Spyderco Watu
Where does one
start with Spyderco’s Watu? It is one of
many knives in Spyderco’s ethnic series.
Let’s start with
the knife. The original pattern of the Chokwe
people was a fixed blade with a wedge-shaped handle to keep the knife from
slipping out of your hand. The handle
sports two holes that appear to go all the way through.
The original
Spyderco was the Chokwe folder released in 2009. It was very much in keeping with the historic
fixed-blade pattern. It was a large
knife and was eventually discontinued and replaced in 2020 by the Watu, a
smaller version.
Since the blade is the heart of any knife, let’s dive in there. The 3.25-inch long, Watu blade has a distinctive triangular shape. It is a flat-ground blade carved from a chunk of CPM® 20CV. This is a martensitic stainless steel with excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Chemically the blade is just iron with 1.9% carbon, 20% chromium, 4% vanadium, 1% molybdenum, and 0.6% tungsten. The heat treatment and powder metal technology promote the formation of this powerful combination of chromium and vanadium carbides.
The blade is edge
tough but not as resistant to breakage or chipping as other premium
steels. In this size blade you will not
see any problems. Where it shines is
edge retention. CATRA test, which
measures a blade's sharpness and edge life (referenced to 440C), rates CPM 20CV
180% better. The downside is that 20CV
can be extremely challenging to properly sharpen.
The good news,
Spyderco offers a sharpening service. Contact them at customerservice@spyderco.com for
more information.
The Watu utilizes a compression top lock which I really like. The knife is set up for tip-up carry, but the wire clip can be reversed for left or right carry. The handle is a unique composite of carbon fiber laminated to G-10 and then applied to steel liners. The handle has the two holes characteristic of the traditional native pattern.
It’s a sweet
knife. Despite the 3-ounce weight, I see
it as a dress knife. It has an elegant
look and the clip is designed for deep pocket carry. The carbon fiber has a cool, silky feel and I
love that initial snap when the blade slips off the detent ball. I can see the Watu in the board room, at
church or carried for a night out at the movies.
As I said, I like
the knife. But equally important to me, Spyderco
is supporting Keep a Child Alive. KCA is
an organization that provides life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care, and
support services to HIV/AIDS-afflicted children and their families in Africa.
Yeah, that's
important too!
But let’s not
forget the source of the inspiration, the Chokwe people.
Who are the Chokwe
people of Central and Southern Africa? They
are found primarily in Angola, southwestern parts of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (Kinshasa to Lualaba), and northwestern parts of Zambia.
The Chokwe was once
one of the twelve clans of the great Lunda Empire of 17th and 18th
century Angola. They were initially
employed by Lunda nobles and eventually became independent when they refused to
continue paying tribute to the Lunda emperor.
The Chokwe were prosperous traders and their abundant resources caused
them to be one of the wealthiest groups in Angola. But eventually, they fell to the industrial
nations of Europe, who carved the African continent into domains.
The Watu’s suggested
retail price is just under $300. You can
find your connection to strong and proud people at https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/C251CF/1841.
