View Full Version : My first Spyderco! Maybe the purchases can now end!
Well, I just got my first Spyderco knife (Burgundy Calypso Jr.) and a sharpmaker. Hopefully it is the first Spyder of NOT many. Time to explain, and hopefully someone finds this interesting and makes them happy as this is a long post...
My knife collection started with a few swiss army knives. All of them very "pretty", although they never seemed like they were all that useful to me. Plus, I bite my nails so I have a tough time opening those suckers sometimes. That, and no locking blade, and the SAKs were out of my life.
I've moved on to get a few CRKT knives that have ALL turned out to be disappointments. One had a titanium linerlock that wore out very quickly and is now extremely dangerous. No more CRKT for me.
I picked up an Opinel somewhere along the way, $10, used it more than any other knife I've got that isn't in the kitchen, and makes my other knife purchases feel outright silly and wasteful. It does leave something to be desired though with its locking mechanism. It is not a very strong knife.
I have been attempting to sharpen my knives with a japanese waterstone that has resulted in my feeling unskilled and irritated with rounded bevels. I'm not sure how this is different from a convex bevel exactly, but I do not get knives very sharp so there's clearly a big difference. So all in all, except for my Opinel, my knife and sharpening experiences have been bad, until now...
I've checked out some :spyder: s at REI, but the Delica in FRN I checked out there had a LOT of blade play, side to side and up and down. Totally totally unacceptable and it felt like a cheap plastic knife... for $65. Honestly it LOOKs a lot like a cheap made in China piece 'o turd (to me), plus it felt like one too as a result of the blade play. The stainless steel handled spyders were fine though. Anyway, I do a lot of backpacking, so every ounce of weight I save is important to me and I own crazy things like a titanium spork so I can save weight. So a SS handle was out of the question. No spyderco knife as a result.
Time goes by, and I decide that I want a new knife for backpacking and EDC, something a bit more robust than my Opinel. After a LOT of reading online, and the ridiculous rave reviews for the Caly Jr. in ZPD189, I decided to take a risk and get it from knivesplus.com for $65, and just assume the Delica I handled was an outlier or mistreated by people in the store. And I also figured if the knife disappointed me I would have no problem selling the knife to someone who loves this knife as there are plenty of you out there... The Caly Jr. suits me perfectly because it is so lightweight. Not to mention it takes that unreal edge that should be quite durable. A lightweight knife with a strong lock and usable blade is not all that common.
I got it in the mail today, and I HAVEN'T experienced any blade play at all. WHEW!. This thing is sharp as the devil, light as heck, and has super ergos. Everything I could have hoped for. I have a couple minor complaints though. I do prefer the look of screws over rivets, and would also prefer torx on the clip instead of phillips head screws. I really prefer hex or torx over phillips. Otherwise this knife is an allstar. Like I said at the top of my post, hopefully this is the first of not many, because I don't collect knives. So if I stay happy with this knife for a long time, I won't have to buy any more. Thank goodness!
I also got a sharpmaker, but thats already been talked about way too much so I'll spare everyone. Been sharpening everything in the house, yadda yadda, it works well.
So spyderco caught me in its web finally. Someone needs to get that POC Delica out of REI, because it almost prevented me from ever buying a :spyder: knife at all, and has probably done the same to many others.
Yay for spyderco, and YAY for the calypso jr.
ghostrider
09-30-2005, 10:47 PM
Dans,
Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your first Spyderco. The Caly Jr. is a great little knife, and known as “The Lightsaber of Spyderco’s”, but then, you’re already figuring that out. Great first post, and pics (we like pics around here :) ).
Titus
09-30-2005, 10:53 PM
Welcome DanS. :) This one may not be your last. When it comes to well made knives like this, it's knid of like: "betcha can't buy just one".
Welcome Dan. Nice post. My ZDP caly wasn't my first and isn't my last but it sure is a sweet little knife. Don't the the delica at REI fool ya, The delica is also a great little knife.
Enjoy your caly jr.
Peace
John
Thanks for the kind words. Sorry the picture is fuzzy... was done in a rush. The tripod will be coming out soon enough I'm sure.
This is a total topic change, but does anyone have experience in getting good microscope images of your knife edges? I have access to several "good" microscopes because I'm a graduate student, and I can use the ~$20,000 microscopes as I see fit ;) Most of what I've done is cell bio stuff, so light transmits through the sample, or I do fluorescent microscopy. That won't work with a knife... Maybe I can find what I need in the MEMS lab.... hmm. So if anybody knows what type of microscope I should be on the look out for, let me know. I know electron microscopy would be ideal, but thats just not gonna happen unfortunately, I think I might get in trouble for that.
DAYWALKER
10-01-2005, 12:17 AM
Aloha and welcome DanS!
