PK035 | Spyderco | C54BMS - Calypso - Black Micarta / Satin Blade / SE
MODEL NAME - Calypso
MODEL NUMBER - C54BMS
DESIGNER - Sal Glesser
BLADE LENGTH - 4.01"
CLOSED LENGTH - 5.20"
OVERALL LENGTH - 9.13"
BLADE THICKNESS - .118"
BLADE STEEL - VG-10
BLADE GRIND - Full Flat Grind
BLADE EDGE - SpyderEdge
HANDLE MATERIAL - Black Linen Micarta
BOLSTER / GUARD MATERIAL - N/A
LINERS - N/A
SPACER(S) - Stainless Steel
BLADE FINISH - Satin
LOCK MECHANISM - Lock-Back
CLIP - Black - RH - TD
THUMB STUD(S) - Spyderco Round Hole
WEIGHT - 3.12 oz.
SHEATH - N/A
BOX - Original White Box with Blue Lettering
SERIAL NUMBER - N/A
ORIGIN - Seki-City, Japan
PRODUCTION DATE - 1998
DESCRIPTION - This full-sized "big brother" to the Calypso Jr. model combines stylish refinement and incredibly comfortable carry. The satin-polished flat-ground blade offers superior edge retention and corrosion resistance. Cutting control is achieved via reliable thumb placement on the blade spin cusp. The ultra-slim handle is made of black linen Micarta for amazingly lightweight feel, and a black pocket clip with a gold bug is positioned for low-profile tip-down carry. Big enough to fill and hand, the Calypso provides a sleek finish in a general utility tool.
The "big" Calypso is about the size of a C07 Police, in one word one of the bigger folders with the benefit of lightweight due to pure Micarta as handle. It was the first Spyderco folder with VG-10 blade steel (at this time only the fixed blade Bill Moran used VG-10).
I don't remember the exact number of each, but as I remember, there were fewer plain edge versions. At the time, sales of serrated versions were greater than plain edge versions by significant multiples.
We didn't plan the model to be a "sprint". I thought the model would be a "classy" Police Model. Long, thin, lithe, micarta, etc. It was also our first VG-10 folder, which was a new steel at the time. I was pretty excited about the new design.
Reality is a firm, but honest teacher and as it tuned out, the model failed in the marketplace and we disco'd the piece after the first run.
We "believe" the problems were;
1) It was too large for a "gents" folder. 2) Many dealers wouldn't carry both the Police Model and the Caly and the Police Model was more popular, so the Caly was just not ordered by the dealers. 3) It was pretty expensive. 4) Many of the blades had a slight warp. We discounted the model and included a note with the knife explaining the warp and the discount, thinking the dealers would also discount. But as it turned out, many dealers removed the note and sold them at full MSRP and we got many complaints about the warped blades.
It's always hard to determine why a model fails in the marketplace. What I tell my crew is; "It doesn't matter if I like the design, or if you like the design. It only matters if the customer likes it".
"The Caly is, IMO, a beautiful design, but not enough customers agreed so it went away."
Sal
COMMENTS -