Centofante III REVIEW

[Fisher of Men]

I gotta say that I think the Centofante III is a really good knife. I would have never even considered buying it. I got it by trading a Benchmade of mine for it. I really like it. The blade length is just right for me. It’s like 3.125 inches long. The FRN handles feel almost like G-10. I think it’s because of the partial liner and also the fact that the texture is really fine to the touch.

Been carrying it for a little while now and I have only one complaint. I don’t like how the blade comes to a point above the Spyder-hole. I prefer it to be rounded there (this is however just my personal preference). The one thing I noticed right off the bat is how thin the blade is. I mean when you put it up next to a Calypso Jr and look at the spines side by side you can tell how thin the Centofante’s blade is. I think that’s why it’s a good slicer.

I also noticed (thanks to DAYWALKER) that you need to be really careful when closing this knife with one hand. If you don’t choke up on the handle a little before you unlock the blade you might find the blade sliced part of the way through your index finger. When I close this knife I make sure my index finger is sitting right under the pivot pin and then I unlock the blade. You can’t get cut like this and then you can close it the rest of the way with your fingers out of the way.

Just like DAYWALKER showed in one other thread, this thing cuts through soda cans like butter. It is also very good at slicing food, like some fruit, and ham and whatever else you want to cut. I like the fact that the blade is just a touch longer than my Calypso Jr’s blade. It is not much but it seems like an inch when you’re using it.

I’ll have some pictures up when I get back home so you can see what I mean. Right now I’m out somewhere waiting on a server process to finish.

Here are the pics:
http://img61.exs.cx/img61/338/dscn007819eh.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn007819eh.jpg)

http://img61.exs.cx/img61/315/dscn007715is.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn007715is.jpg)

http://img61.exs.cx/img61/4403/dscn009414fr.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn009414fr.jpg)

http://img61.exs.cx/img61/8273/dscn00937sx.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn00937sx.jpg)

http://img61.exs.cx/img61/948/dscn00890bs.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn00890bs.jpg)

http://img61.exs.cx/img61/6505/dscn00874ev.th.jpg (http://img61.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img61&image=dscn00874ev.jpg)


Cheers,
Fisher of Men

[ghostrider]

Thanks fom.
It's always nice to hear someone else's feedback on a knife that I haven't taken the opportunity to use yet.

[Mr Blonde]

thanks for the review, how does it carry?

Wouter

[Fisher of Men]

thanks for the review, how does it carry?

Wouter

It's nice and low in the pocket. It will go tip up or tip down but not lefty. :)

Cheers,
Fisher of Men

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha FoM,

Nice review! I am glad that you landed a :spyder: you like!!! Will check back for them pics ya promised! :D

God bless buddy :cool:

[Fisher of Men]

Pics added as promised :)

Cheers,
Fisher of Men

[JDEE]

Review appreciated. Which do you think is the better slicer of the 2 pictured. I am always of the view that a flat ground blade makes a better slicer.

[Fisher of Men]

Review appreciated. Which do you think is the better slicer of the 2 pictured. I am always of the view that a flat ground blade makes a better slicer.

I usually feel the same way. I however think that a different grind on a thinner blade also make a difference.

I gotta say that I would think the Calypso Jr would be a better slicer, but I think due to the thinner blade the Centofante III is. Now if the Calypso Jr had as thin of a blade it would for sure be a better slicer. I think that if you made the blade any thinner on the Calypso Jr it would be weak. :)

Cheers,
Fisher of Men

[rastus]

Thanks also, FOM, for the review. I've wanted the C-III to replace the Vesuvius as an EDC before the V gets really messed up. I guess I know what :spyder: I'm getting next :D
Thanks again,
---Tom

[ASmitty]

I've been considering getting the Centofante for awhile and your review clinches it for me Fisher. Glad to hear that you like it and I'll let you know what I think of mine when it gets to me.

[224477]

FoM,

thank you for your review, I still hasitate of buying it, would like to use it ALSO for MBC, but there is a problem with the width of the blade, very thin, affraid of breaking it. But I like the whole appearance of the knife very much..

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha ALL!

ASmitty and rastus...this one was posted before, but here it is again just for you guys!

Hey Brother FoM, give this a try...ONE swipe! ;)

God bless :cool:

PS: So...how ya been 224477?

[GarageBoy]

i had num 103...i miss it, though in the end, i got a mouse outta the trade

[rastus]

I picked one up today for $55.00+tx. I payed for the fact that I didn't order it from NGK, but had it in my hand today. This is the first :spyder: I've ever owned that isn't at least partly serrated. I like it as much as I like my Vesuvius (a lot), and it's quicker (for me, at least) to close.
For work I need a serrated blade, at least 50/50. So I guess I set myself up to buy another :spyder: ...:) Funny how that works. With all this discussion of the Spyderhawk, I'm thinking of tracking one down, but I've always loved the Endura. How to choose....hmmm......if I get both, I don't have to choose.......Help!!! :eek: My :spyder: addiction is out of remission big time (like there is any such thing as remission; once a :spyder: addict......) :o
---Tom

PS. What is the "bug" made of?

[Zrexxer]

PS. What is the "bug" made of?Palladium Silver.

[rastus]

Palladium Silver.

Wow, thanks. Is that like really good silver (purity), or like cubic zirconia in diamond lingo? :D
---Tom
This is kind of wierd, check out Palladium Silver (http://www.espi-metals.com/msds's/Palladium%20Silver.htm)

[David Lowry]

The Centofante III is a really good knife.

