Customer Reviews

Spyderco Caly 3 Carbon Fiber Handle Folding Knife

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't really convey how wonderful this knife is. I had the Caly 3 with G10 grip but I misplaced it somewhere. I liked it so much I had to get another, this time trying out the CF.

Pros:
- Fully flat ground, great for slicing.
- Fantastic ergonomics, sits in your hand like something else. Choil and Jimping allow you to really choke up for precise or hard work. Opens fast.
- Lighter weight from CF and skeletonized liners (though still not as light as the fiber reinforced nylon, which I like on the Delicas)
- Wire clip - low profile and discreet.
- Looks gorgeous, I wore it with my tuxedo this weekend.
- Steel is crazy hard like you wouldn't believe. Holds its edge forever.
- Opens beer bottles
- Wonderful blade shape, gentle belly.

Cons:
- Grip isn't as good as the G10 (nothing is), or even the FRN. It's just smooth, prettier but less functional. The ergonomics are good enough that I don't mind the difference.
- So gorgeous you won't want to mess it up (but I do, knives are made for cutting).
- Costs a bit
- Some people have trouble sharpening the ZDP 189 steel. I don't - just takes a little getting used to.

If you want the best at a reasonable price, get this knife. Extremely sharp 12.5 degree edge, with a hard, laminated blade to make that edge last. And you get the extreme strength-to-weight ratio of carbon fiber in the handle, which is reinforced throughout with stainless steel.
I've been happy with every Spyderco I've owned, but this is definitely the best.

I started collecting knives a year ago or so. Like many people I suppose, I started with some less expensive ones, some a little flashy, maybe some assisted openers etc, the lower to middle end of the
decent mass produced knife makers, various brands. Ended up with 20+ nice knives and in the process I learned a lot. I don't really use many or them, or occasionally I will carry one for
a day or two, but they are mainly for fun, or just for the hunt of the next one. I like getting them out and enjoying the design and feel of every one I have purchased and kept.
This CF Caly 3 is the best knife I have ever had. I have some other more expensive ones, but none I like better. I have been carrying it everyday since I got it, and plan on keeping it
with me until I lose it.... It is balanced, simple in its elegance and functionality, unobtrusive but serious in appearance and totally understated but excellent in every way. This is all the knife anyone
could need for EDC and more. Just a fantastic piece of design excellence that is a joy to have with me. When there is down time.....you mess with it and never get tired of it. It will change
the way you think about buying your next knife.

Like most things that I buy, I put a lot of research in to it before I pull the trigger. This knife was no exception. I read reviews, watched videos, weighed pros and cons of various alternatives and finally settled on this. And let me say that I LOVE this knife! It is my first Spyderco, and will definitely not be my last!

I got this knife with every day carry in mind, and it is perfect for that task. It's relatively lightweight for its size, and has a very convenient wire pocket clip that is inconspicuous and positions the knife deep in the pocket while still being very accessible. The carbon fiber handle is stunning, however some may not like that it has a smooth surface that doesn't provide much grip. I personally like this feature as it makes taking the knife in and out of my pocket easier (it all depends on your philosophy of use or POU as nutnfancy would say!). The blade on this knife is razor sharp out of the box. I've owned several Kershaws (including a new S30v Blur, which I also like quite a bit) and a couple Buck knives and they can't hold a candle to how sharp this thing is out of the box!

If you're considering this knife versus the CF Sage, get this one. The back lock mechanism is much more convenient. If you're considering this knife at all, get it. You won't regret it.

I'm a bit of an knife collector, and am clearly biased for Spyderco's in particular for years from when they first came out, back when they molded the clips in the scales. They just keep getting even better at their art over the years. I nabbed this one on a personal Gold Box offer for the uniqueness of the blade steel. Would make a great EDC, and I usually carry & use most of my Spyderco's... but probably won't this one as to me it's too similar to my Sage which personally I prefer much better, which is why I'm only giving this 4 Stars compared to the original Sage(carbon fiber one). I know one reviewer here was thrilled to get this one sent by mistake over the Sage 1 he didn't get, but I can tell you I have them both and IMO the Sage 1 is the better EDC. Both have carbon fiber scales, but the texture on the Sage 1 is better looking & more important to me, better feeling in the hand. This Caly 3 scales are put together with rivets versus the Sage 1 which uses the more user friendly Torx. I much prefer the open spine/back of the Sage 1 for ease of cleaning over the closed spine of the Caly 3. I prefer the liner-lock system of the Sage 1 for ease of one hand closing over the lock back system of this Caly 3. I prefer the black wire clip of the Sage 1 over the pewter colored looking wire clip of the Caly 3. Both have about the same blade length, but I prefer the bit wider blade & handle and slightly longer handle of the Sage 1, it just fits better as a more natural feeling extension in the hand over the feel of this Caly 3, IMO. This is a great pocket knife, but if it wasn't for the exotic clad steel blade, to me it would be just an overpriced lock-back. IMO, if you are looking for an EDC (every day carry) in this size range with carbon fiber scales... go with the Sage 1, it's just designed & put together much better than this one.

