C13 Pro-Grip

The C13 was introduced with the name "Pro-Hunter" in 1991. The C13 Pro-Hunter is based on the C03 Hunter and features a stainless steel handle with black kraton inlays as well as a more "belly" blade. Because the Pro-Hunter name was already taken by another company, the name was changed to Pro-Venator in 1992(?).

In 1994 the blade of the Pro-Venator was combined with an FRN handle, resulting in the C33 Pro-Grip model that was initially named "Pro-Venator light-weight". Around the same time, the Pro-Venator blade was also used for an updated C03 Hunter (known as the Ironstone Hunter).

In the course of the major clean-up of Spyderco SKUs in late 1999, the C13 and C33 models were merged, resulting in the C13 Pro-Grip. Another reason for renaming was that only few people could pronounce Venator properly or knew what it meant (it's the latin word for "hunter").

A chronological overview of the C03/C13/C33 familiy of models follows:

            1983                  1995
SS          |---- C03 Hunter -----|                  2000                 2005
SS/Kraton               |-- C13 Pro-Hunter/Venator --|-- C13   Pro-Grip --|
FRN/Kraton              1991   |--- C33 Pro-Grip ----|-- C13BK Pro-Grip --|
                               1994                  2000                 2005

Appearance in catalogs

The C13 and C33 appeared in the following Spyderco product catalogs:

• 1993: C13 Pro Venator (SS)
• 1994: C13 Pro Venator (SS) and C33 Pro Venator light-weight (FRN)
• 1997: C13 Pro-Venator (SS) and C33 Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 1998: C13 Pro-Venator (SS) and C33 Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 1999: C13 Pro-Venator (SS) and C33 Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 2000: C13 Pro-Grip (SS) and C13BK Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 2001: C13 Pro-Grip (SS) and C13BK Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 2002: C13 Pro-Grip (SS) and C13BK Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 2003: C13 Pro-Grip (SS) and C13BK Pro-Grip (FRN)
• 2004: C13BK Pro-Grip (FRN)

Catalog appearance in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 so far is unknown(?).

Designer

Sal Glesser

History, mentionings from the forums etc.

• Pro-Grip naming thread on the Spyderco forums.
• Pro-Grip history thread on the Spyderco forums.

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

C13BK Pro-Grip:

"Hardcore outdoorsmen, hunters and ranchers seem to favor drop-point blades. While they offer a pointed tip, they also provide a curving deep belly preferred for skinning and other demanding outdoor chores. Designed for field performance, Spyderco's ProGrip blade is ground thick along its spine from the heel to tip, tapering slightly at the tip's end where it meets the cutting edge. The blade's breadth focuses on strength as does its VG-10 stainless steel that is hollow-ground and comes in a CombinationEdge (plain edge and teeth in the same package).

Keeping the knife lightweight the blade comes paired with a black FRN handle that frames an inlayed strip of slip-stopping rubbery Kraton. An additional thumbprint pad of Kraton under the pocket clip holds the knife in the pocket. Molded as part of the handle, the clip carries tip-up."

Variations

All Pro-Grip variations are made in Seki-City, Japan, and have a

• Back Lock locking mechanism and a
• drop-point style blade.

The C13 Pro-Venator and the C33 Pro-Grip were in production during the years the blade stamp changed from "G-2" to "GIN-1".

The C13PS with VG-10 steel and PS exists with 4, 3, and 2 serrations (ie. 40/60, 50/50, and 75/25 plain/serrated ratio).

