Spyderco Essenza Linerlock C272ALBKP
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The Spyderco Essenza is an elegantly simple folding knife that proudly reflects our longstanding friendship with renowned Italian cutlery manufacturer Fox Knives. It enhances the clean, refined lines of one of their best-selling gentlemen's folders with the user friendliness and signature style of Spyderco's Trademark Round Hole feature.
Meaning "essence" in Italian, the Essenza was inspired by a knife called the CHNOPS. Conceived by noted Italian cutlery designer Riccardo Gobbato (aka Raven Knives Design), the CHNOPS draws its name from a mnemonic acronym that stands for the six most common elements found in living organisms: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). Representing the essential elements of life, this unique name aptly symbolizes Gobbato's sleek, minimalist design, which Fox manufactures in several different configurations.
Always keeping their fingers on the pulse of cutlery trends, Spyderco's management team was impressed by the CHNOPS' clean lines and slim, pocket-friendly design and decided to ask Fox about the possibility of collaborating on a "Spyderized" expression of it. Fox embraced the opportunity and the Essenza was born.
Essential Elements
Manufactured by Fox Knives in Italy's cutlery capital, Maniago, the Essenza faithfully maintains the distinctive design spirit of the original CHNOPS while adding signature elements of Spyderco style. The most significant difference between the two knives can be seen in the blade. While the CHNOPS offered one-hand opening via a front flipper, the Essenza proudly showcases a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole. This iconic feature provides enhanced leverage to allow swift, positive one-handed deployment with either hand. It also enables the user to maintain a more secure grip on the handle during the opening process and supports multiple opening techniques. Aesthetically, it unmistakably announces the knife's pedigree as a Spyderco product.
The Essenza's flat-ground blade is expertly crafted from Böhler-Uddeholm's N690Co—a cobalt-enriched stainless steel that provides an excellent balance of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The satin-finished blade features a utilitarian drop-point profile that offers a superior combination of low-friction cutting performance and point utility. It also showcases a beautifully radiused spine that adds both an extra touch of elegance and enhanced comfort during use.
The Essenza's blade is linked to its handle with a beautifully machined oversized pivot pin and supported by a pair of ball-bearing washers for an exceptionally smooth action. The sleek, easy-to-clean, open-backed handle is constructed with precision-machined aircraft aluminum scales and a partial aluminum backspacer. The smooth, symmetrical scales feature both a subtle crowned radius and chamfered edges to offer an exceptionally comfortable grip while accommodating all hand sizes. They and the aluminum backspacer are also protected by a durable matte-black anodized coating. Both scales have machined recesses on their interior surfaces that house nested stainless steel liners. The obverse side of the handle is reinforced by a skeletonized liner, while the reverse-side scale contains a split liner that forms the foundation of the knife’s sturdy LinerLock mechanism. Instead of a relief cut in the obverse scale, the lock release stands slightly proud beyond the handle's edge and features textured jimping to allow easy, yet purposeful, lock release.
To balance convenient carry and immediate access while keeping the knife discreet and low profile, the Essenza includes a deep-pocket clip that proudly bears the Spyderco "bug" logo. The base of the L-shaped clip nests into a machined slot in the butt end of the handle and is secured by a single Torx screw. To accommodate both left and right-handed users, the clip is easily reversible for ambidextrous tip-up carry.
An impressive synthesis of style and practicality, the Essenza is truly in a class of its own. Spyderco is extremely proud of it and their enduring relationship with Fox Knives.
Specifications
Blade Length: 3.19" (81 mm)
Cutting Edge: 3.05" (77 mm)
Overall Length: 7.23" (184 mm)
Closed Length: 4.04" (103 mm)
Blade Thickness: 0.135" (3.4 mm)
Blade Material: N690Co Stainless Steel
Blade Style: Straight Back
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Blade Edge: Plain
Handle Material: Black Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Liner Lock
Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel (Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left Carry)
Model Number: C272ALBKP
Weight: 3.32 oz. (94 g)
Designer: Riccardo Gobbato of Raven Knife Design
Meaning "essence" in Italian, the Essenza was inspired by a knife called the CHNOPS. Conceived by noted Italian cutlery designer Riccardo Gobbato (aka Raven Knives Design), the CHNOPS draws its name from a mnemonic acronym that stands for the six most common elements found in living organisms: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). Representing the essential elements of life, this unique name aptly symbolizes Gobbato's sleek, minimalist design, which Fox manufactures in several different configurations.
Always keeping their fingers on the pulse of cutlery trends, Spyderco's management team was impressed by the CHNOPS' clean lines and slim, pocket-friendly design and decided to ask Fox about the possibility of collaborating on a "Spyderized" expression of it. Fox embraced the opportunity and the Essenza was born.
Essential Elements
Manufactured by Fox Knives in Italy's cutlery capital, Maniago, the Essenza faithfully maintains the distinctive design spirit of the original CHNOPS while adding signature elements of Spyderco style. The most significant difference between the two knives can be seen in the blade. While the CHNOPS offered one-hand opening via a front flipper, the Essenza proudly showcases a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole. This iconic feature provides enhanced leverage to allow swift, positive one-handed deployment with either hand. It also enables the user to maintain a more secure grip on the handle during the opening process and supports multiple opening techniques. Aesthetically, it unmistakably announces the knife's pedigree as a Spyderco product.
The Essenza's flat-ground blade is expertly crafted from Böhler-Uddeholm's N690Co—a cobalt-enriched stainless steel that provides an excellent balance of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The satin-finished blade features a utilitarian drop-point profile that offers a superior combination of low-friction cutting performance and point utility. It also showcases a beautifully radiused spine that adds both an extra touch of elegance and enhanced comfort during use.
The Essenza's blade is linked to its handle with a beautifully machined oversized pivot pin and supported by a pair of ball-bearing washers for an exceptionally smooth action. The sleek, easy-to-clean, open-backed handle is constructed with precision-machined aircraft aluminum scales and a partial aluminum backspacer. The smooth, symmetrical scales feature both a subtle crowned radius and chamfered edges to offer an exceptionally comfortable grip while accommodating all hand sizes. They and the aluminum backspacer are also protected by a durable matte-black anodized coating. Both scales have machined recesses on their interior surfaces that house nested stainless steel liners. The obverse side of the handle is reinforced by a skeletonized liner, while the reverse-side scale contains a split liner that forms the foundation of the knife’s sturdy LinerLock mechanism. Instead of a relief cut in the obverse scale, the lock release stands slightly proud beyond the handle's edge and features textured jimping to allow easy, yet purposeful, lock release.
To balance convenient carry and immediate access while keeping the knife discreet and low profile, the Essenza includes a deep-pocket clip that proudly bears the Spyderco "bug" logo. The base of the L-shaped clip nests into a machined slot in the butt end of the handle and is secured by a single Torx screw. To accommodate both left and right-handed users, the clip is easily reversible for ambidextrous tip-up carry.
An impressive synthesis of style and practicality, the Essenza is truly in a class of its own. Spyderco is extremely proud of it and their enduring relationship with Fox Knives.
Specifications
Blade Length: 3.19" (81 mm)
Cutting Edge: 3.05" (77 mm)
Overall Length: 7.23" (184 mm)
Closed Length: 4.04" (103 mm)
Blade Thickness: 0.135" (3.4 mm)
Blade Material: N690Co Stainless Steel
Blade Style: Straight Back
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Blade Edge: Plain
Handle Material: Black Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Liner Lock
Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel (Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left Carry)
Model Number: C272ALBKP
Weight: 3.32 oz. (94 g)
Designer: Riccardo Gobbato of Raven Knife Design
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