Spyderco Caribbean: Will it change everything?

[cabfrank]

I'm eager to try the steel, but I hope it doesn't replace H1. I'm confident it won't in SE, but I like H1 in PE also. I hope, rather than changing everything, it is just an additional option.

[vivi]

One thing I hope to see with LC200N is a push for it to be considered a general purpose steel.

I'm no expert when it comes to advertising, but I sometimes wonder about the heavy marine oriented marketing of the Salt knives. I think this created a perception where H1 = what you carry when you're on a boat or at the beach, and any other time use a "normal" folder. In my eyes the H1 line make great general purpose knives, with the Ladybug, Dragonfly, Salt 1 and Pacific Salt all being fantastic EDC folders of every size needed, and the Ark, Aqua Salt and Rock Salt being good general purpose fixed blades that can cover all your bases in the outdoors.

Or maybe it is the difficulty in getting a full flat grind on H1 that limits what models we see ran in H1. Who knows.

Either way I'm hoping with LC200N that the steel lives up to what I've heard. If it's as good as everyone is saying I hope it receives an excellent reception, and we see sprints of popular models in it. Military, Manix, Police, Endura, Delica, Caly, etc.

Like cabfrank, I'm not quite ready to see H1 go. If it turns out LC200N is 99.99% rust proof, or not quite as tough as H1, or lack the serrated edg performance...then the latter will still have a place.

If it can completely outclass H1 is every respect, then I'm ok with a full scale replacement. If that's the case it'd be nice to see existing salt knives offered in full flat grind.

[ZrowsN1s]

I think it will be a paradigm shift for rust proof PE and for FFG SE. It will fill in the only two weak points of H1. (low PE retention, and an inability to be FFG). I love the FFG combo edge lc200n Native.

[NoFair]

A LC200N Military is one of the few knives that would get me excited at the moment. I have more great folders in great steels than I'll ever manage to wear out in my lifetime, but I'm around seawater a lot and the Military is my all time favorite folder so it would be a must have. Orange please Sal?

[Tdog]

I would also like a Millie in LC200N, orange would be fine, or a Ti version to eliminate all potential for rust. This would likely become my primary EDC.

[Evil D]

One thing I hope to see with LC200N is a push for it to be considered a general purpose steel.

If you mean general purpose as in standard production steel in the way that VG10 and S30V are the typical steels that Spyderco produce in, I'm not sure we'll ever be to a point where the general public doesn't measure steel by edge retention as the most important quality. As long as I've been alive the main two considered qualities of any steel to the average Joe have been stainless vs non stainless and how long does it hold an edge. I think a lot of the hype surrounding edge retention has to do with internet hype but it is definitely the measurement that all steels are typically categorized by.

But, I do think we are approaching a plateau where the average knife user will eventually not want to deal with sharpening steels that are approaching ceramic in sharpening difficulty, so unless some new formulas are created where extreme wear resistance can be had with ease of sharpening, I think people will gradually start to appreciate the "middle ground" steels more and more. I can personally say I've come to a similar conclusion, and I see it a lot on the forums where people rave about steels like 204P that are good compromise in a lot of areas.

Then again, this is also coming from a knife/steel junkie. For all I know the general public may really love PE H1 and not have a problem with how it holds an edge. I would personally rather have it than some of the lower grades if 440, and it isn't any worse than steels that other companies make their living off of such as Victorinox.

At any rate, I hope I'm wrong. I've come to really appreciate variety so I'm really looking forward to this steel to compliment my higher wear resistant options.

[Mushroom]

Don't know if it will "change everything", but I'd sure love to see a PE FFG Lc200n version of the Autonomy. :)

This! I love this idea! :spyder:



Sign me up for one! :D

[Evil D]

Don't know if it will "change everything", but I'd sure love to see a PE FFG Lc200n version of the Autonomy. :)

This! I love this idea! :spyder:



Sign me up for one! :D

I will literally run my credit card right now and buy this. Rather have black G10 but I can work that out on my own.

[Mushroom]

A little more crude than the orange photoshop, but it gets the point across! I'd be ok with either color g10!

[Evil D]

A little more crude than the orange photoshop, but it gets the point across! I'd be ok with either color g10!

I have a thread in the restricted section begging for this knife. Maybe if more people went there and supported it we can get our wish someday.

[Canazes9]

With the sample of one (MT25), LC200n has noticeably better edge retention than VG10. It doesn't chip, is easy to get sharp. I think it will make a great EDC steel for non steel junkies and steel junkies alike.


David

[Evil D]

Has anyone tried grinding this steel thinner? Is it bad that I'm already daydreaming about a regrind on a knife I don't even own yet?

[Canazes9]

Has anyone tried grinding this steel thinner? Is it bad that I'm already daydreaming about a regrind on a knife I don't even own yet?

I reprofiled my mule to 24 deg inclusive. Have used it with and w/o 18 microbevel. No chipping.


David

[Surfingringo]

I'm not sure if it's really fair for me to compare this steel to vg10 or s30v in edge retention because I have never really tested either of those steels (or pretty much any steel) into low level sharpness. Sharpness falloff is not linear so if you are someone who touches up your knives once they stop cleanly shaving then you won't notice near as much difference in steels as you would if you use them until they completely smooth out at the apex and reflect light. s30v (or even vg10) might start to pull away from Lc200n if you use your edge well into the lower levels of acceptable sharpness but what kind of knife nerd wants to use a knife that dull? I :cool: I do find that kind of edge retention useful on certain designs like a fillet knife, but on most of my knives I'll take sharpening response, corrosion resistance, toughness and edge stability over extreme wear resistance any day of the week. Lc200n is a pretty nice balance of those properties for me. I would rank it as one of my 3 favorite edc steels. The other two are non stainless so it's probably my overall favorite stainless steel for edc.

[Surfingringo]

Has anyone tried grinding this steel thinner? Is it bad that I'm already daydreaming about a regrind on a knife I don't even own yet?

I have a custom thats just over .010 bte. I've pushed it through a lot of big Snapper rib bones and never had it roll or chip. I can tell you it's not in H1's league on toughness though. ive been working with a maker on some fishing knife designs and when you take this steel up to 59 or higher it won't bend like H1 does. It goes *ping* instead. Still tougher than most of the stainless steels we get to play with I think but it's not the freak that H1 is.

[twinboysdad]

Where H1 seems to fall short is in FFG and with nice tips. The tips may be Spyderco dumbing them down for the hamfisted masses, but no FFG is a real obstacle. If LC200N gives the PE FFG option on a maritime application knife then PE H1 could suffer but I would predict it would be available still in quantities similar to SE VG10.

[Jazz]

If it holds an edge and doesn't SCRATCH when the wind hits it, it'll be good.

[Evil D]

Where H1 seems to fall short is in FFG and with nice tips. The tips my be Spyderco dumbing them down for the hamfisted masses, but no FFG is a real obstacle. If LC200N gives the PE FFG option on a maritime application knife then PE H1 could suffer but I would predict it would be available still in quantities similar to SE VG10.

I always assumed the beefy tip had more to do with using the blade as an under water probe, but I guess if you're braining fish like Lance the tip is an issue. It's hard to please everyone.

[twinboysdad]

My only question is SE or PE on my Sheepsfoot Caribbean

[Evil D]

My only question is SE or PE on my Sheepsfoot Caribbean

I'll eventually get both if I like the model but I'm starting with PE.