Great knife anytime that Caly' Jr. ...Darn it, I just wish it were tip up capable. :p
Microscopic images of edges: try to look for threads by my KnifeBro thombrogan. There was another forum member here who could take the same kinda pics, but I forgot who it was. :o
God bless :cool:
[QUOTE=DAYWALKER]Aloha and welcome DanS!
Great knife anytime that Caly' Jr. ...Darn it, I just wish it were tip up capable. :p
I'm with ya on that one Daywalker, I much prefer tip up. But I do love the caly jr.
ghostrider
10-01-2005, 02:13 AM
Normally, I'm right along with you guys on tip up carry but, with the Caly Jr. just take the clip off, and carry inside the pocket. You won't even notice its there.
DAYWALKER
10-01-2005, 02:36 AM
Normally, I'm right along with you guys on tip up carry but, with the Caly Jr. just take the clip off, and carry inside the pocket. You won't even notice its there.
Wha?!! Dude, only guys who just made 60 carry their ClipIts in such a manner!!!
:D Just kidding Deac'! :D
:p God bless :p
The clip definitely stays on...
I know its been written about before on here, but I think a metallic clip would look much better on this knife too. Is it possible to buy just a clip from :spyder: co?
I can't wait to get some edge pics with the microscope I used to take this picture. These are endothelial cells with a diameter of about 50 microns... I'm concerned that if I can get really good pictures I'll become super anal about sharpening which could certainly become time consuming. Oye.
spydutch
10-01-2005, 03:07 AM
Welcome to this forum DanS. How hard you try to, this will not be your last spyder :D . Congrats on your knife and have fun.....
ghostrider
10-01-2005, 03:13 AM
Wha?!! Dude, only guys who just made 60 carry their ClipIts in such a manner!!!
:D Just kidding Deac'! :D
:p God bless :p
He He. I did feel a little too conspicuous having a knife clipped to both front pockets, along with the IWB. The Caly Jr. is basically my back-up/sheeple knife, and sees little use, so inside pocket works out well for it.
ghostrider
10-01-2005, 03:15 AM
DanS,
Call the SFO on the clip. I bought spares for my grey Caly Jr. and a couple other :spyder: 's. Don't know if they have any left, or if they stock the new ones yet, but that's the place to go.
dialex
10-01-2005, 05:08 AM
Welcome to the Spyderco Forum and congratulations on your inspired choice(s). I think the ZDP Calypso is one of the best knives available on the market so far. It easily surpasses knives ten times more expensive IMHO :)
It's also a good idea that you got yourself that 204. I found peculiar that people who pay big bucks for a knife are so reluctant when it comes to buy a decent sharpmaker.
BTW, don't let a rotten apple spoil your impression over a Delica. You could give a chance to the little one as well. Not to mention there is a full ZDP version scheduled to come in a few months :D
Slvgx
10-01-2005, 06:12 AM
Welcome to the forums DanS.
As for the Caly Jr. being people friendly. Why don't I get those people? I used to work in a movie rental store, and I had to do many tasks with a knife. I'd bust out the Caly thinking "No problem, it's friendly looking", not the case. I got all the lame comments (Whatcha gunna kill with that, etc.), and wide eyed stares. Funny thing is the few times I used my Pmillie I had no problems. I just started carrying whatever EDC rotation knife and a SAK. The EDC knife was for the back room and the nice friendly SAK for up front.
Irish Lager
10-01-2005, 08:23 AM
Wha?!! Dude, only guys who just made 60 carry their ClipIts in such a manner!!!
:p God bless :p
Hey now, im not quite there yet :D I didnt feel right carrying so many knives in sight, so i typically have one clipless in the back pocket. Usually my Dodo. But the Native II has been seeing time in the watch pocket lately. I also always leave the cricket loose in the pocket, however the clip stays on. But i dont know about 60? ive yet to reach 21 here, let alone 60. You should give the clipless route a try sometime, its a nice change of pace, and most spydercos ride quite well. take care,
J
The Deacon
10-01-2005, 08:48 AM
Wha?!! Dude, only guys who just made 60 carry their ClipIts in such a manner!!!
:D Just kidding Deac'! :D
:p God bless :p
Hey, I resemble that remark!
smcfalls13
10-01-2005, 02:15 PM
DanS welcome to the forum. The Caly Jr. is a great knife, and will likely be the first of a ridiculous amount of purchases you will make. Spydercos are like nicotine. Highly addictive and impossible to quit, and they drain your money like crazy.
Enjoy the Caly. :D
bowarrow2000
10-01-2005, 02:23 PM
You now have an uncurable habit. Enjoy the 1st of many Spiders
Hi DanS. Welcome to the Spyderco forum and thanx for the kind comments and support.