This is a great Knife. My first Spyderco and I am now a believer. I was a little worried that the finger hole would not be enough for fast deployment, but I was certainly mistaken. The finger hole is sharp so that it is easy to get a hold of it, but not sharp enough to cause discomfort. The knife blade itself came razor sharp out of the box. It arrived sharper than my last Benchamde (Doug Ritter Mini Griptillian) as a reference. The carbon fiber is smooth but has good traction for solid retention and the jimpping is also very nice. The pocket clip puts the knife deep in the pocket with only a 1/4 ofr an inch protruding out of the pocket. Overall it seems like a great all around knife.

I've been carrying and using the Caly 3 CF since Christmas, about 6 months now. I have a small collection of good knives made with good steel, including S30V, VG10, 440C, 420HC, and a few non-stainless. The ZDP189 steel is head and shoulders above everything else I've used as far as edge-retention. I generally use the knife for common chores such as opening packages, some cardboard and paper cutting, food prep, twine cutting, etc. I have not yet had to resharpen it with stones. Stropping it on the back of an old leather belt loaded with green grinding compound has brought it back to hair-shaving sharpness, and I have only needed to do that once so far. I have been amazed on several occasions when after I have banged the edge hard against porcelain plates, it has not bent or chipped. It really is awesome. The one thing I cannot attest to is how the blade would stand up against lateral forces as I have never used it as a pry bar. Hopefully, if I do ever need to use this knife to pry in an emergency, the soft 420J2 component of the blade will work as designed and allow the blade to give instead of snap. I do not always keep the knife as dry and clean as it deserves. Still, the blade, screws, pins, liners, and clip show no signs of corrosion.
The ergonomics are awesome. It fits my medium-sized hands perfectly and comfortably. The CF feels smooth and polished in the hand- luxurious, even. For my non-tactical uses, I have never had problems with grip slippage.
This knife opens and closes like silk. I have not had to clean or lubricate it yet, whereas my other knives seem much more apt to get gummed up with pocket lint, dust, and etc. With a little practice, a flick of the thumb opens it as quickly as if it was spring-loaded. If you press the back lock and allow the blade to drop closed, a detent holds the blade in a half-open position. So even if your index finger is not high enough to catch the kicker, you will not get cut. None of my other Spydie lockbacks have this feature.
My one and only complaint is that there was not an instruction sheet with info such as torx driver size, clip changing instructions, etc. It was more difficult than I expected to change the clip to lefty. Still, it is an amazing knife made out of the finest materials, with perfect fit and finish, excellent ergonomics, and beautiful looks. It is the perfect EDC for me.

This is my 1st Spyderco and because of the bang for the buck it will not be my last. This knife is super sharp straight from the box. I own a Chris Reeve and a Strider which cost much more than this Caly 3 both of which are dull compared to this razor. The carbon fiber has a dry look to it and doesn't feel slippery as I would have imagined. It's also very light. It's very easy in the hand and pocket. Don't hesitate to buy this.

I have around 60 Spyderco knives,
and I must admit that it's know
my favorite next to my
Titanium sage.

Very smooth opening and closing.

Like some of the other reviewers have already stated the quality of this knife is subject.

The materials taken as a whole are very nice, but the craftsmanship comes up a little short. Some of the polish compound that's used on the blade was left where the knife pivots, so when you open and close the blade it just grinds directly against the liners. If it was cleaned off properly with a spot of oil it would work perfect (which I did). The rivets are dull and cheap looking; they don't match the rest of the knife at all. Even the lock on the back had polish caked in between the liners.

The knife in general feels like it was rushed, with just a little more care to the manufacturing process this could have easily been a 5* knife.

A few of my other Spydercos that cost 1/4 and 1/2 the price of this one are flawless; the attention to detail at this price point is puzzling.