Just received my Spyderco Warrior. All I can say is WOW!!! :eek:
This knife feels so right in the hand. The thick scales with palm swells, perfectly placed finger grooves, and ideal balance makes it just hug your hand in either grip position. Solid as a rock with the thick H-1 and substantial guard. It is much smaller than one would expect which actually opens it up for more uses than intended. My wife now wants one for her last ditch mountain lion knife when on walks - However, I still think her Temperance or Temperance II are ideal for her in that role. This knife will actually see a lot of carry time around the wild areas of the farm (after I loosen up the retaining snap). It is good to have a quick instinctive tool to use when some wild or rabid furry thing is unexpectedly on top of you and it's too late to shoot.
The sheath is great. Made in the USA by Spec-Ops Brand which produces some quality gear. I like the extra compartment on the front which could come in handy for a pair of pliers (as in pic below). I may modify it a bit for my use so it rides higher and is out of the way.
Sal - Thanks for bringing us this great knife! :D
Some quick pictures with a Rock Salt (indoors as it was thirty below last night and the temperature is not rising fast - Another + for H-1 as you don't have to worry about rust from condensation as a metal object is brought inside to a temperature over 80 degrees warmer than its surface temp.)
The Temperance II made me drool the first time I ever saw the prototype of that blade some time back. It's been #1 on my fixed blade "want list" for some time. But after further investigation of this WARRIOR model the Temp II is going to take a back seat to this one.
Funny thing is that I had started a thread about 2 to 3 weeks ago crying out for an H-1 survival/outdoor type of a knife. I even got a bunch of flak for starting the thread which I found extremely strange for this great forum.
But that's all a moote point now for sure because this WARRIOR is far better than I ever expected it to be. This knife is not on my "want list">> no it's on my "gotta have" list to be sure.
This is the most handsome fixed blade and the most articulate design for an outdoor knife as I've ever seen. It will be my constant timber/woods companion when I get it. And I will get it even if I have to go picking up aluminum cans for a month to do so.
This knife is a splendid work of art. If Andy Warhol were still living this would be the knife he would paint a portrait of. This tops all of the Spyderco fixed blades up till now. JD
JD,
Here is a picture of the Warrior with a Temperance II. The Temp II will look better when I rejuvenate the micarta. Used it to skin out an old cow and haven't oiled up the handle after scrubbing off the blood (It performed great as a skinner as long as I was careful with the point). Also a quick picture of the Warrior with a sleeping dog to show that it is not an intimidatingly large knife.
Both are great knives.
Lloyd
edited to add ...
actually the cow I skinned with the Temp II was the one in my avatar - twenty years old with a five foot horn spread and the matriarch of our herd. My wife wanted her shoulder mount for the wall.
I hope to GOD that Spyderco will make that TEmperance 2 model available in SE on a special order basis if nothing else. Because if a guy had the Temp 2 in both edge variants and the new Warrior model for a survival fixed blade you would literally be equiped for every outdoor cutting job imaginable.
The Temp 2 and the Warrior are without a doubt the "Dynamic Duo" of fixed blades in the entire production knife world. No argument could convince me otherwise. The VG-10 blade for general hard use and skinning game and the H-1 Warrior for an all purpose outdoor/survival blade truly leaves even the most ardent knife user in need of nothing else.
Spyderco is really in the forefront of the fixed blade market with these 2 models. As Winston Churchhill would say in this time "THIS IS SPYDIE'S FINEST HOUR" :cool:
JD,
Maybe you and I look at things differently here in the Midwest, but I wonder if anyone else will see the versatility in this "one purpose" Warrior knife. Heck, I have found that even the often maligned Spydiehole on fixed blades comes in awfully handy for emergency fence wire twisting when the proper tools are a half mile away.
Yes, a serrated Temperance II would be a very capable knife. I like the large serrated edge on the back of the Warrior since it gives you two knives in one. But then again I often use knives for many things for which they were never designed when they are all you have at the moment.
Lloyd
westfork wrote:JD,
Maybe you and I look at things differently here in the Midwest, but I wonder if anyone else will see the versatility in this "one purpose" Warrior knife. Heck, I have found that even the often maligned Spydiehole on fixed blades comes in awfully handy for emergency fence wire twisting when the proper tools are a half mile away.
Yes, a serrated Temperance II would be a very capable knife. I like the large serrated edge on the back of the Warrior since it gives you two knives in one. But then again I often use knives for many things for which they were never designed when they are all you have at the moment.
Lloyd
Excellent point "westfork" :cool: Having a superb SE pattern on the spine of an outdoor/survival type blade is truly the "Cat's Meow" as far as I'm concerned. It's utilizing a part of a fixed blade that I think is often overlooked. The curvature on the plain edged portion is perfect for skinning, butchering and probably even for filleting big fish and a multitude of other cutting chores.
Speaking of the Spyder-Hole in their newer fixed blades I think one of us ought to do a thread on that. Because I've personally found the hole in folders to come in really handy at times. I've always liked it just to be able to hang the blade on something close by. But I can see where you could use it as a leverage device. Yeah we ought to start a thread on the "uses of the Spyder-hole". I bet there are a lot of tricks you can do with them. I wish the Temperance 1 had that hole but it doesn't.
Also I just can't say enough about that Warrior sheath. That sheath really looks like a well made unit. I've wondered why Spyderco doesn't make their sheaths where you could store one of those Spyderco "Doublestuff" sharpening stones. That would be ideal for outdoor ventures. Great input.
