Description

Spyderco LeafJumper C262SBLK390 Folding Knife

Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser has always had a strong interest in designing knives that meet specific performance criteria. His incredible ability to understand and identify with the needs of end users has led to some of Spyderco’s most iconic designs, including the Mariner, Police Model, Civilian, Military, Rescue and Assist to name a few.

A more recent example of Salo’s specific approach to knife design is the RockJumper, which he created to meet the demanding demands of outdoor enthusiasts and climbers. Introduced in 2020, the RockJumper not only gained a devoted following, but also inspired demand for a version with a more conventional blade shape. Sal’s latest design, the LeafJumper, answers that call.

The evolution of design

Sal’s goal in designing the RockJumper was to create a lightweight folding knife that offers impressive cutting performance and quick, ambidextrous one-handed control. To achieve this in a convenient and easy-to-carry package, he modified the design to fit the perfect “middle ground” between the Delica 4 and Endura 4 Lightweights while still providing all the same time-tested features and benefits.

Many of the defining features of the Delica 4 and Endura 4 can be found in their handle design. Their lightweight, ergonomic handles are built on stainless steel construction. The inserts are skeletonized to reduce weight and give the knives impressive structural strength, supporting their robust rear lock mechanism and providing solid anchor points for their four-position pocket clips. The liners are set in tough fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) injection-molded scales and feature Spyderco’s signature Bi-Directional Texture pattern for a secure, non-slip grip. Matching FRN rear spacers add additional strength and anchor the springs for a rear blade lock mechanism that is easy to operate with either hand.

All of these features are faithfully incorporated into the RockJumper’s handle, which features a wide profile that flares out at both ends and “fixes” the user’s hand for a more secure grip. The hand-fill design also lies flat across the palm to allow for instinctive tactile orientation of the plane and edge of the blade. Because many outdoor enthusiasts and mountaineers like to use safety ropes on their knives, there is also an oversized rope hole at the rear end of the handle.

At the “business end”, the RockJumper has a fully ground VG-10 stainless steel blade with a classic Wharncliffe profile. The spine of the blade curves gracefully to meet the perfectly straight edge at an exceptionally sharp point. The result is a blade that offers everything from scalpel-like precision to extreme cutting power in a single package. Available in a variety of PlainEdge or fully serrated SpyderEdge configurations, it proudly features a fully accessible round opening for positive one-handed, one-handed opening.

Turning over a new leaf

Although the Wharncliffe blade shape is extremely practical and versatile, some knife users prefer more “belly” to their blades and a more robust tip that is closer to the centerline of the knife. To accommodate these preferences, Sal decided to equip the RockJumper handle with a wide leaf-shaped blade, and the LeafJumper was born.

As the name suggests, the LeafJumper’s defining feature is the shape of its blade, which resembles the symmetrical profile of a bamboo leaf. Although this shape has been standard since man made the first knives 2.5 million years ago, Spyderco is perhaps best known for showcasing it in modern folding knife designs. Manix 2 and Manix 2 XL, UK Penknife, Chaparral family, Caly 3.5 and Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight are proof of that.

Available in a variety of PlainEdge or fully serrated SpyderEdge formats, the LeafJumper blade is a work of art. Its fully accessible, trademark round opening proclaims the Spyderco knife’s pedigree and allows for quick and reliable one-handed opening with either hand. Like the RockJumper, the LeafJumper blade has minimal ricasso (the full-thickness unbeveled area closest to the handle) that offers maximum blade length. This works in concert with the refined ergonomics of the handle to position the hand further forward and allow for greater cutting performance near the heel of the blade, closest to the handle. Fully flat and beautifully satin finish to ensure low friction cutting performance, the slightly raised edge of the blade lifts the tip and aligns it to the center axis of the knife. Raising the tip also thickens and strengthens it, making it better suited for piercings and other point-oriented tasks.

With the exception of its injected name, the LeafJumper handle is exactly the same as the RockJumper and faithfully provides all the same benefits. Built on a construction of skeletonized stainless steel inserts, the wide hand-loading grip features an FRN scale, a molded FRN back insert and a robust back lock mechanism with a positive self-closing function. FRN scales are injected with our high-traction two-way textured pattern that provides a secure, non-slip grip in even the most demanding conditions. To ensure easy portability and keep the knife ready for immediate access, the handle features a four-position hourglass pocket clip that can be configured for left or right side up or down. For users who prefer the added security of safety lanyards and lanyards, the rear end of the handle offers a generously sized lanyard opening. Together, these features make the LeafJumper’s design completely symmetrical, allowing every aspect of its wear, deployment and operation to be completely ambidextrous.

Inspired by Sal Glesser’s original RockJumper design, the LeafJumper is a medium-sized backlock folding knife with a wide, ergonomic handle and a versatile leaf-shaped blade. This elite expression overflows the design with a blade made of Bohler K390 steel. A state-of-the-art tool steel built to withstand the rigors of industrial cutting, punching and punching, K390 offers exceptional strength and edge retention when used on knife blades. The FRN K390 LeafJumper handle is molded in the distinctive blue color reserved for the elite Spyderco K390 family of knives.

The LeafJumper is an impressive cutting tool that takes all the proven features of the RockJumper and expresses them with the benefits of a leaf-shaped blade. If you’re looking for a mid-sized folding knife that offers both unrelenting performance and iconic Spyderco style, look no further.

Specifications
Blade length: 7.8 cm
Length when closed: 11.3 cm
Total length: 19.1 cm
Blade thickness: 0.3 cm
Blade material: Bohler K390 tool steel
Blade Style: Leaf Shape
Blade grind: Fully flat
Surface treatment of the blade: satin
Blade edge: Serrated
Handle material: FRN
Handle Color: Blue
Locking mechanism: Lockback
Pocket clip: Stainless steel (Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left carry)
Model Number: C262SBLK390
Model Name: LeafJumper K390
Designer: Sal Glesser
Weight: 85 g
Made in Japan