Re: Vote: SMOCK v.s. IKUCHI
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 2:01 pm
voted turtles...turtles are dope af
+1
+1
Hey since you've brought up the fact you have the SK23 as well, would you mind also sharing any major differences between the two? Curious in particular to anything along the lines of perhaps any major character/design defining features of the SK23 that Spyderco might have mistakenly missed or gotten wrong, as well as on the other hand any improvements in the Smock over the SK that stood out to you? Just based off a brief glance from a while ago I think one thing I might've liked better on the SK was it's more proper flat-edged wharnecliffe blade.spyderg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 1:48 pm
The lock is fantastic. Mine takes a little more force to disengage than my para2 (tension on the lock bar is a bit more) but is easier to press the button than digging a fingertip in so it ends up far easier to use. However I have never accidentally disengaged the lock on the Smock or my custom SK23. I’m a lefty by the way and my custom is lefty. Both work great in right or left hand.
As far as the choil is concerned I love it. The way I use it is middle finger tip in the choil, thumb at the Spydie hole and index over spine near the tip for precise cutting. Other than that I hold it with my index in the groove behind the pivot and thumb up on the jimping. That gives me plenty of control,( I am very confused as to why some folks say they are too far from the cutting edge like that? I guess maybe with tiny hands it’s a problem?). Anyways, back to the choil, I really like that the cutting edge is out and away from the pivot area, that way I don’t get crud in my pivot. The Smock has enough cutting edge for my edc tasks and enough handle for my lrg-xlrg hands.
I’m curious about the Ikuchi but the wire clip is too much a deterrent for me and as I mention it ends up a $300 knife if I get a clip that I can actually use so I’ll have to wait to satisfy that curiosity if I ever do.
$300 is unfortunately not an exaggeration. Going price in Canada is $180, plus shipping and taxes puts it at $200. A Ripps clip after shipping and exchange,(assuming no duties or import fees) is $100.youmakemehole wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 2:30 pmHey since you've brought up the fact you have the SK23 as well, would you mind also sharing any major differences between the two? Curious in particular to anything along the lines of perhaps any major character/design defining features of the SK23 that Spyderco might have mistakenly missed or gotten wrong, as well as on the other hand any improvements in the Smock over the SK that stood out to you? Just based off a brief glance from a while ago I think one thing I might've liked better on the SK was it's more proper flat-edged wharnecliffe blade.spyderg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 1:48 pm
The lock is fantastic. Mine takes a little more force to disengage than my para2 (tension on the lock bar is a bit more) but is easier to press the button than digging a fingertip in so it ends up far easier to use. However I have never accidentally disengaged the lock on the Smock or my custom SK23. I’m a lefty by the way and my custom is lefty. Both work great in right or left hand.
As far as the choil is concerned I love it. The way I use it is middle finger tip in the choil, thumb at the Spydie hole and index over spine near the tip for precise cutting. Other than that I hold it with my index in the groove behind the pivot and thumb up on the jimping. That gives me plenty of control,( I am very confused as to why some folks say they are too far from the cutting edge like that? I guess maybe with tiny hands it’s a problem?). Anyways, back to the choil, I really like that the cutting edge is out and away from the pivot area, that way I don’t get crud in my pivot. The Smock has enough cutting edge for my edc tasks and enough handle for my lrg-xlrg hands.
I’m curious about the Ikuchi but the wire clip is too much a deterrent for me and as I mention it ends up a $300 knife if I get a clip that I can actually use so I’ll have to wait to satisfy that curiosity if I ever do.
As an owner of an Ikuchi, I can also tell you your fears are not unwarranted, I'd say especially with how it deploys, you may find your fingers squeezing on the wire clip more often and with more force than you typically would on any other folder. I've had to bend back my clip a few times already in the span of maybe just a month or so(I do fidget a lot with it though). I plan on getting one of those Ripps pocket clips pretty soon... and yeah they arent cheap either, they start somewhere between 2x-3x the price of a MXG/Casey Lynch clip. IMO its all going to be worth it though, if I had to do it all over again, I'd do the same thing. Unless you live somewhere with ridiculous shipping costs I think $300 is a bit of an exaggeration. The knife itself is $130 shipped if you live in the US and the clip is going to be about $65. The knife is seriously like borderline sorcery. You will likely have to fully experience it to understand...cliche i know.. but there just isn't anything like it that has ever existed and I really doubt there will be anything like it ever created again either. 2 biggest highlights for me are its EDC factor and blade. Almost surreal how light and slim it is and how well it carries, and the blade will poke and cut just about anything anywhere at whatever angle you please.
Exact experience with the Ikuchi here and firmly agree with your assessment of it.Cali HogHead wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:08 pmOwning both of them, I find it difficult to compare them. The first thing that caught my attention on the Smock that hadn't until I had it in hand, was the fact that the pivot area is very blocky when the blade is deployed. That's not something that can be remedied easily due to the flipper mechanism. It didn't change my opinion of the knife, I enjoy it tremendously.
The Ikuchi on the other hand, is sleekness embodied. It shoots out like a rocket with the slightest pressure on the flipper wheel. There is seemingly some production issues with the tip being just slightly too exposed, and others have a sharp flipper. My example can cut you if you run your finger with too much pressure by the tip while it's closed. My flipper wheel jimping is excellent though. Also, it's a bit of a task to disengage the comp lock as well.