Hopefully you won't find need for future Spyderco's. Sometimes it's simply like a newer technology, finer, more user friendly microscope comes out and one must just "trade-in" the old girl. ;)
For your uses, you might also look at the Delica 4 in ZDP when it comes out.
sal
Dr. Snubnose
10-01-2005, 11:35 PM
Welcome aboard Dan...You picked yourself out one great knife enjoy!.....Doc :D
Well Sal, if you think I'll probably get another then its probably true! I know that temptation seems to get the best of all of us. Just really trying to say that if I don't get more, thats the best complement I could make to spyderco and this sweet little knife. I mean I AM gonna have to get a fixed blade eventually right?
On another note, my blade has a slight curve to it, much like it was described in THIS (http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17027) thread. I don't really want to go to the trouble of returning the knife, but hopefully :spyder: will improve upon this in their future ZDP189 knives. I can imagine the geometry on this blade doesn't help at all with preventing curvature.
Now a quick sharpening question... thank goodness everyone on these forums is so helpful and patient. So I watched the sharpmaker video very carefully a couple times (you were great in that Sal), and Sal says Spyderco knives come shipped at around 30 degrees so they're easy to sharpen, but that you should sharpen at 40 degrees at home... Now there's no way that I'm willing to give up the sweet factory edge on this knife considering I bought it because of the sweet steel its made from.
Q1: Does this knife come at 30 degrees also or is it out of the factory even less? If it is at 30 as well, why is it sharper than other spyders? Just geometry?
Q2: Should I take my ultrafine stones to it at 30 degrees? If the factory edge isn't exactly 30, will I have to start with the course stones in order to set a new slightly different bevel? Life's too short to sharpen at 40 degrees!
Titus
10-01-2005, 11:54 PM
Well Sal, if you think I'll probably get another then its probably true! I know that temptation seems to get the best of all of us. Just really trying to say that if I don't get more, thats the best complement I could make to spyderco and this sweet little knife. I mean I AM gonna have to get a fixed blade eventually right?
On another note, my blade has a slight curve to it, much like it was described in THIS (http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17027) thread. I don't really want to go to the trouble of returning the knife, but hopefully :spyder: will improve upon this in their future ZDP189 knives. I can imagine the geometry on this blade doesn't help at all with preventing curvature.
Now a quick sharpening question... thank goodness everyone on these forums is so helpful and patient. So I watched the sharpmaker video very carefully a couple times (you were great in that Sal), and Sal says Spyderco knives come shipped at around 30 degrees so they're easy to sharpen, but that you should sharpen at 40 degrees at home... Now there's no way that I'm willing to give up the sweet factory edge on this knife considering I bought it because of the sweet steel its made from.
Q1: Does this knife come at 30 degrees also or is it out of the factory even less? If it is at 30 as well, why is it sharper than other spyders? Just geometry?
Q2: Should I take my ultrafine stones to it at 30 degrees? If the factory edge isn't exactly 30, will I have to start with the course stones in order to set a new slightly different bevel? Life's too short to sharpen at 40 degrees!
I think that typical ZDP Calypso Jr. knives are a bit thinner than 30 degrees. The steel is the real cause of the sharpness. I think that William Henry ( a semi-custom knife maker that uses ZDP) says that it takes such a fine edge because it is much harder than other steels. There are probably a number of reasons for this, though. I seem to get the best edge with coarse stones at 40 degrees. :confused: The bevel may have been incorrectly made at the factory, but I don't know. I am not an expert at this ZDP stuff yet. Another thing, If you sharpen at 30 degrees, the edge will be more likely to chip. This hasn't been much of a problem for anyone yet, but the steel is relatively new in production knives.
So if I start sharpening at 30 deg., I won't actually be hitting the bevel, I'll just be working on the edge. I'll have to start with the course stones when I decide to sharpen it, is that right?
I think someone could make a lot of money if they made a sharpener like the sharpmaker, but with an adjustment like a compass instead of fixed angles. Here's a picture to give you an idea of what I'm thinking about.
Titus
10-02-2005, 12:50 AM
So if I start sharpening at 30 deg., I won't actually be hitting the bevel, I'll just be working on the edge. I'll have to start with the course stones when I decide to sharpen it, is that right?
I think someone could make a lot of money if they made a sharpener like the sharpmaker, but with an adjustment like a compass instead of fixed angles. Here's a picture to give you an idea of what I'm thinking about.
Correct, you will be touching the edge. I don't know about the coarse stones when you start working on the edge. I didn't need to on my Native III or Chinook II , but ZDP may be different. I would wait for someone who knows more about this. The sharpener design you described is similar to the Lansky sharpener. A Sharpmaker like you described would very nice indeed. :cool:
Its not quite like the lansky because you can choose any angle you would like with the screw mechanism. On my compass the mechanism works quite finely, and is very stout (German made, no surprise there right?). Engineered for the purpose of sharpening it could no doubt be made strong and stable enough for our purposes.
