C-111 Captain >> A CLOSER LOOK

[JD Spydo]

Because of being blizted with medical and dental costs of nightmarish proportions I have slowed down my knife purchases somewhat in the past month or 2. But I connected with a great Spyder Brother and bought a couple of new Spyders from him. The main one being the C-111 Captian model.

To be honest with you when I saw several pictures of it and read a few reviews I wasn't initially too blown away by it. But that has changed 180 degrees. I can't quit playing with this knife. This is an innovation that I have not seen equaled by the Great Spyder Factory for some time. The unique blade shape and the extra ridgid liner lock along with one of the best G-10 handles I have ever held have gotten me in a very positive mode.

But this is one Spyder you will have to see first hand and handle for yourself. The ergos on this knife are only paralleled by 2 other Spyders I have that I will not name at this time. This is one super engineered folder. Anyone could benefit having one of these. My next highest priority is to get one for a user. Which I will do when the NEW dies down a little. This knife has virtually everything going for it. It has a lot of the desirable qualities of a Hawkbill and it also has a lot of cutting surface for a knife with only a 3 inch blade. This knife even blows away my Manix Jr. and Lil Temperance in several aspects. CHECK out the C-111 CAPTAIN>> This is going to be a super-classic. No doubt about it :cool: I would love to see a bigger version of this knife :cool:

[JD Spydo]

Wow! I guess I jumped the gun :rolleyes: Man I thought that a few of you all already had a Captain. Oh Well? I guess I will bring this up again in a month or so :o

[dedguy]

Don't have mine yet but it is my most anticipated knife purchase for this year. Fell in love with it the first time I saw it.

[Harry White]

i love the captain! it has great balance.

another thing i like about the captain is that it looks like it was meant to be used and abused. this is one knife that i wouldn't get upset about if (when) it gets scratched up from hard use. if anything, such scars would give the captain even more character than it has now -- which is a lot. i dropped mine (open :eek: ) on the concrete floor of my garage. i had to look very hard to detect where it hit the ground -- the knife didn't have a mark on it.

i agree this will become a :spyder: classic. it's a true workhorse that lends itself to so many cutting tasks. and i like the size. i can see where a larger blade would be of value in certain circumstances, but the current size is ideal, imo.

[smcfalls13]

Wow! I guess I jumped the gun :rolleyes: Man I thought that a few of you all already had a Captain. Oh Well? I guess I will bring this up again in a month or so :o

Already got one, and it's a great knife. You pretty much covered it, so I can't really add anything.:cool:

[cobrajoe]

I am really looking forward to getting one when the hype slows down. I loved the blade shape since the first time I seen it.

Hrm, I'm sure this would be a great addition to the salt line up if it could be made lightweight with FRN and H-1. Not to mention the serrated hawkbill part.

Just curious, what were the other two spydies that parallel the captain's egros?

[Plowboy]

I'm looking forward to this one too. I'm planning on waiting a few months for the "rush" to end before buying one (or two). Glad to hear the positive words, JD.

:)

edit: I like the size of this knife too. I'm a smaller knife kind of guy.

[westfork]

JD I agree with you on this. One reason I posted all the pictures of the Captain with the Lil'T is that I felt there were several similarities in the feel of these two knives. I am also planning on finding another as a user. Hope your medical issues settle down, those things do tend to run in streaks.
westfork

[JD Spydo]

I am really looking forward to getting one when the hype slows down. I loved the blade shape since the first time I seen it.

Hrm, I'm sure this would be a great addition to the salt line up if it could be made lightweight with FRN and H-1. Not to mention the serrated hawkbill part.

Just curious, what were the other two spydies that parallel the captain's egros?

Cobrajoe that is a very interesting take on the Captain being offered in H-1 to be part of the SALT series. You know the name Captain kind of indicates to me that it might be intended for marine use.

However I would not in any way restrict it to that arena because I plan on carrying one when I get another one. I haven't been this hyped about a new model for quite some time. This knife is going to set a trend for un-orthadox blades. Bring it on!! H-1 Captain would be on my want list.

[Plowboy]

The one thing I've not seen mentioned in this thread is the lock on the Captain. I remember from some time back that many of you spoke harshly of liner locks.

I am relatively happy with the few liner locks that I own. None of them would be considered cheap knives, so maybe the locks are built with a bit more attention than a similar lock on a $25 dollar knife.

