It's only drawback is that it needs to be kept clean and dry to avoid rust. Today I was fortunate enough to procure an Obsidian2, a rare double edged SE fixed blade. Although fashioned in a radically different style and not made by Spyderco, the Obsidian2, in a pinch, might well be able to provide much of the utility I find in the Spyderco Bushcraft. If a proper finish is applied to the handle I will not have to worry about the Obsidian getting wet at all It uses a modern twist on very ancient technology to show it's charms.The handle on the Obsidian2 is going through refinement in a very personalized CQI template. You can see the contrast in ergonomics when compared to the Obsidian1. It still has a ways to go before it can match the Bushcraft.
The Blade however has had a radical transformation, developing a large belly that suits the blade material. It feels much more useful than the original Bowie style configuration.
The Obsidian's blade material is just that
Obsidian, naturally occuring glass with a Mohs hardness of 5-6. The Mohs scale is not related to the rockwell scale and is used for judging abrasives. Although the material is very, very hard it is also very, very brittle. You don't want to drop this knife :eek:Used judiciously, the Obsidian will not get dull, it will chip or flake first. The downside is that it takes a unique skill to sharpen and you don't really know how much blade will be taken off in the process. It is only available in SE
For regular use I would go with the Bushcraft, although the Obsidian2 has it's glamorous, aesthetic, and primitive charms. It will look great on a display board. But in a pinch????
Obsidian1 will most likely be the object of a giveaway sometime in the near future
