Hey all, I am looking to get my first spyderco and while the knife I reaaaaaally want, the military is out of my price range.. I think I may go for a centofante 3. This knife looks very classy but the blade seems fantastic and I love the shape.. So far most of the reviews are very positive but it sounds like this is more of a collector knife rather than a utility/work knife. Also, I just wanted to point out that I was hoping the spyderco I get COULD be used for defense purposes should a situation like that arise. What are your opinions? Should I just save up and wait for a deal on a military?
and Lastly, speaking about deals I saw in another thread that spyderco has a factory outlet. I saw folks on the forum buy for others and ship etc.. I was just wondering if anybody on the forum is still actively doing this or would be willing to help out a fellow knife junkie.
thanks for any help and I hope to learn alot from you fellas :cool:
Centofante 3 opinions
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CanisMajor
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- Location: USA
I have a Centofante III and love it. The blade is really thin and it slices very well. The knife is very light and thin as well, I can hardly notice it in my pocket. Overall it makes for a really good EDC knife.
The deals from SFO are only on their Factory Sale and that usually happens in November.
Canis
p.s. Welcome to the Forum.
The deals from SFO are only on their Factory Sale and that usually happens in November.
Canis
p.s. Welcome to the Forum.
Dare. Risk. Dream.
"Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in.
In my head, in my heart, in my soul.
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again.
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so."
- Modest Mouse "Ocean Breathes Salty"
"Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in.
In my head, in my heart, in my soul.
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again.
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so."
- Modest Mouse "Ocean Breathes Salty"
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telemeister
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- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:25 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
I've got one and it is a pretty good knife, in fact, it was my first Spyderco. It is good for DC or as a safe queen.
Top :spyder:s : Caly 3, Stretch, Millie, Manix 2, Police, Kopa, Polliwog, Meerkat, Chinook III, and SuperHawk.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Click the pic to see my :spyder:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Click the pic to see my :spyder:
It's a good all around knife. It's not a Manix2 but also half the weight. My only complaint is it's a tad slicker than textured FRN or g10. Still, a real sexy knife for the coin and a great performer. It's quite a bit tougher than you would think but I had your same concerns (it was my 2nd spydie).
If you like the cento4 as well it's discontinued for 2010 and can be had for a bit cheaper.
If you like the cento4 as well it's discontinued for 2010 and can be had for a bit cheaper.
The two Centofantes are probably the best slicing Spydies because of their thin blade. They slice as well as my humble Opinels! It's dependable enough for many usages, but for the heaviest usage you should indeed rather go to a Manix. Just keep in mind that the blade is thin.
Regarding SD, well I am not an expert on this as it doesn't interest me, but I can assure you that it's easily dangerous enough in such a situation :)
Regarding SD, well I am not an expert on this as it doesn't interest me, but I can assure you that it's easily dangerous enough in such a situation :)
The Cento 3 is a great knife. Almost as good as the Centofante 4. :D
IMO they are ideal for EDC. I believe that they were designed with self defense in mind, but I really can't speak to that. They both slice really well, the 4 in particular slices like a demon. The handle is the same on both and fits my hand like it was made for it. Note: my hands are on the small side of average, I've never bought a mili because it just doesn't fit in my hand.
Centofantes are plenty robust for normal cutting tasks, but if you use your EDC to open paint cans, drive screws, cut steel strapping, dig in the dirt, etc, you probably want something sturdier.
Gordon
IMO they are ideal for EDC. I believe that they were designed with self defense in mind, but I really can't speak to that. They both slice really well, the 4 in particular slices like a demon. The handle is the same on both and fits my hand like it was made for it. Note: my hands are on the small side of average, I've never bought a mili because it just doesn't fit in my hand.
Centofantes are plenty robust for normal cutting tasks, but if you use your EDC to open paint cans, drive screws, cut steel strapping, dig in the dirt, etc, you probably want something sturdier.
Gordon
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araneae
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- Location: A lil more south of the Erie shore, Ohio
The Cento's are fine for EDC. Thin blades make them great slicers. Very lightweight and easy to carry.
