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Advice, Folders, Review

Spyderco COBOL – C273TIP – Loving The Alien ?

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Disclaimer: this knife was supplied at no cost by Spyderco as part of their brand ambassador program. The review that follows, however, remains entirely independent and unbiased. I thank them for placing their trust in this little blog.

Paul Alexander is back, and the COBOL is perhaps his most aggressive creation yet. Built on the “techno-primitive” DNA of the NAND™, this knife isn’t just a tool—it’s an alien in your hand, standing out even in Spyderco’s lineup, which is renowned for pushing the boundaries of design.

No real lock, just a generous choil. The purpose? A steak knife? An impact tool? Or could this be Spyderco’s very first letter opener?

The blade geometry is thick, so it’s no whittler—but you could still sharpen a pencil. Or maybe… it’s a paper knife after all.

(Paper knife vs. letter opener—often confused, but they are not the same. Paper knives were made to slice open the folded edges of hand-produced books before reading. Letter openers grew out of them: longer, blunter, and built solely to tackle envelopes. Today, paper knives are mostly collectibles, while letter openers remain a staple on desks everywhere. They come in wood, metals like stainless steel, silver, or pewter, plastic, ivory, or mixed materials—often with decorative handles stealing the spotlight. Some modern designs hide a retractable razor, and electric models can blast through stacks of mail—but beware: they can nick the contents.)

But the COBOL blade explodes with a hybrid of Japanese tanto elegance and katana-inspired Americanized assassination tool, machined from M390 particle metallurgy stainless steel. Its saber-ground primary bevel flows into a saber flat grind at a faceted tip, ready to slice with surgical accuracy.
It is an eye candy ! Even closed.

The handle is crafted from titanium for a sleek, minimalist look. Integral spring arms and seated ball bearings do NOT lock the blade, but a generous choil and thumb pressure on the tail keep every grip surprisingly secure. A hole in the handle aligns perfectly with the signature hole in the blade, completing the design’s clean, purposeful aesthetic.

Made in Italy, this Japanese‑inspired blade oozes quality — but don’t expect buttery action. It’s slow to open and even harder to close. Think of it as a straight razor: there’s no lock, so safe handling is essential. You actually grip it by the blade, a move that recalls antique Roman folders rather than modern folders with locking mechanisms.

Flip it open one-handed using the extended “tail”—don’t expect the thrill of a straight razor snapping into action. It’s slow.

But once open, you can admire the clash of techno-primitive design with katana-inspired elegance. In the right hands—and with the right mindset—it’s more than a letter opener; it could be a self-defense tool. After all, geishas once defended themselves with hidden blades…

A gorgeous showpiece that’s too long for UK carry rules. Opened, it goes from elegant to downright threatening.

Compared to one of Spyderco’s top EDCs, the Sage 5 Salt, the COBOL takes on a far more menacing presence. Where the Sage 5 is sleek and understated, the COBOL commands attention—its techno-primitive, katana-inspired lines give it a dangerous edge that’s impossible to ignore.

Another beautiful desk knife in my collection: the Pole Position. Desk knives, made for opening letters, are more than tools—they’re elegant objects, carefully designed and treasured by collectors.

Ambidextrous, the COBOL comes with a reversible deep-pocket wire clip for left- or right-side, tip-up carry.

So, who is the COBOL for?

Out of the box, mine won’t shave—it could use a thinner edge for my taste. It is sharp but razor not sharp.
The flipping action is also really slow, but once open, you’re holding a stunning object, perfect for a desk: cutting strings, opening letters, small chores. Using it in the woods? Forget it. In the kitchen? Its geometry isn’t ideal. But as a steak knife? On the plate, it would certainly shine.

Tried the COBOL on some wood—ouch! To keep control, you’ve got to brace your index on the choil, since there’s effectively no lock. That makes it tricky and dangerously easy to catch the blade’s heel, even half open, just to avoid a jump close. Bottom line: this knife was never meant for whittling anything.

So, really, the Cobol is from another world—an alien and a looker. And yet, loving this alien is easy. The craftsmanship is impeccable: titanium engineered with clever CQC design, every detail thoughtfully executed. But it demands a place of its own. On your desk, at the table or in your collection, the COBOL isn’t just a Spyderco knife—it’s an extraterrestrial in their production. Spyderco is known for their high performance knives. Yep, in that matter this beautiful one is something from another mind.
But now, if you love the alien, it’s up to you to decide how you’ll use it — but with such a very soft locking mechanism, be mindful of its limits.

