Introduction of a newbe. Couple basic questions

[calebj06]

Hello everyone. New guy here from IL (SOUTHERN part). I will admit that I'm a complete newbe when it comes to knifes, but I've been reading!!

So far I have made a couple purchases to get my feet wet. Don't have them in hand yet but a native 5 g10 will be my first!!!

Second purchase was of a Kershaw scallion just for comparison sake and to see different things.

But back to the spidies. I work construction so I want a knife that is tough. I also have pockets full of stuff already so i want something fairly small. I played with a para 2 the other day......defiantly too big for my taste. That why I went with the native. Im sure it won't be my last either. A delica and a chaparral are next on the list. I would have went with the chap right off the bat but it's just so dang pretty!!! I couldn't bring myself to use it on the job site!!!!

So here the questions.
1: sprint runs- how do they work? How do you find out about them? How do you get in on them? I just gotta know so if I decide I want one I know how to get it.

2: Spyderco design oddities. Things I'm learning but a little help would be nice. Things like the sage series- difference in one vs the other is all in the lock correct?
Chaparral- it's all about the handle material right? Each one has a different material?

What other ones are there and how do the work and why?

Ive yet to handle most of the knives. Luckily GP Knives is only about an hour from my house, so in 2 weeks I'm gonna make a trip over and play will all of their stuff. There is also a knife show that day so I'll hit it as well.


Oh and lastly, I think that it's AWESOME that Sal is on here mingling with the members. Coolest thing I have seen in a long time.

Caleb.

[Johnnie1801]

Hi Caleb and welcome to the forum. The best thing to do to learn more about Spyderco and Byrd knives would be to ask for the 2016 catalogs or download them here:

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/request.php

Sage series is all about showcasing different lock types and the Chaparral is about different handle materials.

Sprint runs are limited edition knives and will be listed in the catalogs or here on the forums. Exclusive knives are knives commissioned by a specific retailer and can only be purchased through them.

[Water Bug]

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum, Caleb!

Grand Prairie Knives is a very cool place! I was fortunate to visit the store a few years back... nice selection of knives and nice people. I've also placed several online orders with them over the years... bought my first Strider knife (Strider SMF) from them, and I ordered many others from them as well.

I recommend the Spyderco Delica 4 as your next Spyderco purchase... if you want something fairly small that's tough, durable, and practical, then the Delica 4 may very well meet your needs.

As far as Spyderco Sprint Runs go, I hear about them right here on the Spyderco Forum. How do you get them...? Through the many reliable knife stores out there, such as the Spyderco website (they have an online store), Grand Prairie Knives, the Knife Center, Country Knives, etc.

Regarding the Spyderco Sage and Chaparral, the Sage series is based on the locking mechanism while the Chaparral is based on the handle/scale materials. That said, the Sages I've collected so far differ in both lock mechanisms and handle materials.

Hope that answers your questions. Again, welcome!

[SG89]

Welcome to the addiction :)

[ZMW]

If you are looking for tough and lightweight for a construction site maybe something with a tough tool steel like a Delica or Stretch in Hap40. The FRN handles are tough as well. I am not a fan of the burnt orange but maybe that works for you. I think the stretch is still available on some sites.

Or, the Gayle Bradley 2 with M-4. Maybe too big for your liking, but this would be my go to knife if I was rough on my knifes each day. Tough steel, great value, and designed to be a hard use knife.

I work in an office but might get the Gayle Bradley just because it is an amazing knife...

[Nate]

The Chaparral is a **** of a nice knife. I gave mine kind of a nasty regrind, it's a super slicer now! :cool:



**and welcome!!** (had to dash earlier, kids... :))

[farnorthdan]

Welcome to the forum Caleb, hold on to your wallet, its a wild ride.

[Evil D]

1. The best way to follow sprints is to pay attention here on the forum and maybe even frequent the various well known online shops as they also commission exclusives which are basically the same as sprint runs but have the potential to be reordered in the future, whereas a sprint is a one and done deal and will never be done again in that steel/handle/color/etc combination.

2. There aren't many knifes that have as many variations as the Sage/Chaparral. There have been in the past but they're all discontinued. The most variations you'll usually see now are handle colors on some, DLC blade coating, and once in a while a serrated variant. The best way to get a feel for this is to spend some time browsing the online catalog.

As for a tough knife for construction, I think that depends on what you use your knife for and what you expect it to do. If you want a knife to pry paint cans open with, you may wanna check out something beefier than a Native. If you're doing knife jobs and just cutting things (not scraping, prying, batoning, screwing etc) then the Native will serve you just fine. It's all about the right tool for the job. You wouldn't go framing a house with a ball peen hammer right?

