason, whether to discourage shipboard fights or to minimize stab wounds resulting ftom a pitching ship in bad weather. I have heard both reasons. It would appear that the Captain is a descendant of these knives.

BTW, that is one pug-ugly knife!
 
FullerH said:
Many sailors' knives were made without sharp points on them for whatever reason, whether to discourage shipboard fights or to minimize stab wounds resulting ftom a pitching ship in bad weather. I have heard both reasons. It would appear that the Captain is a descendant of these knives.

BTW, that is one pug-ugly knife!
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Could be. However, I have sailed for almost 30 years and this is not a knife I would buy for boating purposes. There are many more models out there with a serrated edge that will cut line more easily. Some can be purchased with a rounded tip. The one I usually carry even has a "marlin spike" with it.

Regards
 
I can't help but think that we've seen a jillion versions of the drop point, clip and tano blades. Perhaps someone just wanted to do something that looked really different. Like it or not, you have to agree it looks really different.
 
Ugly is not necessarily bad. I was raised with a Boxer Dog and he and I were the very best of friends. He was the most lovely dog ever put on this Earth, except that he was about as ugly as a dog could be. His name was Wilhelm of Winley or some such nonsense, but he was always Billy Boxer to me and he was my best friend.
 
I believe Sal said it was design by Jason Breed as a skinning knife. My memory is not the best, but I believe that is what he said.
 
I've noticed this style of blade more often of late.

DDR has a GunHammer version that is similar.

The hunting motivation seems to be correct.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
I believe Sal said it was design by Jason Breed as a skinning knife. My memory is not the best, but I believe that is what he said.
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Makes the most sense, I guess. The "tip" (if one can call it that) could be used for skinning and the edge for cutting. But I don't understand the "reverse curve" blade for slicing/cutting/dressing. I've skinned a few deer in my day and I think I'll stick with the standard skinning knife with a nice belly and sharp point. Although I'd give one a try if I could use it before buying (not likely). One never knows until they tries. Don't want to be too quick to pass judgement. Funny not to see it on Spyderco web site anymore.

Thanks
 
The tip can be useful for a number of less orthodox tasks...think Graham Bros Razel...it's less a tip than a second cutting edge. The tip should be super extra mega strong also. So, unique uses and unique benefits, but probably decreased day to day function. Cool knife.
 
I am waiting for my captain to arrive at the end of this month. It's a very good looking knive. I had to have it when I first saw it. I also want to know why it's not on the Spyderco site.
 
With a name like "Captain" I thought it would be for scrapping barnacles or paint off the side of your boat. But I guess not:
The design was originally a custom piece made/created by Jason Breeden (and now a collab with Spyderco). I emailed Jason asking this same question so we could pull together a press release. The blade shape was designed to suit him personally and what he wanted for outdoor use. Excuse the cut and paste portion of the press release but this might answer a bit:

"All eyes were on knife designer Jason Breeden’s knives at a recent knife show; hypnotically drawn to a folder with a blade shape unlike anything knife enthusiasts has previously seen. The lower half of the blade was curved like a Hawkbill blade but its tip was bulb-like, perched on top the curved portion like a head on a neck. When someone asked the designer about it, he replied, “My designs are born from need I have experienced. I live in the Appalachian Mountains and am regularly outdoors or in water. A recurve blade has cutting advantages in water but I also wanted a strong tip for outdoor applications.” A Spyderco Round Hole was added and the Spyderco/Jason Breeden Captain came to be. The blade’s unusual shape in effect creates two opposing cutting angles one curving inward, one out. The inward curve holds onto what is being cut keeping it in contact with the sharp edge, ideal for downward and pulling cuts such as rope and line. The outward curved cutting edge bulges out at the blade’s tip for close in controlled cutting like skinning, whittling and horizontal slicing moving the wrist."

Happy Monday to y'all!
Joyce @ Spyderco
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http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21965&page=2
 
I said the same thing when I first saw it.

It may be a good scraper, and utility tool though. Some other Spyderco odd looking ones flew under my radar until I saw them from forum members for work. The Poliwog, and the Dodo were two like that. I have one of each of those now. Sometimes you just have to get them in your hand to really see them for what they can do.

The Captain is unique looking. Looks like it would Wave nice and easy too.:thumbup:

STR
 
It's actually not been added to the site, yet. It should be up within the next few days. We don't usually add new product to the site until we have enough inventory in house and SFO has it in stock. We've been backordered on this model since before we received our first shipment of them in August.

Hope this helps.

Kristi
 

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Thank you tazkristi.
Thank you Eager.
Thank you everyone.

Ryosuke, would be interested in what you think about it after you have some time with yours.

I just might be able to use one but i think I would carry it in addition to my EDC or, if in the boonies, my EDC and fixed blade. It could be useful for a variety of applications but I still want a "point" with me at all times. Skinning small game with it may be OK but big game, I don't know. I would have to try it. What concerns me about using it for skinning big game is it looks like one would have to hold ones hand at an angle to utilize the "tip" instead of of the "natural" grip of a regular skinning knife. This could become very uncomfortable after a short time. But like I said, without trying it, no way to know for sure.

Regards,
Gary
 
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