A Vintage Spyderco

On a recent gravel ride with my Salsa Journeyer, I broke it… kind of.

I ended up with a cattle gate blocking the trail, so over the gate I went. First went the bike. I lifted it over and leaned it against the gate, only to watch it fall over as I climbed across myself.

After a careful inspection, I noticed the derailleur was bent. I straightened everything out trailside and finished the ride, but later that day I loaded the bike up and headed over to Crank Works Bicycles to have my Journeyer looked over. I also had a couple of other things that needed attention.

My buddy Mark and his wife Patricia own the shop, and whenever I have bicycle needs, they get my business. If you aren’t supporting your friends’ small businesses, you should probably re-evaluate your life.

While Mark had my bike apart assessing what parts needed to be repaired or upgraded, I noticed one of his mechanics, Bob, had two knife clips hanging out of his right front pocket.

As any Knife Enabler would do, I had to ask.

Turns out Bob has been carrying the 93mm Spyderco Rescue for the last 20 years or so. Also riding in his pocket was a Milwaukee utility knife.

As someone who appreciates vintage knives, especially old Spydercos, I always enjoy seeing knives still out in the wild getting used daily instead of sitting in a display case somewhere.

Based on my digging through Blade Forums, Spydiewiki, and Spyderco Knives, it appears this specific variation of the Rescue was introduced sometime in the mid-1990s. The knife was originally designed for emergency service professionals, and Spyderco described it this way:

“Cutting during emergency situations requires that Save and Serve Professionals have a readily accessible knife and are able to quickly and safely cut around people in hectic surroundings. Performance, ergonomics and comfortable use are all key elements needed in a rescue knife.”

Even though the Spyderco Rescue was marketed toward “Save and Serve Professionals,” it’s pretty obvious the knife found its way into plenty of other pockets over the years.

I guess we can now add bicycle mechanic to the list.

You never really know what knife you’re going to find in a Knife Enabler’s pocket.

A huge thank you to Bob for sharing his knife with me. Here’s to another 20 years of that Spyderco helping you through tough situations.

Make it your Absolute Intent to be better today than you were yesterday.

My Rusty Benchmade

There was a time when I considered myself a knife collector. If you ask my wife, she would probably tell you I still am.

But these days, instead of collecting knives based on what’s hot or new on the market, the knives in my collection reflect my outdoor adventures and the life I actually live.

I’ve been carrying and using the Benchmade Mini Bugout 533 for a little over two years now. It was a birthday gift from a buddy, and since then it has gone everywhere with me; hunting camp, gravel rides, and spearfishing trips out in the Gulf of Mexico.

I love the orange handle scales because no matter where you set it down, you can usually find it quickly. Not that I condone laying your knife down anywhere other than back in your pocket after use, but if it happens to disappear into the swamp grass or onto the bottom of the Gulf, the bright orange definitely helps.

And trust me… this Mini Bugout has seen the bottom of both.

The knife is ultralight and compact, but don’t let the size fool you. It’s an unassuming little beast.

The CPM-S30V steel holds a fantastic edge, and with a blade length of just 2.82 inches, it handles most quick daily tasks with ease.

Is it the perfect knife for everything?

No.

But I don’t know of any tool that truly excels at every single job.

Specifications

  • Overall Length: 6.49”

  • Blade Length: 2.82”

  • Closed Length: 3.70”

  • Weight: 1.5 oz

  • Steel: CPM-S30V (58–60 HRC)

  • Handle Material: Grivory

  • Lock: AXIS

This knife sees a lot of saltwater exposure.

I’ve tried knives with more “corrosion-resistant” steels, but I’ve rolled and chipped edges on those blades during actual use. Personally, I’d rather have strong edge retention and deal with maintenance than carry soft steel that “won’t rust.”

After every outdoor trip, the 533 gets a full cleaning: soap and water, a thorough drying, and a coating of Clenzoil.

Even with consistent maintenance, though, the harsh Florida environment still leaves its mark.

There’s always a tiny rust spot that develops near the edge, another just above the bevel, and some corrosion beginning around the thumb stud. A quick strop takes care of the edge spot, and soon I’ll fully disassemble the knife and polish the blade around the thumb stud.

The collector fanboys would probably shudder at the thought of exposing a Benchmade to this much saltwater.

But it’s my tool.

And tools are meant to be used.

This knife gets carried daily, trusted regularly, and has never failed me when I needed it.

So no, this isn’t a complaint post.

It’s actually a bragging post.

I love this little knife.

It handles my everyday carry needs while also surviving all the outdoor abuse I throw at it.

And besides… if it’s good enough for Mark Healey, it’s good enough for me.

As Benchmade likes to say…

It’s mine for life.

Make it your Absolute Intent to be better today than you were yesterday.