Got my Caly 3.5 from Knife Center, and I was really impressed with the workmanship, fit & finish, and the design of course. The blade is centered, ground perfectly, and locks up super tight. The knife seemed flawless, until...
I looked at the end of the locking bar that locks against the back of the blade - on either side it has been clearly peened by the factory, two little rectangular dents, pushing two small bumps of steel forward on the face of the lock, ostensibly to make it lock up tighter.
Now I mention this not as a criticism necessarily, but to ask, why did they need to do this? I have never seen this on any other Spyderco, or any other lockback for that matter. The locking end of the lock bar is always smooth where it meets the blade, isn't it? All I can think is that either the knife parts were off slightly, and it did not lock up tightly, and the peening was done to correct this, or this was a cost cutting measure to reduce labor in fitting the lock to the blade.
The thing is, I don't think that this is a proper way to mate the lock to the blade, and I can't imagine that those two little bumps will last anywhere near as long as the full surface of the locking face, the way every other Spyderco lockback has been done to my knowledge.
Anyone else see this on their Caly 3.5 SB, and know what the deal is?? :confused:
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Yes, so it seems this is a fine-tuning of the lockup on this sprint - but I'm still a little murky on why this was necessary on this knife, when other Spydercos lock up just fine without it... I have an original Mariner, for instance, that locks up tight as a drum, and there is no coining.
I guess the bottom line is, if this was done as an improvement, and it will last just as long, then that's a good thing. Not trying to be a nitpicker here - it's a beautiful high quality knife no matter how you slice it.
The full appreciation sets in after you sharpen it. This Aogami Super Blue takes a phenomenal edge.
Btw, CS got another small batch of these in today still at 40% off MSRP. I decided to get another one for backup. :) Wouldn't mind seeing this steel appear on some sprints of other models. Perhaps Carpenter can make their own version of it so it could be used on some US made knives. They wouldn't be able to get the special ore that is used in the Japanese version though.
Peter - My :spyder:'s:
Caly~3.5 (VG-10 & S. Blue); Para2~(20CP~M390~S30v); Military~(M390~S30v); Endura & Delica~4~FFG; Native~(S30v); Caly~Jr.~(ZDP); Manix~2~(M4); Ladybug~3~(VG-10. SE); Mules~(M390).
Mine has it too, not real happy about it. My Calypso also has a real pointy tip and is also some what concave near the tip grind wise. That said It is a user and I really like the Calypso 3.5. My Calypso cf zdp has vertical blade play and I am sure my "coned" 3.5 will get it too, but it still is a great knife and hasn't failed me yet. Where else can you get super blue in a folder?
If I absolutely had to pick, I would choose the para2.
Thanks. I have a Para 2 and want another one, but hate to get two of one, when there is another similar quality knife in the same price range. Those are two very nice knives that you have. I would just sit at look at them and open them up over and over.
This is the worst knife Spyderco has ever made...for them.
I haven't been watching for new releases, stopped crawling around knife sellers' websites, even stopped checking knife forums, since getting it. It has completely satiated by appetite for looking for the next best knife, and I have carried it every day since receiving it. :D
I really like the Aogami Super Blue. It has all the great attributes of a very high quality carbon steel and readily patinas, yet seems to not be as prone to rusting as regular Blue 1 and Blue 2 or many other carbon steels I have used. I guess that is thanks to the small amount of chrome that is added.
Peter - My :spyder:'s:
Caly~3.5 (VG-10 & S. Blue); Para2~(20CP~M390~S30v); Military~(M390~S30v); Endura & Delica~4~FFG; Native~(S30v); Caly~Jr.~(ZDP); Manix~2~(M4); Ladybug~3~(VG-10. SE); Mules~(M390).
BAL wrote:Thanks. I have a Para 2 and want another one, but hate to get two of one, when there is another similar quality knife in the same price range. Those are two very nice knives that you have. I would just sit at look at them and open them up over and over.
No problem and thank you. I do spend a lot of time just admiring them.
On a side note, I thought I put the sprint caly3.5 in my pocket this morning but it is not there now....
I'm hoping I didn't put it in my pocket this morning and it's waiting for me at home. This would be a terrible knife to lose.
eloreno wrote:No problem and thank you. I do spend a lot of time just admiring them.
On a side note, I thought I put the sprint caly3.5 in my pocket this morning but it is not there now....
I'm hoping I didn't put it in my pocket this morning and it's waiting for me at home. This would be a terrible knife to lose.
wow i hope it does sit at home. it would be terrible if that one gets lost
I have 3.5 (VG10). Love it! :)
Super Blue is a super edge holder I assume?
I recall getting that sort of patna with my "ole" 01 tool steel knives. :D and if they got a little too much patina, you had to resharpen. :p
Just an observation.
It's a very good edge holder but I don't think it is as good in that respect as some of the super stainless steels like S90V, 20CP, etc. Long edge retention is not the primary characteristic of this steel, imo. It is more the quality of the edge and the ease of sharpening and touching up, along with very good edge retention, although I'm not certain of how it ranks with the other steels in edge retention. I think it has very fine carbides. But what I know is that it gets very very sharp, very easily, and touches up very easily and quickly. And edge retention is very decent.
Also, when the patina builds up on the edge, it is a breeze to just strop it off with a loaded leather strop, which also has the effect of restoring the edge unless it has been allowed to get very dull.
Peter - My :spyder:'s:
Caly~3.5 (VG-10 & S. Blue); Para2~(20CP~M390~S30v); Military~(M390~S30v); Endura & Delica~4~FFG; Native~(S30v); Caly~Jr.~(ZDP); Manix~2~(M4); Ladybug~3~(VG-10. SE); Mules~(M390).
I have yet to sharpen my SB Caly but it patinas very quickly. I cut some tomatoes and now it has a bunch of purple patina on it. The knife is still razor sharp, to my delight.
Good to know the edge retention is pretty good with this steel. Combined with the ease of sharpening that has been reported, this should make for a great EDC steel.
