Sheepsfoot Bladed Spydercos
 
Mariner  -  ParaMedic  -  MiniMariner  -  C14 Rescue  -  SnapIt EMT  -  Remote Release EMT
C35 Rescue Q  -  C45 Rescue Jr.  -  D'Allara Rescue  -  Ladybug II
 
Over the years Spyderco has produced a number of sheepsfoot bladed models.  The first of these, and only the second model to be introduced by Spydero is was the Mariner.  As you might guess from its name, it was aimed at those whose work or play involves watercraft. 
A spin-off from the Mariner, the Paramedic was the first Spyderco aimed at "Save and Serve" professionals, a group that would, in future years become an important market for them.  The Paramedic, while an excellent knife, was perhaps a bit too expensive, so after the successful introduction of the FRN Delica and Endura, the C14 Rescue, an FRN version of the Mariner,  was introduced.       
 

It's somehow fitting that two of these "sea going" Spydercos crossed oceans to end up in my collection.  The middle one, a plain edge in G-2 (GIN-1) was purchased from a fellow collector in Great Britain, and the second from the bottom, an earlier plain edge with no steel markings but the model name etched in the blade, came across the Pacific, courtesy of a good friend and fellow forumite, Daywalker.  Above them are a right hand PE and a left hand SE Mariner, both in ATS-55.  Bottom-most in the picture is a variation on the very early Mariner called the Paramedic, this one in right hand plain edge.  As with the original Mariners, the edges of the Paramedic handle are not chamfered like those of the later knives above it.  It is disinguished from the Mariner by the lack of drying vents in the handles.

 
This very early black coated Mariner is a recent addtion to my collection.

One noticeable difference between the early Mariners and the ParaMedic is that both scales of the Mariner were of equal thickness while the clip side scale of the ParaMedic was thicker than the scale on the opposite side.

Another very early Mariner, this one in SE.  The Mariner was the first knife to use the "Spyderedge", Spyderco's signature version of a serrated edge.  It was chosen, at least in part, because it was felt there might be negative reaction to the combination of the more "aggressive" look projected by the serrated edge and sharp tipped blade.

Yet another very early Mariner, this one Left Handed with a serrated edge.   In addition to  the clip being on the opposite side, the serrations and MARINER name engraved on the blade are also the opposite of those on right handed specimens.

The Mini-Mariner is the smallest knife ever produced by Spyderco,  While fully functional it is really too small to be considered anything but a piece of jewelry.  The abalone shell scales on this one show excellent color in the light.
Mini and full size Mariners
Spyderco has produced a wide range of sizes in sheepsfoot bladed knives.
Top to bottom:
C02 - All Stainless Mariner
C14 - Rescue, and early version, in yellow FRN with integral clip and no steel markings
C45 - 79mm Rescue - formerly called the Rescue Jr.  in VG-10
LBKII - Ladybug II
 3001 - Abalone Mini-Mariner
A range of FRN sheepsfoot bladed Spydercos, the topmost plain edged Rescue in ATS-55 is the last version of the C14 not called a "93mm" Rescue, but note how the handle has changed between it and the very early yellow one below it.  The clip is now metal, attached with a barrel bolt and mountable for either right or left hand carry.  The handle is deeper, top to bottom, and has a 50/50 choil.  Below it are current 79mm Rescues in blue and orange FRN with VG-10 blades .  The Ladybug II provides a key ring sized companion for those who carry the larger Rescue models.
C14 Rescues through the years - Top to Bottom
2003 Version - Rescue 93mm - VG-10
1999 Version - ATS-55
1996? Version - AUS-8
1993 Version - GIN-1 (marked G-2)
Pre 1992 Version - Rescue - GIN-1 (but no steel marking on blade)

Top knife in the above picture is the latest variation on the C14, a plain edged version of the 2003-04 style 93mm Rescue.  Thumb hole has been enlarged to 14mm for easier operation with gloved hands, traction grooves added to the thumb ramp, and a forward finger position added to the spine for added control.  Unfortunately, in the process, the very usable 50/50 choil which, along with the barrel bolt mounted ambidextrous clip, had been introduced on the 1999 version, got reduced to the point where using it is flirting with disaster.  The height of the hump and angularity of the transition between forward spine and thumb ramp was also increased  While I personally like the forward finger position, the user community this knife is aimed at, did not, nor did they like the higher, more angular ramp.   In response to their dissatisfaction, the 2005 version, due out shortly, will eliminate the forward finger notch, and return to a somewhat lower, more rounded hump while retaining the 14mm hole.  From where I sit, the good news is that the 50/50 choil will also return.  The Atlantic Salt, an H1 (super rust proof steel) bladed spin-off of the C14 will share the '05 traits.  

 
Pictured below, the Atlantic Salt - H1 steel, yellow and black FRN, plain and serrated edges.
 

This Atlantic was customized for me by Steve Rice (STR on the forums) in February of '06.  He did one heck of a job on it!  Scales are stabilized Birdseye Maple which I had purchased from Alpha Knife Supply and which was left over from another project.

 
 
Below:  The all Stainless versions of the C14 Rescue and C45 Rescue Jr. shown with a Mariner for size comparison.    These apparently did not prove popular, as they had a very short life and thus are fairly difficult to find.  Steel is ATS-55 and, to the best of my knowledge all were serrated edge.
 
 Below: comparison of various models closed
 C02 - Mariner  C14 - Rescue "1999" version
C45 - 79mm Rescue (Rescue Jr.) C14 - 93mm Rescue "2003" version 
C14 - Rescue  - FRN Clip version C89 - Atlantic Salt
 
Below: Several C45 Rescue Juniors including an all stainless ATS-55 version.
Below: An older FRN C45 Rescue Jr. in ATS-55 - this one carries Collector's Club # 002
 
Below: All Stainless C14 and the FRN version from the same (ATS-55) era.
 
Pictured below is the sheepsfoot variant on the Snap-It, called the EMT.   Note the larger hole on the orange version.  At 15mm, it is the largest on any Spyderco model.
 
 
Perhaps even less common that the SnapIt EMTs are the Remote Release EMTs pictured below.  These, like the Orange SnapIt EMT, have extra large 15mm thumb holes.
 
WTC Knife, which also served as the prototype for the D'Allara Rescue.
 
There was also a sheepsfoot bladed "Rescue Q".  Among the variations it came in were this one, made for the 1998 New York Custom Knife Show
 
Another version was made in very small numbers for Wilderness Medicine Outfitters in Colorado.
 
And yet another was this solid bladed four piece "color Rescue" set.