C-159 Air Campaign: Sprint or Bust!

[JSumm]

If Spyderco looked at a clip, I think the most practical without changing much would be the wire clip with the two grooves cut into the scales.

[aicolainen]

I'm pretty much in the anything but carbon fiber camp as far as scale material goes, but I can see how CF in concept fits well with the lightweight theme of the Air. So while I'll take whatever they (hopefully) decide to make, something like G-10 or canvas/linen micarta would much more in my lane. The ebony suggestion sounds quite interesting as well.
I would also like a sprint to stay true to the spirit of the OG and keep with the tools steels. I'd be perfectly happy if they kept the M4 for the sprint, but I guess that's not very likely to happen. K390 is a fine suggestion, but we haven't seen much of that from Taichung yet. We have seen Rex 121, but that wouldn't be my top pick for this design.
Oh, and a clip would be nice. I may choose not use it after all, but screw holes in my scales never bothered me, so I'll rather have the option.

That's a lot of wants, but most of all I just want this sprint to happen, and I'm ready to commit however this sprinter is dressed up for its next run.

[Bearcat1]

The Air is a great knife.

[Mushroom]

One of the unique offerings from FatCarbon would be a cool scale material.

Something like "Snakeskin Carbon Fiber" as an homage to Gayle Bradley's Texas heritage might be appropriate.

I think it's important to not lose focus on the goal here. We're asking for a sprint run, not a new knife. An "Air 2" would not be a sprint run. Bringing these knives back for sprints in their near original form is part of the appeal. The only changes should be blade steel and handle material, in my opinion.

I think Fat Carbon is a great idea. I was just looking at Sharp Dressed Knives website last week on some of their Spyderco offerings and man do those fat carbon scales look great!

I think small tweaks or CQI changes can be possible without fully redesigning the model. The pocket clip request may not need a massive overhaul if they can fit it on the existing screw set up. Otherwise I agree with you. Major changes would just be a new model at that point. Though we have seen some sprints lose their hollow grind in favor of saber grind. I think that falls into the CQI or cost savings category.

You're right, for example the CruWear Ayoob sprint featured a four-position pocket clip for the first time.

In the case of an Air sprint run - I will also acknowledge that it would be much easier to simply remove a clip if it's included from factory than it would be to add a mounting point for one afterwards.

Would it be a fair analogy to say "adding a clip to a design that never had one would be as major as removing the clip from a design that always had one" ? That's how it feels to me.

Just to clarify, I am not trying to tell Spyderco what to do. It's their knife and they should proceed however they feel is appropriate. Whether adding a clip qualifies as "CQI" or if it is too significant a change for a sprint run is best left up to Spyderco, in my opinion.

I think it's important to not lose focus on the goal here. We're asking for a sprint run, not a new knife...

Fair point. I brought up the clip only because it was mentioned in the video. Possibly a scale material change would be easy enough to do as well. But yeah, I'm not looking for something wildly different (perhaps adding a clip falls into this category).

Designer approval is definitely one hesitation I have about adding a clip to the design but Gayle Bradley did not seem entirely opposed to it in the past, based on the video. Since the thought process explained in the video was "50% are going to be unhappy one way or another" - Maybe the sprint will be used as their opportunity to satisfy the other 50% by creating a new version with a clip. Personally, I think adding a clip could qualify as a major change but I also understand if I'm in the minority with that opinion.

Either way, we should be able to take solace in knowing that Spyderco has been re-visiting past designs with sprint runs for years now and there seems to be growing demand for more.

[8th_Note]

Micarta and 20CV would be an awesome Air gentleman's EDC

[vivi]

good luck!

[Coastal]

First off, I have a feeling that a further runoff would see the C95 winning pretty easily, with most of the Persian mavens choosing a large knife over a small one. The C95 would definitely be a cool sprint run!

That said, if it's the Air, I'm in the camp of just sprinting the Air as it was originally designed. I like the O.G. handle, but if not that then ebony or a highly figured wood. Something slick and not grippy. I can see the wear advantage of steel vs Ti liners, but I'll still take the weight advantage of Ti (without actually running the numbers). I just can't see myself wearing out a titanium liner. As for blade steel, M4 is fine but a change to K390 or MagnaCut would be great. I can do without a clip, but I'd be okay with a wire clip too. When I carried a gent's folder for office EDC, I seldom actually used a clip if the knife featured one.

[di81ni]

I both have custom scales with a small Spyderco clip, and a nicely fitting leather slip.

Very much prefer carrying in the slip.

So my vote goes to no clip.

[CDEP]

I'd vote no clip, as it was designed by Mr Bradley without one. I would order a clip slip for it from Daniel at theclipslip.com (hand made leather - beautiful), or it would be amazing if Spyderco had a branded leather clip slip made to go with it.

As for steel, I'd vote Cru-Wear, but that is maybe too close to the M4 original, so perhaps SPY27.

I will support it and grab one no matter what. Thanks to Jeff for getting this rolling!

[TimButterfield]

I would add a vote to have a slip also as that fits with the gentleman folder. With or without a clip, the slip helps to reduce printing in a pants pocket.

