Video: MicroJimbo CPM-15V – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2024

This Spyderco MicroJimbo CPM-15V production sample was shown at the 2024 Spyderco Amsterdam Meet.

For a more detailed look, photos and information, go to my previous post on this production sample.

MicroJimbo CPM-15V – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2024

The MicroJimbo was unveiled last year and I think they recently started shipping. This is likely the second variation of the MicroJimbo (after the all-black version), in CPM-15V and brown G10. It too, if I understood correctly, will be made in regular production.

Approximate Specifications

Closed Length: 3.8 inch / 97 mm
Overall Length: 6.22 inch / 158 mm
Blade Length: 2.45 inch / 62 mm
Edge Length: 2.23 inch / 57 mm
Blade Thickness: 0.145 inch / 3.7 mm
Steel: CPM-15V
Weight: 3 oz / 85 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock Type: Compression
Handle: G-10
Clip Position: Ambi
Tip Carry Position: Tip-up
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.

Review: Spyderco C11 Delica Trainer

Once you’ve purchased and dulled your first Spyderco knife, it’s time to get a sharpener. Once you’ve mastered sharpening, you’ll find that your taste in knives changes too. You’ll become interested in all sorts of grinds and steels that offer you the best possible edge. But how about a knife that was designed to not cut at all? I got this C11 Delica trainer back when I was really into training with knives. Those days have passed but I still found a few good uses for a folding knife trainer.

Overview

The C11TR Delica was first introduced in 2001. Before its introduction, people who needed a dedicated trainer for their ‘live’ Delica would grind and dull the edge, cover it with tape (I don’t recommend this) or create a plastic or rubber mold of their knife. Along with the Delica, a trainer for the Endura has also been made. And over the years, Spyderco has made trainers for other models, such as the Temperance fixed blade, the P’kal folder and the Yojimbo. Personally, I’d love to see a trainer for the Civilian, Matriarch and the Lil’ Temperance. I realize that is not likely, since very few people appear to be interested in purchasing a trainer. The C11TR pictured here is from around 2006 when the Delica 4 was introduced.

The most striking feature, for us EDC nerds, was not so much the dulled blade but the bright red FRN color for the handles. For a long time, Spyderco reserved that bright red handle color exclusively for trainers. This is to prevent a terrible accident when you mistake a trainer for a live blade.

The holes in the blade are carefully put in (or taken out?) to mimic the weight and feel of a ‘live’ sabre ground Delica as much as possible. The blade thickness is even, all the way to the edge and tip. The edges are all rounded and do what they’re supposed to do, not cut you. The edges on the inside of the opening hole are not beveled, they are finished exactly like a regular ‘live’ Delica. The same applies to the jimping on the spine behind the opening hole. Every other aspect of the C11TR is exactly the same as a regular Delica.

Use

Why would you get a trainer? Since I’m far from an expert in the area of martial blade craft, I’ll happily post this quote by noted trainer Michael Janich from the Spyderco.com forum:

It’s definitely best to have a trainer that replicates your carry knife as closely as possible. Remember that you’ll need to practice all aspects of defensive knife use, including drawing and opening the knife and flowing directly into contact with a partner. This is where folding trainers that are mechanically identical to their live-blade counterparts are worth their weight in gold (for the record, Spyderco was a pioneer in meeting this need).

Training with a rubber fixed blade knife is fine for when the knife is already in your hand. But how would you train a scenario in which you have to open your knife first? That is what Mike refers to in his post. With the C11TR you can practice a draw while your training partner is attacking you. Figuring out how to draw and cut with that trainer while someone is actively attacking you, and trying to stop you from deploying that knife, is eye-opening at least. Hint (for me at least): don’t focus all your attention on getting that knife out. Focus on the attack, distance and make sure you create room and time to draw, before you ‘remove one hand from your defense’ to deploy that folder. You’ll figure it out when you practice.

One important note, the C11TR is not suited to full power cutting and stabbing. That would be like sparring with a screwdriver. It’s not sharp but it can seriously hurt your opponent. Since the Delica trainer is made just like it’s live counterpart, it still has a very reliable lock and hardened steel blade. It hurts if you start cutting, blocking and stabbing with full force. Switch to a softer trainer for those exercises.

Another, often overlooked, use of a folding knife trainer is that it can be an amazing ambassador. Many non-knife people are very uncomfortable with locks and one-hand opening. My C11TR has taught many people around me, how to open and close a one-handed folding knife. Also, at knife shows, nothing is better -in my opinion- to introduce people to the Emerson wave opener than a trainer. Seeing someone violently practice a waved deployment for the first time with a Matriarch in a busy crowd at the display cases is always a scary thing to see. A trainer is so much safer and it does replicate the action very well. And let’s face it, us knife junkies play a lot with our knives, right? How often did you cut yourself, or the couch, because you were playing with that knife while watching TV? And after a few beers? Come on, be honest. A trainer works pretty well in that capacity too. And if you want to replicate that new cool opening move you saw on Instagram, it pays to start with a trainer first.

