Spyderco Forums

i have been looking at the grasshopper for awhile but i seem to have an issue with it. i dont care for smooth metal handles anymore and would love to try one. so i am asking if anyone would like a sprint in frn/g10 or if sal is working on one. i am not worried about the steel as much because 14c28n is a decent enough steel.

i have a manbug and i feel it is just slightly to small and to upsize the dragonfly is much bigger. i feel that the grasshopper would fit perfectly in between these 2. the squeak and chicago are very thick dense and heavy compared to a DF or MB.

This is an interesting idea. I don’t know how much traction it’s going to get. Still a small knife like this by in a little bit nicer does have its attractions.

G10 might be feasible, doubt FRN would be due to the cost of the mold.

14c28n? Is that some sort of special model? My 2019 catalog says the blade steel is 3cr, which is CERTAINLY no where near as good as 14c28n. If they did make the trio in 14c28n it would be a lot more interesting than they are now.

Ez556 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:15 am

14c28n? Is that some sort of special model? My 2019 catalog says the blade steel is 3cr, which is CERTAINLY no where near as good as 14c28n. If they did make the trio in 14c28n it would be a lot more interesting than they are now.

Their website says Sandvik 12C27! LOL

Looks like theres a mystery to solve here! SCOOBY DOO! WHERE ARE YOU!

On a serious note, The Grasshopper is the only one listed as Sandvik 12C27. Both the Bug and Honeybee are listed as 3Cr.

I'd be ok with stainless if it had a better steel. I'd also like a Honeybee in a nicer steel for my keys. I like that it's slimmer and fits better on keys than a Ladybug. Stainless makes sense for that reason because it's tougher, I don't have much need for scale texture on a keychain knife. If the Grasshopper came in G10 it would also be a lot more expensive, and then you run into the "premium value folder" debate and people lose their minds about how much it costs. I've made this same thread about 7 years ago and it didn't go over very well.

Well, I looked in my 2018 catalog and it also says 3cr, which Knife Center agrees with. I looked at Spyderco’s website, and they do list 12c27 Sandvik, but then when I checked Blade HQ they list 8Cr13Mov! In all the pictures I’ve found online one side of the blade says Spyderco and the other side says China, so we may never know the secrets of what steel the Grasshopper truly holds.

If a locking folder would meet the OP's needs, he might want to consider the A G Russell Simple 3" Lockback. 3" is the closed length, so it's just a bit less than a quarter inch longer than the Grasshopper closed and has a 2.5" blade that's .2" longer than the Grasshopper's. It has an FRN handle, 8Cr13MoV steel blade,weighs 3/4 of an oz, costs under $20, comes in 4 colors and, perhaps most importantly, is available.

yes it is 12c27 sorry i knew it was sandvick. that is a nice knife but i am really looking for a replacement for my manbug but i think i will just stick with it.
it is a nice looker grasshopper.

I think a steel upgrade would be a good thing. G10...only if the cost was not high, and it would be I’m afraid. Think G10 Manbug.

I think it's a little funny that folks aren't into 12c27 and 14c28n, but ask for aeb-l. I think AEB-L is chemically equivalent to 13c27 and very similar to 12 and 14c. I like them all in my Moras. The 'fine grained' Swedish stainless steel are nice, even if maybe they aren't HTed hard enough for the Afi crowd.

I’ve been thinking about this all day, and if the steel is in fact 12c27 that makes the knife a lot more interesting. I’m a big fan of 14c28n and I love my stainless Mora, so even though I don’t think I have experience with 12c27 (I’m not sure what my “stainless” Mora Bushcraft actually is) I would love to try it as I like my Swedish steels thus far. As others have said, FRN carries a big cost for the mold and G10 may make it cost prohibitive, but it would be cool if they did some sort of texturing or milling on the stainless handles. That would certainly add grip and visual appeal, and I don’t think it would add too much cost depending on what they do. I’m thinking of some simple fluting or some nice channels such as what’s on the titanium handled Byrd’s, or the pattern molded in the handle of the Centofante 3. I’d go for that for sure.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 4:21 pm

I’m afraid.

Bloke wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:52 pm

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2019 4:21 pm

I’m afraid.

Yeah, they grow ‘em big back home.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:00 pm

Yeah, they grow ‘em big back home.

Ah, hahaha! :)

I'd have never believed it if I hadn't seen it Doc. They'd have to make a mess on your windscreen I'm tipping. :p

Bloke wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:09 pm

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:00 pm

Yeah, they grow ‘em big back home.

Ah, hahaha! :)

I'd have never believed it if I hadn't seen it Doc. They'd have to make a mess on your windscreen I'm tipping. :p

Great on the Barbie.

Hey folks. I know it’s an old post but I have one for 6 hard (for the purpose) use years, splitting cord, slicing paper boxes, peeling fruit, and last year it became a blade play. For a keychain, is an excellent folder. If I had some to complain it was just the missing pivot screw just like in Ladybug and manbug just to tighten it up.
The blade shape looks like a micro military. Fits very well on keychain but the stainless handle finish scratch very easy.

Sorry for my English. It isn’t my native speak.

Did anyone ever figure out if it's Sandvik or 8cr?