Carlos C15 questions
Carlos C15 questions
Hi,i just got in my Plain edge aluminum handle ats34 C15.Serial #0330 it arrived in (98%)condition,not a speck gone from the handle,and no scratches.I figured among us this is a find.And truly a beatiful knife after polishing.Do you have an idea when this was made and how many.Thanks
I know when -- and by whom. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Yours was most likely made in 1990. Approximately 3500 aluminum C15s were made between 1990 and 1994. The earliest manufacturing runs of the knife were done by Benchmade for Spyderco. Here is some of the backstory (taken from a C15 review I did once):
The Players:
Robert "Bob T" Terzuola is a custom knifemaker that literally wrote the book on custom tactical folders (The Tactical Folding Knife), and reportedly is the man who innovated the use of G10 scales for folding kives.
Sal Glesser is the founder and President of Spyderco, and the inventor of the Clipit type of folding knife.
Lester de Asis is the founder and President of Benchmade Knives.
The Story:
"When Sal Glesser of Spyderco first approached me for a Clipit design in 1989, we had been friends for several years. We knew each others standards of quality and willingness to truly collaborate and produce a product we both could be proud of. I was up front with him about my requirements for using ATS-34 (never before used in a factory folder), and having the knives made in the USA, not Japan (resulting in the eventual creation of Spyderco Manufacturing in Golden Co.).
"The resulting C-15 became somewhat of a milestone in American made pocket knives, being the first factory knife made in the USA (or anywhere else) using ATS-34 steel, the liner lock and G-10 for its handles. (Few people know that even Benchmade got its start from this knife since Les D'Asis was the original manufaturer, even before Benchmade existed)."
-- Robert Terzuola
"Hi Carlos. Heavy question. What Bob said is true. Lester had just moved his new factory to the Portand area. He was producing bali-songs along with a few models of Browning origin.
"Spyderco had no US mfg facilty at the time and Bob T insisted that it be US made. Lester and I had been friends for many years. I agreed to have Lester make the C15 design for Spyderco. Lester and I went down to Bob's shop in Sante Fe and Bob taught the both of us how to make linerlocks using the ball bearing detent developed by Michael Walker.
"Lester went on to produce the first several runs of C15's for us. Then Spyderco set up our own mfg facility in Golden and took over production.
"It was good for both Lester and I in many respects."
-- Sal Glesser
Edited by - Carlos on 1/15/2002 8:57:19 AM
Yours was most likely made in 1990. Approximately 3500 aluminum C15s were made between 1990 and 1994. The earliest manufacturing runs of the knife were done by Benchmade for Spyderco. Here is some of the backstory (taken from a C15 review I did once):
The Players:
Robert "Bob T" Terzuola is a custom knifemaker that literally wrote the book on custom tactical folders (The Tactical Folding Knife), and reportedly is the man who innovated the use of G10 scales for folding kives.
Sal Glesser is the founder and President of Spyderco, and the inventor of the Clipit type of folding knife.
Lester de Asis is the founder and President of Benchmade Knives.
The Story:
"When Sal Glesser of Spyderco first approached me for a Clipit design in 1989, we had been friends for several years. We knew each others standards of quality and willingness to truly collaborate and produce a product we both could be proud of. I was up front with him about my requirements for using ATS-34 (never before used in a factory folder), and having the knives made in the USA, not Japan (resulting in the eventual creation of Spyderco Manufacturing in Golden Co.).
"The resulting C-15 became somewhat of a milestone in American made pocket knives, being the first factory knife made in the USA (or anywhere else) using ATS-34 steel, the liner lock and G-10 for its handles. (Few people know that even Benchmade got its start from this knife since Les D'Asis was the original manufaturer, even before Benchmade existed)."
-- Robert Terzuola
"Hi Carlos. Heavy question. What Bob said is true. Lester had just moved his new factory to the Portand area. He was producing bali-songs along with a few models of Browning origin.
"Spyderco had no US mfg facilty at the time and Bob T insisted that it be US made. Lester and I had been friends for many years. I agreed to have Lester make the C15 design for Spyderco. Lester and I went down to Bob's shop in Sante Fe and Bob taught the both of us how to make linerlocks using the ball bearing detent developed by Michael Walker.
"Lester went on to produce the first several runs of C15's for us. Then Spyderco set up our own mfg facility in Golden and took over production.
"It was good for both Lester and I in many respects."
-- Sal Glesser
Edited by - Carlos on 1/15/2002 8:57:19 AM
