Why doesn't anyone talk about the Spyderco Impala?

Y

yugo308guy

Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
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I have been searching this forum and wondering why the Spyderco Impala doesn't have a bigger following? I know it has been discontinued, but I absolutely love mine. I have the model with the "guthook" and I literally use my knife hard every day. I have a job where I am constantly cutting rope, nylon webbing, plastic covered twine among many other things. I use the "guthook" to cut nylon zip ties all the time and it works great for that purpose. The steel is great(VG-10) and holds an edge extremely well. So what gives? Why didn't this model receive more love here? Just curious.
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I wonder why they didn't shape the body so that the hook could be used with the knife closed. You'd want to design the ergo so you'd be holding the knife shut (don't want to be inadvertently pulling it open while cutting something tough), but it could be very useful...zip ties, wiring, envelopes, etc.
 
You'd probably find more followers on the Spyderco sub-forum. It seems to me that the Impala is one of those that you either love or hate. Personally, I have no use for a guthook and the hump on back of the tip on the non-guthook version leaves me cold.

That's why they make other models, for me to love and you to hate ;)
 
I wanted one but never got around to getting it. It looked interesting and well thought out. I never really could justify it as I own a Blade Tech Prohunter. I do somewhat covet yours though.
 
The Impala, IMHO,was one of those 'sleeper' models that people liked but hardly raved about (the Scorpius was another).I liked mine from the day I got it (even bought another to send out for framelock conversion). Sweet knife.
 
It's a dedicated folding hunter for big game. Such models don't generally stay in production for a long time because us hunters represent only a fraction of the knife market, and many hunters favor a sheath knife anyway. I have two and have used one for years. I also sometimes use a Wegner, intended for hunting and long gone from the catalog.

Why "tactical" has dominated the all the buzz for so long remains a mystery to me. There would seem to be more opportunities for hunting than for combat but that appears to have little to do with the reality of sales numbers.

The Buck 110, for example, is used by many big game hunters but it is also viewed as a general utility knife good for just about anything. That's why it's stayed in the catalog for 40 years.

Impalas work as advertised and are much less cumbersome than a belt sheath. The frame lock allows an open back for easier cleaning, the humped point serves as a drop point. Mine will be carried and used again this fall. It's a great design that fits the Spyderco concept of something for everyone.:)Regards, ss.
 
why, great knife, and Iowned one for some time (sold it to hunter fellow, she needed it more i guess)
The only downside i can mention, the blade is always scraping toward the scales.
 
It also came with a non-guthook version. It was marketed for hunting; but oddly enough I've found it even cuts things non-game oriented. :eek:

Although a bit odd looking, I found the handle very comfortable to hold/use.

It was well made as you should expect.

At the time of purchase, I viewed it as an "upgrade" from the police model, since the police has not sold a g-10 version for some time. It is the approximate size of the police and carries quite easily.

Downside is right hand tip down only for those who have other carry requirements...as well a liner lock. A well functioning liner lock, but still a liner lock.
 
I that when folks started looking for a large G-10 scale liner-lock Spyderco folder, it usually came down to the Military or the Impala.
And the Impala usually lost.
 
I've owned a few Impalas and used it for skinning game, mostly deer. It's a fine knife for that purpose. I've always felt the Impala is a little under rated. The only negative I can see is that the liner lock is a little bit on the thin side.

The real problem with the Impala is that there are alot of other knives that will do very well in the field. In my experience, Delica 4, Caly III, Endura, Moran, etc....etc.... all do a great job skinning and cleaning game.... and probably just as well as the Impala.
 
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