As for SD, I am no expert, but the handles are somewhat smooth. I would get something with more grip. I have no illusions of using my knives for SD, but if you plan to I would seek some training from a professional.
As for SD, I am no expert, but the handles are somewhat smooth. I would get something with more grip. I have no illusions of using my knives for SD, but if you plan to I would seek some training from a professional.
So many knives, so few pockets... :)
-Nick
Last in: N5 Magnacut
The "Spirit" of the design does not come through unless used. -Sal
-Nick
Last in: N5 Magnacut
The "Spirit" of the design does not come through unless used. -Sal
Compared to not having anything i would take a cento in a bad situation. It's a light carry and discrete so it gets more carry than my larger knives and a better chance I'm equipped.
The grip doesn't lock in like a stretch or manix2 but the blade cut like surgical tools. The cento4 cuts deep with little effort and was highly ranked by the Doc.
There's always grip tape :) lol. You should be pretty happy; most love both centos.
The grip doesn't lock in like a stretch or manix2 but the blade cut like surgical tools. The cento4 cuts deep with little effort and was highly ranked by the Doc.
There's always grip tape :) lol. You should be pretty happy; most love both centos.
The Centofante 3 is almost as good as the Centofante 4. That Wharncliffe blade of the IV is just outstanding. I feel it has more advantages than disadvantages and is well worth the trade offs.
There are only a few times I wish I had a more normal blade shape with my Cent 4 but there have been MANY times when the Wharncliffe blade has had been an advantage.
About the only things you can do with a Cent 4 is food prep on a cutting board and skinning. I am not skinning anything so that doesn't matter to me. Once in a while I might want to cut a sandwich in half and the Cent 4 is not ideal, it will work but not as well as the Cent 3.
The times the Cent 4 is better is any task that you need to bear down on the tip. It also can get into tighter places like the gap between a zip-tie or knots in rope and lever cut using the dull back edge as the fulcrum.
The Cent 4 is a better self defense knife if that ever came into play.
The Cent 3 is a great knife as well but if you are going to go Cent 3, you might as well enjoy the full power of what this knife can really become.
Don't confuse a Wharncliffe blade design with a hawk bill, two totally different animals. They may look similar but work nothing alike. I don't care for hawk bills at all, I am sure they have some specialized use that they excel at or they wouldn't be around but I like a knife that can handle as many tasks as possible. A wharncliffe is a work horse, it is made to cut. If you have never had one, you owe it to yourself to try one and the Cent 4 is one of the best.
There are only a few times I wish I had a more normal blade shape with my Cent 4 but there have been MANY times when the Wharncliffe blade has had been an advantage.
About the only things you can do with a Cent 4 is food prep on a cutting board and skinning. I am not skinning anything so that doesn't matter to me. Once in a while I might want to cut a sandwich in half and the Cent 4 is not ideal, it will work but not as well as the Cent 3.
The times the Cent 4 is better is any task that you need to bear down on the tip. It also can get into tighter places like the gap between a zip-tie or knots in rope and lever cut using the dull back edge as the fulcrum.
The Cent 4 is a better self defense knife if that ever came into play.
The Cent 3 is a great knife as well but if you are going to go Cent 3, you might as well enjoy the full power of what this knife can really become.
Don't confuse a Wharncliffe blade design with a hawk bill, two totally different animals. They may look similar but work nothing alike. I don't care for hawk bills at all, I am sure they have some specialized use that they excel at or they wouldn't be around but I like a knife that can handle as many tasks as possible. A wharncliffe is a work horse, it is made to cut. If you have never had one, you owe it to yourself to try one and the Cent 4 is one of the best.
As far as it only being a "collector" knife, not at all. It is simply one of the very best Spydercos made.
I consider the Cent 3-4 to be the closest thing to what a Delica used to be. A Delica 3 before they made it stronger and thicker used to be a wicked good knife. The new Delicas are fine but they lost something. Sometimes less is more.
