Ecb
Chicago

Apr 06, 2010

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Terrific

This knife has become my favorite. It is lightweight (thanks to the handle material) but with a big blade. Best of all, however, is the sharpness. It's razor sharp, and so far seems to be holding the edge nicely.

Bk
Alaska

Jul 24, 2010

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Pocket Clip

Excellent lightweight EDC

I picked this up to replace my Emerson Commander as an EDC knife. I love the Emerson but it's big, heavy and intimidating to John Q. Public. I wanted something smaller and lighter and this fits the bill perfectly. The blade is the perfect shape, extremely sharp and holds an edge well. Carbon Fiber scales are very nice looking, though a little slick when compared to micarta. The clip (which I'll touch on more in a moment) allows for a deep pocket carry, with very little showing. Build quality is excellent. Lock-up is tight, and all the tiny details are finished perfectly. The only thing I disliked about this knife is that the clip, while effective, can bend more easily than a solid clip. It won't bend from daily pocket carry or anything, but I did catch it on something once and had to remove it and bend it back into shape. Definitely not a deal breaker by any means, but worth noting. Overall I still give it a 5 rating because it's exactly what I wanted in a EDC knife, and very well made.

Mike
VA

Oct 05, 2008

Pros: Ease of Opening, Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Outstanding spyderco Caly3

This is my daily carry knife now. Light, the wire clip is great, blade shape offers a solid shape for working, blade was super sharp out of the box, touches up easily and the weight is super light.

A. J.
Boston, MA

Oct 05, 2011

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Functionally and esthetically perfect

Sal Glesser, et al. provide very thoughtful design that looks and works just perfectly for general purpose cutting in a small, light weight, tough knife. All of the elements of material and design work together optimally. The sharpness and edge-holding of the ZDP-189 are superior to most. The shape permits the most effective grip for most cutting jobs. This one is good for anything from cutting rope to carving a turkey. It is a top choice EDC.

Jack H
Homer Glen IL

Dec 23, 2010

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great knife

Every day knife

Greg H.
Emeryville, CA

Nov 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Not much more to say

This knife is perfect for someone who wants to carry and use an affordable high quality folder every day. It's size is big when use it, but unnoticeable when in your back pocket. I love the Spyderco design too, but that's probably just me. Buy two because your heart will be broken until you replace a lost one.

Tanner
Providence, RI

May 01, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Get this knife!

I've had this baby for 6 months. The knife slides open with ease like it did the day I took it out of it's box. There is no rust, no friction when I open it, just a couple smudges on the blade from cutting tape earlier today. The blade is stunningly sharp. I have never sharpened it, although the majority of my knife use is just around the house type things. I have a number of other spydercos, and I love them all for different reasons, but this is by far the best knife of any kind in my collection. It feels completely balanced and comfortable in the hand while opening and while using to cut. This is important because your blade's smoothness in the cut combined with your firm grip prevent dangerous situations. The clip is one of Spyderco's less visible wire clips, which is really helpful if you don't want to draw attention to the knife in your pocket. The clip itself is very strong

Jbu
HHH, SC

Sep 23, 2009

Pros: Blade Material, Overall Quality, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Lock Ease of Use

Superb Knife

Extremely attractive both open and closed. Very comfortable in the hand. Carbon fiber is very "grippy". Extraordinarily sharp out of the box, but I probably could improve the edge a bit with a bit of work. Locking mechanism does not facilitate one-hand closure; but some may feel more secure with this locking mechanism rather than a liner lock or frame lock. The knife is not inexpensive, but if you're looking for something a fabulous knife that is rather unique, the combination of the the ZDP189 blade and the carbon fiber should fit the bill.

Will
Cottonwood, Ca

Jun 24, 2014

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Thumbs up

This knife is perfect for my use. The knife is carried in my shirt pocket, rather than clipped in a pant pocket, so weight can be an issue. The knife carries very comfortably. The wire clip is absolutely perfect holding the knife firmly in place yet not so tight as to damage the shirt pocket. Retrieval is smooth. The workmanship and construction of the Caly 3 is outstanding! NOT ONE SINGLE FLAW VISIBLE! The large pivot is great. The riveted construction is tight and solid! If needed the blade can be easily removed. The blade action was smooth with absolutely no grittiness - none! The Carbon Fiber scales are perfect for me! Had no trouble griping the knife. The blade arrived razor sharp. I rather like the unique blade construction. The lamination allows for grinding 10% ZDP-189 to shape the blade. Interesting approach! This knife ticked all my boxes and I expect Caly 3 to last many years!

