1st Spyderco Pattern

[Paladin]

As most of you guys know, I am a traditional knife sort of a guy. I like old Eye Brands, Case, and etc.
At a recent show I had a young man at my table who was hot to trade for a particular knife. He had some decent trade offerings and he was persistent so I finally gave in and made the trade. He offered to throw in a small and strange looking Damascus Spyderco. I was unable to find any info on the knife so I called Spyderco and ended up sending them a pair of photos as the guy there was unable to ID it with my description.
I immediately got an email back from them advising that I had a really rare knife in that it was the first pattern they ever produced. He referred to it as a CO1, It was called a Worker in the Evolution Series.
I had no clue about the knife when I took it in the trade and clearly the guy on the other side didn't either.
I'll attach a photo.

Ray

[PigSticker]

Never was a big Spyderco fan but I do remember when those were on the market in mail order catalogs--nice find probably be a good turn-around for you if you decide to resell it

[jerryd6818]

That might be a keeper if they hadn't ruined it by putting a serrated blade in it.

[TripleF]

Knice score Ray!!!!

[junebug]

awesome RAY................great find!

[Simple Man]

That is a Spyderco Worker C01 from an Evolution Set from the early 90's.
Nice knife, I have 2 copies of the Worker. One Almite, one three screw SS

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... lution-set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-Spyderco-D ... 27d3116f37

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPYDERCO-EVOLUT ... 3f23b83f89

http://www.ebay.com/itm/75-of-1000-SPYD ... 4ac2c66af0

The Worker was their first knife, in 1981.

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... ine-Thread

I'd be glad to answer any other Spyderco questions.

[Paladin]

Simple man,
Jon Manyik of Spyderco indicates this is a Worker. I know little of any of this but I am interested to know what causes you to feel otherwise?

Ray

[Simple Man]

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure where the confusion is.

I agree with Jon, it IS a Worker. It was part of the "Evolution Set" that was produced in 1991 as a celebration of sorts of the first 10 years. That is the only time they used the Zowada Damascus.

In 2001 they did a Almite coated one, the "Commemorative Worker"of which I have one of, beat, but I have one.

[Paladin]

Simple Man,
Again, please bear with me. If I am reading his email correctly, that isn't what he says. "You have a WORKER model which is our very first model, C01!" Would his statement from the email not indicate an actual part of that first production rather than a reproduction?

Ray

[Simple Man]

OK I gotcha.

The Worker was their first Model, made from '81 to around '97. Mostly Stainless steel models like the top one in my pic below.

In 2001 they did a Almite coated one, the "Commemorative Worker" of which I have one of, beat, but I have one. On bottom in this pic.

Yours is a special one they did in an Evolution Set in '91. It had several characteristics that the regular production did not have, Rubber Kraton Inlays, Damascus blade, etc. OOPS '92, sorry



Clear as Mud?

[PigSticker]

That was a pricey set of knives in 92--so is your knife #'ed Ray ?

[HiPower]

damascus does'nt always photograph well; this knife is much more attractive than pics show. i've viewed it in hand & certainly it's a rare piece.--HiPower

[Paladin]

My knife is not numbered and that is part of the reason I was so convinced it was part of the regular production run. Emphasis on WAS there. Simple Man has convinced me that since there was no Damascus used in the original production, it has to be part of the 1991 set.

Ray

[Simple Man]

I'm starting to think it may have been one that was made for the Evolution Set project, but never made it into an Evolution Set and therefore not engraved. Purely my shot in the dark speculation though, as I'm not sure how it would have made it out of the factory. I am digging into it deeper.