Calypso Jr & Caly 3?

[JJNH]

Hi!

I have assumed (naively?) the Caly 3 was nearly identical to the Calypso Jr, except improved with G10, jimping, and liners. Am I way off base? I'm not a fan of G10 and I love almost everything about the old burgundy FRN Calypso Jrs, but since they are a bit scarce and fetching around 170 on eBay, I'm taking a closer look at the Caly 3. (For reference, this is to replace my EDC, a G-2 Endura that's been in my pocket since the mid 90s, and which is just a bit too large for my current environment. That's why I'm more comfortable with FRN and no liners perhaps. Some might recommend the Urban, so I'll also add that I'm almost certainly going to pick one up in addition to either a Calypso Jr or Caly 3)

It's certainly wonderful to have a company with so many quality products that I have a hard time picking just what I want, at the same time knowing most would meet my needs.

[yablanowitz]

There are quite a few differences between the Caly Jr. and the Caly 3. To me, the most noticable is the width across the handle at the choil. I find the older Caly Jr. with its wider "neck" fits my hand better than the narrow Caly 3. I have to base that opinion on the non-locking UKPK, as I never have handled the Caly 3.

[mrappraisit]

Hello JJNH,
The Caly 3 feels like a slightly bigger brotyher to the Jr. I think that the Caly 3 is easier to use harder since the handle is slightly longer and seems to "fill" the hand a little more than the Jr. If you carry clipped then you may not like the fact that the JR is tip down only and right hand only, whereas the Caly 3 is tip up right or left hand. Also the choils feel different, the Caly 3 choil seems deeper, even though they look similar in pictures. The Caly 3 is also slightly heavier. Even thought the blade thickness' are very similar if not exactly the same the Jr seems to slice slightly better.

I love both knives for different things. I carry the Caly 3 almost everyday, but the Jr is my favorite fruit peeling/slicing knife.

[Midnight]

There are quite a few differences between the Caly Jr. and the Caly 3. To me, the most noticable is the width across the handle at the choil. I find the older Caly Jr. with its wider "neck" fits my hand better than the narrow Caly 3. I have to base that opinion on the non-locking UKPK, as I never have handled the Caly 3.

Same here.

I'm a BIG fan of Caly Jr. but the Caly 3 doesn't quite meet up to my expectations as a follow up... For the same reasons quoted up above.
The choil is too thin on the 3 and also, I really love the spine grind on the Jrs.

[Sequimite]

On my Caly Jr. along the back you can clearly see that the blade narrows continuously from top of the thumb ramp to the tip. Between the narrowing before getting to the edged portion and the swedge, the maximum thickness of the blade starts below 1/8" and narrows to 1/16" about 3/4" from the tip. My Dragonfly blade, which also has a swedge, doesn't narrow until the last 1/2" and consequently is not nearly as good a cutter as the Jr. I'm talking about PE here. Some of the SE models I've seen look like they narrow similarly and some are not fully ground and maintain the full thickness at the top.

What is the Caly 3 blade like?

[bh49]

Hi!

I'm not a fan of G10 and I love almost everything about the old burgundy FRN Calypso Jrs, but since they are a bit scarce and fetching around 170 on eBay, I'm taking a closer look at the Caly 3.

I have strong preferences to Caly3. I EDC this knife for more than two years and still love it. Caly3 is absolutely amazing knife. About two years ago I bought Caly Jr. with ZDP blade just to see what is this knife about. People were talking about it all the time. I opened it, closed it and put in the desk. CalyJr never made to my EDCs. I prefer tip up carry, low ridding wire clip, love liners, narrow neck and G10. I do not like swedge and do not care about light weight.
If you still do not believe that Caly3 is near to be perfect, you still can find Black FRN Caly Jr on the bay around $80.
good luck

[gull wing]

Note the picture of the two, the CalyIII is narrower at the "neck" than the JR.
If you can live with that, it's a fine knife otherwise.

I like the Sage more :) , it feels like the JR, but a bit more heft.

[mrappraisit]

Note the picture of the two, the CalyIII is narrower at the "neck" than the JR.
If you can live with that, it's a fine knife otherwise.

I like the Sage more :) , it feels like the JR, but a bit more heft.

It's funny you mention that gull wing. When I got my first CalyIII I thought that the "narrowness" between the choil and the tumbramp looked strange, but when I use it that's what makes it feel so good in my hand.

Different strokes I guess :D

[A.P.F.]

It's funny you mention that gull wing. When I got my first CalyIII I thought that the "narrowness" between the choil and the tumbramp looked strange, but when I use it that's what makes it feel so good in my hand.

Different strokes I guess :D

Ditto. The Caly3 is probably the most ergonomic knife that I own. It almost molds itself to your grip.

[amen74]

Ditto. The Caly3 is probably the most ergonomic knife that I own. It almost molds itself to your grip.

Same here. Except I'm reffering to my UKPK. Great ergomonics from a slipjoint made in Golden. :D

[MCM]

I don't own either yet........
But tip down is a deal breaker for me........

CF over FRN every time........

So, the hunt is on............. :)