[JSumm]

Sounds like we are right at that 50/50 clip or not that Mr. Bradley talked about in the video. Seems like a wire clip would be the easiest to remove and go clipless, but there may need to be an extra screw included. If I recall on wire clip models, the clip screw a tad longer than the rest of the body screws, but I cannot recall for certain.

[Flash]

I think for the sake of simplicity it might be easiest and most likely to get it out to customers if we keep to the original spec but with different materials.

Once you added your clip, oversized lanyard hole, blade extension, cup holder it starts to move away from the design too much and starts to look more like an entirely new model.

[JSumm]

I'm pretty much in the anything but carbon fiber camp as far as scale material goes, but I can see how CF in concept fits well with the lightweight theme of the Air. So while I'll take whatever they (hopefully) decide to make, something like G-10 or canvas/linen micarta would much more in my lane. The ebony suggestion sounds quite interesting as well.
I would also like a sprint to stay true to the spirit of the OG and keep with the tools steels. I'd be perfectly happy if they kept the M4 for the sprint, but I guess that's not very likely to happen. K390 is a fine suggestion, but we haven't seen much of that from Taichung yet. We have seen Rex 121, but that wouldn't be my top pick for this design.
Oh, and a clip would be nice. I may choose not use it after all, but screw holes in my scales never bothered me, so I'll rather have the option.

That's a lot of wants, but most of all I just want this sprint to happen, and I'm ready to commit however this sprinter is dressed up for its next run.

How do you feel about fat carbon fiber that Nick suggested. I think it looks classy and unique. Personally, I strongly prefer the fat carbon fiber to the "classsic" carbon fiber or weave pattern.

And I agree, the ebony does sound very interesting.

[JSumm]

I think for the sake of simplicity it might be easiest and most likely to get it out to customers if we keep to the original spec but with different materials.

Once you added your clip, oversized lanyard hole, blade extension, cup holder it starts to move away from the design too much and starts to look more like an entirely new model.

I do not disagree with you, except for the clip. When you watch Mr. Bradley talk about the design, he makes it out like they were back and forth about it. Then decided to go without it and revisit adding one later. It would have to fit into the same footprint if possible.

But to your point, other footprint or blade changes can make the model into something else completely which is not why we are here. Easiest way would be a scale change.

[TimButterfield]

Sounds like we are right at that 50/50 clip or not that Mr. Bradley talked about in the video. Seems like a wire clip would be the easiest to remove and go clipless, but there may need to be an extra screw included. If I recall on wire clip models, the clip screw a tad longer than the rest of the body screws, but I cannot recall for certain.

A wire clip is simple and does already exists. But, it leaves unsightly indentations when removed as do the triple holes of regular clips. If the choice is unsightly if removed or no clip, I will choose the no clip option. It's why I suggested the alternative clip design. A single dimple for a small detent to fit in is not nearly as unsightly when not used.

[Manixguy@1994]

I think for the sake of simplicity it might be easiest and most likely to get it out to customers if we keep to the original spec but with different materials.

Once you added your clip, oversized lanyard hole, blade extension, cup holder it starts to move away from the design too much and starts to look more like an entirely new model.

I do not disagree with you, except for the clip. When you watch Mr. Bradley talk about the design, he makes it out like they were back and forth about it. Then decided to go without it and revisit adding one later. It would have to fit into the same footprint if possible.

But to your point, other footprint or blade changes can make the model into something else completely which is not why we are here. Easiest way would be a scale change.

I feel that the Air would be just fine without a clip and just use a slip . Since it is a gentleman knife I would want to protect it when not occasionally using it to fight Bears and Lions . I’m open to any of these scale material suggestions , I do like the original scales mainly because of a high visibility. Dan

[riclaw]

Y'all changed my mind. I don't need a clip if I can get a slip.

[TimButterfield]

If we could have a black slip, that would make me more open to some non-neutral colors for the scales, perhaps even a dark red or dark green.

Alternative idea: Maybe there could be two slips, one normal and one slip with a clip. Would a slip with a clip help those who want a clip version or is it required for the clip to be mounted to the handle in some way? Just wondering as I think some of my Bucks have a slip with a clip. I don't have them handy to check, but I think some of my 501s had it that way.

Edit: Here is an example of that slip with a clip, but checking the sizing of the BF2023 instead of the 501 it came with.

[riclaw]

If we could have a black slip, that would make me more open to some non-neutral colors for the scales, perhaps even a dark red or dark green.

Alternative idea: Maybe there could be two slips, one normal and one slip with a clip. Would a slip with a clip help those who want a clip version or is it required for the clip to be mounted to the handle in some way? Just wondering as I think some of my Bucks have a slip with a clip. I don't have them handy to check, but I think some of my 501s had it that way.

The Larrin has a slip with a clip (say that 3 times fast). I find that a clip keeps the knife from getting scratched as much from keys and whatnot found in the bottom of my pockets. A slip with or without a clip serves the same purpose.

[gooeytek]

It's a really sleek and clean design, no clip needed.
I do carry mine in a slip sometimes.