SKU	Handle	Edge	Steel	From/To	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Clip positions	Collectors club
C13PS	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	GIN-1/G-2	1991-1998	91.95$ (1993), 104.95$ (1994), 129.95$ (1996), 99.95$ (1997)	Pro-Hunter (1991)/Pro-Venator	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13GBW	Stainless Steel with Garry Blanchard Lone Wolf engraving	PS 40/60	GIN-1/G-2	1993-1994	261.95$	Pro-Venator, custom casting by Gary Blanchard using jewelers bronze and sterling silver, comes in C12C knife pouch; left hand version?	?	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13GBE	Stainless Steel with Garry Blanchard Screaming Eagle engraving	PS 40/60	GIN-1/G-2	1993-1994	261.95$	Pro-Venator, custom casting by Gary Blanchard using jewelers bronze and sterling silver, comes in C12C knife pouch; left hand version?	?	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13P	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	GIN-1/G-2	1997-?	99.95$ (1997)		?	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13P	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	GIN-1/G-2		?	"GIN-1 STAINLESS" stamped on tang, Everest logo laser engraved on blade, Japan-only?; left hand version?	?	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PRCA	Stainless Steel with PRCA engraving	PS 40/60	GIN-1/G-2	1998?	112.95$ (1998?)	PRCA; left hand version?	?	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PS	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE, PS 40/60	ATS-55	1999-2001	106.95$ (2000)	1999: Pro-Venator/Pro-Grip II, 2000-2001: Pro-Grip II; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PSCP	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	ATS-55	1999-2001	106.95$ (2000)	1999: Pro-Venator/Pro-Grip II, 2000-2001: Pro-Grip II; C13PSCP is the PS Clamshell Packed version	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13P	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	ATS-55	2001	106.95$ (2001)	Pro-Grip II	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PCP	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	ATS-55	2001	106.95$ (2001)	Pro-Grip II, Clamshell Packed	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13P	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	VG-10	2002	112.95$	Pro-Grip SS	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PCP	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PE	VG-10	2002	112.95$	Pro-Grip SS, Clam Packed	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PS	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PS 50:50	VG-10	2002-2003	112.95$ (2002)	Pro-Grip SS	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C13PSCP	Stainless Steel with black Kraton inlays	PS 50:50	VG-10	2002-2003	112.95$ (2002)	Pro-Grip SS, Clam Packed	N/A	Hollow	3-screw Kraton inlaid	RH, TD
C33PSBK	Black ZYTEL with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	GIN-1/G-2	1994-1998	72.95$ (1994), 79.95$ (1996), 64.95$ (1998)	1994: Pro-Venator light-weight, 1995?-1998: Pro-Grip; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C33PSBK	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	AUS-8	1999	64.95$	Pro-Grip; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PSBK	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	AUS-8	2000-2001	64.95$ (2000)	Pro-Grip, formerly C33PSBK; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PSBKCP	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PS 40/60	AUS-8	2000-2001	64.95$ (2000)	Pro-Grip, formerly C33PSBK; Clamshell Packed	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PBK	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PE	AUS-8	2001	64.95$ (2001)	Pro-Grip; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PBK	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PE	VG-10	2002	68.95$ (2002)	Pro-Grip; left hand version?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PSBK	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PS	VG-10	2002-2004	68.95$ (2004)	Pro-Grip; PS advertised as 50:50, but produced in other ratios	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU
C13PSBKCP	Black FRN with black Kraton inlays	PS	VG-10	2002-2004	68.95$ (2004)	Pro-Grip; Clam Packed; PS advertised as 50:50, but produced in other ratios	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN	RH, TU

Most collectible variation

Questions regarding collecting the C13

• There are open questions marked with '?' above. Any answers?

Technical information

Measurements (mm and grams) of the C13 Pro-Grip:

Variations	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
Pro-Grip SS	168mm	98mm	71mm	67mm	12mm	3mm	112g
Pro-Grip FRN	168mm	98mm	71mm	67mm	12mm	3mm	58g

Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C13 Pro-Grip:

Variations	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
Pro-Grip SS	6 5/8"	3 7/8"	2 13/16"	2 5/8"	15/32"	1/8"	4oz
Pro-Grip FRN	6 5/8"	3 7/8"	2 13/16"	2 5/8"	15/32"	1/8"	1.9oz

Pictures

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  C13PS Pro-Venator

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  C13PS Pro-Venator