What Past Models would you all love in H-1?

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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With the success the H-1 Salt Series has had I've lately been wondering what other past models would be great in the H-1 Salt Series. The Spyderhawk has obviously enjoyed some renewed success by being brought back in the H-1 Salt Series and I firmly believe that there are other models that would scream with successful sales if moved to the H-1 bracket.

I've been dearly fond of the original Temperance 1 fixed blade model and I believe it could be a smashing success with an H-1 blade and would give a hard working person a viable choice for a great Spyderco fixed blade if it were to be reintroduce in the H-1 Salt series. With H-1 Salt Series being marketed as a "hard use" working man's line of Spyders for harsh environments>> it only stands to reason that there would be other models that would fit that series well.

I know that many of you have probably thought along the same lines that I have. I bet several of you have a suggestion of what current or past model you feel would be a success in the H-1 Salt Series. So what past or current models would you all recommend to be reintroduced into the H-1 Salt Series?
 
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Wow!?? What a difference there seems to be in 2 different forums dealing with the exact same subject matter :confused: :foot: I started this same question on Spyderco's main forum and got all kinds of hits but no one has even made one suggestion thus far on this one :confused:

And with the popularity of the H-1 Salt Series I figured that there would be many suggestions for past or present Spyderco models to be re-introed in H-1 :) Even if it's one of the newer or current models I would find it interesting.

One last suggestion I thought I personally would throw in was the possiblity of Spyderco's KUMO fixed blade model. While it only got moderate success in the main line up I've wondered if it wouldn't do better in the Salt Series? Along with the possibility of a fixed blade fillet knife ;)
 
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I think the toughness of H-1 would be a smart addition to the Civilian. The "thin tip" would be far less prone to breakage in H-1 than it is in VG-10, and the corrosion resistence would eliminate any chance of the edge degrading from rust. Aside from that model, I prefer full flat grind to hollow saber grind, so H-1 isn't really my cup of tea.
 
OK JD Here is my thoughts.

I have always thought that H1 and the Bushcraft would make a great combo. I think that H1 sharpens as easily as 1095 so the wide bevel should be no problem and the "toughness" of H1 would be perfect for someone looking for a stainless bushcrafting knife. I do not know it is possible to make the grind in H1 at a production scale.

Paul
 
Only one I lament not having in H1 because I use it as a fishing Fiilet knife. The JD Smith Collab.
 
I am on the saltwater a lot and we also have quite a bit of humidity down here in Florida and I don't find much need for H1. I do like my Salt 1 and being able to swim with it and not having to worry about washing it off. But when I'm not in the water just about any stainless knife comes back on shore rust free. Other than not having rust problems, my main issue with H1 is that it gets really dull with very little use (and I don't have a burr). I am used to the higher carbide content 'super' steels and H1 in plain edge just gets dull too quick. I just took my Salt 1 out and can run my finger down the edge without fear and paper just rips. I sharpened it not that long ago and it hasn't cut much. It has a nice polished edge and will get really Sharp, it just doesn't stay that way. Maybe I'm spoiled by M4, ZDP, S90V, and M390. Since H1 isn't heat treated I doubt there is an issue with my individual knife.

So needless to say, I don't really care about having any knives made with H1. I still want to try a serrated knife in H1 because of the CATRA results Sal has mentioned, I'm just hesitant to get another knife that doesn't hold an edge very good, plus I'm not real big on serrations and rarely use my Delica that I have carried the last 2 months just to see if it came in handy. My razor Sharp plain edge knives work just fine.
 
I agree that H1 is superb, but not sure how much more rust/corrosion resistant vs other stainless..
The down side is that it seems to be a bit softer than other stainless... I managed to roll an edge on my Pacific with some light use. (still a great knife though)
 
Using H1 in a folder makes sense only for the unlinered models or for the titanium handled ones.
This narrows our choices to the Goddard lightweight, the FRN Calypso jr. and maybe the Ti Military... Ummm... now if I think well, an H1 blade with a high saber grind would match a fluted Ti Millie nicely :)
 
yablanowitz said:
I think the toughness of H-1 would be a smart addition to the Civilian. The "thin tip" would be far less prone to breakage in H-1 than it is in VG-10, and the corrosion resistence would eliminate any chance of the edge degrading from rust. Aside from that model, I prefer full flat grind to hollow saber grind, so H-1 isn't really my cup of tea.
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That's a very interesting suggestion :thumbup::cool: Because the biggest problem that's usually encountered with the Civilian and Matriarch both is that they constantly complain of the tip being broke off. Now Spyderco does have a disclaimer telling folks that the Civi and Matriarch both are strictly law enforcement SD knives because of the tip being vulnerable to breakage but I think it's falling on deaf ears.

