C59 Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

The C59 Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria was introduced in 1999 and discontinued in 2003.

The C59 Shabaria was Spyderco's first in a series of ethnic inspired knives (See Etnich series). Nomads in the Jordan River Valley have carried a knife called a Shabaria. The design of the C59 is inspired by these knives.

Appearance in catalogs

The C59 Shabaria appeared in the following (catalogs):

• 1999 Spyderco Products
• 2000 Spyderco Products
• 2001 Spyderco Products
• 2002 Spyderco Products

Designer

Eduard Bradichansky

Eduard Bradichansky Makers mark

History, mentionings from the forums etc.

On the Spyderco forums:

• Shabaria 2001 modifications discussion threads
  • Shabaria modifications!
  • Shabaria
• Interesting thread and pictures of the Shabaria, including historic information: Shabaria!
• In this post on the Spyderco.com forum, from 14 December 2018, Sal Glesser shares some information on the design history of the C59 and its designer:

Since the Shabaria just dropped, I'll start there, though many here know the story. Eduard Bradichanski was a Russian immigrant that resettled in Israel. He was a model maker by trade and a custom knife maker as a hobby. He showed me his folding version of the Shabaria, and I had not heard of the knife before. after visiting several museums and seeing some collections, I learned that the Shabaria was a common design in the Jordan valley beginning in 203 AD. In fact, when we introduced the design, many of the knife "experts" had also not heard of the design and some interesting discussions followed. I have one that I brought back and right now it's "lost" in one of the boxes in my office. When Ii find it, I'd like to make a brochure showing the originals and the Spyderco version. Mike began the project years ago, but I couldn't find the originals. :o

Eduard also designed the Original credit card model. He was assassinated in the west bank by Hamas before his models were released. They burned his body and his car and he was identified by the prototypes of the Shabaria and the credit card knife, which he was carrying at the time. He was survived by his wife and 2 sons. We still send royalties to the family when we make a sprint.

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

See: C59CF Shabaria CF sprint:

Knives and history are reflections of each other. Paleolithic flint tools to modern folding knives; they exist to perform the simple purpose of cutting. Jordan River Valley nomads centuries ago made and carried a curved fixed-blade called a Shabaria for agriculture and protection.

Israeli knife designer, Eduard Bradichansky, co-mingled the Shabaria's traditional utilitarian profile into a modern folding knife. Mr. Bradichansky was a gunsmith and gifted jeweler by trade, new to the knifemaking community, but already attracting collectors and enthusiasts to his fresh design work and crafting skills. His career cut short, he fell victim to a terrorist attack on the West Bank.

Spyderco is re-releasing a Sprint Run of his Shabaria folder with VG-10 stainless PlainEdge blade and carbon fiber handle. At first grasp, the handle's hourglass/coffin-shape feels slim and odd in the hand but the conveyance of balance and comfort immediately follows. The light carbon fiber handle has a black steel clip embellished with a gold Spyderco bug and positions the folder for right-hand, tip-down pocket carry. A straightforward easy to access and open Michael Walker LinerLock graces the handle's underside.

The C59CF Shabaria in Spyderco's online catalog.

C59 Shabaria gray G-10 sprint:

"This limited-edition Sprint Run™ version of the Shabaria proudly resurrects one of our rarest and most exotic designs. Originally released in 1999, the Spyderco Shabaria was designed by the late Israeli knife designer, jeweler, and gunsmith Eduard Bradichansky. It was based on the traditional ethnic knife of the Bedouins, a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab group that, until recent times, lived as nomads. Also known as the Shibriya and believed to have originated in the Jordan Valley around 300 CE, it had a distinctively curved blade and hourglass-shaped handle and served as both a weapon and a symbol of social status within the Bedouin culture.

Produced in limited quantities, this version of the Shabaria faithfully maintains all the remarkable qualities of Bradichansky’s original design, while expressing them in a unique, one-of-a-kind format. Its sinuous blade is saber-ground from VG-10 stainless steel and features a Trademark Round Hole for easy one-handed opening. The blade is supported by a sturdy LinerLock mechanism housed within the knife's distinctive hourglass-shaped handle, which features textured gray G-10 scales and a classic three-screw pocket clip configured for right-side, tip-down carry."

The C59 Shabaria gray G-10 sprint in Spyderco's online catalog.

Variations

The C59 Shabaria is made in Seki-City, Japan and has a

• Walker Liner Lock.

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	From/To	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Clip positions	Collectors club
C59BMP	Black Micarta	PE	VG-10	1999-2001	143.95$ (1999-2001)	closed back, riveted	N/A	Hollow	Black Metal	RH, TD
C59BMPS	Black Micarta	PS	VG-10	1999-2001	143.95$ (1999-2001)	closed back, riveted	N/A	Hollow	Black Metal	RH, TD
C59BMP	Black Micarta	PE	VG-10	2002	150.95$ (2002)	open back, screwed	N/A	Hollow	Black Metal	RH, TD
C59CFP	CF	PE	VG-10	2010	259.95$ (2010)	Sprintrun	800	Hollow	Black Metal	RH, TD
C59GGYP	Gray G-10	PE	VG-10	Dec. 2018	$224.95 (2018)	Sprintrun	Limited	Hollow	Black Metal with yellow bug logo	RH, TD	Variant

Most collectible variation

Some of the early run was numbered. This is probably the hardest to find.

Questions regarding collecting the C59

Some interesting questions we are looking for an answer to:

Questions with an answer:

Technical information

Measurements (mm and grams) of the C59 Shabaria:

Variation	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
C59BM	219mm	122mm	97mm	93mm	12mm	2.5mm	94g
C59CF	221mm	121mm	98mm	94mm	11mm	3mm	119g

Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C59 Shabaria:

Variation	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
C59BM	8 5/8"	4 3/4"	3 7/8"	3 5/8"	1/2"	3/32"	3.33oz
C59CF	8 11/16"	4 3/4"	3 7/8"	3 11/16"	7/16"	1/8"	4.2oz

Related Articles

The Edge Observer history and review of the Shabaria.

Pictures

See e.g. this Shabaria thread on the Spyderco forums.

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  C59BMP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

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  C59BMP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

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  C59BMP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

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  C59BMP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

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  C59CFP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria

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  C59CFP Eduard Bradichansky Shabaria