JD Spydo wrote:
Also I just can't say enough about that Warrior sheath. That sheath really looks like a well made unit. I've wondered why Spyderco doesn't make their sheaths where you could store one of those Spyderco "Doublestuff" sharpening stones. That would be ideal for outdoor ventures. Great input.
Yep the Doublestuff stone does fit nicely in that pouch on the sheath, but I still like having a pliers there and sharpening the knife back at the shop. I am not sure how the warrior would perform as a skinning knife. The blade has a nice belly but the guard could get in the way when you are way inside a large critter (or maybe it would help lift the skin away from the muscle - will have to try that out but just not use the soft sheath until all the gore is washed away).
The catalog claims the Warrior handle is pinned, but I see screws, just like the Rock Salt. I'm sure the FRN handle is great, but I knife this beautiful needs some custom scales.
Since the Warrior and Rock Salt have screws, I guess there is no reason why all the H-1 folders have to be pinned.
I don't care what this was designed for; it is the most versatile "big" knife I've ever seen and I will definitely be getting at least one.
Our reason is quite satisfied, in 999 cases out of every 1000 of us, if we can find a few arguments that will do to recite in case our credulity is criticized by someone else. Our faith is faith in someone else's faith, and in the greatest matters this is most the case.
- William James, from The Will to Believe, a guest lecture at Yale University in 1897
Personally, the pommel and the serrations on the spine are what's turning me off of this knife for an outdoorsy tool -- the sharp spine makes it hard to do some of the traditional bushcrafty things like batoning.
And I want micarta scales for my Rock Salt. I wonder if I can find somebody to make them... I don't think I've seen any pictures of anyone customizing the knife, but I can't believe it hasn't been done.
Newest :spyder: in hand: Halloween Handle Hap40 Endura and Delica.
That looks great, there should be a Temperance II with that sheath.
Canis
Dare. Risk. Dream.
"Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in.
In my head, in my heart, in my soul.
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again.
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so."
- Modest Mouse "Ocean Breathes Salty"
SFO Alumni/Authorized Spyderco Dealer (Startup)
Work EDC List
FRP: Nisjin Cricket PE, Manbug PE, Dragonfly PE
FLP: SS Cricket SE, byrd Flatbyrd CE
BRP: CF Military S90V
BLP: Forum S110V Native
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
That knife looks seriously awesome!
I would prefer a little less upsweep in the blade, but apart from that, an excellent design!
I will get one only if I can be sure that the handle scales are screwed and not pinned. (I simply don't buy pinned knives anymore, period. I developed an aversion to them.)
"Within this frame an ocean swells -- behind the smile -- I know it well..."
peacefuljeffrey wrote:It looks, in the picture, as though the pliers handle would interfere with operating the snap closure on the sheath. Is that the case?
The pliers do restrict access to the snap somewhat, although there is a gap of 1/4" between the pliers handles and the Warrior guard. I suppose you could use shorter pliers or multi-tool.
If you wanted the knife ready for quick deployment (in an area where the unexpected could happen dropping from trees or behind brush) you might want the snap open anyway. The pliers then offer better blade retention since their handles protect the knife guard from being snagged on brush and the unsnapped straps can still be held over the sides of the guard by being inside the pliers handles (see pictures unsnapped). When in open country the closed snap would of course be no problem since you would have time to react.
EDITED TO ADD: THIS KNIFE DOES NOT COME WITH PLIERS - JUST A WACKY FARMER IDEA TO MAKE USE OF THE HANDY FRONT POUCH.
These will either make the special forces guys laugh or cringe:
I've been thinking about the Spec-Ops Brand sheaths for some of my spydie fixed blades. Is the Warrior's sheath (which looks like the 'regular' Spec-OPS sheath) compatible with the Temp II?
Mr Blonde wrote:I've been thinking about the Spec-Ops Brand sheaths for some of my spydie fixed blades. Is the Warrior's sheath (which looks like the 'regular' Spec-OPS sheath) compatible with the Temp II?
Wouter
The Spec-Ops sheaths are GREAT! They do come in two sizes and other colors also. I have one for a Falkniven A-1 and also the RAT RC-6.
Glad I won't have to buy another one when my Warrior arrives :)
Funny thing is that I had started a thread about 2 to 3 weeks ago crying out for an H-1 survival/outdoor type of a knife. I even got a bunch of flak for starting the thread which I found extremely strange for this great forum.
But that's all a moote point now for sure because this WARRIOR is far better than I ever expected it to be. This knife is not on my "want list">> no it's on my "gotta have" list to be sure...............
As a quick note while one person made a comment about H1 and 420 steel the majority of the people in that thread (including me) were just trying to focus on what the definition of "survival" was. I think the average person was just trying to focus the efforts and see if the current offerings were up to spec (like the amazing Rock Salt), or if perhaps something like the Bushcraft project would work better for baton/shelter making.
However, like you said, it's of no issue at this point. :) Everyone's friendly here. The Warrior will never be in my collection but that's just a personal preference. It offers some advantages and a much nicer sheath but also a few disadvantages compared to the current Rock Salt or something in high carbon. The main disadvantage I see is with the current drop in MSRP for some H1 blades the warrior fetches 2.5 times the price of a Rock Salt...which is not me saying its not worth it (it's just out of my budget).
As with a Becker BK9 a tactical knife can be one helluva survival knife. A survival knife can be a great tactical knife. If the Warrior had less sweep and more of a traditional point while keeping the serrated spine it would probably work slightly better for most outdoor duties. HOWEVER, it's far better in reverse grip than most camp knives and that was the main intent. :)