I myself have used my VG-10 Matriarch for every day carry and have used it on jobs where the tip could have easily snapped but I've been fortunate up till now. H-1 makes a lot of sense when you think about it for Hawkbills in general.

The toughness aspect of H-1 is really overshadowed by the other great properties that H-1 has. That truly is one to be seriously considered. Because look how great of success they are having with the H-1 Spyderhawk. I don't think that the Spyderhawk in VG-10 sold even 10% of what the H-1 Spyderhawk has sold.
 
GLOCKCRAZZ said:
How about a Mule team in H1?
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That's a great suggestion Brother and personally I'm surprised that they haven't done that already. I'm sure it's on their list of things to do at the Great Spyder Factory.

Again I believe that the original Temperance FB05 model would be a great one to bring back in H-1. The Mule Team model would be a great working blade in H-1 too. Even the original Perrin model would be interesting as well.

One Brother over at another Forum suggested the C-60 Ayoob model in H-1. It would sure be cool looking with a yellow G-10 handle.
 
The Mule Team knives are all full flat grind which is not commercially feasible with H-1. Throwing one hollow saber grind into the Mule project makes no sense from the standpoint of steel comparison. Maybe using the Woodcraft Mule pattern, if that is not a violation of the agreement with them.
 
I'm happy with the ones I have (Tasman, Spyderhawk, Atlantic), but a serrated Temperance FB would be great, too.
 
GLOCKCRAZZ said:
How about a Mule team in H1?
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JD Spydo said:
That's a great suggestion Brother and personally I'm surprised that they haven't done that already. I'm sure it's on their list of things to do at the Great Spyder Factory.
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At one point there had been some discussion to do a Mule in H1, with Tom Krein pegged to do the grinding, but apparently nothing ever came of that.

While I wouldn't mind seeing an H1 Mille, I also doubt that would happen since the Millie is Golden-made while H1 is a Japanese steel. I think I'd like to see an H1 Captain or Breeden Rescue (with Ti liners). It'd be expensive, though, and probably more than I'd be willing to pay for such a knife.
 
thombrogan said:
I'm happy with the ones I have (Tasman, Spyderhawk, Atlantic), but a serrated Temperance FB would be great, too.
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Yeah Thom an SE FB05 Temperance would be a super addition to the Salt Series but I would also want a PE version in H-1 as well. I've been using my original VG-10 TEmp 1 model so much lately I can just imagine how useful and functional that knife would be with H-1. The FB05 is such a useful fixed blade in SE or PE. The TEmp 2 is a super blade but is just is bit out of many people's budgets which is why I would like to see the original Temp 1 be resurrected in the Salt Series. It would truly be a workingman's dream. I'm using my VG-10 version today as we speak. A super hard use knife to be sure :cool:
 
I'm sure they can make them with H1 Japanese steel. Not all the mules are USA steels. The mule team 7 is made in Japan.
 
The Super Blue, Damascus and Cobalt Special were all made in Japan. That isn't the problem. Full flat grinds are done one side at a time. By the time one side is finished, H-1 has work-hardened to the point where grinding the other side uses up abrasives very quickly, and the heat buildup can cause blade warpage. That's why all the H-1 knives are hollow grind, because hollow grinding is done on both sides at once, so the work hardening is even. What custom makers like Tom Krein do in regrinding H-1 to full flat is alternate sides, taking a little off at a time, cooling frequently. It works on the scale they operate on, but it takes way too long for a production line. When the H-1 Mule idea came up before (one of the times, anyway) Sal mentioned having Tom regrind them all to FFG. I'm fairly sure Sal was being facetious, Tom isn't even doing regrinds anymore because they were taking up so much of his time that he couldn't get his own knives done. I doubt he would have accepted a contract to regrind 600 Mule blades even when he was doing regrinds. Even if he did, adding another $35 to the production cost of each piece would make that one very expensive Mule, which goes against the project goal of letting us try these steels at minimal cost.

To me, the Temperance wouldn't be the Temperance with a hollow saber grind. It would be something like an overgrown Aqua Salt.
 
yablanowitz said:
When the H-1 Mule idea came up before (one of the times, anyway) Sal mentioned having Tom regrind them all to FFG. I'm fairly sure Sal was being facetious, Tom isn't even doing regrinds anymore because they were taking up so much of his time that he couldn't get his own knives done. I doubt he would have accepted a contract to regrind 600 Mule blades even when he was doing regrinds. Even if he did, adding another $35 to the production cost of each piece would make that one very expensive Mule, which goes against the project goal of letting us try these steels at minimal cost.
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I'm pretty sure Sal was being serious and that Tom was up for doing it (the post was before Tom stopped doing regrinds I believe), but as you mention, the price may have been too much. An excerpt from Sal's post:

Tom Krein has offered to grind H1 to the full flat Mule Teeam spec, but again the total package would end up quite expensive.
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