C17 Catcherman
The C17 Catcherman is a lightweight folding filet knife that was introduced in 1992 and discontinued in 2006.
Appearance in catalogs
The C17 Catcherman appeared at least in the following catalogs (older, newer):
- 1993, 1994, 1997-2000 Spyderco Products (C17)
- 2001-2005 Spdyerco Products (C17PSBKE)
Designer
Designed by Sumio Sakai/Japan [1], within parameters given by Spyderco.
History, mentionings from the forums etc.
Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web
C17BKE:
"If you're a dedicated fisherman, chances are you own a good-sized collection of fishing gear. Having a super-lightweight, compact folding filet knife that clips in a pocket can be a boon when hauling all your gear to your favorite spot. Made to fit the bill, the Catcherman features a semi-flexible blade that is ground flat and thin offering just the right amount of flex for filleting and de-boning.
It is seventy-five percent PlainEdged with a short section of gnarly serrations at the blade's base for cutting fibrous fish material such as skin, cartilage, bone. MBS-26 steel has status for high performance in edge retention and rust resistance. The FRN handle is textured and has an integral pocket clip for tip-down carry."[2]
Spyderco USN Catcherman - Exclusive
A Spyderco classic is back and it’s back with a vengeance. Originally released in 1992, the Catcherman was a purpose-designed folding fillet knife. Its long, sweeping blade was ground extra thin for flexibility and was mated to a lightweight fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle with an integral pocket clip. An instant classic, the Catcherman was a mainstay of the Spyderco line for many years before being discontinued. Original Catcherman knives are now highly sough-after collector’s items.
Through a special arrangement with the Usual Suspect Network (USN), Spyderco has produced an exclusive edition of this classic knife. The USN Catcherman features a partially-serrated blade ground from our exclusive H-1 steel, a nitrogen-based alloy that is completely immune to rust. Its blade is coated with a durable black titanium carbonitride (TICN) coating that reduces its reflective properties and forms the perfect backdrop for the handsomely engraved USN logo. The most distinctive feature of this limited-edition knife is its signature “toxic green” handle—the signature color of the USN. It features a “Volcano Grip™” texture pattern for a positive grip in even the most demanding conditions and an old-school integral clip configured for right-side, tip-up carry.
A unique and highly collectible knife, the USN black-bladed Catcherman is sure to be an instant classic. The C17PSGRBK Catcherman in Spyderco's online catalog.
Variations
The C17 Catcherman is made in Seki-City, Japan and has Back Lock.
| SKU | Handle | Edge | Steel | From/To | MSRP | Note | Number made | Grind | Clip | Clip positions | Collectors club |
| C17PSBK | Black FRN | PS 75/25 | AUS-8 | 1992-2000 | 54.95$ (1994) | N/A | Hollow | Integral FRN | RH, TU | ||
| C17SBK | Black FRN | SE | AUS-8 | ?-1994-? | 54.95$ (1994) | N/A | Hollow | Integral FRN | RH, TU | ||
| C17PSYL | Yellow FRN | PS 75/25 | AUS-8 | ?-1994-? | 54.95$ (1994) | N/A | Hollow | Integral FRN | RH, TU | ||
| C17SYL | Yellow FRN | SE | AUS-8 | ?-1994-? | 54.95$ (1994) | N/A | Hollow | Integral FRN | RH, TU | ||
| C17PSBKE | Black FRN | PS 75/25 | MBS-26 | 2001-2005 | 66.95$ (2004) | N/A | Full Flat | Integral FRN | RH, TU | ||
| C17PSGRBK | Toxic Green FRN | PS 75/25 | H-1 | 2011 | 129.95$ (2004) | Special Run for the USN Forum. Black coated blade with USN logo. | ~600 | Hollow | Integral FRN | RH, TU | Variant |
| C17GR | Bright Green FRN | PS 75/25 | LC200N | 2023 | $160.00 (2023) | Sprint Run.The C17GR is part of Spyderco Salt series of knives. | ~1200 | Full Flat | Integral FRN | RH, TU | Variant |
Most collectible variation
The USN forum Catcherman is probably the rarest and would probably be a contender for most collectible.
Questions regarding collecting the C17
Some interesting questions we are looking for an answer to:
Questions with an answer:
Technical information
Measurements (mm and grams) of the C17 Catcherman:
| Variation | Length overall | Length closed | Length blade | Length edge | Hole Ø | Blade thickness | Weight |
| C17 | 265mm | 149mm | 121mm | 111mm | 11mm | 2mm | 80g |
| C17BKE (MBS-26) | 265mm | 151mm | 121mm | 110mm | 11mm | 2mm | 71g |
| C17PSGRBK | 265mm | 151mm | 121mm | 110mm | 11mm | 1.8mm | 76g |
Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C17 Catcherman:
| Variation | Length overall | Length closed | Length blade | Length edge | Hole Ø | Blade thickness | Weight |
| C17 | 10 7/16" | 5 7/8" | 4 3/4" | 4 3/8" | 7/16" | 5/64" | 2.8oz |
| C17BKE (MBS-26) | 10 7/16" | 5 15/16" | 4 3/4" | 4 5/16" | 7/16" | 5/64" | 2.5oz |
| C17PSGRBK | 10 7/16" | 5 15/16" | 4 3/4" | 4 5/16" | 7/16" | 9/128" | 2.7oz |
References
- ↑ See Sal Glesser comment on Spyderco Forums [1]
- ↑ The C17BKE Catcherman in Spyderco's online catalog
