I've got to have a Charisma!

[Doc Dan]

I've got to have a Charisma! That small size with that very thin blade and a sharp point is just the right thing for a pocket knife. It has pretty much everything I like in a knife to go in my pocket, such as a back lock, fin blade that is close to 3 inches long, and unassuming. Wonderful looking knife, can't wait to get one.

This is the one pocket knife to keep on you to eat your apple, to clean a squirrel or a rabbit, or to carve a pumpkin for the kids. This is finally a Spyderco pocket knife.

[Aladinsane]

Oh yeah! I’ve been looking forward to it since the video from Amsterdam! Hopefully it will be out soon!

[p_atrick]

I’ll be picking one up. I want to try a slicey knife. I’m still eagerly anticipating the HP Delica, but this will be another interesting data point.

[Doc Dan]

Yeah, that thin blade will be a laser. Another plus is that it comes in colors. I am already waiting on upgrades to Magnacut and etc. One of the best things is that it appears to be a Golden made knife (pronounced K_e Niff ee)

[Flash]

I’ve been Looking forward to this one the most of all. It certainly ticks the boxes for what I like in a small knife.
I predict it’ll be hugely popular. Fingers crossed we get it sooner rather than later.

My only concern is that because they are releasing BD1N with black, blue and red handles it might signify that we won’t be getting it in a different steel anytime soon. I guess we wait and see.

[elena86]

Yeah, that thin blade will be a laser. Another plus is that it comes in colors. I am already waiting on upgrades to Magnacut and etc. One of the best things is that it appears to be a Golden made knife (pronounced K_e Niff ee)

That tumble finish on the CTS BD1N is a deal breaker for me. Waiting for one in a satin different steel.

[zhyla]

I predict it’ll be hugely popular. Fingers crossed we get it sooner rather than later.

It will be popular among Spyderco enthusiasts and the Spyder-curious. It’s $100. The ultralight crowd may show interest too but $100 is a lot for non-knife people.

Taking the brand, price point, and country of origin out of the picture, I am not sure how much interest there is in what is essentially a modern pen knife to my eyes.

[Mushroom]

I hate to say it but even some "knife people" might question that $100 price tag once they get it in hand. This knife is impressively THIN!!! Blade stock and handle. The handle feels like 75¢ worth of FRN. (At least the prototype at BLADE Show felt that way. I believe they may have increased the blade stock thickness since that prototype, so the knife most likely feels different now)

Not to say it felt flimsy or anything like that but it did make me question material costs, at the very least. I'm still eager to get one of these. Can't wait to see the colored scales too.

[apollo]

I hate to say it but even some "knife people" might question that $100 price tag once they get it in hand. This knife is impressively THIN!!! Blade stock and handle. The handle feels like 75¢ worth of FRN. (At least the prototype at BLADE Show felt that way. I believe they may have increased the blade stock thickness since that prototype, so the knife most likely feels different now)

Not to say it felt flimsy or anything like that but it did make me question material costs, at the very least. I'm still eager to get one of these. Can't wait to see the colored scales too.

Felt the same way when i handeld it in Amsterdam last year.
Its not my style of knife but i am sure there will be people happy around here when they buy it.

[Doc Dan]

To me, this is exactly what Spyderco was missing from its lineup. They needed a dedicated pen, knife, and this is it. I'm already saving my pennies.

[zhyla]

Not to say it felt flimsy or anything like that but it did make me question material costs, at the very least. I'm still eager to get one of these. Can't wait to see the colored scales too.

Just to make up numbers, it may be $0.10 per scale on the Charisma and $0.12 on larger knives. Injection molding small parts is essentially free. I don't have any real information but I'd be surprised if any FRN knife is more than $1 worth of scales.

But yeah I hear you, light plastic knives can feel cheap.

[sal]

Hi Zhyla,

Some thoughts to share; $30 per hour is 50 cents a minute. You can't hardly pick something up, look at it and put it back down that doesn't cost 50 cents. Add 40-50 Grand for a mold and prices begin to add up? Forming the steel costs far more than the steel, add heat treat, finishing, assembly, quality control in the factory and in the QC department. Packaging, our margin, dealers margin, and you get to more dollars than you might think?

sal

[zhyla]

Hi Zhyla,

Some thoughts to share; $30 per hour is 50 cents a minute. You can't hardly pick something up, look at it and put it back down that doesn't cost 50 cents. Add 40-50 Grand for a mold and prices begin to add up? Forming the steel costs far more than the steel, add heat treat, finishing, assembly, quality control in the factory and in the QC department. Packaging, our margin, dealers margin, and you get to more dollars than you might think?

sal

Thanks Sal. I don’t doubt anything you’re say and my comment was directed toward material cost only. Basically I was responding to the idea that a small knife should be cheaper because the scales are smaller, when in fact the plastic involved is miniscule either way. Of course labor, overhead, NRE, distribution, retail margins, etc all dwarf the bill from the plastic supplier.

[sal]

Hi Zhyla,

Your kind understanding is appreciated.

sal

[Aladinsane]

I’m thinking of getting two, one for me and one for my wife!

[Doc Dan]

I’m thinking of getting two, one for me and one for my wife!

That's a good idea. I think I will do that, as well.

[Wowbagger]

On first glance I see they wrecked it for me .
All that material on the underside of the handle missing .
Even when the blade is quite thin I need some handle and some key surfaces to reverance off of . Preferably , for me , a flat on top and a flat on the under side near the blade .

Images follow . If you haven't heard me say it before I will say it again :
The frame / model / style&size , how ever you want to name it , of the Case Trapper is the most useful and well designed "pocket knife" on the planet (that is why ~ forty of them have snuck into my collection ) . Of course I cannot help doing a mod here and there , just to keep my hand in as it were .

So needs from a handle are well served by a Two blade Case trapper with one blade removed . Second blade just messes up the grip .

I include images of the lovely Centofante here for comparison . (( bare with me while I play pootza with the soft ware here )) It is about as thin of a handle as I can use and I would prefer something leaning more toward the Trapper thickness . I have two Centofantes . You might notice I ground this one thinner . Mostly to get rid of the awful hollow grind . Speaking of cutting apples ; hollow grind is awful for that . Unless you like kind of unpredictably curved slices . Nope nope . Added a bit of jimpping here and there on that one . . . .

Bottom line put the thin blade in a more robust "user" handle and . . . maybe .

Underside of Trapper and Centofante

[Wowbagger]

More Trapper goodness

[Wowbagger]

And last but not least , on top

[Bolster]

I hate to say it but even some "knife people" might question that $100 price tag once they get it in hand. This knife is impressively THIN!!! Blade stock and handle. The handle feels like 75¢ worth of FRN. (At least the prototype at BLADE Show felt that way. I believe they may have increased the blade stock thickness since that prototype, so the knife most likely feels different now)...

This is the bucket I'm in. In photos I've seen, the Charisma handle looks unimpressive - inexpensive and plasticky. Would prefer no (or smaller) opening hole on a blade this size. Not even a fan of the steel. Yet I fully intend to spend a Benjamin to obtain one, since I'm a Spyderhead and I do like thin, lightweight knives. In this case, perceived utility outweighs perceived build quality for me. Being Spyderco is Spyderco, they may negate my expectations with a quality feel in hand that I'm not expecting. They've earned this sort of trust over the years--I put more faith in their design ability than in my own judgment of it.