Sam Owens and I have been working together for years now. The Camp Defender was a design that we finalized together in 2011, with me sending pictures of blades to Sam, and describing how our camp knife should be different. Sam would then draw a shape and send it to me, and I would in turn give feedback on that. Sam started working on the first Camp Defenders in July. In August, I suggested a reduced-size variant, probably in 3V and thinner stock, with the goal of getting real chopping ability in the most compact knife possible.
In August and September, we worked on the blade shape of the compact version, which I called the ".75". On
September 24, 2011, Sam knew what I wanted for the first CD 2.75, which would be mine.
Time passes. In December of last year, Sam got me a micarta trainer for the 2.75. It feels goood. I had originally wanted the CD GunKoted, but decided before Sam finished that just the handle metal should be coated. (My reasoning being that the handle is the part of the knife least likely to violently strike something.) I also decided I wanted to use Spyderco's very compact G Clip instead of the bulkier BladeTech TekLock.
I got it today.
Sam had warned me that the 3V wasn't nearly as pretty finished out as other steels. I also note a few imperfections, and the top of the GunKote isn't even. The clip is definitely not the Spyderco G Clip.
On the positive side, none of the imperfections I note will affect usability at all, concealment isn't a major goal, and I'm fairly sure this is the most comfortable knife handle ever.
Coated with very persistent wax.
In August and September, we worked on the blade shape of the compact version, which I called the ".75". On
September 24, 2011, Sam knew what I wanted for the first CD 2.75, which would be mine.
Time passes. In December of last year, Sam got me a micarta trainer for the 2.75. It feels goood. I had originally wanted the CD GunKoted, but decided before Sam finished that just the handle metal should be coated. (My reasoning being that the handle is the part of the knife least likely to violently strike something.) I also decided I wanted to use Spyderco's very compact G Clip instead of the bulkier BladeTech TekLock.
I got it today.
Sam had warned me that the 3V wasn't nearly as pretty finished out as other steels. I also note a few imperfections, and the top of the GunKote isn't even. The clip is definitely not the Spyderco G Clip.
On the positive side, none of the imperfections I note will affect usability at all, concealment isn't a major goal, and I'm fairly sure this is the most comfortable knife handle ever.
Coated with very persistent wax.