Why doesn't the Spyderco R-2 get ANY respect?

K

kgriggs8

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I happen to think this is one of the best Spyderco designs ever. It is large enough to be both a weapon and tool if needed. It is light enough and thin enough to carry all the time. I think the flat ground blade is great. The blade design is really good as well. It looks like a larger Calypso Jr.

I guess people are comparing it to the original "R" and thought it lacked something. I bought the R-2 before I ever heard of the "R" and so I was not dissapointed in it. I bought it for what it was and I like it for what it is. I have two of these and I have seen more for sale. It is a little surprising to be able to find them so easy since only 600 PE versions were made. I have two of the PEs. If I get four more of these, I will have 1% of all they ever made.:)

On a side note, the lock-up on these is not fantastic but that is something I have been seeing on many Spyderco lately. Are they adjustable in the pivot? As a matter of fact, does anyone have a list of which Spydercos have an adjustable pivot screw? What about the Para?
 
Can't speak for everyone. I gave the R2 what I considered a fair trial and used it for a month. Went back to my Stretch for a number of reasons. The most important of those had to do with what I'll call "hand geometry". The radius between the center of the blade pivot and the center of the opening hole is longer on the R2 than the Stretch, and it's relationship with where my hand wants to position itself for opening the knife is different as well. Those two things, combined with rather short thumbs, make the motion needed for me to open the R2 less natural than that needed to open the Stretch.

Beyond that, while I realize the trusswork handle was retained as both a tribute and a link to the original design, I think it allows more garbage to get into the knife and makes it harder to clean when used for food prep. It also made the knife less than fully ambidexterous.

Finally I found it had a tendency to "self disassemble" and went through all three grades of Loctite before the blade and lockbar pivot screws stopped loosening up.

Far as I know, no current production knives have an eccentric pivot. Think it was dropped a couple years back. Am pretty sure older versions of the Military, prior to S30V, have it. Not sure about any other models, but am fairly sure that feature was confined to liner locks.
 
It works fine for me, light, handy, and gets EDC when i feel like it. The only drawback i see in the R2 is that the open handle is a true dust magnet, but otherwise it is a mighty fine knife.

I feel lucky to have the opportunity to have great Spyderco knives , and don't find it a problem when they don't turn out to be "hot" among average knife users.

My guess is that the Wallmart Spyderco Native, and the new Delica 4 and Endura 4 are filling the checkbook right now, this gives Spyderco the opportunity to design and sell limited sprint run's.:thumbup:
 
I think it's kinda funny, the R2 was sold out to dealers long before it was even released, but it's still readily available. Obviously not as wanted as everyone expected.

I guess dealers expected it to be as popular as the original R is now.
 
I have a R2 and I really like it as an EDC. First and foremost, the blade is a very useful shape for everyday jobs. Nice and broad (much like a larger Calypso Jr. blade) with my beloved full flat grind. The tip is plenty strong also. It's so thin and light you don't even feel it in your pocket until you need it but the handle is plenty large for multi grips. The laser cutouts aid in grip and retention. All around another fine fine folder from Spyderco.
 
I think the thing that really sold the R (or the Q for that matter) was the hollow blade.

The solid blade of the R2 will hold up better to use and abuse but it just aint an R.
 
kgriggs8 said:
I happen to think this is one of the best Spyderco designs ever. It is large enough to be both a weapon and tool if needed. It is light enough and thin enough to carry all the time. I think the flat ground blade is great. The blade design is really good as well. It looks like a larger Calypso Jr.
Click to expand...

I bought an R2 (two of 'em, actually) based on exactly the same reasoning! Great size, great blade, great handle, stiff but lightweight handle, etc. There were two things that made the R2 less-than-perfect (still great, mind you, but just not quite up to my very lofty expectations): the hole position issue as outlined by the Deacon (this is the only Spyderco that's actually uncomfortable for me to open), and the fact that the knife is uncomfortable in full wrap-around hammer grip which makes it less-than-desireable for defensive use for me.

No doubt, still a great design, but the the perfect 3.5"-bladed lightweight-yet-strong all-arounder I'd hoped it would be. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the R2 to anyone who doesn't have these issues.

Joe
 
It is not perfect but it has so many features that I thought people would love but they didn't. It has a blade that reminds me of the Pacific Salts but it is flat ground. I would think people would love the blade.

I don't have a problem opening it and I never noticed anything funny about where the hole is located until somebody mentioned it. Now I notice it is a little out of place but not uncomfortable. It is just a knife but it just seems so well thought out and so close to what I would have asked for that I am surprised that most people turn their noses up at it. I guess that is why Sal only listens to us so much. We could design the knife that we think would be perfect but it might not sell.
 
Well I know the knife that I would consider perfect would sell poorly. But I've been marching to my own drummer for too many years to stop now.

As for the R2, I own a total of five, so I think I did my share to make it a success. I just found the Stretch works better for me. For a big guy, I have rather small hands and short thumbs, am sure there are others who will find the R2 a perfect fit. I know that many people like screw pivots. I've found that for me they are more trouble than they are worth. Just one more thing that has to be inspected at regular intervals. Different strokes for different folks.
 
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