Manbug Leaf – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

March 10, 2023

The Manbug will be offered in a leaf shape blade, after customer demand for this blade style option of the Manbug. It basically is a micro-version of the double distal triangle blade shape that Spyderco is known for. 

Specifications

Closed: 2.51 inch / 64 mm
Overall: 4.46 inch / 113 mm
Blade: 1.95 inch / 49 mm
Edge: 1.72 inch / 44 mm
Thickness: 0.098 inch / 2.5 mm
Steel: VG-10
Weight:  0.78 oz / 22 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Back Lock
Handle: FRN
Origin: Japan

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


Lil’ Native Lightweight – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

March 10, 2023

The Lil’ Native Lightweight features a really light and compact blade, even compared to the MicroJimbo and Lil’ Native Wharncliffe. The linerless FRN handle really makes the Lil’ Native a featherweight. The Lil’ Native Lightweight is very similar to the lightweight Dragonfly. However, the Lil’ Native is made in the USA, like all Native designs.

Specifications

Closed: 3.47 inch/ 88 mm
Overall: 5.92 inch / 150 mm
Blade: 2.45 inch / 62 mm
Edge: 2.05 inch / 52 mm
Thickness: 0.125 inch / 3.2 mm?
Steel: CPM S30V
Weight:  1.55  oz / 44 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Back Lock
Handle: FRN
Carry: Ambi
Clip: Tip-up
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


MicroJimbo – Michael Janich Design Production Sample 2023

March 10, 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.


Lil’ Native Wharncliffe – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

March 9, 2023

The Lil’ Native is an established design and this new version with a Wharncliffe blade will undoubtedly appeal to many fans. I liked how the compact Lil’ Native offers such great control of the Wharncliffe blade. It remined me of the original C75 Kiwi design, but with a much more substantial and ergonomic handle and blade. Eric explained that the edges are done by robots, so each knife has a very consistent crisp edge angle.

Specifications

Closed: 3.47 inch / 88 mm
Overall: 5.86 inch / 149 mm
Blade: 2.44 inch / 62 mm
Edge: 2.02 inch / 51 mm
Thickness: 0.125 inch / 3.2mm
Steel: CPM S30V
Weight:  2.5oz / 71g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Compression
Handle: G-10
Carry: Ambi
Clip: Tip-up
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


SpyOpera Sprint Run – Max Design Production Sample 2023

March 9, 2023

The SpyOpera Sprint Run has already been revealed in … Reveal 11 in 2022. Seeing it ‘in the flesh’, or rather ‘in the steel and carbon fiber’ is something else. It is a stunning piece, a great collectible and/or gent’s folder. The SpyOpera will be made in a Sprint Run of about 1500 pieces. The carbon fiber is of impressive quality. The machining of the 3D handles shows no voids or holes, just a tight and clean pattern of carbon fibers. It also has titanium liners and a crowned spine. The lanyard hole is another impressive feat of engineering and machining from the Italian maker of this sprint run SpyOpera.  

Specifications

Closed: 4.03 inch / 102 mm
Overall: 6.90 inch / 175 mm
Blade: 2.90 inch / 74 mm
Edge: 2.72 inch / 69 mm
Thickness: 0.118 inch / 3.0 mm
Steel: Damasteel DS93X
Weight:  2.7 oz / 77g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Back Lock
Handle: Carbon Fiber
Carry: Ambi
Clip: Tip-up
Origin: Italy

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


Para Military 2 Salt – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

March 9, 2023

The Spyderco Salt series will be expanded with a Para Military 2. There truly will be a Para Military 2 for any occasion I guess, with all the variants we’ve seen so far, and now one for maritime use. This production sample featured black peel-ply G-10 handle scales, finished with a design of bidirectional grooves. According to Eric, the overall plan is to make a Salt version of every knife, made in the US factory. And although it’s hard to make out in these photos, I had a hard time getting a good shot of the engraving, the blade will be made of MagnaCut. The liners and all other hardware were coated black.

Specifications

Closed: 4.82 inch / 122 mm
Overall: 8.24 inch / 209 mm
Blade: 3.42 inch / 87 mm
Edge: 3.04 inch / 77 mm
Thickness: 0.145 inch / 3.7 mm
Steel: CPM MagnaCut
Weight: 3.77 oz / 107 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Compression
Handle: G-10
Carry: Ambi
Clip: 4-position
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


Stretch 2 XL Nishijin – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

March 8, 2023

Yes, Nishijin is back! Apparently, Spyderco still has some blue Nishijin glass fiber left. Enough for one production run of the Stretch 2 XL. This mesmerizing material features a type of circular woven glass fiber that gives off a kind of 3D effect. It was used back in 2012 for a sprint run of the C67 R in black nishijin, and blue nishijin was used for a sprint run of the C86 Spin in 2014. Around that time, a few other Spyderco folding knives were made with Nishijin handles as well.

According to Eric, this could be the last Spyderco to be made with Nishijin handles. Besides the striking handle material, this sample of the Stretch 2 XL came with a Cru-Wear blade.  

Specifications

Closed: 4.97 inch / 126 mm
Overall: 8.90 inch / 226 mm
Blade: 3.99 inch / 101 mm
Edge: 3.46 inch / 88 mm
Thickness: 0.118 inch / 3.0 mm
Steel: CPM Cru-Wear
Weight:  4.4 oz / 125 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Back Lock
Handle: FRN
Carry: Ambi
Clip: 4-position
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.


Spyderco Amsterdam Meet 2023 Report

March 8, 2023

Thank you all for your patience! It was so good to see so many familiar and new faces at the Spyderco Amsterdam Meet again after all these years. It was sad too, since Jur wasn’t there. He and Ted made the first meet happen back in 2004. Back then it was a round table meet with about 8 attendees I think. This year, we hosted 60 people. Joyce brought plenty of know-how and games with her to make sure the meet ran smooth. And Eric brought a whole lot of new and interesting prototypes, concept models and production samples. A few of those designs are close enough to production and release, at some point this year, that I could photograph and share them online with you – with Spyderco’s blessing.

Please note, I have no information about the availability or pricing of these knives and products. For some of the models that haven’t been revealed yet, I took rudimentary measurements, none of which should be considered ‘catalog-correct’. Any mistakes or deviations etc… are mine. Basically, when it comes to these photographs, videos and measurements; I’m a fan – not an expert. 😉

I’ll post the first batch of content later today, and I’ll add more to this site in the coming days.


No Spyderco Amsterdam Meet 2020 Photos

March 14, 2020

The Spyderco Amsterdam Meet 2020 was supposed to take place on 1 March, but it didn’t. The Spydercrew was prescient enough to recognize the threat of the, then new, COVID19 or coronavirus that’s making its way around the globe. On the same day the announcement was made, the first patient was reported in the Netherlands. I fully support this decision. But still, it sucks.  I was ready to go and had my photo gear all prepared and packed up. So I don’t have any photos to share of new Spyderco designs.

Before I packed my little mobile photo studio, I did a little test-run. I like to make sure everything works since the Amsterdam Meet is the only time of the year when I use that set-up. These photos are the result of the test-run. So, in a way, these are Spyderco prototype pictures. Not of actual Spyderco prototypes, but prototypes of my mobile studio. ;-). I’m looking forward to the Spyderco Amsterdam Meet 2021!


Video: Spyderco 2019 Production Sample – Byrd Harrier

April 3, 2019

See this post for more photos and information on the Spyderco Byrd Harrier Production Sample.