I have to believe that the Spyderco team gave a good bit of thought to this lock. Was there a specific reason for going with the liner lock? Maybe the designer had a reason.

:)

[Chucula]

sold mine but plan to get another. I generally agree with everything you said (the knife is a wee bit tight for my hand but really good ergos anyway).

[dedguy]

I just got an over 400$ backpay check from work and I'm sitting here not buying a Captain. What is wrong with me? I think I'm just so happy with the Lava I want to wait awile before getting anything new. I also really want an "S" but that also is waiting.

[JD Spydo]

Dedguy get a Spyderco Captain :cool: That is an order :D How dare you sit on $400 and not get a new Spyder :rolleyes: .

Plowboy I totally agree with you concerning the liner lock on the Captain. I also have several Spyderco models and 2 of them I carry from time to time and I have NEVER had any problems with any Spyderco liner lock. Before I became a Spyder-addict I carried a Benchmade ( sorry about the language ladies :o ) model 640 Spike which had a liner lock and I still carry and use that knife on some occasions. No failures or problems to report at all. Now I believe that if you put knives through ultra-demanding tests that there will certainly be some locks that will take punishment longer than others. But very few of us will ever use a knife in which that type of punishment will be administered.

The Captain is just fine with the lock it has. Because I wouldn't be buying a second one if I had even a fragment of a doubt about it's capacity for high stress endurance on a long term basis.

[dedguy]

Now owning a few liners and frame locks I'm liking them more than the lock-backs. They're much easier to disengage and close one handed. Ball locks still remain my favorite though. Easiest by far to close one handed and are ambidextrous.

[Mr Blonde]

I love all the feedback on this model, yet still it's in my 'need a bit more handling before buying category'. How heavy does it 'feel' and 'carry'? Lighter than a Li'l Temp or comparable?

Wouter

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: What d'ya use the wierd tip for?:spyder:

[dedguy]

me personally I find it great for cleaning under my fingernails.

[JD Spydo]

:spyder: What d'ya use the wierd tip for?:spyder:

Michael I am glad you ask that question :) Take a very close look at that weirdly configurated end on the Captain. Doesn't that sort of remind you of that one specialized Spyderco model called the "Maddox"?

I think that for "push cutting" that unusual looking end on the Captain would not only be good for push cutting but would be great for game skinning/butchering. On the butchering part I think this is going to be one great tool for removing deer tenderloins. ( you know the ones that the packing house always trys to steal from you :rolleyes: ).

As far as all other cutting chores go I think it would be great for all types of cutting because you have a cutting edge going in at an angle no matter which angle you go about it. OK I will admit I haven't tried all of these chores yet but I am going to and I will keep you all posted.

But keep this in mind:>> Spyderco is the "Undisputed Champion" of unusual and unorthadox blades i.e. Harpy, Dodo, Civilian ect. Maybe the Captain won't be for everybody but then again what one single model is?

[JD Spydo]

I love all the feedback on this model, yet still it's in my 'need a bit more handling before buying category'. How heavy does it 'feel' and 'carry'? Lighter than a Li'l Temp or comparable?

Wouter

It's rather comparable in weight to the Lil Temperance. Although it is a much different knife all together. But I will say that it is built with the same quality as the Lil T.

As far as being solid built I would have to sort of compare it to the 80mm Manix Jr. In all fairness this is probably one Spyder that I would highly recommend that you get in on a "PASS AROUND" like the ones they do on Bladeforums. So you can actually hold one in your hand to see if it impresses you enough to buy one.

As I told Michael it's not a knife for everyone but it does indeed deserve a hard look. It's not what the picture portrays. You have got to hold this knife in your hand and play with it and even do stuff with it. I am still waiting for my second one so I can put it to some hard tests. Because I definitely want one of these in my permanent collection. This is going to be one of Spyderco's unique classics in the same vein as the Shabaria, Massad Ayoob, Dodo ect. But this knife is built like a high rise building.

[dedguy]

Looks like I have missed out (for now) on getting one from NGK. They're sold out. Looks like Knife Center may be getting some business from me.

[JD Spydo]

OH yes I do see a self defense aspect of the C-111 CAPTAIN. IF you look closely at where the inverted curve part of the blade meets with rounded end you will see that this would have super slashing capabilities if need be.

