New member needs ID help

Doyletoo · #1

I found this in a local pawn shop today. Not sue what it is but I've had Spydies long enough to know that the older more desirable models are Japanese. It looks like a Police but the handle countour is slightly different. It's marked Japan and VG 10. Handle looks like polished smooth micarta. What is it and approx value please?

NOW WITH PICS

Bingo! Deacon posted a pic of the Calypso. That looks like it.
Any word on the value or rarity of this knife?

J32A2 · #2

JD Smith?

dbcad · #3

Welcome Doyletoo :) , definitely a tease

, post pictures quickly

Donut · #4

It can't be THAT old if it is VG-10. I was expecting ATS-34 or ATS-55 or something.

I need some more clues.

The Deacon · #5

Since you said polished micarta, it sounds like a C54 Calypso. Top knife in the photo below...

...VG-10, made in Japan, and about the same size as a Police.

Doyletoo · #6

Sorry for the crappy pics. My originals were too large and I had to snap a quick
picture with my phone.

The Deacon · #7

Glad I could help. As for rarity, different folks have different ways of defining "rare" but I will say the C54 Calypso is one of the least common regular production models. Serrated ranks as somewhat less desirable than plain, at least to collectors, but, there's still a fair bit of interest in them.

Stuart Ackerman · #8

C54 PE is my Grail Knife...

Ah well...

Mr Blonde · #9

I know there's little interes in the SE version of that Large Calypso, but I'd leave with that knife in my pocket for sure -if the price was reasonable. Apart from collector value, it's a great user. It would also be a fun project to tune the knife back up to its original self, hunt down a new clip, sharpening, polishing the handle and blade etc...

Doyletoo · #10

Interesting. Thanks guys! It's hard to tell from the pics, but it is in what I'd call VG to excellent condition.
Nothing really wrong with it aside from being gently used. Someone with a polisher
and a gentle touch could probably buff it out to a condition that would be worthy of a collector.
It's a bit long for my tastes as a EDC knife. I've been waiting for my local knife shop (Mark's Outdoors in Birmingham, AL)
to restock their Spyderco selection. I want a Tenacious partial serrated, and all they have in stock is full serrated
or plain. If you're in Central AL they have an impressive selection of finer knives (IMHO).

For Mr Blonde: About the price being reasonable: I'm a pawn shop "hunter", have been for many years. I
have learned to focus on a specific few items (guns,tools, some electronics) and know them well. While I didn't know this was a Calypso,
I knew that it was unordinary & priced at less than a plain Delica would have sold for 6-7 years ago, and I even talked the
shop owner down another 5 dollars before I bought it. "een zeer goede koop, ya?" :)

#11

Hi Doyletoo,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

sal