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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).

Tags: CTS-204P, Carpenter, Flipper, G-10, Hollow, RIL, Southard, Spyderco, Titanium, grind

2 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on May 23, 2015 at 14:16

Thanks, Brad! Your first photograph of the Southard posed next to the brown Para 2 is precisely what I was looking for since the brown Para 2 with its CPM S35VN steel is the same model that kicked the digicam/black blade CPM S30V Para 2 out of my pocket over a year ago and has remained my EDC up until the present time. Even though I own a green Para 2 with the same steel as the Southard I have not been tempted to carry it. It's just not as aesthetically pleasing to my eye, and it doesn't function as smoothly as its brown brother. 'nuff said.

So, having said all of the above, my question to you is: Will this Southard kick the brown Para 2 out of your pocket and become your EDC?

Thanks for taking the time to do this review, also! Happy Birthday, old man!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on May 23, 2015 at 14:55

Brad,

Thank you and I appreciate the side by sides, for those of us with limited time spent with the more modern patterns, it helps a great deal. In looking at them it appears that this knife has a more user friendly handle shape (IMO)

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Jeremy B. Buchanan on May 23, 2015 at 16:35

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

Permalink Reply by Brad T. on May 25, 2015 at 11:01

Ron,
The Southard will share time with the PM2, but I will reserve final judgment for later. But, probably not.

Ron Cooper said:

Thanks, Brad! Your first photograph of the Southard posed next to the brown Para 2 is precisely what I was looking for since the brown Para 2 with its CPM S35VN steel is the same model that kicked the digicam/black blade CPM S30V Para 2 out of my pocket over a year ago and has remained my EDC up until the present time. Even though I own a green Para 2 with the same steel as the Southard I have not been tempted to carry it. It's just not as aesthetically pleasing to my eye, and it doesn't function as smoothly as its brown brother. 'nuff said.

So, having said all of the above, my question to you is: Will this Southard kick the brown Para 2 out of your pocket and become your EDC?

Thanks for taking the time to do this review, also! Happy Birthday, old man!

Permalink Reply by Brad T. on May 25, 2015 at 12:09

Jan,
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.

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