Off the wall - clipless Kopa ... ?

[Doc Dan]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …

chap101.jpg

chap102.jpg

chap103.jpg

~ edge
.

Looking good.

[The Deacon]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …





~ edge

Nice look. I especially like the wood. Stone is fairly delicate, compared with wood, bone, and horn. Not all shops are equipped or have the experience to work with it either, so It might not be practical for production, unless it was done the way some of the Kopas were; the folks in Taichung build the knives without scales and Santa Fe Stoneworks finishes them.

[reo]

I will hope that sometimes clipless Kopa (or smth else but similar to) will be available :)
The Chaparral is not the Kopa

[Ignaz]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …
~ edge

Nice work but I personally don't like them. I fear I am the only one who prefers single bolsters and less "fancy" materials. Horn, ebony wood or micarta for instance would appeal to me.
And of course solid steel or any other metal.

[Ignaz]

I will hope that sometimes clipless Kopa (or smth else but similar to) will be available :)
The Chaparral is not the Kopa

Exactly.

[On Edge]

I will hope that sometimes clipless Kopa (or smth else but similar to) will be available :)
The Chaparral is not the Kopa

If you haven't, you might want to read this thread from the beginning … :)

[On Edge]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …
~ edge

Nice work but I personally don't like them. I fear I am the only one who prefers single bolsters and less "fancy" materials. Horn, ebony wood or micarta for instance would appeal to me.
And of course solid steel or any other metal.

No not the only one … I personally like the look much better with dual bolsters, but many "bare end" knives have been produced.

In this case the argument can be made for durability, especially when integrating more exotic materials … a bare end design just wouldn't be as durable in the role of an actual user. Besides I think it's classy … a la Kopa. After all, that's what started this discussion …

~ edge

[The Deacon]

The Chaparral is not the Kopa

Very true. They are two quite similar, and yet quite different, knives. Each has its good points, each probably has at least one feature that annoys or turns off some people.

Let's face it, no single knife is every going to please everyone, no single version of any knife is going to appeal to everyone who like other versions of that knife, and any change in any existing knife is going to upset those who consider the original to be perfect as is. There are those who want a clipless Kopa and those who would say that, without a clip, it would not be a "real Kopa". There are those for whom a "tactical" Kopa with no bolsters, flat slab peel-ply G-10 scales, exposed fasteners, and a wire clip would be a dream come true, and others like myself for whom it would be an atrocity.

On the other hand, Sal's comments have pretty well ruled out the possibility of another Kopa, clipless or otherwise, in the foreseeable future, while leaving open the possibility of a bolster and scales Chaparral. The sketches and mock-ups posted in this thread, and On Edge's in particular, shows that a Chaparral with smooth bolsters unmarred by screw heads or clip mounting channels has the potential to be a darn fine looking little gentleman's folder in it's own right for those of us who favor that look. And, while the Chaparral's jimping doesn't bother me, I wouldn't be averse to it being omitted for an even cleaner look.

As for liners, I don't see skeletonization as a negative, but that may be a moot point, since omitting it maximizes glue area for scale mounting. Depending on the scale leaving them full would also eliminate any chance of "light bleed" effects.

[On Edge]

OK, a few more with wood … (then I'll quit, I promise - having a little too much fun … )





~ edge

[GoldenSpydie]

Now I think that this would be interesting and give something to all sides. Single SS bolster, black C-Tek scales. It is a new material that Spyderco has never used, so it may not be possible, but I think that it might provide a good mix of "understated class" and "new tech bling."

[On Edge]

I really like the C-Tek! (though I still like double bolsters)
And it comes in some classy deep colors too ...
Nice touch, GoldenSpydie!

~ edge

[jmh58]

I aint feeling it!! I have a CF Chap that I like alot.. BUT.. This aint getting it for me.. Maybe aftr its made and I got to handle it.. John :)

[Ignaz]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …
~ edge

... I fear I am the only one who prefers single bolsters...

In this case the argument can be made for durability, especially when integrating more exotic materials … a bare end design just wouldn't be as durable in the role of an actual user.
~ edge

I thought about this too. It's an argument but on the other hand I have never had problems with such knives even though I do use them a lot. But I would carry it in a sheath.

[Ignaz]

Now I think that this would be interesting and give something to all sides. Single SS bolster, black C-Tek scales.

I think it would look nicer if the bolster was longer and would end at the middle of the lock bar cutout.
What is C-Tek? Looks a bit liker carbon fiber on your photo.

a good mix of "understated class" and "new tech bling."

"Understated class" sounds good. But I don't know if I like "new tech bling". New tech maybe but bling probably not. :)

[The Deacon]

What is C-Tek? Looks a bit liker carbon fiber on your photo.

The pictures are somewhat misleading. C-Tek consists of a honeycomb of hexagonal aluminum tubes, filled with resin. The resin can be any color, the honeycomb comes in a variety of "tube" sizes.

http://www.compositecraftinc.com/C-TEK.html" target="_blank

[GoldenSpydie]

Here is the USA Knifemaker page where I got the picture for the Photoshop: http://usaknifemaker.com/handle-materia ... -cell.html" target="_blank

Here is what it looks like when polished; picture taken from the same page:

[bh49]

A few more rough PS mock-ups …





~ edge

I love top two. The second is beautiful and looks great for me like a show piece. The first on the top is beautiful and will make great EDC. What is SKU? I am placing pre-order :)

[Ignaz]

What is C-Tek? Looks a bit liker carbon fiber on your photo.

The pictures are somewhat misleading. C-Tek consists of a honeycomb of hexagonal aluminum tubes, filled with resin. The resin can be any color, the honeycomb comes in a variety of "tube" sizes.

http://www.compositecraftinc.com/C-TEK.html" target="_blank

Thanks for the info. But I don't think I like it a lot.

[bh49]

OK, a few more with wood … (then I'll quit, I promise - having a little too much fun … )



~ edge

I love these and will buy all four (these two and two from previous picture), if they sufficiently spaced in time.
Sorry, no love for C-Tek

[bearfacedkiller]

I would like to see spyderco use some c-tek. I have seen some home projects with it that looked nice.