Butt Ugly Spyderco

[whitefeather]

Won a Blue Yojimbo for $76 on ebay and it arrived today. Man is this an ugly knife.......but I like it. This is one of those knives that have to be handled to appreciate. I didn't understand all the raving about this knife till now.

This may even be the case where the uggliest pup in the litter turns out to be the best dog.

[Lockback]

Isn't it amazing that some of the most awkward-looking designs are the ones that feel most natural in the hand?

I am reminded of the philosophy of "designed in the dark," which is used to illustrate the importance of ergonomics over aesthetics.

[Episteme]

I love my blue Yojimbo. When I first got it in the mail, I was surprised at how thick the blade is, and how sharp the tip is. It's built like a tank but cuts like a scalpel. The ergonomics are excellent as well; the knife lends very well to the modified saber grip that, if my memory serves me correctly, Janich himself subscribes to (thumb resting on the spine of the blade). I wouldn't recommend using this knife for heavy cutting chores of the utility nature- I fear that the tip will not hold up to digging into wood or screw-driving. However, Doc Snubnose has provided empirical evidence that suggests that the Yojimbo will cut through meat deeper, longer, and easier than knives with blades up to an inch longer.
Needless to say, my blue Yojimbo faithfully resides in my rear right pocket everyday.
-Mike

[tglahn17]

Hi, everyone,

I got a blue Yojimbo a little while ago. It's basically a handheld guillotine blade. I'd hate to be on the angry end of this one. I noticed that the thumb hole on mine isn't perfectly circular. It's kind of lumpy around the edges. Does anyone else see this on theirs? It doesn't affect opening at all. Later,

[BOK]

Hi, everyone,

I got a blue Yojimbo a little while ago. It's basically a handheld guillotine blade. I'd hate to be on the angry end of this one. I noticed that the thumb hole on mine isn't perfectly circular. It's kind of lumpy around the edges. Does anyone else see this on theirs? It doesn't affect opening at all. Later,

Spyderco intentionally leaves them a little rough so your thumb doesnt slide off as you're opening it. Your description makes it sounds like its a little more than just rough though?

The Yojimbo is a nice knife. I carried mine for a while but then the waved Endura came along and it got bumped.

Funny...some people call it butt ugly...I actually think its one of Spydercos better looking knives! Love the blue G10.

[dialex]

Congrats on your new knife and enjoy it. Uh... I don't find it ugly at all.

[swingshot]

A snap to sharpen, and the extra handle length is great. It's a much more logical design than first impressions might suggest.

I think of it not as Pretty Ugly, but instead Ugly Pretty.

[zenheretic]

Won a Blue Yojimbo for $76 on ebay and it arrived today. Man is this an ugly knife.......but I like it. This is one of those knives that have to be handled to appreciate. I didn't understand all the raving about this knife till now.

This may even be the case where the uggliest pup in the litter turns out to be the best dog.

Heresy! On the rack with you!




:p

[JD Spydo]

Please brother "Whitefeather" don't confuse looks with "function". There are so many Spyders that are designed solely on function which is not the "norm" I realize but Spyderco is a knife company that champions itself in the "function" arena.

I was like you 3 years ago when I saw my first Yojimbo. I was really racking my brains out until I started reading posts by Michael Janich ( the Yojimbo's genius designer).

Mr. Janich is a self defense expert that also bases his designs solely on function and ease of operation. So you see my friend " LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING" But delightfully deceiving I might add :cool:

[Raqudu]

I wouldn’t call the Yojimbo “ugly;” rather “functional.” It is one of those designs that kept drawing me back for a second, third, and fourth look until I finally got a deal that was too good to pass up.

I love my blue Yojimbo. When I first got it in the mail, I was surprised at how thick the blade is, and how sharp the tip is. It's built like a tank but cuts like a scalpel. The ergonomics are excellent as well; the knife lends very well to the modified saber grip that, if my memory serves me correctly, Janich himself subscribes to (thumb resting on the spine of the blade).
-Mike

These were my thoughts as well on first handling the Yojimbo. It is a heavy duty knife built for a serious purpose, yet with a finesse that gives it value for utility use as well.

My only complaint about the ergonomics is that when I thumb open the blade of this big knife with my smallish flabby-fingered hand, I tend to get “compression lock bite” to the first segment of my right index finger.

[Michael Cook]

I wouldn't recommend using this knife for heavy cutting chores of the utility nature- I fear that the tip will not hold up to digging into wood or screw-driving.

:spyder: That made me cringe, what knife do you use as a screwdriver? :spyder:

[Dr. Snubnose]

Yo yo yo....When I first saw it I thought....Butt ugly Knife....still think that...but won't leave home without one.....Doc :D

[bigkahunasix]

After my enlightenment and partial conversion by Pete1977, Dr.S and few others my smurfbone scaled Yo travels with me everywhere. One really needs to handle one to appreciate it.

BK6

[tx_outlaw]

I wouldnt call it "butt ugly", it does look very interesting though :-)........

[stonyman]

I have a Yo riding with me too! Form follows function indeed! This thing cuts through things like everything is hot butter!

[Agent Starling]

Enjoy your new Yo whitefeather! :spyder:

but...Ugly? I think the Yo is one of the coolest looking knives yet! But to each his own...I really think it'll grow on ya! :D

Starling

[uhiforgot]

Man is this an ugly knife.......

The only thing ugly about it is that they always take it's picture with the clip on the wrong side

[tonydahose]

no you guys have it all wrong...the poliwog, now that thing is butt ugly.

[Episteme]

:spyder: That made me cringe, what knife do you use as a screwdriver? :spyder:

I personally do not use any of my knives as a screwdriver; but I've seen people do it, and it does make me cringe as well. The worst thing I've done with a knife was to use it to pry open my apartment door in Baltimore when I accidentally locked my keys inside and both my roomates went home for the holiday....I used a Cold Steel Recon 1 folder, and chipped the edge so badly that it had to be retired from use. I'm very thankful I didn't have to use my Endura 3 for that job.
The Yojimbo is relagated for only one job; to save my butt against the evil smurfs (I believe Mr. Janich himself described it as an evil smurf killer.)
Mike

[tglahn17]

Spyderco intentionally leaves them a little rough so your thumb doesnt slide off as you're opening it. Your description makes it sounds like its a little more than just rough though?

The Yojimbo is a nice knife. I carried mine for a while but then the waved Endura came along and it got bumped.

Funny...some people call it butt ugly...I actually think its one of Spydercos better looking knives! Love the blue G10.

Hi, BOK,

The thumb hole on my Yojimbo isn't rough. There's no burring around the edge of the hole on either side of the blade. What looks a bit odd to me is that the shape of the hole is like a very rounded octagon. The curvature of the hole isn't consistent all the way around. Thanks,