Amsterdam Meet 2014 Report of Upcoming Spyderco Prototypes

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

Some nice stuff today! the Bowie is a definite. No question. Though I too would prefer XHP on it. And I will be getting rid of the MF-ing wire clip...

The Rubicon is a maybe only because all that orange and the blade looks a bit short compared to the handle for my liking. But we'll see.

The Roc, also a buy...but I 10000% agree that it is too bad that it is bead blasted. My least favourite finish ever.

[JudasD]

Wow! There are some nice designs here. I noticed that many of these aren't VG-10. As long as it stays that way then i am good!
LOVE the Frontier! Schempp is the man!

JD

[Cujobob]

So many knives I want here, I hope they are all put in production. I've always been drawn to the Tanto, but I just don't see myself doing anything but fondling it...which is a shame. Not a huge fan of G-10 though and VG-10 is not my favorite steel, but still drawn to that beautiful blade.

The Bowie, Rubicon flipper, K2, and the Roc will all be mine. I love the Techno and a bigger version that's similar will be amazing. The Roc looks great, don't care for the G-10, but will just get it pimped. The Rubicon looks like a custom knife, even more than the Marcin Slyz knives...which is saying something. I do wish I saw more steel lockbar inserts, though.

[FCM415]

The Marcin Bowie pictures show CTS-XHP on the blade, did I miss something? A couple of you guys said "I wish it was XHP"... It is, isn't it? :confused:

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

D'oh...was looking at the rubicon but thinking about the bowie....

[FCM415]

I do wish I saw more steel lockbar inserts, though.

The lockfaces on the framelock knives that doesnt have an insert from Taiwan seems to be hardened (carbidized/carburized?). I dont think I've heard of any lock-up issues with the Southard, Techno, Sage2 to name a few... I wouldn't worry about it. I do like the steel lockbar insert feature but as the Sebenza and many other designs have proven over the decades, it isn't necessary for a dependable framelock. On the Marcin, it looks cleaner without one, but who knows its still a proto, maybe they'll add one or not.

[flash900]

Wow -- great designs, by a world-class manufacturer.

And beautifully photographed -- thanks, Mr. Blonde!

[Spydersense]

The Rubicon will be mine! :D Best of show if you ask me.

[gaj999]

The rubicon looks like a ZT knife that actually looks good...

I was thinking Kershaw Junkyard Dog. Same difference.

Gordon

[Ferris Wheels]

The Rubicon will be mine! :D Best of show if you ask me.

I am in complete agreement with this statement and am thrilled to see it is going to be produced in Taichung which is where I wish the Firefly was being produced. It is going to hurt the pocket book if both the Firefly and Rubicon drop this year.

[gdwtvb]

All I can say is OUCH!! I know that life is about having priorities and making decisions, but this is painful.

The last several years there have only been one or two that I saw and said, "I gotta have that knife!" Spyderco knocked it out of the park this year. Let's see: Chubby, ARK, Dogtag...which I will need at least two of, K2...at this point I thought i was done with 'hafta have' models. Then I see the Slyz bowie and the Rubicon. That's not even taking into account that I am interested in the Introvert, and Lum tanto too. My 'hafta have' is well over a grand based on my guestimates of street price for these models.

I won't get them all. :mad: Just looking at the models I can guess that only one of the ones I want may come in under a hundred dollars (dogtag hopefully!) I won't spend enough to get them all, but The Slyz Bowie has easily risen to the top of my list. 'Sebenza Killer' indeed. I just hope the others on my list are available for a very long time to come. They won't leave the list until they are no longer available or I own them. :)

Grizz

[Donut]

Does anyone know if the previous generation FRN Native will be discontinued shortly after the Native 5 FRN comes out?

[bearfacedkiller]

The Marcin Bowie pictures show CTS-XHP on the blade, did I miss something? A couple of you guys said "I wish it was XHP"... It is, isn't it? :confused:

The knives seems to be flooded with s30v and I was saying that the bowie coming in xhp would temp me to buy more than s30v would.

[bh49]

Does anyone know if the previous generation FRN Native will be discontinued shortly after the Native 5 FRN comes out?

yes. I posted a link for you on EDCF. You have to buy now or later you will be begging me to trade my c41 beater for your best Native5 :D

[xceptnl]

yes. I posted a link for you on EDCF. You have to buy now or later you will be begging me to trade my c41 beater for your best Native5 :D

That's just cruel Roman

[NoFair]

The Rubicon looks great, except for the clip (looks like it came off a CRKT Ripple).

Have to agree with this. Rest of the knife looks great though :o

[Mr Blonde]

We knew this version of the Southard was coming, and it was nice to see it in the flesh! Or more accurately, to see it in steel.

Apart from the all-black hardware, the texture on the G-10 was also different from the first version of the Southard. The very grippy brown G-10 has been replaced by a much smoother (regular) black G-10 pattern on the all-black Southard. It should make the knife much easier to draw from -and put back in- your pocket.

[Mr Blonde]

The Spin is back for a sprint run in blue nishijin glass fiber. The blue handle color was quite striking. I loved the mini bead design; I think it’s a logical evolution from the first beads. Those first larger beads can be quite heavy if you attach them to a very small or lightweight knife. The Spin combined with this mini bead made for a perfect little carry combo, I could get a full grip on the knife using the mini bead. Naturally, a tip-up clip would fit even better with the mini bead lanyard.

[Mr Blonde]

Apparently, the Danish spyderknuts liked the Pingo but some argued that it lacked the traditional Spyderco look of a leaf shape blade with a hump and full flat grind. Following that feedback, the Spy-DK was conceived.

I really liked the way this folder handled. Like the other FRN slipits, the Spy-DK is very light and ergonomic. The blade ‘locks’ up really well in both the open and closed position, and I really appreciate that fine splinter-picker tip. I will ‘need’ one for sure. And since these were production samples, I’m hopeful we’ll see these knives soon.

The approximate specifications of the Spy-DK production samples are:

Overall Length: 16 cm / 6.29 inches
Edge Length: 6 cm / 2.36 inches
Blade Length: 7 cm / 2.75 inches
Blade Thickness: 0,25 cm / 0.09 inches

[Mr Blonde]

Spyderco has been showing concept models of a mega folder at various Amsterdam Meets in the past. I recall one being called the Bison. The result of all this development work is the Tatanka.

The Tatanka was a crowd-pleaser and the large knife was -to me- surprisingly easy to handle and manipulate. I appreciated the fact that Eric and Sal brought along a version of the Tatanka with a clear scale so you could see how the lock works. The tang is radiused so the lock-up will adjust for any wear that might occur. The Tatanka’s lock also made sure the blade had a very nice ‘self close’ to it.