I can't wait to find more utility uses for the knife when I aquire my second one. Truly a new knife with new innovations and cutlery with totally different mechanical properties as well.

We're going to see this model around for a while I got a feeling.

[smcfalls13]

OH yes I do see a self defense aspect of the C-111 CAPTAIN. IF you look closely at where the inverted curve part of the blade meets with rounded end you will see that this would have super slashing capabilities if need be.

It has great slashing potential, especially if you catch your target on the point where the two grinds meet.

It has practically no penetration on a stabbing motion though, which limits it's potential in my opinion.

[jaislandboy]

Well JD you beat me to the punch.....Yes I love the Captain and it Definitely (like most :spyder: 's) needs to be held and used to truly Understand the hype....:rolleyes: The knife's liner lock is a real Solid just like my beloved Impala and CF Millies.....the overall size of the knife feels very Lil' Temp'ish in its feels but I like the handle ergos better than my Lil T...:eek: The Captain is lighter than my 80mmManix but seems like The Bigger Cutter!.....the "shovelnose" convex? ground tip is a Dynamite Whittler with incredible PUSH cutting ease and efficiency......Chad's Lava is a very good push cutter too with it's negative angle geometry but the ease and efficiency of the Captain is like 2-3 fold! then the Hawkbill Efficiency with draw/pull cuts is the Icing on the Cake!;) :D

[SeanH]

So what would the logistics of a pass around be?

The SFO still has a Captain in stock (as of Friday). Would one of us buy it and begin the pass around? Or is there a chance that :spyder: would donate one to a pass around group in exchange for extensive testing and reviews? What happens to a blade the factory sends to a pass around after it is done?

[JD Spydo]

So what would the logistics of a pass around be?

The SFO still has a Captain in stock (as of Friday). Would one of us buy it and begin the pass around? Or is there a chance that :spyder: would donate one to a pass around group in exchange for extensive testing and reviews? What happens to a blade the factory sends to a pass around after it is done?

The only organized "passarounds" I have seen are the ones that they do on Bladeforums. I think they restrict it to gold or platinum members if I remember correctly. I have never participated because if I like a blade I just buy it. If it's one I don't like then I usually have no trouble selling it or trading it.

But you know that might be a great idea to form some kind of pass around system that they could do on the Forum. Because if Spyderco Factory Outlet did it then they could just go ahead and sell it to the Forum member who would like it a lot. That might be something that SFO ought to consider. Because if they would limit it to Forum members with at least a year of tenure I think it could be a "WIN-WIN" for all parties invovled :cool:

[dedguy]

I finally ordered mine.

[smcfalls13]

But you know that might be a great idea to form some kind of pass around system that they could do on the Forum. Because if Spyderco Factory Outlet did it then they could just go ahead and sell it to the Forum member who would like it a lot. That might be something that SFO ought to consider. Because if they would limit it to Forum members with at least a year of tenure I think it could be a "WIN-WIN" for all parties invovled :cool:

There is a dealer on another forum does something similar to that. Those who sign up for the passaround split the cost of the knife, and when the passaround is over, a number is picked at random, and the person with that number gets the knife.

I think it's a cool system. It limits the number of people in the passaround due to the money up front, it's also a great way to possibly get a knife for 1/10 the cost, and the icing on the cake is that since theres a chance of the knife becoming yours, it's less likely to get seriously abused because "it's not your knife"

[SeanH]

There is a dealer on another forum does something similar to that. Those who sign up for the passaround split the cost of the knife, and when the passaround is over, a number is picked at random, and the person with that number gets the knife.

I think it's a cool system. It limits the number of people in the passaround due to the money up front, it's also a great way to possibly get a knife for 1/10 the cost, and the icing on the cake is that since theres a chance of the knife becoming yours, it's less likely to get seriously abused because "it's not your knife"
Interesting idea! I'd be willing to do th footwork and get the blade from SFO if the rest of you like the Idea...

