Description
SP263GPCBL: C263GPCBL Bodacious CPM-SPY27
Spyderco
Developed exclusively for Spyderco, CPM-SPY27 is a remarkably well-balanced steel that can only be found on Spyderco knives. It contains a proprietary mix of alloys, including vanadium, molybdenum, niobium, and nitrogen. This advanced formula is enhanced by the state-of-the-art Crucible Particle Metallurgy process to produce a microstructure that delivers outstanding hardness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention.
CPM-SPY27 is now showcased in several more established Spyderco models, where these knives take full advantage of CPM-SPY27’s remarkable properties to deliver outstanding cutting performance and reliability. They are paired with handles featuring machined textures and ergonomic shaping for a secure, comfortable grip.
The features of these elite knives are faithful to the standard versions of each model, combining a proven design with the superior qualities of CPM-SPY27 steel.
Bodacious was an American bucking bull that earned a fearsome reputation throughout the rodeo world as "the world's most dangerous bull." The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) "Bucking Bull of the Year" in both 1994 and 1995, he was also recognized as the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) "World Champion Bull" in 1995, becoming one of only two bulls to win bucking bull world championship titles in both organizations.
Bodacious was born in 1988 on the Merrick Ranch in the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma. A crossbreed of the Charolais and Brahman breeds known as a Charbray, he was born a unique yellow color that clearly distinguished him from the rest of his herd. Initially known only as "J-31" for his "J" brand the month and year he was purchased, his early career as a bucking bull was unremarkable. However, after a rider's hand got caught in the bull rope, he learned to buck with a vengeance and earned his signature name.
It is estimated that Bodacious had about 135 attempted rides during his professional career. Of those, only 8-10 competitors were successful in achieving a qualified ride, making him one of the most feared bulls on the circuit. After Bodacious seriously injured two bull riding icons, his owner ultimately retired him. He was later inducted into both the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame and is included in the list of the top 30 bulls in Professional Bull Riders history.
Spyderco co-founder and BLADE Magazine Hall of Fame member Sal Glesser was extremely impressed by Bodacious' indomitable spirit and impressive strength. Inspired by those qualities, he set out to create a hell-for-stout folding knife designed for unfailing reliability and worthy of sharing the Bodacious name.
The basis for the Spyderco Bodacious design was another hard-use, Sal-designed Spyderco folder—the Shaman—which itself had its roots in his iconic Native model. Introduced in 2017, the Shaman took the refined ergonomics and proven design dynamics of the Native and expressed them in a larger, even more capable format. It replaced the Native's traditional back lock with Spyderco's high-strength Compression Lock mechanism, but faithfully retained its sleek, "humpless profile and its signature index-finger choil. Bridging the juncture of the blade and the handle, this feature allows the option of a forward-positioned or "choked-up" grip for enhanced control and dexterity. It does so, however, at the expense of edge length.
Although the profile of the Bodacious is the same as the Shaman, its design eliminates the forefinger choil to maximize the length of its edge. Its broad, leaf-shaped blade features a full-flat grind and satin finish. The blade's minimal ricasso (the unbeveled portion of the blade closest to the handle) gives it almost three-eighths of an inch (nearly 10mm) more edge length for maximum cutting performance. Veteran Shaman users who are sensitive to the potential "bump" of the blade's lower guard when closing the knife will also find the Bodacious' choil-less design eliminates this experience.
The gracefully curved handle of the Bodacious is built on a framework of skeletonized stainless steel liners nested within smooth G10 scales. The liners work in concert with a partial stainless steel backspacer in the butt of the handle to give the knife impressive structural strength and deft balance. They also form the foundation of its high-strength Compression Lock mechanism, which locks the blade securely open when in use and allows safe, easy, one-handed closing. This style of construction also allows most of the handle's back to remain open, reducing the knife's weight and facilitating easy cleaning. Unlike the contoured scales of the Shaman, the Bodacious' matte-finished scales are flat with gently radiused edges. This allows the handle to lie flat across the hand and instinctively orients the edge by tactile sense. To ensure convenient carry and keep the knife poised for immediate access, the handle of the Bodacious includes a broad-based pocket clip, which is reversible for left or right-side tip-up carry. The base of the clip also straddles a generously sized, lined lanyard hole that allows the easy attachment of lanyards, fobs, and safety lines.
True to its namesake, the Bodacious is a powerhouse cutting tool designed to provide uncompromising reliability and performance, even in the most demanding circumstances. And like its cousins the Shaman and Native, its refined design is likely to be a canvas for future variations showcasing different blade steels, handle materials, colors, and coatings.
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