PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Stovepipe is one of the most unique and visually stunning folding knives Spyderco has ever produced. A collaboration with acclaimed custom knifemaker David Rydbom, it faithfully translates the spirit and meticulous attention to detail of his handcrafted knives into a one-of-a-kind production folder.
David Rydbom is an accomplished artist and professional knifemaker with a deep commitment to creating heirloom-quality works of art. A former custom home builder, he is also an avid big-game hunter, fisherman, and world traveler who has collected and used knives since he was a child. He made his first knife, a skinner, in 2007, because he could not find one that met his needs in the field. That knife soon led to many others and a year later he became a full-time knifemaker.
Unlike many knifemakers who learned their skills as apprentices, Rydbom is entirely self-taught and works hard to maintain the purity of his own artistic style. He actually canceled his subscriptions to knife magazines to avoid being influenced by other makers' designs. Instead, he draws inspiration from his study of art history, particularly the American Arts & Crafts movement, and is obsessed with creating pieces that are crafted to last. In Rydbom's words, "I am what I would consider a generational craftsman. Whatever I build, whether that be a home, a knife, a piece of furniture, or a hand thrown piece of pottery… it all needs to be functional, beautiful, and built with long-lasting quality in mind. I want these things to become family heirlooms, passed on and on long after I'm gone."
Powered by that mindset, Rydbom specializes in "tactical dress" folding knives with a unique design flair that marries the sweeping curves and organic shapes of nature with the hard lines of human engineering. He focuses on the stock-removal method of knifemaking and handcrafts every one of his distinctive creations in his shop in Ashland, Oregon under the business name Kingdom Armory.
"Bill the Butcher"
One of Rydbom's most popular custom designs is known as "The Butcher." First designed in 2009, it was inspired by the film Gangs of New York and its depiction of the notorious historical figure William Poole, aka "Bill the Butcher." Its blade, which resembles a classic straight razor or butcher's cleaver, is also reminiscent of the razor-pattern folding knives made after the Civil War. The shallow scallop at the tip of these knives' blades could be hooked on the lip of a pocket or other handy surface, allowing the many one-armed veterans of the era to open their knives with only one hand.
Arguably one of the earliest examples of the now-popular "cleaver-style" blade, "The Butcher" attracted considerable attention from seasoned knife collectors, including members of the Spyderco Internet Forum. In 2010, a Forumite posted a photo of an example of "The Butcher" and piqued the interest of Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser. Sal reached out to Rydbom and started a dialogue, but it wasn't until 2017 that they discussed the project in earnest and Rydbom provided a sample of the design. Sal and his son Eric Glesser were extremely impressed by its distinctiveness and Rydbom's flawless craftsmanship and quickly suggested a formal collaboration. Rydbom, whose investment-quality knives often end up in safes instead of pockets, embraced the idea of working with Spyderco to create a more user-oriented expression of his design.
The Stovepipe
The Spyderco Stovepipe draws its name from the "stovepipe" top hat that William Poole often wore. Historically fitting, while significantly less aggressive than the knife's original moniker, its name is the only significant compromise Spyderco made in adapting Rydbom's exquisite custom design to factory production.
The heart of the Stovepipe is its stout, cleaver-style blade, which is crafted from CPM-20CV—an advanced powder metallurgy stainless steel that contains a high volume of vanadium carbides and the highest amount of chromium of any vanadium-rich stainless steel currently available. This state-of-the-art blend of alloys gives CPM-20CV a remarkable combination of high wear resistance, superior corrosion resistance, and good impact toughness. The straight-edged blade is precision machined from 4mm (0.157-inch) stock. Although the thick stock provides excellent heft and strength, it is balanced by a deep hollow grind that ensures outstanding edge geometry and low-friction cutting performance. The wide blade allows its Trademark Round Hole to be easily accessible for ambidextrous, one-handed opening while maintaining a straight spine. Machined details above the blade hole add a touch of class and provide a textured thumb purchase for enhanced control. Deep scallops on the blade's spine and tip further accentuate its style and ensure exceptional point utility for a cleaver-style blade.
The Stovepipe's handle is constructed from two slabs of solid titanium joined by a titanium backspacer. Both scales are painstakingly machined to create a beautifully crowned surface on the outside and a stylish yet ergonomic profile. The reverse-side scale forms the foundation of the knife's stout Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.) mechanism, which locks the blade securely open during use. It is also home to a machined titanium clip that provides convenient right-side, tip-up carry. The clip, scales, backspacer, and blade all boast a no-nonsense, industrial-style stonewashed finish. This stands in contrast to the knife's oversized pivot pin, which is machined with artistic details, brightly satin finished, and serves double duty as an overtravel stop for the lock bar.
The Stovepipe is a truly remarkable folding knife that faithfully captures the spirit and painstaking craftsmanship of David Rydbom's custom creation. Spyderco is extremely proud of it and excited to add it to the their product line.
