Kris: Reborn

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
Sumdumguy
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Kris: Reborn

#1

Post by Sumdumguy »

sal wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:35 pm
I think the Kris was an exceptional design. The original maker can no longer make it so Eric is working with another maker to see if we can sprint it.

sal

After hearing that this one was being looked at, I decided it needed a dedicated thread.

Is everyone else as excited as I am?
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Foundry81
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#2

Post by Foundry81 »

I am! I've been considering the cold steel version, but would rather have a spyderco!
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TkoK83Spy
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#3

Post by TkoK83Spy »

I've been holding off on many of these new exclusives, sprints and reveal knives lately. I've been holding out for something out of the ordinary from what knives I typically buy. The Kris...that thing definitely has my attention! So unique and awesome!! Would love the chance at one!

Were there any cqi issues with the original, why was it discontinued?
15 :bug-red 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut

-Rick
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Mushroom
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#4

Post by Mushroom »

Now thats a bombshell! I'd love to see a sprint run of the Kris! :D
-Nick :bug-red
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Cambertree
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#5

Post by Cambertree »

That was completely unexpected and welcome news!

Here’s a ‘Kris Anatomy’ diagram which I took at the museum in Malacca, Malaysia:

Image
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TkoK83Spy
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#6

Post by TkoK83Spy »

Cambertree wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:49 pm
That was completely unexpected and welcome news!

Here’s a ‘Kris Anatomy’ diagram which I took at the museum in Malacca, Malaysia:

Image
Awesome!! Great pic to have.
15 :bug-red 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut

-Rick
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curlyhairedboy
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#7

Post by curlyhairedboy »

Fingers crossed for at least BD1n and screw construction!
EDC Rotation: PITS, Damasteel Urban, Shaman, Ikuchi, Amalgam, CruCarta Shaman, Sage 5 LW, Serrated Caribbean Sheepsfoot CQI, XHP Shaman, M4/Micarta Shaman, 15v Shaman
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#8

Post by legOFwhat? »

I know that some don't care for laminated steels but, I think it woud look awesome with dual laminate lines! HAP40 Kriss please!

Edit: the wavy lines of a Kris would look awesome in Damascus steel!
Last edited by legOFwhat? on Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Cambertree
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#9

Post by Cambertree »

TkoK83Spy wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:53 pm
Awesome!! Great pic to have.
Thanks Rick. :)

Somewhere I have pics of a couple of Kris knives which were found preserved in the mud during land reclamation works around the port in Malacca.

They ended up in the private collection of one of the museum curators, who showed them to me. He thought they were 19th century or earlier.

Can’t find the pics now, but I’ll post them in later if I can track them down.

This is a Balinese Kris I have:

Image
Image

It’s more of a tourist piece I think, rather than a functional knife. The wood carving is really nice work, though.

Krises vary from short blades around 4” long, to sword length pieces. There are also specialist ‘Executioner’s Krises’

Let’s hear some more from Spyderco Kris owners!

What do you think of the knife?

How does it work as a functioning blade?
Last edited by Cambertree on Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:44 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#10

Post by Cambertree »

TkoK83Spy wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:32 pm
I've been holding off on many of these new exclusives, sprints and reveal knives lately. I've been holding out for something out of the ordinary from what knives I typically buy. The Kris...that thing definitely has my attention! So unique and awesome!! Would love the chance at one!

Were there any cqi issues with the original, why was it discontinued?
Rick, my understanding is that Moki have had issues with maintaining consistent quality standards after transitioning to the third generation of family leadership.

Many current Japanese companies were founded after WW2, and handed down from father to son, and now to the grandsons.

Sometimes later generations can be less suited to the role for any number of reasons. In other cases, the companies continue to thrive with generational change.

At their peak, Moki made incomparable production knives, IMHO.
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steelcity16
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#11

Post by steelcity16 »

Cru-Carta Kris?? Cru-Kris-Carta???
:bug-white-red CRU-CARTA THE SEKI MODELS! :bug-white-red AND BRING US THE DODO-FLY! :bug-white-red
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Enactive
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#12

Post by Enactive »

curlyhairedboy wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:07 pm
Fingers crossed for at least BD1n and screw construction!
I have to disagree. I think screw construction would really detract from the design, especially the bolsters. The smooth finish of the handle with flush pins needs to be handled to be fully appreciated. Screws would muck that up.

The original really is a piece of functional art. :spyder: :cool:
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#13

Post by Thunderpants »

Seriously... does the world really need another incredibly ugly knife?
Sumdumguy
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#14

Post by Sumdumguy »

Enactive wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:09 pm
curlyhairedboy wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:07 pm
Fingers crossed for at least BD1n and screw construction!
I have to disagree. I think screw construction would really detract from the design, especially the bolsters. The smooth finish of the handle with flush pins needs to be handled to be fully appreciated. Screws would muck that up.

