Help Me To Decide. Spyderco Caly 3 v. 3.5

[Bullseye]

This one:



Versus this one:



Why don't they do the 3.5 in CF? Or the 3 in VG10? Is ZDP189 a stubborn pig to resharpen and prone to rust? And how have the good members here been getting on with CF scales in general?

Please don't tell me to buy both. There's a recession on in case you haven't noticed.

[Uriel]

3.5, no question. If you're gonna buy a knife that's not legal carry, you may as well go large.
And besides, the longer blade has a sleeker, sexier shape.

[Noddy]

I like to think of the Caly 3.5 (which has reappeared on my wish list - thanks) especially the carbon steel one as a lind of Spyderco equivalent to a locking laguiole.

The Caly 3 G10 VG10 is possibly the most ca-lassic of all classic knives. The cf version is just sweet smelling old boiler in comparison to the uncompromising integrity of the G10 one - but a lovely sweet smelling old boiler, nevertheless.

I can't help in deciding, they are all three great, and none of them are what are referred to as hard use knives - they are all gent's pieces - for coring apples get the Caly3, for slicing pizza the Caly 3.5

Nah! Get the 3, trade up if you think you got it wrong. And, in fact looking in the right places, the ZDP one has been going quite cheap for the past year or so.

Cutlery Shoppe for example 123USD for the ZDP3, 112USD for the 3.5

Closed, you can't tell the difference between the two sizewise

All makes it harder, eh?

[Stuart Ackerman]

I redrew the 3.4 as a 4 and it made me realise that the 3.5 is a better bet for what I like to do with folders...hopefully a 4 will be an option later on?

[Chui]

I have the c-f Caly 3...........it is a gem of a knife, an utter gem.

I'd suggest the 3 can do just about everything the 3.5 can do, but looks and feels much better - the way it fits and rolls in the hand - its total ergonomics.........just wonderful.

It would be my favourite Spydie edc beyond doubt, I'd carry that all times if it wasn't for S139

[JungleJim]

If you are going to be using the knife regularly, then go for the more ergonomic one of the two. I haven't handled either, but I can say that my old Manix 82mm is my favourite outdoors lock knife by a country mile. Bigger blades catch my eye but rarely get taken out over the Mini Manix!

If it's a drawer queen then get the bigger blade!

[Mr Miller]

To further complicate the issue, there may well be a CF & ZDP Caly 3.5 on the horizon...

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52502

See Sal's post in the above thread.

[Shaun Ross]

If I remember right, ZDP has 20% chromium(or however you spell it) making it absolutely stainless.

If it was me, I would try and find a caly 3.5 super blue first and if you can't, go for the cf caly 3.

I don't have a caly 3 but my 3.5 super blue is a tremendous slicer and looks great IMO.

[Kitman22]

I wouldn't say ZDP-189 is absolutely stainless. It doesn't stain easily but it does stain in conditions
that say VG-10 could handle.

[benp1]

I'm not a huge fan of either, but if I have to pick one if would be the top one, proportions look better

[Shaun Ross]

I wouldn't say ZDP-189 is absolutely stainless. It doesn't stain easily but it does stain in conditions
that say VG-10 could handle.

If anything above 12% chromium is considered stainless and ZDP has 20%. Then what makes it not absolutely stainless?

Is it the high % of carbon or what?

I just really like learning about steel peformance.



EDIT: After a bit of searching it seems to be down to the chromium to carbon ratio. Sorry for going off topic in your thread

[Noddy]

If anything above 12% chromium is considered stainless and ZDP has 20%. Then what makes it not absolutely stainless?

Dunno about a categorical definition - but there are lots of remarks about zdp staining - not rusting so much, but staining.

It also has 3 per cent carbon - which is in the category of 'much more than usual' - though I don't know if that affects things

EDIT: My well used Stretch 2 hasn't stained, and that is the piece of zdp I have heard the staining complaints about

[NoFair]

Seem to remember that most of the Chromium in ZDP is in the carbides and doesn't protect it from corrosion. I've had a bit of staining on my ZDP, but not much.

[Shaun Ross]

Seem to remember that most of the Chromium in ZDP is in the carbides and doesn't protect it from corrosion. I've had a bit of staining on my ZDP, but not much.

Correct. Its says it is down to the free chromium for how stainless a steel is, and as Noddy says ZDP-189 has 3%carbon which bonds to alot of the chromium leaving not as much (chromium) free.

I think one would need a quantum physics degree to understand it anymore than that as it goes on about atom bonding and stuff

[xavierdoc]

The CF ZDP is a lovely object and a great "Gent's knife" but the smooth CF is a bit slippy compared to the peel-ply CF Spyderco uses on other knives.

The V version is a more practical option (VG10/G10=V) for most users.

However, the only version I still own is the Superblue 3.5"

Your "needs" may differ...