John
Buda, TX

Apr 27, 2010

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

love this knife

This is my everyday knife. extremely sharp and maintains its edge well. Everyone likes the knife the carbon handle especially. Have found no dislikes yet. This is my 7th spyderco and my favorite.

Dreye
Los Angeles, CA

Mar 03, 2010

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

SHARP HIGH TECH

Axis lock type may be better.

Jason C
MN

Jun 11, 2008

Pros: Blade Sharpness, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Weight

Cons: None

If you're looking for ZDP steel in a package that performs as well as it looks, this one is a good choice.

One of my favorite Spyderco knives. The leaf-shaped blade opens smoothly and the lock engages with an authoritative "snap". No wiggle or play at all once opened. The blade is a unique 3-layered design: a center layer of ZDP-189 bordered by 420J2. The fusion line is visible near the edge and has a cool effect. The blade came hair-popping sharp out of the box and holds that edge quite well. I also found it easy to restore that sharpness using the Sharpmaker and some fine/ultrafine rods. The handle consists of skeletonized steel liners with carbon fiber scales. The scales have a smooth matte finish that, while smooth, still offers a solid grip. The whole knife is riveted together, save for the pivot screw which uses a hex key. Ergonomics is superb and one-handed opening and closing are quite easy. The pocket clip is a one-piece steel wire that allows for ambidextrous deep carry, tip-up. I like this clip design because I often carry this knife when I want to have a dressier appearance, and don't want to have the tip of the handle peeking out from above the pocket. The wire itself is unobtrusive, yet provides good retention. If you're looking for ZDP steel in a package that performs as well as it looks, this one is a good choice.

Spyderholic
USA

Oct 02, 2010

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

A great steel and an awesome steal!

This my friends is a bargin you can't pass up! I've had my CF Caly3 for a few years now, and it has never failed, and still out performs some of my bigger, more expensive knives(not just my Spydercos). My favorite part of the Caly3 is it;s platform is exactly like the UKPK, but pinned, with liners, a lock, and in this case, 2 steels; The outside layer is 420J2, which is know for corrosion ressistance, but also scratching, and in the middle for the cutting power(the core)is the all powerfull ZDP-189...Super Sick Edge Retention!!! You can go over a month without needing a touch up with this stuff...It Rocks! The lock(a Lock Back) is strong with no blade play at all. The CF slabs are Flawless, and even though they're smooth, the incredible ergos of this platform make it one of the most confortable knives...ever! Perfect grip every time! And the wire clip is the best clip on the market...Period. Grab them while they're here!!!

Kb
Ohio

Apr 06, 2012

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: None

Buy this knife

EDC it. use it for everything. Shop work to food prep. ZDP 189 edge just keeps cutting even as it degrades. This knife is highly functional pocket jewelry.

Mountain Man
Woodland Park, CO

Jul 15, 2009

Pros: Blade Material, Pocket Clip, Weight, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness, Overall Quality

Cons: None

What an outstanding product from Spyderco!

What an outstanding product from Spyderco! Fit and finish are excellent for a production knife. The blade is flawless and incredibly sharp out of the box, and the carbon fiber scales have a beautiful checkered pattern which is far more attractive than G-10. Functionality is also superior with the thumb ramp on the blade for handling stability, and the heat treated wire pocket clip for added visual subtlety when clipped in the pocket.

Mark Adams
United Kingdom

Dec 08, 2008

Pros: Pocket Clip, Overall Quality, Ease of Opening

Cons: None

This knife is a peach

This knife is a peach. I have a collection of about 10 3 inchers and the Caly 3 is easily my favorite for overall quality, handle ergonomics, blade design, inconspicuousness of carry due to the low ride clip. Pay your money and take your choice which- I reckon I'd be as happy with the VG10 and G10.

