Spyderco Carbon Fiber Plain Folding Knife (C241CFP)

eden of Spyderco's most anticipated knives of 2018, the Capara is Spyderco's first collaboration with Australian custom knife maker Alistair Phillips. The project is based on Phillips' popular Redback folder and, like the term "redback," derives its name from the redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii), a species of highly venomous spider found in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. The adult female redhead has a spherical black body with a distinct red stripe across the upper abdomen. Inspired by this distinctive feature, Phillips Redback's handmade folders feature a contrasting red back frame on the handle.

Phillips, a self-proclaimed "maker of knives in his spare time," specializes in meticulously crafted folding knives with a sliding joint and locking mechanism. After licensing Spyderco's Trademark Round Hole for use in his custom blades, he posted some photos of his work on the Spyderco online forum. Spyderco founder Sal Glesser was impressed by what he saw and bought one of Phillips' Redbacks for his personal collection. When he received it, he was even more impressed and eventually proposed a cooperation project. Phillips readily agreed.

According to Phillips, he originally designed the Redback/Capara as a personal carry knife that he could use to prepare meals in an office environment. After gaining weight, he decided to eat healthier and trim down, so he decided to create a cutting tool to help him achieve this goal. He started by measuring various fruits and vegetables to determine the appropriate length of the blade. He then tried to use some of his existing designs, which turned out to be flipper openers, to prepare food on a cutting board. Realizing that the flipper tongue interferes with the use of the full length of the edge, he envisioned a knife with a long cutting blade, a Spyderco round hole for easy opening, and a compression lock to prevent food from entering the lock mechanism. Ultimately,

At the heart of Capara's design is the CPM S30V stainless steel blade, which is completely flat and provides a truly impressive low-friction edge geometry. The fully accessible trademark-shaped round opening allows for convenient one-handed opening with both hands, and its drop profile provides both a long, gently curved edge and a sharp, usable end.

Capara's handle features solid, skeletonized stainless steel inserts that underpin its heavy-duty Compression Lock mechanism. The insoles are covered with stunning solid carbon fiber scales that have been meticulously machined in 3D to give them a subtle radius. This detail complements the sophisticated styling of the handle profile, providing an extremely secure and comfortable grip. Index finger grip at the base of the blade allows forward grip for better control and helps draw attention to the workpiece on either side of the blade axis. Symbolizing the knife's name, the Capara proudly features a red G10 backing for a visual accent and added structural strength, leaving most of the handle open to reduce weight and make cleaning easier.

For ease and convenience of carrying, the Capara includes a reversible deep-pocket wire clip that can be configured to be carried on the left or right side. The large lanyard hole also allows for easy attachment of key rings or lanyards.

The Spyderco Kapara is an exquisitely crafted folder that faithfully captures the character and meticulous craftsmanship of Alistair Phillips' coveted custom knives. An impressive synthesis of style and utility function, we hope you'll be as excited about it as we are.