Video: Counter Critter – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

This Counter Critter production sample was shown at the 2023 Spyderco Amsterdam Meet. 

For a more detailed look, photos and information, go to my earlier post on the Counter Critter production sample.

SharpKeeper – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

The SharpKeeper will be a basic accessory to protect your kitchen knife. The holes help to keep moisture down. The inside is lined with a velvet-like material to help guide and ease the knife in the cover. I’m not sure what the material is, but it felt a lot like Boltaron or Kydex/Concealex.

Specifications

• width: 0.98 inch / 26 mm – tall: 2.75 inch / 70 mm
• width: 0.98 inch / 26 mm – tall: 3.82 inch / 97 mm
• width: 0.98 inch / 26 mm – tall: 4.80 inch / 122 mm
• width: 0.98 inch / 26 mm – tall: 7.24 inch / 184 mm
• width: 1.50 inch / 38 mm – tall: 8.07 inch / 205 mm
• width: 1.50 inch / 38 mm – tall: 9.45 inch / 240 mm

I have no information on pricing or release dates.

Counter Critter – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

The Counter Critter is a larger version of the Counter Puppy (also shown for comparison), which was released in 2020. Eric explained that this design follows a trend that started a few years ago in Japan, to make kitchen knives that you can put down without the edge touching the table. The 7CR17 steel uses less carbon than most other steels used by Spyderco. The idea behind this is that the steel will still perform fairly well, and that it resists more ‘abuse’; people would probably put it in a dishwasher since it’s a knife made in China. The Counter Critter will also come with purple handles in the future, as well as a serrated edge.

Specifications

Overall: 8.39 inch / 213 mm
Blade: 3.95 inch / 100 mm
Edge: 3.75 inch / 95 mm
Thickness: 0.080 inch / 2.0 mm
Steel: 7Cr17
Weight: 1.6 oz / 45g
Grind: Full-flat
Handle: Plastic
Origin: China

I have no information on pricing or release dates.

Review: K05 Utility Knife

“Utility knives in the kitchen, why on earth would you need a utility knife in the kitchen?”, this kitchen-knife newbie wondered out loud. Then his girlfriend tossed some packages of food on his cutting board. Ah, it is all clear now.

Opener
The smaller K05 is just perfect for opening everthing that’s wrapped around your food items, that you wish to decimate with the mighty Santoku. A fine point for sliding under wrappers, and if you’re in a hurry just use those serrations to cut through anything that’s in the way of the food.

Meat
While meat tends to stick to the Santoku’s blade, the little K05 zips right through. The serrations leave a nice smooth cut. I find this surprizing, since I expected a jagged surface on the meat with a serrated edge. Apparently, SHARP serrations are quite a different beast. Although the narrow blade helps minimize ‘sticking’ I also suspect that the serrations are helping with ‘separating’ meat. The K05’s edge does protrude beneath the handle but not enough to fully guard my knuckles when putting the complete edge on the cutting board. If there’s one upgrade I would recommend is to find a way where the edge lies well below my knuckles, without increasing the width of the blade.

Bread
I wanted the K04, thinking it would make and excellent ‘bread’ knife with a point. The K05 proves that it indeed should be a great bread knife. It’s sad but true; the Tell-Sell commercial got it right. I do appreciate uncompressed bread now! And again, no jagged cuts whatsoever. Sharp serrations not only perform, they leave cuts that are just as smooth as the most expensive plain edges.

Conclusion
You do need a utility knife in the kitchen for everything the Tell-Sell commercials say you do, such as divind a frozen ‘block’ of vegetables. Plus, the K05 has proven itself as a top-notch package-opener, meat cutter and bread knife.