The worthy life and deeds of the indefatigable Pacific Salt

[brj]

This is the story of the Spyderco knife that got me hooked.

10 years back I got my first :spyder: , the (relatively new, at the time) Pacific Salt, built with the (relatively new) H1 wonder-steel. She started off as a back-up alternative (gym, trail running, beach) but got upgraded soon to a no-frills everyday companion due to the H1 magic and the extremely flat profile that made for inconspicuous IWB carry.

Fast forward to 2009. Full house refurbish, the Salt doing everything from drywall to cement bags. Sharpening was needed every evening, but otherwise the fugly knife just kept on ticking. Got scratched like ****, but the horizontal blade play was still insignificant for a pinned knife, the vertical play was more or less the one she started out with, and the lock never failed me. I’ve decided a radical FFG is the only way to breathe new life into this baby. Boy was I right. The jimping got lost in the process and a sweet swedge (Police3 style) has been added.

Fast forward again to 2016. Modern transportation hiccups (I made it to the connection flight, my luggage -including the Pac Salt- did not, but arrived a couple of days later) made me realize I do not want to lose this bugger, but rather retire her with honors. The replacement arrived, full spyderedge this time :D , so I guess this is the retiring ceremony.


Notice the snapped-off & resharpened tip


FRN might look worn, but is not suffering from a functional point of view.



Different blade markings & clip style. Evolution from pinned to all-screw construction.


Extreme bleach out near the barrel bolt due to exposure to elements (sun).

Now she'll be a permanently resident in one of my display cases, I think she well deserves that.

[Zenith]

These knives are so wonderful and light. Great workhorses and FRN holds up great. May the new one serve you well!

[Surfingringo]

Excellent! I've got a black one that has earned it's retirement but it still functions like the day I bought it so I reckon I'll keep using it until it meets it's fate on the water. Eventually it will probably end up overboard and make it's way to the bottom of the ocean for it's final resting place. Best work knife in the lineup, hands down!

[anagarika]

:spyder: worthy indeed! Thanks for sharing!

I'm not sure, but mine is PE, pinned but perhaps the clip is newer version? I might not remember correctly as I always carry clipiless. ?? :o

[Joris Mo]

Been working mine hard now since I got it a little over half a year ago, got tested in Portugal for 7 weeks last year with a lot of hard farm work.
Actually gave it a serious beating quite a few times starting the fire by using it to baton with locked blade which didn't really seem to bother it.
(yes I know that's not what folders where made for but I like to know how far I can push a user)

[Razzle]

Beautiful story.

[tap78]

Great story and nice update...
after reading such stories I've bought myself a Pacific Salt as a bigger brother of Salt 1 that I like a lot...

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I am so glad you mentioned this. Thank you. I love my Pacific Salts. Now for my advice question to all of you reading this thread:

I was considering gifting one of my Pac Salts to a friend of mine who has never experienced the cutting magic of H1. And to replace it in my collection, should I purchase another Pacific Salt, or, should I get one I did not have before: The Spyderco Endura 4 ALL STAINLESS model? What would you all likely do in that case? I'm torn between having a new Pacific Salt after I gift that one, and, getting an all new Spyderco I've never had, the Endura 4 Stainless. Note: I already have the Endura 4 with FRN handle.

[JAfromMN]

And now I got this craving for salt.

Fully serrated salt. :spyder:

[Ruarch]

Nice story bro. You had me at indefatigable though. <3 Horatio Hornblower. Probably not where you were going with that but it has been a couple years since I have watched the movies... I think I might have to reconnect. Oh yeah, H1 rocks!!!!

[Surfingringo]

I am so glad you mentioned this. Thank you. I love my Pacific Salts. Now for my advice question to all of you reading this thread:

I was considering gifting one of my Pac Salts to a friend of mine who has never experienced the cutting magic of H1. And to replace it in my collection, should I purchase another Pacific Salt, or, should I get one I did not have before: The Spyderco Endura 4 ALL STAINLESS model? What would you all likely do in that case? I'm torn between having a new Pacific Salt after I gift that one, and, getting an all new Spyderco I've never had, the Endura 4 Stainless. Note: I already have the Endura 4 with FRN handle.

I'd go for something new and get the stainless E4...or a stainless Police for that matter!!

[Tdog]

Glad you could retire your Pacific Salt and get a new one. My son should be receiving his new Pacific Salt tomorrow....early birthday present. Several years ago I got him the Stag Arms Manix which he loves. He's a deputy sheriff and recently got a new job patrolling inshore and bay waters. Time for a new knife. The Pacific Salt serrated fits the bill, and will be his new edc. Hope he loves his as much as I do mine. :spyder:

[brj]

You had me at indefatigable though. <3 Horatio Hornblower. Probably not where you were going with that but it has been a couple years since I have watched the movies...

Haha, spot on, bro. Been a while since I saw the movies too, but just started re-reading the series by C.S. Forester. I thought "Indie" would make a good moniker for this particular PacSalt :)

[NoFair]

Don't retire it. It looks to still be in it's prime. I often carry two Pacific Salts when sailing; one PE and one SE :D

[Evil D]

I love Salt knives. After using my Dragonfly so much, I've come to realize that aside from clip mounting options, I really don't have any need for steel liners in an EDC knife. All they do is make the knife heavier. Nothing I do in my day to day will ever break a linerless FRN knife, so if I had it my way I would have every knife I carry done this way, or (preferably) in a linerless G10 or carbon fiber. I even like the barrel screw clip quite a lot more than the usual 3 screw clip. Sometimes it sucks being on the minority side of popularity, because I know there's no chance of seeing a bunch of my favorite knives come out without liners. The Manix 2/Native LW are the best options so far, which aren't bad. Maybe in the future more models will get that treatment.

[elena86]

My pack.They all have fangs of course :D



Marius

[Surfingringo]

My pack.They all have fangs of course :D



Marius

Hmmm, I think I recognize some of the fingerprints on 1 and 3.

[anagarika]

Just checked mine ...

Anyone knows if the pinned version did come with newer clip style (rounded instead of rectangle tip)?