[Plowboy]

Well JD you beat me to the punch.....Yes I love the Captain and it Definitely (like most :spyder: 's) needs to be held and used to truly Understand the hype....:rolleyes: The knife's liner lock is a real Solid just like my beloved Impala and CF Millies.....the overall size of the knife feels very Lil' Temp'ish in its feels but I like the handle ergos better than my Lil T...:eek: The Captain is lighter than my 80mmManix but seems like The Bigger Cutter!.....the "shovelnose" convex? ground tip is a Dynamite Whittler with incredible PUSH cutting ease and efficiency......Chad's Lava is a very good push cutter too with it's negative angle geometry but the ease and efficiency of the Captain is like 2-3 fold! then the Hawkbill Efficiency with draw/pull cuts is the Icing on the Cake!;) :D


Interesting and useful comparisons you make. This gives me a better idea of what this knife is like. It's on the list. I'll probably pick it and the Caly 3 up early next year. It's heck to live on a budget.

:)

[nomaded]

I've been EDC-ing the Captain for several weeks now. I really like it. I've mostly used it for eating, actually - slicing up apples and peaches, and for steak. About the only thing I miss is a narrow tip - I get a couple containers every week that have zipties holding them closed, but without a narrow tip, I can't get into the loop to slice off the tie. But that's why I carry a Swick.

[dedguy]

So has anyone else noticed that the Captain seems to have what almost appears to be a stunted wave? I haven't changed mine to tip up yet so I have no idea if it will work as such. It just seems odd to have that little nub of metal coming off the thumb ramp with an indent after it and before the weird swedge.

[JD Spydo]

I've been EDC-ing the Captain for several weeks now. I really like it. I've mostly used it for eating, actually - slicing up apples and peaches, and for steak. About the only thing I miss is a narrow tip - I get a couple containers every week that have zipties holding them closed, but without a narrow tip, I can't get into the loop to slice off the tie. But that's why I carry a Swick.

Now that you've mentioned food preparation with the Captain I would bet that it would make one mighty fine "steak knife". Where the 2 grinds meet is just awesome for penetration. They have devised a pointless end of a knife which will indeed penetrate whatever you are cutting.

Doesn't that end kind of remind you of that one handed knife that Spyderco used to make called the "Maddox"?

The Captain will have a myriad of uses when it's all said and done.

[Plowboy]

Forgive me everyone for bringing up an old thread, but I just got a Captain and I think it is my favorite :spyder:. I was somewhat unsure when I ordered it because it just looked so unorthordox. When I took it from the box and opened the blade, it winked at me and I was instantly in love.

The liner lock seems well done and its thickness relative to the blade is certainly sufficient. The handle fits my hand very well and the blade is just interesting and attractive.

Now, I have to get busy saving for a back up. This is one knife I have got to get a back up on.

With the Captain I also picked up a Caly 3. I really expected the Caly 3 to take my heart -- and the potential for a real love affairs is there -- but the Captain had a bit more exciting touch and, well, I'm in love.

:)

[arnon]

With the Captain I also picked up a Caly 3. I really expected the Caly 3 to take my heart -- and the potential for a real love affairs is there -- but the Captain had a bit more exciting touch and, well, I'm in love.:)
Same here I ended up EDC both, on the same time, solved the problem??!!
But, I am running out of room in my pockets. So I think spyderco should slow down making new knives:eek: :eek: ...or maybe I should were a cargo pants:) :cool: :spyder: ...
Be well Arnon

[JD Spydo]

Forgive me everyone for bringing up an old thread, but I just got a Captain and I think it is my favorite :spyder:. I was somewhat unsure when I ordered it because it just looked so unorthordox. When I took it from the box and opened the blade, it winked at me and I was instantly in love.

The liner lock seems well done and its thickness relative to the blade is certainly sufficient. The handle fits my hand very well and the blade is just interesting and attractive.

Now, I have to get busy saving for a back up. This is one knife I have got to get a back up on.

With the Captain I also picked up a Caly 3. I really expected the Caly 3 to take my heart -- and the potential for a real love affairs is there -- but the Captain had a bit more exciting touch and, well, I'm in love.

:)

Plowboy don't you ever apologize for bringing up one of my old threads :D > Actually it is a good and patriotic thing to do :rolleyes: Especially when you are talking about one of my new found favorite Spyders :cool:

I am just enamored and enthralled with my Captain model. I too am very much trying to secure a back up unit for my Spyderco Captian. Another example of a very misunderstood knife that only Spyderco would have the guts to bring to market.

No Sir it is your duty to resurrect threads about super good knives :cool: Especially when it was one I started :rolleyes: :D LONG LIVE THE SPYDERCO Captain!!! :cool:

[Plowboy]

arnon I guess you will need the cargo pants....you know Spyderco will continue to bring out great new knives. Go ahead and get a few pair of pants with extra pockets.

