Xplorer wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:51 am
Cambertree wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:57 pm
My Waterway came in at -
3.03mm/0.119" spine (in front of plunge line
0.62mm/.023" BTE averaged from three readings.
This one caught my attention because I recently made a custom Vanax Waterway for Lance, and to do that I had to carefully study the dimensional measurements of the Spyderco version.
The spine thickness listed here is basically the same as what I have measured. I get .119" just behind the plunge line with my calipers and .120" using a micrometer on a precision granite slab.
BTE measurements can be a little more difficult. I expect to see variances around +/- .002" from one person to the next for a variety of reasons. The only reason I bring this one up is because the BTE measurement listed above is nearly double what I am finding.
My Waterway measures .119" at the spine and
.012" BTE .
Best,
CK
That's very interesting Chad.
I think +/- .002" between different testers is a reasonable assumption.
I try to get right on the shoulder as you have shown in your pic, and generally take two or three sets of BTE readings, to check my accuracy. Each set consists of three readings - one about 5mm in front of the plungeline, one in the middle of the blade, and one about 5mm back from the tip. Then I average the figure.
As I'm sure you know, the tips on most Spydies are thicker BTE than most of the rest of the edge, usually by .002"-.003", so it increases the average a little.
When I first examine a knife I also always pinch my thumb and forefinger over the edge and run it along the blade for a SWAG impression. Most folding Spydies seem to come in around .020"-.025" or thereabouts. Modern traditional slipjoints usually measure around the .010"-.015" range. My handmade Funayuki and Nakiri kitchen knives come in around 0.006" and 0.007" respectively.
I was actually quite surprised my Waterway seemed relatively thick BTE like that. I won't vouch for any better accuracy on my behalf than +/- 0.002", but I'm fairly confident that my measurements were ballpark correct.
Unfortunately, I thinned out the edge on my Waterway immediately after taking those measurements, so I can't check the factory thickness BTE again.
Having said all that, it's very interesting that there would be that much variation in BTE thickness. I believe some of the factories still use hand finishing on the final sharpening, but I'm not sure about Golden.
I recall some other users mentioned their Waterway edge was a little obtuse. It may be possible that knives made in Golden are able to have CQI applied very quickly, based on user feedback on things like the edge grinds? Or it could just be hand finishing variation, if that's part of the process.
I would have been very happy with .012" BTE on my Waterway.
And I have to add, you've made me jealous for a Vanax Waterway now! That would be an absolutely outstanding knife!
I've been really enjoying my LC200N knives, but I'd love to see a slightly harder, stronger, more wear resistant steel, which still takes a superfine edge and is rustproof, like Vanax.
...I just don't have the time at the moment... right now the only one in the world is in Costa Rica. 
