Folding Knife Spyderco LeafJumper K390 C262PBLK390

Folding Knife Spyderco LeafJumper K390 C262PBLK390

Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser has always had a strong interest in designing knives that meet specific performance criteria. His unique 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 just a few.

A more recent example of Sal’s purpose-driven approach to knife design is the RockJumper, which he created to satisfy the demanding requirements of outdoor enthusiasts and climbers. Introduced in 2020, the RockJumper not only earned a loyal following, but also inspired demand for a version with a more conventional blade shape. Sal’s latest design, the LeafJumper, answers that call.

Design evolution

When designing the RockJumper, Sal’s goal was to create a lightweight folding knife that offered impressive cutting performance and fast, fully ambidextrous one-handed operation. To achieve that in a comfortable and easy-to-carry package, he refined the design to fit squarely in 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 traits of the Delica 4 and Endura 4 can be found in their handle construction. Their lightweight, ergonomic handles are built on stainless steel liner construction. The liners are skeletonized to reduce weight and give the knives impressive structural strength, support their robust back lock mechanism, and provide solid anchor points for their four-position pocket clips. The liners are nested into injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) scales and feature Spyderco’s signature Bi-Directional Texture pattern for a secure, non-slip grip. Matching FRN backspacers add additional strength and anchor the springs for the knives’ back lock mechanism, which can be easily operated with either hand.

All of these features are faithfully incorporated into the RockJumper’s handle, which features a broad profile that flares at both ends and “locks” the user’s hand in place for greater grip security. The handle’s fill-the-hand design also lies flat across the palm to allow instinctive tactile orientation of the blade’s plane and edge. Because many outdoor enthusiasts and climbers like to use safety lanyards on their knives, the rear end of the handle also includes an oversized lanyard hole.

At the “business end,” the RockJumper has a full-flat-ground VG-10 stainless steel blade with a classic Wharncliffe profile. The spine of the blade gracefully curves to meet a perfectly straight cutting 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. It is available in various PlainEdge or fully serrated SpyderEdge configurations and proudly features a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole for positive one-handed opening.

Turning over a new leaf

Although the Wharncliffe blade shape is extremely practical and versatile, some knife users prefer more “belly” along the edge and a stronger tip that sits closer to the knife’s center axis. To satisfy those preferences, Sal decided to pair the RockJumper’s handle with a broad leaf-shaped blade, and the LeafJumper was born.

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

The LeafJumper’s blade is available in various PlainEdge or fully serrated SpyderEdge formats and is a work of art. Its fully accessible Trademark Round Hole declares the knife’s Spyderco pedigree and enables fast, reliable one-handed opening with either hand. Like the RockJumper, the LeafJumper’s blade has minimal ricasso (the unground full-thickness area closest to the handle), which offers maximum edge length. This works in harmony with the refined ergonomics of the handle to place the hand farther forward and enable greater cutting power near the heel of the blade, closest to the handle. The full-flat grind and beautiful satin finish ensure low-friction cutting performance, while the slightly raised blade edge lifts the tip and aligns it with the knife’s center axis. Raising the tip also thickens and reinforces it, making it better suited for piercing and other point-oriented tasks.

Except for its molded-in name, the LeafJumper’s handle is exactly the same as the RockJumper’s and faithfully delivers all the same advantages. Built on a framework of skeletonized stainless steel liners, the broad, fill-the-hand handle features FRN scales, a shaped FRN backspacer, and a sturdy back lock mechanism with a positive self-close function. The FRN scales are injection molded with our high-traction Bi-Directional Texture pattern, providing a secure, non-slip grip even in the most demanding conditions. To ensure easy carry and keep the knife ready for immediate access, the handle is equipped with a four-position hourglass pocket clip that can be configured for left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. For users who prefer the added security of lanyards and fobs, the rear end of the handle offers a generously sized lanyard hole. Together, these features make the LeafJumper design completely symmetrical and allow every aspect of its carry, deployment, and operation to be fully ambidextrous.

Inspired by Sal Glesser’s original RockJumper design, the LeafJumper is a mid-sized back lock folding knife with a broad, ergonomic handle and a versatile leaf-shaped blade. This elite expression supercharges the design with a blade made from Bohler K390 steel. A state-of-the-art tool steel created to withstand demanding industrial cutting, blanking, and punching applications, K390 offers exceptional toughness and edge retention when used in knife blades. The FRN handle of the K390 LeafJumper is molded in the distinctive blue color reserved for Spyderco’s elite K390 family of knives.

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

Specifications

Closed Length: 11.3 cm

Cutting Edge: 7.3 cm

Blade Style: Leaf Shape

Blade Grind: Full-Flat

Blade Finish: Satin

Blade Edge: Plain

Handle Color: Blue

Locking Mechanism: Lockback

Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel (Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left carry)

Model Number: C262PBLK390

Model Name: LeafJumper K390

Designer: Sal Glesser

Made in Japan