Peter Herbst C53 question

[Philip357]

I just received my NIB C53P Peter Herbst folder (number 373).

I noticed 2 things (besides the great design and the sharpness) :

1. the liner lock engages halfway up the tang. No problem there, it just seems a bit far for a new knife. Are these prone to "creep up" to the opposite side quickly or does it stay more or less the same ?

2. the blued cutouts (anodized ?) in the titanium handle are not evenly coloured : the middle of the blue lines is showing some gray. Can I do something to enhance the colour / polish it or is this normal and unalterable ?



By the way, is this a "collectors knife" ?



Thanks,

Philip

(my 8th Spydie with number nine (Forum Military) on its way <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> )

[sal]

Hi Philip. Noting we can do about it at this time. The piece is definitely a collector piece as only a few hundred were shipped before we stopped production to modify.

sal

[Ed Gordon]

Are these the &quot;new&quot; reissued Herbst model? If so, what type steel is the blade, are the handles titanium or aluminum etc. I wish I would have bought one the first time around, anxious to see the new ones...Ed.

[toothed]

Hi Philip357. Sounds like you got one of the original models. I like this knife very much and only use it when I want to show off. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

In another thread Sal mentioned that this was the only Spyderco that was made in Europe (Solingen, Germany). Add to that its limited distribution and the result is a very collectable knife.

Isn't the opening and closing action of the knife one of the smoothest you've experienced? How about the ergonomics--slim handle that nicely fits in your palm? The 440C blade is very cool too. I've had no problems with the liner lock on my Herbst but have the same flawed blue coloring on the handle that you described. Overall, the positives on this Herbst far outweighs all the negatives.

Take good care of your original. Also, watch for the updated version that is supposed to come out in 2001. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Philip357]

Thanks for the replies,
The blade is indeed 440C, made in Solingen. Great, as a European and Spydie-lover, to have one of the very few European Spydies <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
What's more, I bought it from Tool-shop in Germany ! A real &quot;European connection&quot;.

The action is suuuuper smooooth <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
The bladeshape is great

A G10 version of this knife would also be great (and more usable) !