Oh My...I Love This Knife

[Shmackey]

I've been carrying a Benchmade 710 Axis for a while, but I decided to get something more universally acceptable as well. So I just received my Spydie Calypso Jr. in micarta/plain edge.

What a great knife!!! I don't consider my Benchmade to be "complicated" (it's plain edge, black, etc), but the Calypso is the pinnacle of slick, smooth, easy-on-the-eyes design. It looks great open and closed, like everything has its place. And it's razor-sharp, of course (unlike the Benchmade...).

Too bad the micarta has been discontinued (I hope I can still find the large model somewhere). If I were Spyderco, I'd entice people like me by continuing to make a slick, gentlemanly version. I'll pay double or more for one with carbon fiber and the VG-10 blade in the new Zytel version. Anyone else in? Let's order...

[mundele]

Do you prefer the Micarta Calypso Jr. to the lightweight model? I have been considering getting one or the other pretty soon and I am having a lot of trouble deciding between them.

I've never owned a Zytel-handled spyderco, so I don't know if I'd like it or not. What are your opinions on it??

--Matt (Mundele)

[Clay Kesting]

Matt,

I have both and I'd be hard pressed to say which one I prefer as I use them differently. The Micarta version goes to work when I want a more dressy knife. The Ltwt slips into my waistband when I go jogging. The AUS8 steel in the BM loses its edge fairly quickly but is easy to sharpen with a few swipes on the Sharpmaker. However the Ltwt. is coming with me this morning for a week's skiing because I don't want to have to sharpen it while I'm away.

Reading back over this post I think I'd have to say that if I could only have one I'd pick the Ltwt for it's better steel. YMMV <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Take care,
Clay

[mundele]

Clay,
Thanks for the info. I am thinking I will probably get the lightweight one. I like a dressy knife, and I also like the "heft" of my Worker's stainless handle, but I want something a little different. Thanks a lot for the info...

--Matt

[minimarc123]

I know this is an old post (I found it using the search thing), but it's exactly my question, so I figured I'd bring it back up for furthur discussion.

I'm referring to whether you would prefer this in the micarta or zytel verion (if price were not an issue). I guess you could include the SS too, if you'd like.

I think I'm going to explode with all this info.

-map

btw- I found a pic of the micarta version @ knifecenter.com and it looks just like plain 'ol slippery plastic, and I don't like the look. Is that what it actually looks like, or is that just a poor quality picture?

Thanks so much

[chinook]

"...it looks just like plain 'ol slippery plastic..."

Yeah, and diamonds look just like glass. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I think you would need to try one in order to be able to tell the difference. While the Calypso Jr in FRN is a capable cutter with good steel, it feels and looks like mass produced plastic to me. The 2 Jr's and 3 fullsized Calypso micarta versions I have are all tight and smooth and polished and seem more like customs to me. Butt that's just my opinion.

Disguised as a responsible adult

[GronK]

Speaking of love and Calypsos, I spotted a NIB large micarta Calypso in the flyer from Cuttingedge.com last month, along with an old style Military in CPM440V. I had been searching for something big but not too thick or heavy. Couldn't decide which I liked better so I bought both. I've had them for a month now and I still can't decide! Two completely different but equally magnificent flat-ground cutting machines.

[chinook]

GronK...
I feel your pain. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I can't seem to reconcile my loving the Calypso for its beautiful, supple lines and then feeling just as strongly for the machismo of this old all black Military.

Disguised as a responsible adult

[sam the man..]

Well, the Calypsos are classy creatures.. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Glad I had both large and small micarta ones! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[GronK]

I may have to find a Jr Calypso in micarta eventually, but my old Blackhawk is still serving me well when in "3 inch" territory!

[minimarc123]

Hmmmm... what do the micarta handles (calypso jr. specifically) feel like? Are they solid, or do they have a littge give or spongyness?

[Jeff/1911]

minimarc123 - The Micarta material is hard, smooth and very rich looking...beautiful.

Schmackey - Re: the large micarta; plain edge. Have you checked with...

www.swords.ca

This is a knife dealer here in Western Canada. The store is actually called Cutting Edge Cutlery and I'm constantly surprised with the stock of discontinued Spydies that they seem to maintain. If you email them, they'll reply promptly with availability information, and they seem to sell for reasonable prices.

Good luck, Jeff/1911.