Spyderco Tropen

Dobe_1 said:
Well, it just came in.
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I hadn't had it more than 5 minutes and:
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This came from gripping the knife in the following manner:
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I like the overall design and the lines of the knife. The up-sweep blade is nice, as well as the point being above center axis. The exposed edge is a bad design.
All is not lost. I will not send it back. A bastard file will take care of any of the problems.

Before anyone ask or suggest, I did not cut myself deliberately.
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Inb4 the inevitable "just don't hold it that way".

I think the major reason why the detractors are the ones who don't own one is because we all knew better from the moment we saw this design.
 
I've owned a lot of tactical folders. This is one of the most functional and ergonomic designs I've seen. While the exposed edge is a poor design, I can and will fix that quickly. I'll be left with a nice carry piece.
 
Dobe_1 said:
I've owned a lot of tactical folders. This is one of the most functional and ergonomic designs I've seen. While the exposed edge is a poor design, I can and will fix that quickly. I'll be left with a nice carry piece.
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With a finger choil, I think it would look great. The handle design does look quite nice.
 
marrenmiller said:
With a finger choil, I think it would look great. The handle design does look quite nice.
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https://www.instagram.com/abey778/p/BtAElRyB1q0/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1l858xi2o94q6

dfuT7RE.jpg
 
Dobe_1 said:
Well, it just came in.

IMG_03021_zpsbkjvha69.jpg
IMG_03021_zpsbkjvha69.jpg
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I hadn't had it more than 5 minutes and:
IMG_03011_zpsbi0dkycq.jpg
IMG_03011_zpsbi0dkycq.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

This came from gripping the knife in the following manner:
IMG_03031_zpsmgotfvto.jpg
IMG_03031_zpsmgotfvto.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

I like the overall design and the lines of the knife. The up-sweep blade is nice, as well as the point being above center axis. The exposed edge is a bad design.
All is not lost. I will not send it back. A bastard file will take care of any of the problems.

Before anyone ask or suggest, I did not cut myself deliberately.
Click to expand...

Well I guess you must be literally retarded since it is obviously impossible to cut yourself with this closed knife. (Sarcasm)
 
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All knives have a factor of danger...this one has unnecessarily more for someone like me, however it looks great and Spyderco pushes the envelope so I respect them for that. Plus it is up to the end user to make the final decision if they are okay with the exposed edge detail or not.
 
4mer_FMF said:
Please post pictures of your mod!!!



Ha! Yeah, and that’s what makes ‘em cool. (Well, one of the things anyway).:cool:
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I am on the road, so I don't have any tools with me. I travel for 3 months at a time, and I'm back home for a month. I do travel with toys. I generally carry 3 handguns, as I can find a range in almost any city. I also travel with stones. I carry an India fine, and a soft, hard, and black Arkansas stones, but no files. I'll pick up a file this weekend. I'm not planning on anything elaborate, just taking the edge down to a rounded state. I did use my India stone to round off the edge a little. I feel comfortable with it enough now, that I don't think it will bite again. After I take a file to it, I'll repost a picture. The grind job on the one posted above by Mo2 looks good. And that is the way Spyderco should have built these.
 
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I watched the video. Thanks for that insight. Per the video, I hope the carrot has a good lawyer ;)

I kinda like this knife, but the flipper, Spydie hole, and Emerson Wave flipper seems a bit redundant. I'd prefer no Wave flipper on this knife.
 
Update:
I've manage to cut myself with this blade on two other occasions. Both times the Tropen was in my pocket. It seems that the edge is very close to the back of the frame, which of course is open. With tight pants or full pockets, it is relatively easy to slide my little finger into that groove enough to get cut. And I did. It wasn't too bad. But the last cut was on my thumb last Friday. I had the Tropen in my right front pocket, ran by thumb down the crevice, and drew back a nasty little cut. That just ended my desire to own a Tropen. It's too bad. Spyderco missed a real opportunity. I really like the blade. I like the length, the sweep, and the axis of the point. The frame should have simply been wider.
 
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Dobe_1 said:
Update:
I've manage to cut myself with this blade on two other occasions. Both times the Tropen was in my pocket. It seems that the edge is very close to the back of the frame, which of course is open. With tight pants or full pockets, it is relatively easy to slide my little finger into that groove enough to get cut. And I did. It wasn't too bad. But the last cut was on my thumb last Friday. I had the Tropen in my right front pocket, ran by thumb down the crevice, and drew back a nasty little cut. That just ended my desire to own a Tropen. It's too bad. Spyderco missed a real opportunity. I really like the blade. I like the length, the sweep, and the axis of the point. The frame should have simply been wider.
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Would cutting a choil into the heel of the blade like iwth post #46 not prevent that from happening? Or is too much of the edge too close to the back of the frame for that to work?
 
marrenmiller said:
Would cutting a choil into the heel of the blade like iwth post #46 not prevent that from happening? Or is too much of the edge too close to the back of the frame for that to work?
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I had already reduced the edge on the exposed portion of the blade with a bastard file. I simply rounded that part of the edge. The last two cuts I obtained from the Tropen was from almost the center of the blade. The back space is wide enough if you push your finger or thumb into it. Push is what you do when digging for keys at the bottom of your pocket.
 
I am actually kind of fascinated how strongly split people are on the tropen.

I own one and definitely see the exposed edge as a design flaw. Still, I dont fear at all that I will cut my finger on it. Still, how many folks like a triad lock even if they may never need the lock strength. They like the confidence it inspires. Similarly, though I dont think someone could accidentally cut themselves, I could see how the exposed edge detracts from some peoples percieved confidence when flipping and using the knife.

I personally LOVE my tropen. It is a knife like none other and IMO was executed beatifully if you dont mind the exposed edge.

So definitely handle it yourself before buying as its not for everyone. Just for those of us who like to live on the edge!:cool:

Edit: Holy thead necromancy, too late for advice now!
 
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Dobe_1 said:
I had already reduced the edge on the exposed portion of the blade with a bastard file. I simply rounded that part of the edge. The last two cuts I obtained from the Tropen was from almost the center of the blade. The back space is wide enough if you push your finger or thumb into it. Push is what you do when digging for keys at the bottom of your pocket.
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Forget your finger, you know what those keys are gunna do to that edge!!?? Fingers heal on their own, a chipped edge has to be worked out and takes away from the life of the knife!! Priorities people, cmon!
 
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