I'm new to the forum but am a former Spyderco owner. My first was a Delica about 8 years ago but I lost it while backpacking the AT due to its inferior plastic clip. My 2nd was the waved Endura which spoiled me for fast opening but I don't like the handle material because it's too slippery for my tastes. I guess I just prefer G-10 for something that my life may depend upon. I've had my eye on the Yojimbo for some time but have not been able handle one. I plan on EDC while on duty for gun retention and the occasional cutting burlap, seatbelts, clothing, 550 cord, cloth flex-cuffs and tape. Since I haven't been able to handle one, I'm wondering how well the tip would hold up to this type of use? Have any of you guys had the tip break off? Will Spyderco fix it? I'm a really big fan of the wharncliff blade and like the fact that the handle can be used as a less lethal impact/compliance tool when the blade is closed.
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Yohimbo Owners
- Thread starter reddevil
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,652
Reddevil,
Sounds like you and I are in similar occupations. I have a Yojimbo (blue handle), have used it pretty rough, and have yet to find the tip missing. Make no mistake about it though, the tip is fairly fine (designed that way), but short of prying with it, I doubt you'll snap it.
The fact that the handle acts as an improvised yawara is a fantastic added bonus. I know Mike Janich & Spyderco have really done their homework on this knife, so you can rest assured you're getting a winner. Good luck & be safe!
Best wishes,
3G
Sounds like you and I are in similar occupations. I have a Yojimbo (blue handle), have used it pretty rough, and have yet to find the tip missing. Make no mistake about it though, the tip is fairly fine (designed that way), but short of prying with it, I doubt you'll snap it.
The fact that the handle acts as an improvised yawara is a fantastic added bonus. I know Mike Janich & Spyderco have really done their homework on this knife, so you can rest assured you're getting a winner. Good luck & be safe!
Best wishes,
3G
- Joined
- May 4, 2005
- Messages
- 110
The Yojimbo is based off of the Stanley utility knife so it should cut burlap fine. The last milimetre of tip will break if dropped, but then what knife won't break when dropped on its' tip?
My yoji and ronin are still good, although admittedly i havn't carried the Yoji much. But the ronin i carry and use mostly for EDC tasks.
The point looks delicate but is very strong.
Heres an interesting like for you. http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com/yojimbo.htm
The point looks delicate but is very strong.
Heres an interesting like for you. http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com/yojimbo.htm
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
Around a millimeter or so of the tip of my Yojimbo broke off when I dropped it about 2 feet onto a lightly carpeted floor. It wasnt a big deal though and it was easy to reform the point with a benchstone. The tip is thinner than what you find on most other knives, but I wouldnt expect it to be a problem during normal use.
For some unknown reason, I sold off my Yojimbo last year. Ive really missed it and will probably buy another one in the near future. Its a great all-around design. :thumbup:
For some unknown reason, I sold off my Yojimbo last year. Ive really missed it and will probably buy another one in the near future. Its a great all-around design. :thumbup:
When I got my first Yojimbo a little over a year ago I thought that it was mainly nothing more than a utility knife. The more I have read about it and the more I study it I have come to the conclusion that there is a lot more to this knife than meets the eye.
The are 2 aspects that I really like about the blade. First of all it's shorter than usual length makes it legal even in a lot cities with the most draconian of knife laws. Second: It is the best Wharncliffe blade I have ever had at all. Most of all I have an affinity for Golden Colorado made Spyders.
The are 2 aspects that I really like about the blade. First of all it's shorter than usual length makes it legal even in a lot cities with the most draconian of knife laws. Second: It is the best Wharncliffe blade I have ever had at all. Most of all I have an affinity for Golden Colorado made Spyders.
I love my Yo, it has a permanent place in my EDC rotation.
The tip.
The Ronin, the Yo's daddy (yes?) has a damn delicate tip. (Which still holds up damn well, but it IS a splinter-picker.) The Yojimbo, not so much. It comes to an acute angle, but not only is the Yo cut from thicker blade stock than the Ro, it is also (at least in my experience) ground to a significantly thicker edge, and carries that edge thickness to the point.
Can you ding the tip? Yes you can. Do I know that because I've done it? Yes indeed.
Can you do it by cutting hard materials that require leverage, that you apply via the tip because that's all that will fit, like, say, flex-cuff weight cable ties? Yes, yes you can, or at least I can. :grumpy:
It's the price you pay for having a precision, fine tipped cutting instrument.
But while the missing tip bit was noticeable, it was truly miniscule - we're talking about something like a literal, measurable, single millimeter. Maybe 1.5mm, max. And worst case, because it's a true straight edge - a minute with a your metal removal tool of choice, working from the spine side, and your Yo looks EXACTLY like it did before, it's just (literally) a couple hairs shorter.
Let me put it another way. You can't have mine, and neither can anyone else. Don't want to trade it, don't want to sell it, don't want to stop carrying it. Mine! Mine!
The tip.
The Ronin, the Yo's daddy (yes?) has a damn delicate tip. (Which still holds up damn well, but it IS a splinter-picker.) The Yojimbo, not so much. It comes to an acute angle, but not only is the Yo cut from thicker blade stock than the Ro, it is also (at least in my experience) ground to a significantly thicker edge, and carries that edge thickness to the point.
Can you ding the tip? Yes you can. Do I know that because I've done it? Yes indeed.
Can you do it by cutting hard materials that require leverage, that you apply via the tip because that's all that will fit, like, say, flex-cuff weight cable ties? Yes, yes you can, or at least I can. :grumpy:It's the price you pay for having a precision, fine tipped cutting instrument.
But while the missing tip bit was noticeable, it was truly miniscule - we're talking about something like a literal, measurable, single millimeter. Maybe 1.5mm, max. And worst case, because it's a true straight edge - a minute with a your metal removal tool of choice, working from the spine side, and your Yo looks EXACTLY like it did before, it's just (literally) a couple hairs shorter.
Let me put it another way. You can't have mine, and neither can anyone else. Don't want to trade it, don't want to sell it, don't want to stop carrying it. Mine! Mine!