[STAK]

:spyder: Caleb welcome to the forum ... I definately propose, after your description of needs, to purchase one of the sage series althought delica is a versatile well priced nice size folder ... I think that the sage series have the size you seek and the variety you can choose from ... I only own the sage1 from the series and I carry it when I dress officially ... I hope you will choose well for the beginning of your SPIDIE-collection journey ... :spyder:

[Mushroom]

Welcome to the forums Caleb!

If you're into fixed blades you might find interest in the Mule Team Series. Much like how the Sage series features different locks or the Chaparral series features different handle materials, the Mule Team series uses a consistent fixed blade pattern that features a different steel each time. Giving us (the customers) a chance to test the steel out for ourselves!

[swigert]

Just wait till holland posts pictures of his Chapparrals that were used on the job site. You will have the confidence to go get one.

[Cor]

From one newbe to another, welcome! This forum is amazing and everyone is very friendly and helpful..

Enjoy your knife !!

[Doc Dan]

Welcome to the forum. It is a great place to hang out.

[Bloke]

Welcome to the forum, Caleb.

I had a little chuckle reading the PM2 was too big. I thought the Delica was huge when I opened the box. I bought a Stretch that was as big a folder as I'd ever seen. :eek:

Five months later I own a dozen Spyders including two Millie's and about to order a third! :rolleyes:

Cancel your credit card while you still can!

[dplafoll]

There are a lot of good suggestions on this thread so far for knives in general, so I'm going to make a couple of different kinds of recommendation.
1) Be careful with the blade steel. Since you're new to knives, you're not going to have much experience dealing with non-stainless steel. All steel can rust if abused, but stainless steels are going to be a lot easier to keep in good shape early on in your knife journey. Good stainless steels in knives that you're likely to purchase are: VG-10, S30V, S35VN, S110V, CTS-XHP, CTS-BD1, 8CR13MOV. There are a few more but they tend to be on higher-end models or just not as commonly used. Steels you might avoid (for now) are M4, HAP40, Super Blue. One steel that's in the middle would be ZDP-189, but see below on that one.
2) You really, really need to have a competent sharpening system. My suggestion would be the Spyderco Sharpmaker. In fact, I would, without question, suggest that you buy that before you buy another knife. The SM is more of an edge maintenance system out of the box than a sharpen-from-dull or sharpen-to-mirror-polish system, but it will keep your knives sharp enough without too much work or learning curve. Note that there are some high-end steels that are very hard, and the ceramic rods that come with the SM aren't quite enough to work those steels if you need to do more than maintain the edge. ZDP-189 is probably the best example of that. There are other rods for the SM you can get to be able to do that, but for now, I'd go with steels that are stainless and easy to sharpen, and buy a Sharpmaker. It would also be worth $20-40 to buy a leather strop as well, because you can avoid real sharpening if you use a strop and sometimes the Fine SM rods to simply maintain an edge.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I think that your choice of steel and your ability to sharpen/maintain your knives is really important. I agree with the folks suggesting Delica, Sage, or Chaparral, as all three come with a good steel choice by default (VG-10, S30V, CTS-XHP respectively).

[SF Native]

Welcome Caleb,
Enjoy the knife when it arrives.

If you are going to EDC a knife, I would suggest a little research on knife laws in your area. Some cities in my area have a 3" blade maximum. Best to know and not get in any trouble or lose your knife.
Also a little reading about using a knife in self defense would be good. Basically, defending yourself is assalt with a deadly weapon unless your attacker has the ability to do you hard, the intent to do you harm, and the opportunity to do you harm. Can't be a 95 pound old lady, or a burly dude who is 20 feet away.
Ok, enough public service announcement.
Back to you regularly scheduled knife reading...

Last, some retailers (like bento box shop or even knifecenter) still have some sprint runs like hap40 in some models. But you might have to pay top dollar at this stage.

[calebj06]

Thanks for all the welcoming messages.

SF Native, if I ever have to defend myself with my knife, it's because my gun is empty!!!! And if thats the case I'm in big trouble anyway!!!!! I'm pretty well versed in use of force and take it pretty seriously. Actually it CAN be a 95 year old lady (with a knife or gun in hand) and it very well CAN be a burly guy at 20 feet, with a knife, but that's another topic for another day and place.

I'm getting really excited for my native 5. Should be here tomorrow!!!!!!! I'll make sure to let you know my thoughts.

I will make sure and try to find me a sharp maker. I'm hoping to find one used that has been treated well. Maybe at the knife show in a few weeks.

Thanks again
Caleb