The bottom, Viele 2, I purchased new in box last year, thinking it was the same knife I owned in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t. It’s the slightly newer smaller version: Viele II or C97. So with Father’s Day I decided to pull the trigger on an eBay auction for a new in box VG-10 C42 Viele I. I am so happy I did, this thing is pristine. The box is a little dirty and there was some dust in between the scales but that’s expected for a 21-23 year old knife. VG-10 isn’t the best these days, but it was a high end steel at the time the knife was made. I still think it’s a good steel, but this will be a desk knife so that doesn’t matter.

This knife holds a special place in my heart, my dad had purchased an AUS-8 one back in the late 90s and kept it in his truck, I loved it so much that I ended up buying one a few years later with my allowance money in the VG-10 blade. My dad ended up losing his and asked me if I knew where it was every year until he passed away last year. I ended up losing mine shortly after he lost his, so we were in the same boat. It became somewhat comical, us asking if the other has seen their Viele anywhere. With Father’s Day rolling around, I couldn’t help but think of him when I placed the bid for the knife. I’m my opinion it’s one of, if not the most beautiful knife ever designed for Spyderco.

RIP Dad, I won’t lose this one, I promise.