Heron by Chad Kelly ... collab?

[Bolster]

I just love the look of this fixie by Chad Kelly, called the Heron. Does anyone else dream of a CK collaboration with a classic design like this? Maybe in a steel balanced a bit toward toughness? It looks like a tremendously useful outdoor knife.

[sal]

Hi Bolster,

Beautiful piece by Chad. Actually, I'd like to do collaboration with Chad. I began one once before, but his interest at the time was in Vanax, and that put the thing on hold. SSSSsssoooooo, if Chad reads this, Let's chat. See what you got and pick a different steel?

sal

[Deadboxhero]

I agree, however, I'd like to see ANYTHING Chad does, his work is phenomenal.

[JRinFL]

I’d be in for any collab between Chad & Spyderco.

[Xplorer]

Wow! Thanks for all the kind words guys!

Sal, thank you for the invitation. Of course I'd love to talk with you about a Spyderco collab. Should I email you, private message you here, Zoom chat, bat phone ..what's your preference?

Chad

[nerdlock]

Could be a great opportunity for many people to finally handle and use Xplorer's awesome custom knives! Big fan of your Instagram.

[nerdlock]

Wow! Thanks for all the kind words guys!

Sal, thank you for the invitation. Of course I'd love to talk with you about a Spyderco collab. Should I email you, private message you here, Zoom chat, bat phone ..what's your preference?

Chad

Would you be open to other steels than Vanax? Magnacut is just fresh off the presses...

[Xplorer]

Would you be open to other steels than Vanax? Magnacut is just fresh off the presses...

I was happy to have the opportunity to work with Vanax S.C. when it was first created. It is a truly great knife steel choice when only the highest degree of corrosion resistance will do. I still use Vanax for certain knives and certain customers.

But, every knife steel is a set of trade-offs and compromises. More-over there are subtle differences that can be important. "On paper" if you compare toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance you find Vanax and Magnacut are very similar..both remarkably balanced. If you disregard corrosion resistance Z-Wear (CPM-Cruwear) is also very similar in it's mix of toughness and wear resistance. In general use, I personally prefer Z-wear over Vanax. Mostly my preference comes down to the difference in sharpening the two steels. Vanax makes a stubborn burr that can take extra time or be difficult for some people to completely resolve while Z-wear is easy to de-burr. These steels and 2 or 3 others possess the overall mix of properties that are ideally suited for a number of my knife designs, but for the past year or 2 Z-Wear has been my favorite.

I haven't used Magnacut yet (I'm working on 2 Magnacut blades right now). Given what I see on paper I am very optimistic about Magnacut, but just haven't had a chance to test the edge characteristics for myself. From what Shawn (Deadboxhero) tells me, Magnacut is likely to become my new ideal steel for many of my designs. I'll know more very soon.

Thank you for the kind words in your previous post as well.

Best regards,
Chad Kelly

[Manixguy@1994]

YES ! No other words needed . Regards MG2

[Sharp Guy]

YES ! No other words needed . Regards MG2

And yet you felt compelled to use other words

I'll just say....Me Too!

[Manixguy@1994]

YES ! No other words needed . Regards MG2

And yet you felt compelled to use other words

I'll just say....Me Too!

I deserved that and probably more ! MG2

[sal]

Hi Chad,

Let's start with an email to sglesser@spyderco.com. I don't get to it as often but I will.

sal

[kerrcobra]

This sounds awesome. Count me in!

[standy99]

I have a Osprey by Chad Kelly in Zwear

[austrian_spyder_fan]

I have a Osprey by Chad Kelly in Zwear

Wow, this is a beautiful knife!
Chad, can you imagine making a folder with Sal?

ASF

[Bolster]

Vanax, MagnaCut, CruWear, Z-Wear... these sound wonderful to me! Sign me up!

The Osprey is outstanding...

[ChrisinHove]

Those knives are exquisite!

[Xplorer]

...
Wow, this is a beautiful knife!
Chad, can you imagine making a folder with Sal?

ASF

Thank you!

Yes I can! Imagining it right now .

[Xplorer]

Hi Chad,

Let's start with an email to sglesser@spyderco.com. I don't get to it as often but I will.

sal

Thank you again for the consideration. E-mail sent.

[Xplorer]

YES ! No other words needed . Regards MG2

Thank you!

...I'll just say....Me Too!

Thank you!

This sounds awesome. Count me in!

Thank you!

I have a Osprey by Chad Kelly in Zwear

I hope your Osprey is serving you well Andy!

Vanax, MagnaCut, CruWear, Z-Wear... these sound wonderful to me! Sign me up!
The Osprey is outstanding...

Thank you!

Those knives are exquisite!

Thank you!

You are all very kind and I appreciate your encouraging words more than you know!