JD, I should have known that it was my "duty to resurrect" an old thread that you started about a great knife.

I can't wait to get that backup Captain. I'll feel much better knowing that I have two of them. :)

I truly do love the Captain. I can see a real future for this knife and me. In fact, I've got to add a line to my signature now to show how I feel about the Captain.

:)

[flipe8]

Hate to ask in some ways as it is "abuse" , but it looks like an ideal candidate for prying if needed. I'm looking for a hard-use folder and the Spydies on the short list are the ATR, the Mini Manix and even the Paramilitary(it's in a more distant third). Should I be looking at the Captain? What do you guys think?

[JD Spydo]

arnon I guess you will need the cargo pants....you know Spyderco will continue to bring out great new knives. Go ahead and get a few pair of pants with extra pockets.

JD, I should have known that it was my "duty to resurrect" an old thread that you started about a great knife.

I can't wait to get that backup Captain. I'll feel much better knowing that I have two of them. :)

I truly do love the Captain. I can see a real future for this knife and me. In fact, I've got to add a line to my signature now to show how I feel about the Captain.

:)

OK we'll overlook it this time :D But seriously there are so many aspects of this new model that are so overlooked. You know the reason why the old gangsters and thugs used to carry straight razors? Well I'll tell you why>> because of their wicked slashing power. OK now take a look at the Captain especially where the rounded end meets the curvature of the main part of the blade> >> Ok now tell me if that knife doesn't have even better slashing power than even the best straight razor out there :cool:

I didn't even realize it until I sat here at my desk really studying that knife. And the balance and the ergos of this knife are simply astounding. I may even want 2 back ups of this bad boy. I am very afraid that this knife is going to be short lived on the Spyderco line up. Because it is already a victim of some of the most silly predjudices I have ever heard people say about a knife. I showed the knife to a good buddy of mine and he wouldn't even pick it up.

It takes the wal-mart/McDonalds crowd a while to accept something new and innovative. Unfortunately sometimes they never do. It probably took that crowd quite a while to accept the wheel and the light bulb :eek: ~~ I think that the Captain model is one of the most innovative knives I've run into in quite a while. If you put one of these Captain models in your hand and if you are a person who likes innovation then you won't be able to put it down for a while. This Captain kicks and rocks>> this is one of Spyderco's finest hours :cool:

[JD Spydo]

Hate to ask in some ways as it is "abuse" , but it looks like an ideal candidate for prying if needed. I'm looking for a hard-use folder and the Spydies on the short list are the ATR, the Mini Manix and even the Paramilitary(it's in a more distant third). Should I be looking at the Captain? What do you guys think?

A NO-Brainer>> you want the Mini Manix for what you just described. As much as I like all 3 of my big and Jr. Manix models I can say that the Mini Manix ( 80mm version) is a bull, tank of a knife. You will have to make a concerted effort to wreak havoc on that blade. I would not use the Captain for such chores simply because it has a hollow grind. You really need a tank of a knife with preferably a flat grind blade for your stated purposes.

But that's all right brother. Get your mini Manix and get a Captain too. That will show your heart is in the right place :D

[flipe8]

Thanks for the info. PM sent.

[Harry White]

Now that you've mentioned food preparation with the Captain I would bet that it would make one mighty fine "steak knife". Where the 2 grinds meet is just awesome for penetration. They have devised a pointless end of a knife which will indeed penetrate whatever you are cutting.

i've said it before and i'll say it again, the captain makes for a heck of a pizza cutter! :D

[Plowboy]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I feel the liner lock is very well done on the Captain. JD or someone, how does the lock on the Captain compare to the Military? I know that many of you love your Military, but then bash liner locks. Personally, I like liner locks and have never had one fail me. However, the liner lock knives I have are well built and not inexpensive.

It looks like the Captain has an off-set radius ground on the tang and the liner itself appears to have more than sufficient thickness compared to the blade width. I would guess that the liner is .06 which puts in at nearly half the thickness of the blade. I don't know the steel type of the liner, but it does snap into place with a nice solid sound.

So, how does the Captain's lock compare to the Military?