All in all, both amazing and unique designs!
Wow! Okay Smock is out of the purchase lineup, Thanks!koenigsegg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:20 pmHad a Smock but wasn't in love with the ergos or layout of the handle near the pocket clip. I personally wish the choil had more purchase like a PM2 or Urban and was more defined. I get that they're prob just copying the SK23(?) but that's my opinion on owning it. So I sold it and bought the Ikuchi.
It is not a copy. Spyderco made certain changes for their own reasons. As I said before, I will reserve judgement until I handle a Smock.koenigsegg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:20 pmI get that they're prob just copying the SK23(?) but that's my opinion on owning it.
Thats unfortunate... theres always the option of running it clipless, come to think of it the form factor on the Ikuchi would probably be real nice like that actually. Also, you can include international listings on ebay searches and have prices converted to CAD, I've done the opposite with some Canadian listings before and I was able to just pay the extra shipping on top of the discounted Canadian price.spyderg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:42 pm
$300 is unfortunately not an exaggeration. Going price in Canada is $180, plus shipping and taxes puts it at $200. A Ripps clip after shipping and exchange,(assuming no duties or import fees) is $100.
I really like the design of it and if it came with a useable clip I’d grab one. Now I certainly see why they used the wire clip on the knife, it’s a good fit on the handle and discreet carry for a gentleman’s knife is the way to go but I simply can’t use em, I’ve got thick calloused hands but wire clips hurt. Also they move around and bend on me.
I love me a nice wharncliffe but I’m very happy with the blade shape on the Smock, to be honest it’s more useful for me. I think the Smock is the perfect combination of Kevin’s two folders, SK23 and SK45. The one thing that stands out to me is the Smock is a longer knife, but the SK is thicker so it evens out for carryability. Both feel great in hand, I’d say the Smock feels a little more locked in.
I could probably do like I did for my Smock and order from DLT, I saved about $15 and got mine a couple weeks before they started popping up in Canada, but then I run the risk of getting tagged with big duty fees and it would end up costing even more.youmakemehole wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:06 amThats unfortunate... theres always the option of running it clipless, come to think of it the form factor on the Ikuchi would probably be real nice like that actually. Also, you can include international listings on ebay searches and have prices converted to CAD, I've done the opposite with some Canadian listings before and I was able to just pay the extra shipping on top of the discounted Canadian price.spyderg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:42 pm
$300 is unfortunately not an exaggeration. Going price in Canada is $180, plus shipping and taxes puts it at $200. A Ripps clip after shipping and exchange,(assuming no duties or import fees) is $100.
I really like the design of it and if it came with a useable clip I’d grab one. Now I certainly see why they used the wire clip on the knife, it’s a good fit on the handle and discreet carry for a gentleman’s knife is the way to go but I simply can’t use em, I’ve got thick calloused hands but wire clips hurt. Also they move around and bend on me.
I love me a nice wharncliffe but I’m very happy with the blade shape on the Smock, to be honest it’s more useful for me. I think the Smock is the perfect combination of Kevin’s two folders, SK23 and SK45. The one thing that stands out to me is the Smock is a longer knife, but the SK is thicker so it evens out for carryability. Both feel great in hand, I’d say the Smock feels a little more locked in.
I disagree. This design may require it, but the Autonomy 2 is a button lock and it has no choil.ferider wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:37 amIt does. Not a drawback for us who like choils though, and it's not too sharp (for me at least) to use.
I like choils as they allow hard use of a knife (Pivot relief). In fact, in the ocean of available great flippers, choils are few and far in between. One of the reasons why I use Spydercos.
Roland.
Right on, I say as far as folding knives go, just do what makes you happy nothing more nothing less! I personally carry 1 model around clipless and thats the Sage 2. I believe it's around the same size as the Ikuchi, just taller. I find that if the knife has a very smooth and consistent exterior when its folded, loose pocket carry isn't really that bad! Ikuchi would be even moreso than the Sage 2 for me. I dont think I'd enjoy carrying something like a PM3 or Autonomy 2 which would be opposite of what I'm describing, the jutting angles overall bumpiness would not be good for my pocket things and also not feel great on my hand when it reaches in there.spyderg wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:59 amI could probably do like I did for my Smock and order from DLT, I saved about $15 and got mine a couple weeks before they started popping up in Canada, but then I run the risk of getting tagged with big duty fees and it would end up costing even more.
I don’t see how I’d carry it clip-less. As compact as it is, it’s still too long to carry loose in pocket. I find as soon as a knife hits 4” closed, it won’t work loose in pocket. Also the only type I trust loose is a slipjoint or backlock with strong tension holding it closed.
Like I said, perhaps one day, maybe in trade or on the secondary but not full (Canadian)price. Plus I can’t get enough of the Smock anyway! Honestly it just works for me. All of the things folks seem to dislike are things that I love about it, the cf over g10, the clip position, the choil, the blocky section of the handle, the cutting edge being far from the handle, did I miss anything? The only thing I might change would be the steel, not that I have a problem with s30v but I want Cruwear everything!
Do you carry a compression lock knife loose in your pocket currently? Sounds scary to me, they seem to open up on me when I don't want them toyoumakemehole wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:06 am
theres always the option of running it clipless, come to think of it the form factor on the Ikuchi would probably be real nice like that actually.