Vesuvius vs Centofante 3/4

[Tyler!]

I have longingly gazed at the Vesuvius for years, and really dig the Wharncliffe, which is why I jumped on the Cent4. But i am getting the feeling that the thumb hole is too close to the pivot point. my thumb bumps/rubs the corner (the Tang?) of the handle when opening. I also notice (via Catalog PDF) that the Vesuvius' pivot is located in a different place.

does anyone own both and notice a difference? I am about to track down a non-inlayed Vesuvius and set the C4 on the shelf. Very spiffy looking Gent. Knife.

what are the differences between the V and the Cent 3?? the pivot point, and the V is a liner lock, right?? blade thickness?

Tyler

[4 s ter]

and the V is a liner lock, right?? [/B] blade thickness?

No. The Vesuvius is a compression lock. There were some issues with it which resulted in it being changed to the current "mid-spine back lock"

[ASmitty]

No. The Vesuvius is a compression lock. There were some issues with it which resulted in it being changed to the current "mid-spine back lock"

Out of curiousity 4 s ter, do you know what kind of issues they had with the comp. lock on this particular model.

[dialex]

Earlier models (the ones with silver shell inlay) had lock failures. I was living under the impression that this problem was solved though. It happens that I have a Vesuvius (blue shell inlay) and it works fine, the lock is rock solid.

Interesting thing with the hole being too close to the pivot. The (now veterans) C25 and C50 Centofante(s) were known to have the same issue (the thumb rubbing the handles when deploying the knife). Now I wonder how anoying this can be. I guess at the Jester this happens all the time ;)

[Blades]

I have a blue-inlay Vesuvius(Comp-Lock), and I have never had a problem with it either. I guess there where a few with problems. Oh well.



Blades

[ASmitty]

Earlier models (the ones with silver shell inlay) had lock failures. I was living under the impression that this problem was solved though. It happens that I have a Vesuvius (blue shell inlay) and it works fine, the lock is rock solid.

Interesting thing with the hole being too close to the pivot. The (now veterans) C25 and C50 Centofante(s) were known to have the same issue (the thumb rubbing the handles when deploying the knife). Now I wonder how anoying this can be. I guess at the Jester this happens all the time ;)

You know, if they solved those problems like you said I would have absolutely no problem with them taking the Centofantes back in the direction of that lock. :D

[dialex]

IIRC, the Vesuvius was the first folder with a comp lock. I think some flaws were inevitable to such a new design. But the they refined it pretty well, the next generation Vesuviuses perform pretty good. The only model with problems was the silver shell inlay, AFAIK, the next ones (blue Paua shell, rootbeer aso) are more reliable.

[Bruceter]

I have never seen a rootbeer inlay Vesuvious. Do you have a picture?

Thanks,

Bruceter

[jjmc2001]

Was the Forum Vesuvius the "root beer" you refer to. I have one in the safe and I recall it being a very deep wine (burgundy) color. I also have a FRN como edge that I have used for my rough "yard" knife for years and the ergonomics are excellent. I just finished sharpening it and although it has the most blade play of any of my Spydercos it is a very good knife. Probably my most used Spyderco and much underrated.

[zenheretic]

I thought the Rootbeer Shell inlay was on the Native...first I heard of it on a Vesuvius...anyone have one? Pics? Inquiring Vesuvius collectiors have to know!

[Tyler!]

would it be popularly accepted that the Vesuvious with the silver :spyder: is an 'early' model, therefore having an 'early' comp-lock? I don't really prefer the shell inlay...

Vesuvius vs. Centofante 3: I am not so hot on the location of the lock on Cent3, and think the Comp-Lock (though I thought it was a Liner-Lock) 'looks' cleaner. And I though i might be able to get around the thumb rub issue with the slightly different design of the Vesuvius.

Are the blade thickness' the same?

Tyler

[4 s ter]

Out of curiousity 4 s ter, do you know what kind of issues they had with the comp. lock on this particular model.

I'm not sure exactly what the problems were and I don't remember Sal ever stating specifically what it was. Since the model was redesigned with a different lock, that would seem to be the focus of the problems.

They apparently arose with the production of the burgundy FRN handled "Forum" model. Some of the Vesuvius Forum knives were engraved and sent to those who pruchased them from the SFO. The problem was discovered while the Collector's Club knives were being engraved and the CC knives (some/all???) were never sent out.

I have one of the burgundy FRN Forum knives and I find that the lock sticks a bit when being disengaged. I'm keeping mine even though problems were indentified by Spyderco since 1) mine works OK and 2) I want to keep the set of all Forum knife models ;)

[4 s ter]

would it be popularly accepted that the Vesuvious with the silver :spyder: is an 'early' model, therefore having an 'early' comp-lock?
Tyler

Tyler

The burgundy FRN Forum knife has the palladium silver :spyder: inlay and was the last compression lock Vesuvius manufactured. By the way, the burgundy color is so dark it looks black except under bright light.