:)

[JD Spydo]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I feel the liner lock is very well done on the Captain. JD or someone, how does the lock on the Captain compare to the Military? I know that many of you love your Military, but then bash liner locks. Personally, I like liner locks and have never had one fail me. However, the liner lock knives I have are well built and not inexpensive.

So, how does the Captain's lock compare to the Military?

:)

I would have rather seen the Captain in a lockback or a compression lock if it had been possible. However for the type of construction you have with the Captain I can't see where the liner lock is going to be any problem at all. I have 3 of the Military models and I never had a lock problem with any of them.

However I have only used one of my Military models to carry. I think the lock on the Captain seems to be a little bit stouter than the one on the Military. For the type of usage I anticipate with the Captain I don't foresee any problems. :spyder:

[UK KEN]

JD

A great report! Thank you. :D

This is one :spyder: that has to be handled before you realise its potential. I am still not over impressed by the looks of the knife but looks aren't everything!

I have other knives I have to use and test before this one but from what I have read here I think a user is certainly on the cards.

Ken

[Harry White]

the liner lock on the captain appears even stronger than on the military -- its shorter, thicker, and much harder to depress. both are rock solid -- no complaints here. :)

[smcfalls13]

Despite the problems with my particular Captain(the liner slips under very slight pressure) I still have not had the lock fail on me.

The liner is built quite strong.

[Plowboy]

I don't have the Military and most likely won't because it is just too big for my taste. I'm glad to hear that the Captain's lock, if anything, is stronger than the Military's. It seem stought to me. While I like liner locks and have never experienced any problems with them, I, like JD, would have perfered the compression lock. I do like the open construction of this knife.

One other thing...I love the jimping on the choil of the Caly 3 (my first knife with this choil jimping) and would have like to see it on the Captain.

Okay, I'm off to enjoy carrying and using the Captain.

:)

[JD Spydo]

JD

A great report! Thank you. :D

This is one :spyder: that has to be handled before you realise its potential. I am still not over impressed by the looks of the knife but looks aren't everything!

I have other knives I have to use and test before this one but from what I have read here I think a user is certainly on the cards.

Ken

Hello UK Ken: Always great to hear your input Sir :cool:

OK, OK !! it's not going to win a beauty contest at a custom knife show. But that's not the underlying reason of this thread anyway. It is the function and usefullness of the Captain that I am intrigued with.

Ok consider this for a moment. The main reason a lot of people like "recurve blades" is because when you are slicing or slashing something you constantly have an edge in a shearing position. When you draw a blade through rope for instance you don't have to put any pressure using the Captain because it is in the mode of cutting no matter what angle you attack it with.

It's like about anything else in life. People are always slow to accept somethin different or out of the "norm". UK Ken is absolutey right. This knife has to be seen and held first hand. Seeing this knife in a catalog or magazine does not do it justice. There is just no other way to appreciate it's potential or to see the possibilites of performance.

[Plowboy]

Our friend severedthumbs raised an issue in the recent thread on the newly available old stock of Lil'Temps. In that thread he made the statement, and I am paraphrasing, that the Captain is anything but a tank. I responded that it was at least a heavy truck, if not a tank. severedthumbs' argument was largely based on the liner lock which he suggested was very thin and easy to disengage.

Given this comment by severedthumbs, and a recent thread in which Sal stated that most locks can now be built into the very heavy duty range (except for linerlocks and frame locks), I wonder where the Captain's lock falls in the lock strength rankings. To me it seems quite well done. I think the liner is more than sufficiently thick (I'm guessing .06 with a blade of .12, I think?) and has good tension. In fact, disengaging the lock is wearing the skin on my thumb a bit...and I don't have powder puff hands.

Does anyone know if the Captain is in the heavy duty classification?

At any rate, this knife is no sissy and I feel very good about it's construction and ruggedness.

Your thoughts?

:)

[cobrajoe]

What's this, a long thread about the captain with no pics?!? :eek:

I am really, really wanting to get this knife. I love blades that are somewhat "abnormal". Besides, my normal carry is one hawkbill type blade, and one with some belly. This is both in one! The only problem is that it's a little pricey for me right now, darn my educational needs. Think the price will go down after christmas?

[Plowboy]

Cobrajoe,
You should get one. Will the price go down after Christmas? I really don't know. I guess if this is not a seller and inventory stays in stock a long time, the price may fall. I would think - at best - it will be a good long while before the price falls much (if ever).

I really like my Captain.