Centofantes

[Puyallupknifegu]

Happy weekend, Everyone!!!

Would anyone be able to educate me on Centofantes? I love the I, II, the Vesuvius and the 4 (and will probably pick up the 3 and have all of them!)

What are reasonable prices to pay for the first 3?

What are some experiences with them? I don't know much about the performance of ATS 34 (in the first Centofante).

Were the first Centofantes numbered? I have seen a couple of numbered ones...what do the numbers mean?


Thanks everyone!!

Tim:D

Deacon...? Felly...? Doc...?

[Qboy]

Hi--see my post from the 29th on this issue. I am looking for the same info. Anyone? Anyone?

I have two of the ATS-34 C50's--the larger G-10 handled ones. One is plain and one is serrated. The PE is engraved / etched with a number and also the ATS-34 and Golden, Colorad are engraved / etched on the blade. My serrated version has the the info printed and no number. The handles and little Centofante badges are the same. The G-10 handles, liner locks, and odd secondary slide lock are identical and very nicely executed.

I would like to know the size of the runs, etc.

The flat grind blades and g10 handles with molded in liners are nice. This knife has a very low profile for a 3.5+ inch blade. I have no other knives with this length of blade that are so unobtrusive in the pocket.

This is not a utility knife and forumites and spyderknuts seem to prefer the hardier blades, which I think explains its fairly low popularity. The tip is very fine. The blade is very nicely executed.

[The Deacon]

Until the advent of VG-10, ATS-34 was THE premier Japanese cutlery steel. It was Spyderco's choice for both the Carbon Fiber C22 Michael Walker and the C27 Jess Horn. It is still favored by many custom makers, especially when a mirror finish is to be used.

Don't know too much about the Centofantes, at least not as far as pricing goes. Do know there were a number of variants in the C25. There were aluminum handles with several different colors of kraton, some of which are considerably less common than others. There was also a G-10 version that matched the larger C50. In addition, the G-10 C25s and at least some of the aluminum/kraton ones were available both PE and SE, as was the C50. The Vesuvius came with two handle styles, one fairly identical to that used on the Centofante III & IV with the "swoop" cuts and silver inlaid bug, and one with a large "blue shell" inlay. Like the C25 and C50, these came in both plain and serrated. In addition, a "burgundy" Vesuvius was the 2002 Spyderco Forum knife. The color on them is a VERY dark purple that looks black in all but strong direct light.

[Puyallupknifegu]

Wow!!! Paul, thank you very, very much for the info!!! I have liked these designs for quite some time, and now it looks like I may have the opportunity to get my collecting hands on the I and the II!! I just love the lines of these knives!

Anyone else know about the numbers on them? Really curious as to the runs/how many were made, etc!!



Thanks so much!

Tim

[Qboy]

Yup--thanks Deacon. I have not yet gotten any of the metal/kraton handles. The G10 C50 reminds me of the BM Boguszewski Spike in terms of blade profile.

I have been EDC'ing the serrated C50 and I like it more and more by the day. It is elegant and functional.

As an aside, I have liked ATS-34 in all of the knives that I have owned with this steel. Among 'premium' steels, the only one that I have had issues with are some of the 154CM blades---I am glad that spyderco has not used this steel in any knives that I own and (I think) have never used it at all.