I thought I'd bring one more of my old ones back up ;)

[Dr. Snubnose]

Nice review David...I have the Centofante III and The Vesuvius...And I love both of them...great knives and you can't beat the prices on these slicers....Doc :D

[BBRex]

I've been going back and forth on getting either a Caly Jr or a CIII, and I think the CIII is gonna win out. It just looks nicer, and since I'll be using it at the office and at school, I think that's the clincher. Thanks for the great review and pics.

[clovisc]

the CIII is a tremendous value, and one of the more underrated, overlooked spydies currently in the line-up. i love having 3 inches of THIN, hollow-ground, PE VG-10 steel... and the silver bug just pushes it over the edge!

the vegetables in my house fear this knife!!!

[BBRex]

Fisher, thanks again for the review. I ordered my CIII today, and now I just have to wait on it. I saw a good review in a knife mag recently, and your review sealed the deal.

-Bryan

[David Lowry]

Fisher, thanks again for the review. I ordered my CIII today, and now I just have to wait on it. I saw a good review in a knife mag recently, and your review sealed the deal.

-Bryan

Really glad to hear it Bryan. Post some pics if you can when you get it and let us know what you think. :)

[rickh]

FoM, thanks for the review and the pics. Have not really thought about getting one but now I'm going to consider it. I'm going to a gun/knife show this weekend and will try to find one to handle. Really good looking knife. Thanks again,

Rick

[WORKER#9]

This just goes to show that a good review never dies, it just gets better! Excellent review FOM. FOM was always a friend of mine! :)

[David Lowry]

This just goes to show that a good review never dies, it just gets better! Excellent review FOM. FOM was always a friend of mine! :)

Thanks man.

To those who never figured it out.....

....I was Fisher of Men :)

[J D Wijbenga]

@ Daywalker: Impressive!

I have one and it is my edc. I like both the way it cuts and the way it carries. I think it is one of the best folders on the marked for cutting through stuff due to its thin blade and exelent geometry. It is a bit old school (this blade, thin edge CUTTER) and new school (clip, hole, zytel handle). And last but not least it takes a very nice sharp edge very easely.

JD

[BBRex]

Well, I'll have to delay my excitement for a bit. The place I ordered from is waiting for their next shipment, which they should get next week. But I've been waiting for a while, another week won't be much more.

[BBRex]

My Centofante III arrived yesterday, and I picked it up last night. I've been EDCing my Cara Cara, and the CIII kinda feels almost dinky by comparison. This is my first :spyder: and I hadn't held an FRN knife yet, and they weight difference is amazing. Of course the thinner blade on the CIII helps reduce weight, too. I like the :spyder: logo (although I'll probably worry about fingerprints on it for awhile) and I like that the clip is higher. I might switch the clip to tip up carry, but I'm gonna keep as is for the time being.

I think this will be an improvement on the C-C for everyday. Besides the weight, the black clip and overall lower ride make it less noticible than the shiny SS (although nobody ever seemed to notice the byrd clipped to my pocket, either). I'm interested to see how VG-10 performs. It'll mostly be used to open packaging, boxes, etc. in the office.

On first glance, the C-C seems like it would be more durable, but for my use, durability isn't too much of an issue. I'll also miss the choil, which make the C-C feel so at home in my hand. I'll give it a few days, and see what I think.

-Bryan

[David Lowry]

Bryan,

Good to hear. Post back after a week or so with your thoughts :)

I think you'll be surprised with FRN. It's super durable. I, in fact prefer it now over other handle options. :)

[smcfalls13]

I think you'll be surprised with FRN. It's super durable. I, in fact prefer it now over other handle options. :)

Definitely, FRN is D*** near indestructible, just don't put it in the oven ;) . Its not as elegant looking as other handles(micarta) but its perfect on a work knife.

[ghostrider]

Bryan,

Good to hear. Post back after a week or so with your thoughts :)

I think you'll be surprised with FRN. It's super durable. I, in fact prefer it now over other handle options. :)
Quite a testament from a guy who was himself skeptical at one time.

[BBRex]

I've had my CIII for almost a month now, and I'm getting used to it. I really like it, although I wasn't completely sold at first.

The good:
1. It's a slicer. I use it to open mail and packaging of different sorts, and it seems the tougher something should be to cut, the better it works. I does OK on envelopes, but it's amazing cutting through tough plastic packaging that always killed scizzors and other knives.

2. It's light. I almost forget it's there.

3. It looks nice. It's not a micarta Kopa, but it does have a nice gentleman's knife look to it.

The bad:
1. It doesn't sharpen easily. The trade off of being a good cutter seems to be a little more difficulty sharpening. It gets sharp, but I always think it should be a little sharper.

2. The grip isn't perfect for me. One thing I love about my Cara Cara is the choil, and that might become a must have on future knives.

3. I've put a couple of little nicks in the handle. Nothing big, and I expect a little wear-and-tear on an EDC, but I didn't know what to expect from FRN, and that kind of surprised me, I guess.

Overall, I love this knife. Only drawback that is a real negative for me is the lack of a choil. Otherwise, this knife is about perfect for EDC. I like the silver logo. I decided to stay with tip down carry for now, and I've adjust well to that. It makes difficult cutting jobs easy, and it's light enough to carry anywhere.