I'm just imagining double triangle slots instead of steel bars connected to the mechanism. It would be sweet like the sharpmaker because you could alternate between each side, swap out stones fast, and use the corner or face of the stone. It would still be easy to use. It would also be sweet like an Edgepro because you could choose exactly the angle you wanted to sharpen at. Would be no problem to have a protractor to show you precisely the angle you've chosen. A picture is worth a thousand words right? Whipped this up real fast, but should make my idea pretty clear I think.
A clearer pic without the protractor
Excellent idea! Sal, please? :D:D:D
Welcome to the forums DanS.
Hi Dan,
I use 30 degrees for everything I sharpen, but my steels are usually upper end. Usually the flat white for final finish on plain edges. The original angle on the Caly ZDP is much less, but it might be difficult maintaining the thinner edge. We are still collecting data on this steel.
The "V" sharpener with adjustment has been suggested and even considered a number of times over the past 10 years or so. Unless your blade is clamped, keeping a degree or 2 is very difficult. Even the clamped units are not entirely accurate on actual degrees from one knife blade to another because the width of the blade affects the angle used.
The purpose of the Caly ZDP was to be able to play with this exotic steel at an affordable price. Steel junkies have this rather unexplainable "need" but don't often want to spend the custom knife costs for their "fix".
sal
Hmm, I see what you're saying. You don't really gain an advantage from the fine control since you still have to maintain the angle with your hand. Nonetheless, I still think it could be useful in certain circumstances. And I know there are a lot of people (knuts) around here that like to "experiment" with edges much more acute than 30 degrees. It would be useful for me when I sharpen my chisel ground tonto for example... That has one bevel that is higher than 20 degrees on one side, but I have a tough time using the waterstone on it.
It could be the sharpmaker Pro :p
I guess when I finally put the CalyJ on the sharpmaker I'll just start with the fine white stones on 30 degrees, so I'll only put a microbevel on it. But the original angle on it is MUCH :eek: less than 30? Anyone have any "unauthorized" ways of achieving different angles with their sharpmaker?
I can't recall who suggested it first (sorry!) but somebody puts a spare sharpmaker rod under the middle of the sharpmaker and tilts it so that it is rocked back and forwards. You then sharpen against the more upright of the rods. This will knock a few degrees of the angle. I'm not sure what difference is made-I haven't done the trig to work it out yet...
I may look into trying to find some of those screw dividers that you illustrated and actually try to cobble together something resembling your design, assuming I can be bothered :D Watch this space ;)
CopilotATS-55
10-02-2005, 11:37 AM
hey DanS i have a mod opinel preetty good but not as good as :spyder: :D
Hi Dan,
999 brought the question up on the British forum. My relpy to him is below. You might do that for your own use?
sal
Hi 999,
for experimentation purposes, I would suggest drilling a series of holes in a board (1/2" diam) at the different desired angles and just stick the triangle rods in the holes.
set up the first set at 10 degrees, 2nd set at 15 degrees, etc.
Just like the two sets of holes in the 204. A tilting drill press and some carefull drilling should work fine.
sal
999, that would be terrific if you put something together. Definitely keep us updated!
Given my extreme laziness it may take some time... I do have a couple of ideas based on what Sal suggested though.
nominoe
10-04-2005, 08:58 AM
hi! that's my first post too :)
and the calypso jr ZDP is also my first :spyder: ! so i've got a lot in common with dan's ;)
i bought this spyderco because of the steel. i've been collecting knives for a long time, and i always found that spydies were ugly (please don't kick me :D ). although i knew they were quality knives. ZDP 189 finaly convinced me to let the spyder bite me !
now that i hold one in my hand, i must say that it is a great knife, even if it's not my best looking one. What has surprised me with the calypso was it's lightweight. it's been my EDC since a few days and i think that this knife is not suitable for an "all task" knife.
it's a very specialised little thing with a lightsaber edge, maybe too much ;) . and there is only one way to correctly handle it. it's excellent for cutting a rope straight in front of you but not when you're "playing" with wood, or other objects.
that's why i wouldn't carry it for backpacking, i would prefer a more general-purpose knife. i'm curious to know if anyone think the same way!
i've been reading that forum for some time, cheer all :)
spydutch
10-04-2005, 11:47 AM
Welcome to the forum Nominoe. For backpacking you should try the 79mm Rescue and a Native PE(whittling). These would be your next 2 knives. Next the MilitarySE because it's the best knife around at the moment. After this, you will be addicted too :D :D :D :D
Have fun :)
The Caly Jr. is a great knife, probably my favourite Spyderco. I have a few and I like it the best so far, but I'm not done yet! Strangely, when the knife bug bites (in this case a Spyder!) it creates a change that makes more knifes not only a possibility but a requirement. I bet you can't have just one! :)
Welcome, btw.
idj
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