The original really is a piece of functional art. :spyder: :cool:
Yep. Plus, it deserves better than just BD1N. Atleast, it needs to be VG-10. But, I want to see an upgrade.

Bolsters, pinned construction, micarta and M4?
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JD Spydo
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#15

Post by JD Spydo »

Mushroom wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:41 pm
Now thats a bombshell! I'd love to see a sprint run of the Kris! :D
Yeah I would as well. The KRIS model is one of the very few I never yet owned from that era. Also I've wondered what a serrated version of the KRIS would be like?

That I believe was one of Ed Schempp's earlier models? It was only in the main line up for a little over a year or so and it didn't get much attention until it got discontinued. But that's the story on so many Spyderco models of the past.
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#16

Post by Sumdumguy »

JD Spydo wrote:
Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:28 am
Mushroom wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:41 pm
Now thats a bombshell! I'd love to see a sprint run of the Kris! :D
Yeah I would as well. The KRIS model is one of the very few I never yet owned from that era. Also I've wondered what a serrated version of the KRIS would be like?

That I believe was one of Ed Schempp's earlier models? It was only in the main line up for a little over a year or so and it didn't get much attention until it got discontinued. But that's the story on so many Spyderco models of the past.
I've been trying to get one for ages. Finding one for a decent price isn't an easy task.

I personally wouldn't want an SE version on this one, as it's an ethnic design. Making it SE would take away from the "authenticity" of it. Also, like with the Ulize, the recurves function somewhat like mega serrations on these knives.

I'm not opposed to SE, just feel that this isn't the model for them.
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#17

Post by brj »

Thunderpants wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:48 pm
Seriously... does the world really need another incredibly ugly knife?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to me this looks like quite the opposite of ugly

Image

I would likely buy a sprint regardless of steel and/or handle material but it would need to stay pinned (agree that screws would detract from the looks). Also, I like Spyderco's SE as much as the next guy but I wouldn't want it in SE (since the wave works like a sort of a loose serrated pattern anyway).

I've been thinking for the last 10 years or so to have the bolsters engraved on mine but I always shied away from shelling that kind of money on non-functional art :) ... ah well, one of these days.

Thanks to this thread, I've decided to EDC the Kris alongside my regular Watu (why stop at one fugly knife when you can carry two? :rolleyes: )

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Re: Kris: Reborn

#18

Post by Thunderpants »

brj wrote:
Sat Aug 22, 2020 6:30 am
why stop at one fugly knife when you can carry two? :rolleyes: )
That's the spirit! :eek:
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Cambertree
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#19

Post by Cambertree »

It’s really interesting how member photos from a slightly different angle can make a knife look very different from the way the side profile catalogue pics make them look.

Originally, if I had to think of a word to describe the Kris, it probably wouldn’t be ‘beautiful’ but definitely ‘unusual’ and ‘interesting’.

The photos here, and other ones I’ve seen recently, really do make the knife look beautiful though. It has some very elegant lines to it, and the handle looks like it would be extremely comfortable in a variety of grips, just as Enactive noted.

That bolster to handle joint looks great as well. :cool:

So, BRJ, do you use it for EDC cutting chores at all? Any comments on how that unusual blade shape performs for you?
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Re: Kris: Reborn

#20

Post by JD Spydo »

Sumdumguy wrote:
Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:37 am
JD Spydo wrote:
Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:28 am
Mushroom wrote:
Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:41 pm
Now thats a bombshell! I'd love to see a sprint run of the Kris! :D
Yeah I would as well. The KRIS model is one of the very few I never yet owned from that era. Also I've wondered what a serrated version of the KRIS would be like?

That I believe was one of Ed Schempp's earlier models? It was only in the main line up for a little over a year or so and it didn't get much attention until it got discontinued. But that's the story on so many Spyderco models of the past.
I've been trying to get one for ages. Finding one for a decent price isn't an easy task.

I personally wouldn't want an SE version on this one, as it's an ethnic design. Making it SE would take away from the "authenticity" of it. Also, like with the Ulize, the recurves function somewhat like mega serrations on these knives.

I'm not opposed to SE, just feel that this isn't the model for them.
But do consider that blades that have curves tend to do really well with serrations. Now don't misunderstand me because I would want it in both PE & SE. That way both camps can have what they want. It was just about the time when the KRIS came out that Spyderco started slowing down on their SE models. Because before that almost every model they made were available in both SE & PE.

And I understand you wanting a KRIS just the way it was when it first came out. But if they made them in both PE & SE then everyone would get what they want. Because Hawkbills for instance really don't have 10% of the uses that the serrated Hawkbills have. You might change your mind if you were to test drive one :) Blades with curve tend to do really well in SE.
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