Sharpest knife ever

[fredswartz]

I received a Calypso Jr.ZDP189/420J2 in the mail this week. I have been used to handling VG 10 blades from Spyderco and was shocked at the sharpness of this knife.
It bit me several times before I realized what had happened.
I am still trying to figure out the demarcation line on the blade between the two types of steel or however they sandwiched it. When I ordered the knife, I thought that it was a reflection of light on the blade in the ad. When my knife arrived it had the same strange line on the blade although the blade is perfectly smooth to the touch. How do they do that? I need to go for another Band Aid. Jerry

[yablanowitz]

The three layers of steel are laminated together (I don't know how, but I assume all three are heated to near-welding temperatures and then rolled at high pressure to complete the weld) before the blade is ground. You can see the line due to the difference in the appearence of the different steels, how they grind and polish.

Keep plenty of bandaids around until you get used to it. I still carry them with me everywhere. :D

[RIOT]

i really agree that my Calyjr ZDP is the sharpest Spyderco i own, its actually scary sharp, you could be cut and not even know how bad you are cut

[Piet.S]

Congrats, and yes it is my sharpest knife ever too.
Laminated blades are nothing new, quite common among Scandi knives, among others.

[Fuse]

That ZDP is wicked stuff. I couldn.t believe how sharp my BRG Delica was. By far the sharpest knife I've bought yet.

[feeny]

How hard is it to sharpen?

[JD Spydo]

ZDP-189 is blade steel that produces a type of edge that is unique. There is a regimen and method to sharpening that steel that does require a bit of patience. My ZDP Caly Jr. came as sharp as you described. However when it did finally get to the point to where it had to be resharpened it was a bit of chore to get it back to the edge the factory had sent it in.

To reprofile it I take each side with a medium to fine diamond stone. Then I put the gray 204 Sharpmaker stones in the 30 degree slot and really work both sides over good to where it is sharp enough to cut paper. The I repeat the gray/medium stones at 40 degrees doing about 20 to 25 strokes on each side. I repeat that with the fine and then with the ultra-fine stones.

It takes a bit of patience to get ZDP that sharp but when you put forth the effort it is very rewarding because the ZDP Caly blade cuts like a laser when you get it that sharp.

[The Deacon]

I am still trying to figure out the demarcation line on the blade between the two types of steel or however they sandwiched it. When I ordered the knife, I thought that it was a reflection of light on the blade in the ad. When my knife arrived it had the same strange line on the blade although the blade is perfectly smooth to the touch. How do they do that? Jerry

This photo may help. Lighter colored "stripe" in the center is the ZDP-189 core. It is laminated between the outer layers of 420J2. That's the way it comes from the steel maker. You should see the same thing if you look at the thumb ramp of yours.

[CENTER][/CENTER]

How hard is it to sharpen?

Not any "harder" to sharpen than VG-10 or S30V, but there's no such thing as a free lunch either. ZDP-189 takes more effort to dull, but it also takes more effort to sharpen.

[gull wing]

Yes, the ZDP Calypso Jr is a wicked cutter.
Also, the VG10 version is just as wicked, but easier to sharpen, I tend to carry it more just for that reason.

But all CJ's are super.

[Shike]

I don't believe there are any folds, just welding of the billets. Many Japanese swords used the same principle. It's called San Mai construction.

[Agent Starling]

I'd have to say my Spyderco Kerambit is my sharpest spydie, or maybe even the Civilian.

Agent Starling