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Spyderco Brad Southard Flipper - Quick reveiw
I received this knife from my "Infamous" friend and Steel vendor salesman Joe Roth for my 46th birthday.
Knife specs:
Model Number: C156GPBN
- Country Of Origin: Taiwan
- Closed: 4.50" 114 mm
- Overall: 7.96" 202 mm
- Handle: G-10 & Titanium
- Blade: 3.46" 88 mm
- Edge: 3.46" 88 mm
- Blade Steel: CTS 204P
- Lanyard Hole: Yes
- Knife Lock: Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L)
- Handedness: Right Hand Carry
- Tip Carry Position: Tip Up Carry
- Weight: 4.1 oz 11 g
- Edge Type: Plain Edge
My opinion:
Having carried a PM2 as my EDC since early December 2014, I have grown accustom to a lightweight durable folder in my pocket. Albeit the Southard is 1/8" thicker than the PM2(the thickness of the G-10 scale). The handle is about 3/8" shorter than the PM2, which to me is a plus. I have noticed the difference when it is "in Pocket".
The Hollow grind blade is CTS-204P. This is Carpenter's answer to Bohler's M390, with some slight content differences. The Southard has the same overall length of the PM2, but you get about a 1/4" more cutting edge with the Southard. The Southard's blade is also about a 1/4" shorter from edge to spine due to the Spydie hole being smaller. This makes for a slimmer knife in pocket.
The flipper action is smooth for a Spyderco. Taking into consideration I only have Kershaw/ZT flippers(Super smooth) to compare it to, Spyderco is getting better at making Flippers. With that said, the Southard may get smoother with use.
Sorry to all you Lefty's, this knife is geared towards us Righty's.
Which brings us to the lockup:
It utilizes the Reeve Integral Lock design, excellent locking design for Titanium frames. The Southard uses a G-10 "Lockbar Over travel" stop, that is attached at the pivot. Lock up on this knife is solid and the lock bar is very strong. The Detent when closed is also very secure, this knife will not accidentally open if dropped on the floor.
Performance review: My thought is if it cuts when I need it to, then it is great. It takes too much time to an in depth cutting test. Maybe somebody else could do that(with their own knife).
Featured
Jeremy B. Buchanan
A great review Brad. Looks like a good choice for an EDC. I am not a big Spyderco fan, and don't own at this time. If I were to buy one, this one would certainly be in the running. Thanks for the review. Oh, by the way, I thought I was old. You are so much older than me (almost exactly a year), thanks for making me feel young too. LOL
May 23, 2015
Brad T.
The Southard will share time with the PM2, but I will reserve final judgment for later. But, probably not.
Ron Cooper said:
May 25, 2015
Brad T.
I will continue to put the info out there for our "old school" collectors.
Jeremy,
Back in the day, when I was your age (LOL). I received a MANIX 2 Lightweight, it came with the CTS-BD1 blade. Big knife but light weight. I was enamoured with the ease of carry and the durabilty of that knife. Having been a long time proponent of Bencmade quality and design, that is saying a lot. For instance, I received a gift card for my local knife shop, I went to buy a new Leatherman Wave. That left me with $100, so i bought a BM Griptillian because i never had one. Regrettably it is not up to my standards. It feels hollow and cheap. Had i another $20, I would have bought another PM2.
May 25, 2015