Q Ball Bearing Lock (C219GP)

[Tabo]

This blade in my eyes is deserving of its own thread for present discussion and future release talk.

A little back story:
A New Years resolution for me in 2017 is to limit myself to one knife purchase. Blasphemy right?! This past year I spent waaay too much on blades and ended up selling most of them because of one reason or another and never really settled on one. Mostly just bought them because I needed the newest thing.

I work as an operations leader for a large department store and so my knives literally get used at least a hundred times a day for cardboard, tape, straps, plastic (you name it) cutting. So I've come to realize what blade shape, handle and steel works best for me.

So when I saw the 2017 catalog and the Q Ball, I pre-ordered it from GPKnives (2nd on their pre-order list :D) and I already have an envelope of money set aside for it too. Haha

It really is a dream come true for my usage. Wharncliffe blade, finger choil, solid locking mechanism, deep carry clip, perfect size and grippy g-10. The steel choice doesn't really bother me because I always sharpening my knives at least once every two days anyways.

I have always thought about buying the Yojimbo 2 but it looks too tactical and some people would not appreciate me carrying it at where I work just from the looks of it alone.

So Sal.... any insight on when we can purchase this beauty? Maybe an estimated quarter of the year?

I will post pictures and write up a thorough review when I get mine and start to use it. I will bump this thread when that happens.

Thanks for everyone's time to read my write up and if you have any thoughts or discussion on the Q Ball, this is the thread for it! :)

[ryguy76]

I gotta say, it's the knife that stood out to me too for all the same reasons as you described.

I currently carry a Chap at work in my office environment, but being a systems specialist at a hospital, I end up opening boxes for parts, servers etc rather frequently and then breaking down the cardboard etc. The Chap has been nice to have as it's a classy unassuming little knife, but the blade shape of the Q-ball is rather enticing along with it's sharp looks. Looking forward to the release of this knife as well.

[MattM68]

As a huge fan of the Dodo this is a very cool knife to see! Although I'd still prefer a Dodo, this looks a lot more practical, easier to sharpen, and as of right now, a lot cheaper! The Q-ball was one of the knives that really stood out to me.

[ChrisinHove]

I was was smitten by this at first sight, as well.

.. but then I started wondering whether in use it would really be any better than the Jazz Wharncliffe Delica?

[SF Native]

Totally agree. Looking forward to this one.
As other have said, it might be a hard sell as it's very similar to the warncliffe delica, but appears a little more refined. I'm in and have one pre-ordered.

[thombrogan]

Such a delightful looking knife. It's like a second chance for those of us that missed the Poliwog, but looks like it won't take up as much pocket space.

[DigDug72]

Yep, this is the one that I'm the most excited about from the catalogue. Can't wait - wharnies are the most useful edc blade shape for my needs, and that ball bearing lock seems like a winner. Haven't ever pre-ordered a knife, but I have a feeling this one's gonna be my first!

[timlara]

Also very curious to compare the Q Ball to the Wharnie Delica. They are very similar, but the main difference I guess comes down to which ergos work better for you. I tend to favor choils, so it'll be interesting to see whether the ergos of the Q Ball outweigh the slicing performance of the thinner stock on the Wharnie Delica.

I agree that the Q Ball looks like a good, less scary EDC alternative to the Yojimbo. The aggressive look of the Yo2 is the main thing that keeps me from carrying mine more since it's pretty iffy to pull out in an office environment...

[demoncase]

:
A New Years resolution for me in 2017 is to limit myself to one knife purchase.

And like all of my New Year's Resolutions, that's certain to be broken :)

[DougC-3]

I'm a huge fan of the exposed BBL and also discrete-carry wire clips and choils, so the Q Ball is right near the top of my want list now, and probably bumped the Jazz Delica down a couple of notches on my list, but I'd like to have one of those too :D

[Horizon]

I love the look of the Q ball, but if the handle is any smaller than the Delica Wharncliffe , I can't do it.

[DougC-3]

sorry, dupe post

[DougC-3]

I love the look of the Q ball, but if the handle is any smaller than the Delica Wharncliffe , I can't do it.

