Chicago and Cat BD-1

[Doc Dan]

This is great news. In the recent Spyderbyte they announced that the Cat and the Chicago will now be made with BD-1 steel. This is great news because, from what I remember Sal saying, this is a good all around steel. I guess I will get a Chicago, now. I have a nice Cat already.

[SG89]

Yes this is good news. Steel upgrades are always great

[Mushroom]

Saw this in the spyderbyte as well! This got me excited too! The cat was my first Spydie, and I knew I wanted the Chicago to have the "set." I guess this will be a good time to get one!

[SpyderNut]

Nice! I just read this last night in the December SpyderByte. I have the 440C version Chicago already, but a Cat in CTS-BD1 could very well be on my horizon. :)

[MarcusH]

Yes this is good news. Steel upgrades are always great

Just out of curiosity : why do you think it is an upgrade?
The first Cats and Chicagos had a S30V-blade. I would consider this to be an upgrade to 440C, but not CTS-BD1.

[Doc Dan]

The first Cats and Chicagos had real quality issues so they were dropped. When they came back out they were less expensive, but very nice. Spyderco's 440C is like the old 440C that made Buck famous years ago. It has a good heat treat and so is a good steel, in all reality. What I think is that BD-1 may have a bit better wear resistance but slightly less corrosion resistance. It is not a super steel by any stretch. Sal said, a could of years ago, that BD-1 is one of his favorite steels as it is well rounded. With Spydie heat treat this should give us a decent steel and if the new ones are anything like the quality of fit and finish as my Cat, then Wowsah! what a great value.

[SG89]

Yes this is good news. Steel upgrades are always great

Just out of curiosity : why do you think it is an upgrade?
The first Cats and Chicagos had a S30V-blade. I would consider this to be an upgrade to 440C, but not CTS-BD1.

Is CTS-BD1 not an upgrade over 440C? I just assumed it was since they were making an announcement about it. I do not own a Cat or Chicago. But one in S30V sounds nice. Were they the carbon fiber versions?

[SG89]

Double post

[MarcusH]

Is CTS-BD1 not an upgrade over 440C? I just assumed it was since they were making an announcement about it. I do not own a Cat or Chicago. But one in S30V sounds nice. Were they the carbon fiber versions?

Don't get me wrong, the CTS-BD1 is an excellent all-purpose steel and I like it quite a lot on the current FRN UKPKs.
440C may be an old steel which went out of fashion, but it is still a really good steel for blades if it's treated properly.
Theoretically it should be even somewhat superior to CTS-BD1 regarding edge retention and corrosion resistance.

I have some old Bökers and BMs from the 90s, where the 440C is really excellent, and even my Herbst Titanium easily outperforms the CTS-BD1 of the UKPKs.
Yeah, the first variants of the Cat and Chicago had carbonfiber scales and S30V-blades. Unfortunately, they suffered from quality issues.

[bearfacedkiller]

I don't think that it is an upgrade and I doubt many people will be able to tell the difference. BD1 is an american made version of GIN1 which was a steel Spyderco used to use in its Japanese folders. I think that the change is pushed by marketing. The 400 series steels don't get a lot of love these days and BD1 is American made which is attractive to many. One cool thing about BD1 is that Sal worked with Carpenter to come up with it so it was brought to market by Spyderco.

[tvenuto]

I have to think this change is mainly to reduce the number of materials and processes currently in use. Keeping things efficient and streamlined is a good idea in general. Spyderco already spoils us with incredible variety in both designs and special versions, so if they can support that by paring things down elsewhere, then we are certainly beneficiaries.

As far as comparing the two, I've long since freed myself of the yoke of having to rank one steel above another. "All good, just different" Sal has said before, and when Spyderco does a great job with heat treat, blade geometry, and overall ergonomics, you have a high performance cutting tool no matter what letters are etched on the blade.

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

Hope the jimping makes a return

[Doc Dan]

I don't think that it is an upgrade and I doubt many people will be able to tell the difference. BD1 is an american made version of GIN1 which was a steel Spyderco used to use in its Japanese folders. I think that the change is pushed by marketing. The 400 series steels don't get a lot of love these days and BD1 is American made which is attractive to many. One cool thing about BD1 is that Sal worked with Carpenter to come up with it so it was brought to market by Spyderco.

This is probably close to the truth.

Squeeze,

The newer Cats have jimping. Mine does. The first G10 versions did not but that changed. Mine has jimping top and bottom. In fact, the only significant difference in practical design from my Chaparral is the liner lock versus the back lock (superior). After I got my Cat I asked myself if the Chaparral (which I love) was worth 2 1/2 times more money. My Cat is that good.

[awa54]

IMO the 440C used in the Cat is not as easy to get sharp as the BD1 in my UKPK is. So I'd call the steel change an upgrade... My only beef with the Cat is that it should really have metal blade bushings and it's heavy compared to the D'Fly.

[this_is_nascar]

I don't think that it is an upgrade and I doubt many people will be able to tell the difference. BD1 is an american made version of GIN1 which was a steel Spyderco used to use in its Japanese folders. I think that the change is pushed by marketing. The 400 series steels don't get a lot of love these days and BD1 is American made which is attractive to many. One cool thing about BD1 is that Sal worked with Carpenter to come up with it so it was brought to market by Spyderco.

This is probably close to the truth.

Squeeze,

The newer Cats have jimping. Mine does. The first G10 versions did not but that changed. Mine has jimping top and bottom. In fact, the only significant difference in practical design from my Chaparral is the liner lock versus the back lock (superior). After I got my Cat I asked myself if the Chaparral (which I love) was worth 2 1/2 times more money. My Cat is that good.

I've owned both the Cat and the Chaparral. I sold the Cat, but will always own my Chaparral. I did like the liner lock of the Cat, however, the Chaparral feels better in my hand and in my pocket. It also performs better for me.

[Doc Dan]

The Chaparral is a great knife and one of my favorites. I prefer the back lock of the Chaparral and it fits my hand better, too. But for the price I paid the Cat, the Cat was the better value.

[Blerv]

IMHO it's probably less of an upgrade and more of a lateral shift. Likely due to Spyderco's working relationship with Carpenter.

All my Spyderco 440c's have been splendid. Sharpens very easily and is extremely corrosion resistant. If they magically were swapped for BD1 my response would probably be "um ok, that works too." After getting over the mysticism shock, that is. :p

[vba]

I agree with Blerv, the steel difference is not of great importance and is a lateral move. The Cat is a great little knife either way.

[Doc Dan]

They really are great knives for the money. This is the knife I like to give to people. It is a good knife and not costly, in case they lose it. Plus, it is just the right size to be carried everywhere. It was designed to give high end features and a low end cost; a mission I think it accomplishes well (based on mine).