Here is the link to Guillaume’s Cobol review.

Advice

Spyderco CALY™ 3.5 – C144CFPE Caly 3.5 ZDP – Part II – Back To The Convex edge !

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Disclaimer: The Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker Diamond Rods Set of 2 – 204D was provided by Golden, along with the Caly 3.5. This article is the perfect opportunity to put them to the test.
The Sharpmaker is my own.

In the parcel from Golden were also two sets of rods: the 204CBN Cubic Boron Nitride rods and the 204D Diamond rods. Since my Caly 3.5 needed some convexing, it was time to see what these rods could do.

But you know, I’m a freehand sharpening guy. I don’t like being locked into fixed angles. I prefer to adjust pressure and movement based on what I feel directly from the blade against the rod. That’s why I’ve never been too fond of “systems” that take control away from your hands.

For me, sharpening should stay super simple, and—most importantly—adaptable. If I’m in the wild, far from the workbench, I still want to be able to bring an edge back with nothing more than a rod, a stone, or even something improvised.

That’s where the Spyderco Sharpmaker is different. It’s a system, yes, but it doesn’t dictate the process. It allows me to sharpen by feel, with freedom, and still gives me the precision I want.

Exactly — and that’s one of those clever little details only Spyderco would think of.

On the back of the Sharpmaker base, you’ve got two horizontal grooves that let you lay the rods flat. In that configuration, the tool basically transforms into a bench stone. With the diamond rods mounted this way, it works like a compact, portable diamond sharpening stone, letting you go full freehand.

So you get both options: the guided 30°/40° setup if you want consistency, and the freehand mode if you prefer to feel the steel, control pressure, and chase your own convex. That versatility is what makes the Sharpmaker more than “just a system.”

The gaffer tape trick is smart: it saves you from accidental slips while keeping the grind line safe. And yes, the 204D diamonds are hungry — they bite into ZDP-189 without hesitation, which also means they’ll scratch anything that touches them. But like you said, a working knife will earn its scars.

Polishing can always bring back some scratchless shine, but what really matters is how the geometry evolves: a little convexing, a thinner edge, and suddenly the Caly 3.5 stops being just elegant — it becomes a laser.

That’s exactly where your knife starts to become yours.

The convexing not only boosts cutting performance but also gives the edge that organic flow — you can see it in the way the bevel catches the light. It’s no longer a factory grind; it’s a living edge shaped by your own hand. It makes the knife more precious.

And by rounding the spine and softening the jimping, you’re turning what could feel harsh into something smoother, almost like a river stone. It transforms the Caly from safe queen into a companion you actually want to use every day, without hotspots or distractions.

Most people underestimate how quickly diamond or CBN rods load up, and how much that affects sharpening efficiency.

Clay stone (terre de Sommières, or even a simple pottery stone) is excellent because it’s mildly abrasive: it lifts out the embedded metal without scratching or damaging the surface of the rods, and it works faster than detergents or erasers.

It’s also in the spirit of my philosophy: keep it simple, practical, field-ready. No fancy cleaners, just a tried-and-true trick that works every time.

Dry chestnut is fibrous and can grab onto a thicker bevel, so the fact that your convexed ZDP-189 now glides “like a razor through butter” is a strong demonstration that the edge mod really paid off.

Convexing changes everything. Once the edge’s shoulders are rounded, the edge stops fighting the wood. No more wedging, just a clean, controlled push cut — like sliding through butter, even in stubborn chestnut.

That’s where ZDP-189 really shines. Most steels would give up at this geometry, folding or rolling. But at 65 HRC, ZDP holds steady. You get the sharpness of a razor without the fragility.

And the Caly 3.5? On paper, it’s a gentleman’s knife. In hand, convexed and sharp, it’s a wolf in disguise. A refined tool that thrives on real work, not just resting pretty in a pocket.
Wood tells one part of the story, but plastic will reveal another — especially the stubborn bottom of a bottle. That’s where I’ll see if this convexed ZDP-189 edge can truly glide without wedging. I’ll update this post as soon as I get the chance to put it through that test.