Spyderco’s New Knives for 2012 – Review
Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Spyderco Junior Knife by Alexandru Diaconescu
AmmoLand Gun News
Las Vegas, NV --(Ammoland.com)- Arriving at SHOT Show 2012 in Las Vegas there are endless firearms, accessories, ammunition and apparel to peruse.
Another big attraction at the show for many including myself, are the knife manufacturers. I was certainly looking forward to seeing the full product lines of many of my favorite knife companies and Spyderco tops my list.
I am continually pleased with the look, feel and performance of every one of their knives I have purchased.
The Spyderco booth was front and center when I entered the show floor and it was my first stop. I am always amazed at how the colors of the knife handles stand out especially in the Endura and Delica lines. There are two new colors this year for the Delica 4 including a vibrant orange and a special blue handle edition, in which a portion of the proceeds benefit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Spyderco has created several knives to benefit charities. Included in their current line is the Native lightweight in pink – donations based on the sales of this knife support the Y – Me National Breast Cancer Organization.
There are several new products in the lineup this year and they all have the quality Spyderco look and lightweight feel to them, and of course the fantastically sharp cutting edge. The first in my top three picks is the Yojimbo2 designed by Michael Janich, a personal defense trainer. The knife encourages a thumb forward grip and was designed with a martial arts focus in mind. The blade is approximately 3 inches long with an overall length of 7.5 inches and weighs in at 4 oz. It features a straight cutting edge, compression lock and the Spyderco CLIPIT for easy pocket carry. (MSRP $169.95)
The next knife that caught my eye was the “R” Nishijin. It has an attractive, smooth glass fiber handle with a pattern that almost appears to sparkle. The blade length is 3.5 inches with an overall length of 8 inches open and 4.5 inches closed. It weighs in at 4.3 oz and features the Spyderco CLIPIT. The Nishijin is part of a sprint run or limited production for 2012 which means it is not found in the regular product line, so order it while it is still available. (MSRP $219.95)
My favorite of the top new products and the one I ultimately ordered for myself is the Junior. The Junior was designed with a child’s hand and coordination in mind. It was created for Technical Manager, Alexandru Diaconescu’s son when he began asking for his own pocket knife. The idea was to make a folding knife that was safe and easy to use in smaller, less experienced hands. The knife is lightweight at 2.9 oz, with a blade length of 3.21 inches. It features a deep handle guard which allows the hand to have great control of the blade while blocking the fingers from sliding up near the sharp edge. This folding knife comes in black, with a CLIPIT for pocket carry and a compression lock, added for its high level strength and the ability to fit well on the highly contoured handle. It also has the Spyderco Round Hole for single handed opening as well as a lanyard hole. The Junior felt lightweight and very comfortable in my hand and fit well in my small pockets, and it still maintains all the features of a quality Spyderco blade. (MSRP $219.95)
Assisting me with my purchases was Candy, a veteran employee who has worked at Spyderco for over 20 years. Speaking with Candy was a pleasure, she thoroughly enjoys going to work every day and it shows in her knowledge and animation when talking about the company’s products. She describes Spyderco as a company with a heart and it is refreshing to see the enthusiasm in all the employees working at the booth this week. It’s a family oriented company as well, Candy’s mother has worked at Spyderco for thirty years. Both women started out in quality control and have moved to other positions over time.
Knowing that in addition to getting a top quality product I am doing business with a company that fosters a friendly and comfortable working atmosphere for their employees really puts the icing on the Spyderco cake.
About Shari Spivack;
I am a wife, mother and firearms instructor who has my own passion for shooting, teaching and continuing to educate myself with all types of firearms in a safe and responsible manner. It is always my pleasure to talk to other women gun owners – please feel free to email me at Shari@shootstraightnj.com