As for strength, the Cent 3-4s with surprise you. They have nested liners and they are much stronger than you would think. I have used my Cent 4 hard and it is still as good as new. I have used it to cut 2" saplings down when camping when I didn't have anything else. I thought it might damage the knife but I had to use it, I wasn't trying to see what it would take before it broke or anything. To my amazement, it did the job and didn't even get loose. No damage, no wear on the fine VG-10 steel.
I would think it was plenty able to act as self defense knife. It is strong enough. It is not going to pry open car doors but if you want slim, light and shape knife to use as a knife, you could do a LOT worse.
In fact, I think the Cent 3-4 is probably the best knife to start with if you are new to Spydercos. It is the most Spyderco of all current Spydercos. The most "Spyderco" knife ever IMHO is the Delica 3. Maybe that is just my bias but that knife embodied what set Spyderco apart from all other makers in my mind. The Cent 3-4 is the closest thing to a Delica 3 being made today. It is more like an old Delica than the Delica 4 is.
I consider the Cent 3-4 to be the closest thing to what a Delica used to be. A Delica 3 before they made it stronger and thicker used to be a wicked good knife. The new Delicas are fine but they lost something. Sometimes less is more.
As for strength, the Cent 3-4s with surprise you. They have nested liners and they are much stronger than you would think. I have used my Cent 4 hard and it is still as good as new. I have used it to cut 2" saplings down when camping when I didn't have anything else. I thought it might damage the knife but I had to use it, I wasn't trying to see what it would take before it broke or anything. To my amazement, it did the job and didn't even get loose. No damage, no wear on the fine VG-10 steel.
I would think it was plenty able to act as self defense knife. It is strong enough. It is not going to pry open car doors but if you want slim, light and shape knife to use as a knife, you could do a LOT worse.
In fact, I think the Cent 3-4 is probably the best knife to start with if you are new to Spydercos. It is the most Spyderco of all current Spydercos. The most "Spyderco" knife ever IMHO is the Delica 3. Maybe that is just my bias but that knife embodied what set Spyderco apart from all other makers in my mind. The Cent 3-4 is the closest thing to a Delica 3 being made today. It is more like an old Delica than the Delica 4 is.
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Fred Sanford
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- Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:41 pm
- Location: Ohio, USA
The Centofante III and 4 are 'sleeper' knives. They will cut like most knives on the market will never be able to cut. They are as close to a light saber as anything will ever be. Only thing that can be given the same status as a Centofante III or 4 is the old Calypso Jr. and something reground by Tom Krein or Brad Southard.
Don't let them fool you. The Cento's are BAMF.
Don't let them fool you. The Cento's are BAMF.
"I'm calling YOU ugly, I could push your face in some dough and make gorilla cookies." - Fred Sanford
You got that right. They are a thinking man's knife. When you see someone with a Centofante be it 1, 2, 3, or 4, you know you are in the presence of a gentleman and a scholar. Men who carry such knives tend to be the elite among us. They are the ones who are always thinking two moves ahead. :DDavid Lowry wrote:The Centofante III and 4 are 'sleeper' knives. They will cut like most knives on the market will never be able to cut. They are as close to a light saber as anything will ever be. Only thing that can be given the same status as a Centofante III or 4 is the old Calypso Jr. and something reground by Tom Krein or Brad Southard.
Don't let them fool you. The Cento's are BAMF.
Are they being discontinued? I haven't heard that if they are. It would figure since it is my favorite. All my favorites gets the axe, it is like a curse or something.gaj999 wrote:Man, talking to you guys is going to cost me money, again.
Got to buy another spare C4 before they are all gone. Har.
Gordon
Yes. They're on closeout at the company store for $41, but they are out of stock. There are still a few around at the $40 mark. I've already got two, but start to sweat at the thought of losing them both ...kgriggs8 wrote:Are they being discontinued? I haven't heard that if they are. It would figure since it is my favorite. All my favorites gets the axe, it is like a curse or something.
Gordon