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JT
01-25-2008, 06:53 PM
Here’s some quick first-impressions of my latest Spyderco.

I was pondering between this one and a Civilian, but since I would have no use whatsoever for a Civvie as an EDC, I feel that at the moment I’d better spend my cash on a user. I WILL get me a Civilian someday, after all, my most loved ones are the reverse-S blades of Spyderco.
Hawkbills belong in my mind to the “curved ones” category too :)

Something reminds me about my beloved Dodo, when I look at this one. Same uglyish-yet beautiful looks. Like a Toco Toucan, Ramphastos toco. HUGE beak.

This one isn’t as sharp out of the box as im used to with my other Spydies.
Yet this is a NIB from store. No visible scuffs or marks that this is being used. Oh well, I have my sharpmaker, so it’s not going to be a problem.. but that nose is going to be intresting to sharpen, :eek:

This knife feels heavy. Thats a good thing in my books. It is not as big as you’d think if you just look at the pics of it. Polished VG10 looks good.
Bladeshape is.. interesting…This is a hawkbill, with a punch.
The blade shape(wide) gives the edge more weight. There’s a lot of material on the blade, so much in fact that some of it has been removed to make it lighter. It gives a nice looks to it, but I wouldn’t mind if they’d kept the weight in there.

I know the benefits of the hawkbill, no need to assure me about that heheh..but that “nose” is interesting. We’ll see how it performs whittling/other tasks.

I can see an SD option too, just sharpen that nose to a thin angle, and beyond scary sharp.. you’re good to go, slash and run. Effects would be quite nasty, I think.

Opening this one is a two-way street. I carry all of my blades tip-up, and that’s what im used to.
however this one is so easy to open using the spyderdrop, that Im considering to change the clip to a tip down carry.. we’ll see..

This thing is solid like an M1 Abrams. NO-none whatsoever bladeplay. Zip. Zero-Nothing. I’ve used to some bladeplay in frontlocks, but this is different. It locks up with a nice click, much like my Yojimbo, but trying to close this thing, that’s a whole new ballgame.
I’m a lefty, so using this linerlock takes some effort . It is difficult for a right-handed person too, I think, since it’s so stiff, and the liner is buried so deep in there.. on a good side, it’s not easy to close this accidentally 


Handle is ergonomic, again, it looks funny, but when you hold it, it fits just right. You just have to try it out to believe. I have small/medium hands and this fits like a glove. sabre grip with a thumb on the blade jimping, every finger finds its place naturally. Palm of the hand “sits” nicely too. I eagerly wait to test this out whittling, because im used to a more of a fist-hold “hammergrip” when fittling with my puukko’s.
only complaint is, that the edges of the steel liners are little bit sharpish. I can feel them, so I have to smooth them out someday.
Maybe some more jimping to the thumb-rest on the handle, would be a good thing.
G10 itself feels medium-rough.
Torx screws, whoa... how about slapping some exotic wood scales on this baby, something like arctic birch comes to mind… . grin

Pro:s
feels solid
4-way clip
fits well in hand (good design)
solid lockup
no blade play
torx-construction

Con:s
linerlock. The linerlock itself is a good and solid in this knife,but it's difficult to close.
So it's 50/50 whether the linerlock is a good thing or not in this case.

This will give my Manix a run for its money next summer, as an outdoors folder. we’ll see.

Michael Cook
01-25-2008, 06:59 PM
Con:s
linerlock.;(solid lockup vs. difficult to operate when closing)


:spyder: What does this mean? how does one operate a knife while closing it beyond closing it? Are you saying it's awkward to close? I've beed meaning to get one of these for a while, glad I have all year!;) :spyder:

araneae
01-25-2008, 07:05 PM
I think he means as a Lefty its a bit awkward for him to close.

spyderdog
01-25-2008, 07:08 PM
Or that it's just a hard one to close. I think it's by far the hardest Spyderco to close.

Great knife, and congrats on your decision to purchase it :)

JT
01-25-2008, 07:29 PM
:spyder: What does this mean? how does one operate a knife while closing it beyond closing it? Are you saying it's awkward to close? I've beed meaning to get one of these for a while, glad I have all year!;) :spyder:


Sorry,:o what I was trying to say was, that the linerlock itself is a good and solid in this knife,but it's difficult to close.
So it's 50/50 whether the linerlock is a good thing or not in this case.

Jay_Ev
01-25-2008, 07:41 PM
Thanks for posting this review. Earlier this morning, I just ordered one from NGK and I can't wait to get it. It's one of those knives that took a little while for it to grow on me (the Dodo was another such knife). I'm really looking forward to adding the Captain to my collection.

-Jay

jaislandboy
01-25-2008, 08:25 PM
good review nightdog.....as a righty the Captain still takes some effort to close as the liner is "tightly sprung" or rather strong so you need some "strong thumbs" to close it.....oddly I find the Volpe a little more challenging to close as the Captain has some jimping to add traction to the linerlock....:rolleyes:
I had no sharpness issues with my Captain, the G-10 handle is remarkably comfy in the hand.....strong "open frame" build on the handle so its easy to clean/quick to dry after messy chores ..... great knife the blade shape is actually very useful imo :)

dedguy
01-25-2008, 09:20 PM
I bring this up all the time but I generally find closing liner/frame locks easier with my left hand instead of my right (even though I am right handed). I push the liner with my index finger instead of my thumb which I find more natural from a standard holding when open position.

The only exceptions to this that I have are the Volpe and Captain. I just don't have the strength in my hands to depress the liner with my index finger and have to use my right thumb. In the case of the Volpe I actually usually use two hands to close it.