Why a laminated blade on the Calypso Jr.?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,138
I realize that laminate blades are stronger, but to me, the Caly Jr. isn't a knife that needs a super strong blade. Wouldn't a solid ZDP189 blade perform just as good?

I guess I'm struggling with the appearance of the lamination line when I'm not sure it's necessary on a knife of this style and its intended uses. For comparison, Fallkniven fixed blade knives have laminated blades, but they are designed for heavy use, which makes more sense to me.
 
The factory where the Caly Jr. was manufactured did not have the equipment necessary to process solid ZDP blanks, so a laminated blade was used instead. I actually prefer the way it looks.
 
The 420J2 laminate is also much more stain resistant than the ZDP-189 core. I also like the look, but I don't like how easily the 420 layer scratches.

I would also think the laminate increases flexibility, not strength. But that's just what I think. It'd be interesting to see which one takes more force to bend, and which one breaks first.
 
Padawan said:
The factory where the Caly Jr. was manufactured did not have the equipment necessary to process solid ZDP blanks, so a laminated blade was used instead. I actually prefer the way it looks.
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Wonder why the manufacturer couldn't process solid ZDP blanks that are less than 1/8" thick? :confused:
 
Laminated steel on a small knife does absolutely nothing...it just looks and sounds cool. On a bigger blade, differentially heat treating the blade provides a shock absorber by having a softer back. Japanese only even folded steel to get the carbon in alignment, something which isnt necessary with modern forging methods but again it looks cool :) ...folding and diff heat treating have nothing to do with san mai though obviously.
 
I'm a huge Spyderco fan, but to be honest, I think the lamination line on the Caly Jr. looks sloppy when compared to Fallkniven blades. The Fallkniven line is very straight and barely visable.
 
Hi TAH,

Solid ZDP is very hard, even in the annealed state and is not possible to stamp without tooling damage. A laser must be used to form the blade. If stamping is to be used, then only the laminate can be stamped.

The maker that makes our Caly3 does not have a laser and can only work with the laminated variation as the blades must be stamped.

Fallkniven's models are much thicker and convex ground, the "ZDP core" is the same as the Caly3, so the lamination line is more easily contolled.

I can't say that the laminated version is "tougher" than the solid version. there's isn't enough "real world" history to draw from. Not very many companies are using ZDP. I think William Henry (laminate), Fallkniven (laminate) and Spyderco (laminate and solid) are using the steel.

Fallkniven's maker can only use the laminated version for the above reason.

sal
 
Mr. Glesser,

Thank you for your reply and taking the time to write. Hopefully, none of my comments were offensive.

Sincerely,
Tom
 
TAH said:
Mr. Glesser,

Thank you for your reply and taking the time to write. Hopefully, none of my comments were offensive.

Sincerely,
Tom
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Hi Tom,

Comments are never offensive, only informative.

sal

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The entire "business chain" from; raw materials, invention, design, manufacturing, marketing, selling, distributing, shipping, warrantees, insurance, credit, etc. ALL EXISTS to service the ELU (End Line User). Remove the ELU from the equation and the entire business chain falls like a house of cards. We all work for you!
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi TAH,

Solid ZDP is very hard, even in the annealed state and is not possible to stamp without tooling damage. A laser must be used to form the blade. If stamping is to be used, then only the laminate can be stamped.
...
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Sal, just curious, if stamping is problematic on ZDP, how is the "SPYDERCO ZDP-189 / Seki-City Japan" marking then applied on the solid ZDP Delica's?
It appears similair as the VG-10 ones, which, if I remember correctly, is done by stamping. Or is it "deep" laser engraved? (like the spring of the design team UK penknife).
 
Hi Ted,

Glad to be home?

Thanx for visitin'.

The marks on the blade are stamped, but it is a marking stamp rather than a shearing stamp. The depth of the mark just "moves metal", but "shearing" the steel is much more difficult.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Ted,

Glad to be home?

Thanx for visitin'.

The marks on the blade are stamped, but it is a marking stamp rather than a shearing stamp. The depth of the mark just "moves metal", but "shearing" the steel is much more difficult.

sal
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Yes, always good to be home :) , but I had a really great time in Golden!

I understand the difference now. In Dutch we have two different words for that: "stanzen" (shearing stamp) and "stempelen" (marking stamp).
 
I'm just asking what's obvious...why not make the ZDP Calypsos at the same factory as the Enduras and Delicas?

I really like the cutting ability of ZDP but I really dislike how easily the 420J scratches. It's really bad, no kidding. Prefer solid ZDP.

In terms of toughness, I think laminates can help, but really it doesn't matter in a short blade like the Caly. For Japanese blades, they are mostly laminates (if you're talking about nihonto, not American folded blades) - kobuse. In that manufacture, the entire external cladding is hard steel (except for the spine), the soft iron core is inserted from the spine but does not reach the edge.
 
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