FOG HORN 2015 Twobirds Flying Publication

Copyright 2015, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Spyderco Reverse

Spydercos Reverse a unique Craig Douglas and Michael Janich compromise 2015

Copyright 2015, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Spydercos Reverse a unique Craig Douglas and Michael Janich compromise

By: Sal Palma

One of my more interesting meetings while at

Shot Show 2015, in Las Vegas, was with the

Spyderco team; Sal has knowledgeable

dedicated folks as part of his organization. The

companys innovative spirit combined with

great human capital has resulted in years of

success with multiple Blade awards and a

prominent position in the market. For 2015,

Spyderco introduced 5 new knives in both fixed

blade and folding form factors but one of the

more interesting offerings is its Reverse -

subject of this review.

Where some knives lend themselves to specific

combat styles, Spydercos Reverse is very much

style agnostic. This is a fighting knife with a

totally cool twist. A collaboration between Craig

Douglas and Michael Janich, two trainers and

marshal artists with very different philosophies

on combat techniques, the Reverse is a fighting

knife designed to accommodate both mens

philosophy.

Craig Douglas techniques prefer a reverse-edge

whereas Michael Janich prefers the edge

forward so the Reverse was designed to support

both preferences by rotating the handle 180.

One tool supports two concepts Ingenious!

Simply having a reversible handle does not a

great fighting knife make and thats precisely

what the Reverse is a great fighting knife. In

fact its an exceptional close quarter back up.

Spydercos Reverse a unique Craig Douglas and Michael Janich compromise 2015

Copyright 2015, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Hand-to-Hand combat is not graceful; in fact, it

is fraught with danger and should only be

engaged in to create space and escape.

Gentlemen DO NOT engage in hand-to-hand

combat so having a Spyderco Reverse on your

belt or vest will make hand-to-hand short and

decisive.

The 3.47 inch hawkbill blade is a devastating

puncturing, slashing and ripping weapon; with a

.135 inch blade thickness and full flat grind

theres not much it wont handle. The blade is

made from CTS BD1 steel decorated on both

sides with the familiar Spyderco bug and the

Douglas/Janich individual marks, so it is as

attractive as it is functional.

CTS BD1 is a Carpenter steel that favors quite

well against AUS8. This new alloy has a

composition of 0.90 C, 0.60 Mn, 0.37 Si, 15.75

Cr, 0.30 Mo, 0.10 V. Its in the Carpenter CTS

family of alloys that offer superior edge

retention and surface finish, and the ability to

be machined to a fine edge, with consistent

heat-treatability from lot to lot.

The handle is reversible to orient the blade

edge as desired and consists of two textured G-

10 scales machined to create a hollow cavity for

the blade tang.

The two G-10 scales attach to the tang with

three Torx bolts. Spyderco did something that I

thought was extremely clever, they keyed the

Torx bolts to the knife tang so when you tighten

the bolts there is not chance they will spin in

place. Spyderco also included a T-8 wrench that

allows the scales to be easily removed or

mounted to the tang.

The Reverse includes a custom-molded

Boltaron sheath designed to allow the knife to

fit securely with both handle configurations.

Spydercos adjustable G-Clip supports both

belt and inside-the-waistband carry.

Theres no question that Spydercos Reverse is a

departure from traditional thought but it strikes

such an excellent balance between function and

form without betraying its principal combat

role. This quality import is a formidable close

quarter combat tool at a mere 3.6 oz. And, at an

M.S.R.P. of $149 youd be hard-pressed to find

a better companion. For sure, youll want to

check out this fixed blade offering from

Spyderco.

-SP