Rg
NSW, Australia

Jul 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Impressive

ZDP-189 is incredible. Sharpest knife I've ever seen, even straight out of the box. Brilliant presentation, and not likely to freak people out if you use it in public. Would be a 5/5 but the action is quite gritty when you first get it, takes a few days and a bit of dry lube to losen it up. Once it's worn in though the lock up is tight and quick. Quickly became my EDC of choice.

Billy
Millington TN

Jan 19, 2009

Pros: Blade Material, Pocket Clip, Handle Material, Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

great knife!

I love this knife. its super sharp and lite. i used to buy SOG Knives but i think ill switch to Spyderco from now on. Sorry SOG!

Gordon L
Philadelphia, PA

Nov 22, 2013

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Lock Ease of Use

Great for lefties (and righties too)

As a left-handed person, I appreciate that because of the large hole in the blade, the Caly 3 is easy to open with the thumb of either hand. Opening is smooth, can be done one-handed, and with practice takes less than a second. Once open, it locks into place firmly and securely, with no wobble. I can close it safely with one hand too. The lock is equally ambidextrous. Closing is a bit slower, but most pocket knife owners are more concerned with a quick open than a quick close. I agree with other reviewer's comments about the blade being relatively easy to scratch. That said, you'd have to look close to see any scratches, assuming you care. I use my knifes, not look at them, so a few tiny scratches is no big deal to me. The blade is a little tricky to sharpen, but once sharp it's ridiculously so and stays that way for longer than lesser steels. As for the non-cutting edges of the knife being sharpish when the knife is new, that's true too. A few light swipes with 400-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper took care of that problem easily enough. To summarize, although the Caly 3 may falls short of glistening perfection, it still offers extremely high-quality, reliability, durability, light weight, sharpness, and ease of use. The price is a tad high, but not unreasonable given how good a knife this is and how long it's likely to last.

Ted
Sacramento, CA

Apr 12, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Weight, Handle Feel

The blade is great, sharp and hard, tough, perhaps more so than my best hard steel knifes. The design of the knife itself could be improved. I'd like to see a 3.5 inch blade in an assisted opening folder.

Sfk
ro

Nov 17, 2009

Pros: Blade Material, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

almost perfect

Outstanding quality.

Rg
NSW, Australia

Jul 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Impressive

ZDP-189 is incredible. Sharpest knife I've ever seen, even straight out of the box. Brilliant presentation, and not likely to freak people out if you use it in public. Would be a 5/5 but the action is quite gritty when you first get it, takes a few days and a bit of dry lube to loosen it up. Once it's worn in though the lock up is tight and quick. Quickly became my EDC of choice.

Jihn
college park

Feb 25, 2012

Pros: None

Cons: None

not bad, not great

id rather have a ZT blade in my hand

Larry C.
Vancouver, WA

Jul 27, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Feel

Disappointed in this one

Love the look, size, and weight of this knife, but all of the edges were sharp (not just the blade!) The liner edges were sharp. The relief in the carbon fiber for the back lock was sharp. The top edges of the blade and the cutout hole were sharp - painfully so. The jimping on the blade was sharp. It would have only taken a couple of minutes longer to make this a great knife, instead it feels like an unfinished, low quality tool. Come on, Spyderco, this is not what I've come to expect from your fine products.

Danny
North Carolina

Dec 04, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Pocket Clip, Lock Type

clip

I hate to rate this knife so low but im am very upset with one point of the knife that i cant deal with. I have had mine for about two months and am on my 3rd pocket clip. the first broke after a month when i sat down in a chair and the clip caught and broke. Normally my knifes would bend the clip or just pull threads out of the fabric but it just snapped off. The second broke when walking and honestly just bumbed into a stool. It blows my mind that it broke so easly and when you call to get a replacment its not under warrenty because its a wear part but the 2nd one wasnt even 2 weeks old when it broke. Im very upset about this cause each one is about $8 after shipping. Just so everyone knows the knife is wonderful other then that. But with this problem i cant consider it a everyday carry and would rather get my money back