Spyderco has several knife designs that remain steadfast year after year. What keeps people buying them over decades is their basic function but also that theyre upgraded or refreshed with new technology and materials when they become available. A prolific design in Spydercos line is the Calypso.
Its arrival over a decade ago as a mid-sized folder has spurned numerous variations and converted legions of knife buyers to the benefits of flat-ground, thick leaf-shaped blades. This is a workingmans or womans folder founded on the premise that a comfortable, usable pocket knife is one that feels like a natural extension of your hand.
A larger, newer Bionic version of the original Calypso Jr. is the Caly3.5. The latest Calypso progeny has a three and a half inch VG-10 leaf-shaped blade that is thick at the tang, then tapering to a tip. The cutting edge is flat-ground and thin for precision and receptive cutting. Ergonomics and control were taken into the designs consideration and where handle and blade meet is a substantial finger choil. This is the spot where the index finger settles ergonomically leading the thumb to naturally position itself directly above on the blades spine. Also the spine is textured with slip resistant jimping making the knife feels like part of the hand with no sliding forward or backward while cutting. The handle has a mid-positioned back lock and a low profile wire clip, holding the folder deeply in a pocket facing tip-up. The innovative blade has an internal core of high-carbon ZDP-189 that is layered between two more pliable layers of 420J2 steel. This creates a high performance, stunningly visual flat-ground blade with intense cutting power.
Spyderco said it best, this knife is the ultimate expression of the Calypso DNA. Wicked sharp and beautifully crafted. The san mai blade looks incredible in person. I love that they used the wire pocket clip for this as well! The knife sits so well in the pocket and has a similar carry to a delica! Overall, the knife oozes class and capability.
To say this knife is beautiful is an understatement. It is very comfortable yet discrete. The pictures really do it no justice until you can put one in your hand. It is a perfect piece to add to your collection and will hold it's value. Spydero and the Japanese really did engineer a master piece here; no doubt.
This is my othe fancy folder I wear it when I wear a suit or dress pants. The pocket clip has no snag points which is great so I don’t have to worry about it catching on the pants or jacket
Expensive, but it is just the right size for EDC with fantastic steels and very pretty carbon fiber scales. It’s a very thin compact knife that carries extremely well with a deeply concealing clip, yet the blade size is surprising and satisfying. Great feel in the hand.
This is a beautiful knife. There is something about carbon fiber scales that gets my blood pressure up. This knife is more than just a looker it is also perfect for EDC with excellent blade steel and outstanding ergonomics. As always BHQ customer service is beyond reproach.
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