Ocelot - Oldie but Goodie??? Regrets???

[Toyz]

I was showing a few guys at work some of my collection, and I pulled the Ocelot out of its box after a few years of it resting. I never carried the knife - I bought it with a few other knives and I guess I forgot about it.

It's the combo edge model - and the blade is shaving sharp.

I'll probably never EDC it, since I have so many more and newer knives in the collection that I am currently cycling thru. I'm actually sorry I didn't carry it for at least a few months!!

I forgot what attracted me to the knife - incredible fit and finish, great ergonomics and blade shape. (Yes, mine has the paw prints)

Anyone else have a knife that they never got around to EDCing and regret? Any other closet Ocelot owners out there?

[Jazz]

I have one - PE. I don't use it much, but it has a nice blade shape that is very versatile. Mine came ridiculously sharp - very impressive. I guess I wish it didn't have a handle full of holes (paw prints) to collect dust and gunk. I love my Large model Wegner quite a bit - very solid knife and same blade shape.

- best wishes, Jazz.

[Manix Guy 2]

I really dislike the paw prints but love the ergos sad relationship only to be solved at a later date . A very fine knife . MG2

[T-Rex]

My wife has the PE and I have the CE. Since we've have Pugs we like the paw prints. However, I wouldn't want to field dress any game with it. Stuff would just get stuck in the prints.

[Elsilrac1]

I rotate a PE. It is a like a grown up jester. I love the knife. I wish they had used screws, so we could clean the pugs. No real complaints. When I use it at work, most of the peolple ask to look and give there approval.

[Sam Vimes]

I have one and I love it. I do tend to like hunters and Wegner designs in particular. However, due to those little pawprints it doesn't get used as a hunting knife.

[JD Spydo]

I have one and I love it. I do tend to like hunters and Wegner designs in particular. However, due to those little pawprints it doesn't get used as a hunting knife.

I would have one back in a heartbeat if it wasn't for those hollow paw prints. I've wondered if there wouldn't be something that a guy could do to fill those up with like a silicone or epoxy material that would grip well to that handle material.

About 2 years ago there was a guy who I used to talk to quite a bit on Bladeforums who told me that he skinned 2 deer with his but the next morning the handle stunk so bad that he literally had to run it through the dishwasher to eliminate all of the residue and particulate from the hollow paw prints.

If they would ever offer than knife with solid handle scales I would be in line to get another one. Like Sam says I too like the WEGNER designs and I also like the size of this folder as well. But I don't know what you could fill those paw prints with that would adhere to a polymer handle material permanently.

[Sam Vimes]

If they would ever offer than knife with solid handle scales I would be in line to get another one. Like Sam says I too like the WEGNER designs and I also like the size of this folder as well. But I don't know what you could fill those paw prints with that would adhere to a polymer handle material permanently.

I dare say that it would cost a fortune to achieve but matching raised metal pawprints on the liners would do it nicely! I have wondered about filling them too but couldn't think of any way to do so permanently and decoratively without spoiling the knife.
I gave up on the idea in the end in favour of using my Wegner Jnr for the smaller jobs and Wegner Hunter Lite (Blade-Tech) for the larger jobs. I really do like the Lite versions, they aren't so expensive that I'd have to supress a little blub if I lost one! :D

[Jay_Ev]

Although I never got around to purchasing the Ocelot, the knife is intriguing to me. It is a unique knife with an interesting history. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if the right deal presented itself.

[Sam Vimes]

Although I never got around to purchasing the Ocelot, the knife is intriguing to me. It is a unique knife with an interesting history. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if the right deal presented itself.

Much like the Impala which seemed to be largely ignored and also a fantastic knife but much more useable than the Ocelot. It won't surprise me to see both become rare and expensive in future. I doubt that they sold in vast numbers and many that were bought will have been used hard. I doubt that too many will be kept as safe queens.

[Manix Guy 2]

I have to agree , the Ocelot in PE is slowly going up in price . The Impala is a favorite of mine and would love to see the return in lockback . I only use it for hunting because it is a righty , but it a great knife all the same . Marketing the blade as a Hunter may have been the downfall and misunderstood by ELUs . Regards MG2

[Sam Vimes]

Marketing the blade as a Hunter may have been the downfall and misunderstood by ELUs . Regards MG2

You may have a point but the Stretch/Stretch 2 may scupper it. despite having a similar hunting style blade it doesn't seem to have been marketed as a hunter. Outside of a few hardcore fans (hello Deacon! ) it doesn't seem to have a massive following. I wonder if drop point or hunter style blades are just too run of the mill for some. Lord knows why, there's good reason that they are so common. It's certainly the type of blade that I find more versatile than any other.
Hopefully the FRN Stretch will sell well and prove me wrong. If it does it can only be concluded that it must be a cost issue. Maybe when paying big bucks people want a blade shape that's a little more radical? :confused:

[Manix Guy 2]

Good point , I am a huge fan of the Strech 2 , it gets a lot of time in my pocket and I consider it a crown jewel of Spyderco . I think Sal was very wise not to tag it as a full time hunter . I certainly hope the Frn version will appeal to those that pass on the price of the CF model . Regards MG2

[JD Spydo]

I have to agree , the Ocelot in PE is slowly going up in price . The Impala is a favorite of mine and would love to see the return in lockback . I only use it for hunting because it is a righty , but it a great knife all the same . Marketing the blade as a Hunter may have been the downfall and misunderstood by ELUs . Regards MG2

Again Manix Guy you and I just seemed to agree on so much. Especially in the area of these outdoor knives, not to mention our hallowed Hawkbills :D

I really miss the 2 Impala models I was forced to sell. Both of mine were users and if I get any more of them they too will be users. I really do like the Wegner designs but I tend to like the handle on the Impala model just a bit more.

I also like the geometry of the gut hook on the Impala model because it really worked well the 2 times I tried it. Most of the gut hooks on folders don't work as good as the ones on fixed blades.

Here again is where one man's/woman's preference is determining factor of which Spyders you tend to like more than others. It's really interesting how one feature can change the entire scope of what a knife is all about.

[Toyz]

I would agree - if there was any way the paw prints could be filled in it would be in the EDC rotation for me.

Stainless steel inserts or titanium inserts into the prints - now we're talking.

It's a shame the scales are only removable by drilling out the pins.

[J Smith]

One of the nicest Spyderco has made.
It may take some time for people to figure out how great of a knife it is.Just like they did with the first Wenger models.

[amen74]

I tried to get one while they were still available. Never happened. I've handled one for a minute at a local store and it felt like a great knife. Did not surpise me. :)

[Toad310]

Boy, I would love to see a photo of one!

Thanks in advance.

Toad 310

[Sam Vimes]

Boy, I would love to see a photo of one!

Thanks in advance.

Toad 310

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/closeup.php?product=199

[saywhat?]

The Ocelot is great for EDC and a nearly perfect folder for hunting. Everyone loves the paw prints and it is just such a classic Spyderco.

I use an old tooth brush to clean out the scales after field dressing/skinning game. The only hard part to clean this way is under the clip. I am considering modding to a wire clip like my Caly 3. Then it would be perfect to me.