Overall

A dedicated trainer to your EDC folder is a must if you’re into martial blade craft. You’re only training a very small part of an engagement if you stick to that wooden tanto training knife in your local dojo. How about drawing, opening and cutting a dedicated attacker? But a trainer has more uses, it’s one heck of an ambassador to introduce non-knife people to a modern folding knife. And it is a safe way for you too, when you just want to ‘mess around’ with a folding knife at home.

See more details and history of the C11 Delica trainer on SpydieWiki.

MicroJimbo – Michael Janich Design Production Sample 2023

The MicroJimbo has been shown before at SHOT Show and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to get an up-close look at it, at the 2023 Spyderco Amsterdam Meet. I appreciate how this design is not just a scaled down version of the Yojimbo. It appears to be completely redesigned to transform the Yojimbo concept into a small package. The wireclip fits the smaller ‘more discreet’ design of the MicroJimbo very well. The handle still offers a solid grip. And like the original Yojimbo and the larger Yojumbo, when you grip the knife with the thumb along the spine of the blade, the tip points exactly where your thumb points.

When comparing it to the Lil’ Native Wharncliffe, I noticed the more acute blade profile of the MicroJimbo. There is a lot less mass behind the tip, and I’m sure it will test way better on ‘pork man’ than the Lil’ Native. Another difference is that the MicroJimbo’s handle features much more rounded corners.

(Approximate) Specifications

Closed: 3.74 inch / 95 mm
Overall: 5.71 inch / 145 mm
Blade: 1.97 inch / 50 mm
Thickness: 0.118 inch / 3 mm
Steel: CPM S30V
Weight:  2.96 oz / 84 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Compression
Handle: G-10
Carry: Ambi
Clip: Tip-up
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 designed by Michael Janich

For many years, I used to be very much into martial arts next to my obsession with knife collecting. It was inevitable the two would mix and it didn’t take long before I was ‘into’ Martial Blade Craft Training. This interest culminated in my training session with Michael Janich and his group of very welcoming and skilled students. I picked up a lot of insights, as well as a few good natured bruises. Since then, my interest in Martial Bladecraft gradually waned off I’m afraid. Having kids and a second job does cut into your hobby time. Still, I can’t keep my eyes of cool MBC blades and the Yojimbo 2 is an extremely nice and refined example of this category.

People will extoll the new Yojimbo’s ergos, improved lock etc… But the main thing I noticed of the ‘2’ compared to Spyderco’s first Yojimbo, is that it seems to draw a lot faster! Also, and I know Mike likes to emphasize this during his product presentations, the Yojimbo isn’t just an MBC blade; it’s a very useful EDC folder too!

Spyderco 2015 Production Prototype – Reverse

The Reverse is a design collaboration between Michael Janich and Craig Douglas, two renowned and somewhat different defensive tactics trainers. The reverse combines both of their schools of thought. You can flip the handle scales for a blade set-up for reverse grip edge-in tactics, or for a edge-out point forward grip. I guess it would also be perfect for those who’d like to experiment with one of these grips, if you don’t like it, just switch the grip back to your preferred style.

Overall Length: 20 cm / 7.87 inches

Blade Length: 9 cm / 3.54 inches

Spyderco 2011 Prototype – Yojimbo 2

The Yojimbo 2 is hefty and stout interpretation of the whanrcliffe folder. It’s light but felt very solid in the hand. I love the melted edges on the handle. I just thought that it’s almost a pity that I don’t have a real need for an MBC folder when Sal talked about how the Yojimbo 2 (as opposed to the Yojimbo 1) would also make a good EDC folder.

The G10 handle is shorter than the first Yojimbo, but still long enough for my hands. In the closed position I could still use the knife as an impact weapon. The opening action was fast and slick and my hand almost automatically slipped into Janich’s preferred grip with the thumb resting on the spine. I am curious why the divot hole was abandoned. The first Yojimbo had it and I liked that feature.

 

The blade seemed a bit thicker than on the Yojimbo 1, but this blade still seemed more than sharp enough to perform its task. Even though I kind of abandoned MBC knife for my personal EDC, I’m tempted to get this one.

Michael Janich presents the Spyderco Warrior

Michael Janich presents the new Spyderco Warrior fixed blade. He shares details about the design’s history, technical features, the sheath and the knife’s MBC applications. I’m sorry about the crappy sound, it’s the best my camcorder could do.

Spyderco Tasman Salt video by Michael Janich

 I asked Michael Janich what some of his favorite spydies were, and he picked a pair of Tasman Salts. In this clip he goes over some of the knife’s utilitarian and MBC features.