Looking at the measurements in the catalog and a real Delica, the Q Ball handle is just 1cm shorter -- the amount in front of the pivot screw on the Delica, which for me just serves mainly as a handguard and part of the thumb ramp. I think for me at least, the most used grip on the Q-Ball would include the choil. So if you include the blade part of the choil, the whole grip would be the same length as the Delica handle. Plus, your finger would go all the way to the front of the choil, which would make it effectively a little longer grip than the Delica. Also, the Q Ball handle is wider than the Delica's and, I think a little like the Manix's, which is really a great fit for my hand. In fact, this might make it a good fit just gripping the part of the handle behind the choil.

All this is just my opinion -- I guess you can tell I'm already a little stuck on the Q Ball (no pun :D )

[Horizon]

I love the look of the Q ball, but if the handle is any smaller than the Delica Wharncliffe , I can't do it.

Looking at the measurements in the catalog and a real Delica, the Q Ball handle is just 1cm shorter -- the amount in front of the pivot screw on the Delica, which for me just serves mainly as a handguard and part of the thumb ramp. I think for me at least, the most used grip on the Q-Ball would include the choil. So if you include the blade part of the choil, the whole grip would be the same length as the Delica handle. Plus, your finger would go all the way to the front of the choil, which would make it effectively a little longer grip than the Delica. Also, the Q Ball handle is wider then the Delica's and, I think a little like the Manix's, which is really a great fit for my hand.

All this is just my opinion -- I guess you can tell I'm already a little stuck on the Q Ball (no pun :D )

You convinced me! I will be pre ordering today

[DougC-3]

You convinced me! I will be pre ordering today

Ha! If Spyderco wants to give me a commission, I hope they'll wait until it's enough to pay me in knives

[harubaji]

I am huge fan of the Dodo and hoping that under the circumstances of modern production and Spyderco's position as one of the premier knife companies that at some point there will be a conservation effort to safe this endangered species from a second extinction. I would love to see a reissue of the original with variations in material and size as many other Spyderco clients have suggested and hoped for. Just as we are seeing a reissue of the Meerkat, hopefully in 2018 there will be a comeback of the Dodo at a sub 200 cost.

My belief is that the q-ball is a response to the demand for the void created by the discontinuation of the Dodo and an effort to improve and modify some aspects of the knife through the use of a wharncliffe blade while retaining many aspects of the Dodo with material, length and design. I certainly understand those who are undecided between the Delica wharncliffe and the q-ball. The Delica 4 is a proven classic and the new options of the wharncliffe with the introduction at the same time of the q-ball make a tough choice for those whose budget may be a limiting factor.

I am grateful for the new 2017 additions and the q-ball especially, which does answer the request for the reintroduction of the Dodo, although in the form of this new knife. I am very excited to have this knife in hand and use it as my primary edc for the coming year. I have full confidence that it will equal/improve on the Dodo while also paying homage to it. The deep choil and thick handle with short blade give an incredible amount of leverage that ensure security of control no matter what the tasks and conditions are. The ball bearing design is functional, safe and elegant and I hope that Spyderco decides to keep it going forward with new knife designs.

[sal]

Hi Harubaji,

Welcome to our forum.

Hey Tabo,

We don't have a delivery date yet.

BTW, the "Q" ball, like the Dodo and Poliwog is one of Eric's designs.

sal

[Bodog]

Sal, can you offer any kind of comment on the Gayle Bradley Advocate First Impression thread?

[hank_612]

Sal, can you offer any kind of comment on the Gayle Bradley Advocate First Impression thread?

Dude you have gone full troll. Let the man speak when he feels like it. You are neither Woodward or Bernstein and this is not a life or death situation . It is time to sit back and relax. Sal is a legend and deserves more respect than this.

[Bodog]

Sal, can you offer any kind of comment on the Gayle Bradley Advocate First Impression thread?

Dude you have gone full troll. Let the man speak when he feels like it. You are neither Woodward or Bernstein and this is not a life or death situation . It is time to sit back and relax. Sal is a legend and deserves more respect than this.

I don't know who Woodward or Bernstein are. This issue has been going on for awhile with no response from anyone at Spyderco. I posted in a thread where Sal had just commented in case he missed the other thread. I didn't think I said anything in a disrespectful manner, I thought I said something simply to bring it to his attention with the specific thread of interest.

If there's no answer after this then I expect there won't be at all.