If you love something, stop carrying it for a while..AKA Sliverax relationship update

[Evil D]

That's what I do. Especially with a new model that really hasn't proven itself to me yet. There's always a lot of new knife excitement and that usually wears off eventually. Recently that has been the Sliverax for me, so for the last couple weeks I took a break and have been back to carrying my Military 52100 and today my Yojimbo 2 S90V. Tonight I picked up the Sliverax for the first time in probably 2 weeks while watching some Roadkill (if you don't know this YouTube show and you're at all into cars, you're missing out) and a few things became clear:

1. It really is that good. Now that the honeymoon phase has passed, I still love it. This is as close to a custom designed knife as I may ever get from Spyderco. What I mean by that is, I really feel that Paul and I are very much on the same level idea/design wise, because so many details are exactly what I would do if I designed my own knife.

2. I also still very much love my Military collection. It is very hard to not pick up that 52100. A BIG part of that is simply loving the steel. If I could get the Sliverax in 52100...well I just don't know how I would handle that. That might actually be enough that I'd sell off the majority of my collection because it would probably be the last knife I'd buy (ok I still want an Autonomy though).

3. It's easily one of the best compression locks Spyderco have made. Since I was just carrying my Yojimbo 2 today for the first time in a while also, it was hard to not compare the two since they're both compression locks and are sort of similar in that they have strongly pronounced guard type handles. It's interesting to compare the ergonomics of the two, because despite having that deep index finger guard grip, they put the knife in almost opposite positions in your hand due to where the grips are thickest. The Yo 2 is thickest behind the pivot, tapering off to the butt of the handle. This lifts the pivot/blade end of the knife up and drops the butt of the grip down, which naturally positions my thumb right on the spine (Filipino grip).

By comparison the Sliverax does the opposite...it is thinner behind the pivot and fatter at the butt, which drops the pivot/blade end downward and positions my thumb more above the pivot/hole and not as far out onto the spine. I can relax my thumb (like giving a thumb's up) and it falls just over the bug/hole on the blade. I'm not really sure which I prefer, the Yo 2 had previously been may favorite handle design that Spyderco has made, but I actually feel that the Sliverax is a more secure grip despite being totally smooth and lacking any finger grooves (I even compared my DLC Yo 2 since the handle grip hasn't been modified like the one I usually carry). Both grips are excellent in my opinion, but I think for general EDC the Sliverax is just a marvel of ergonomic design.

Lastly for comparison sake, I don't think the detent is any weaker than my Yojimbo is. I know that for a flipper, that may still be "too weak" for some, but for thumb opening I think it's perfect.

4. It carries extremely well. The closed profile is slim and so smooth, this is one area that it absolutely bests my Military. The Military gets lots of credit for carrying as well as it does for such a large knife/handle, but it just doesn't disappear in my pocket like the Sliverax does. It's also easier to get my hand around when reaching into my pocket.

5. If I could change anything about the Sliverax.....hmm. I actually wouldn't mind if it had an hourglass clip. It's big enough that a little stronger clipping action wouldn't hurt. I took the wire clip off and bent it a bit so it presses onto the handle harder. For casual EDC I think it's fine, but when I'm working I get a little paranoid about it slipping off my thin work pants.

I also wish it had solid peel ply carbon fiber. The G10/CF laminate is great for what it is, it just doesn't make me all warm and fuzzy inside like the real thing. It's like back in the day when Datson 240Z's were really cool but still not a Corvette. I also think this knife would be over the top amazing with some rounded/contoured scales, but I think that about every knife. I may just have to get some made.

Aaaand I wish it had a different steel. Notice I didn't say better steel. S30V is a fine steel, I'm just over saturated with it and bored of it. This knife deserves some M4 or something a little more fancy. I know Taichung have plenty of M4 laying around in the same factory that this knife rolled out of...just make the call and get it done. I'd rather have 52100, but I would definitely be overjoyed with M4.

[Sharp Guy]

Originally, I wasn't going to buy the Sliverax. Now, I'm so glad I did. What a great design!

[gull wing]

Looks like a great knife, good for you.
The handle design is reminiscent of the Dialex, love the blade design.

[Evil D]

Looks like a great knife, good for you.
The handle design is reminiscent of the Dialex, love the blade design.

Yeah, this is sort of the Dialex "Senior" that many of us had asked for. I would still like to see a full size version of the Junior someday, it was just too small for my hands.

[paulwa]

Howdy D,
Glad to hear she hasn’t completely lost her luster after the honeymoon... especially when up against such stiff competition.
And some sort of ‘exotic’ sprint would be very cool to see, but I have no idea if sales are going well enough to justify such a thing. I wonder if something like Kickstarter could be used to pool funds and pay for a ‘crowd-sourced’ exclusive... It would require some coordination with the mothership, if they would be open to such a thing...
I’ve been carrying mine with the slightly amped-up detent (which has smoothed out a bit more with incessant flipping), and am still extremely pleased with how Spyderco realized the design.

And not to get too off topic,
The Phoenix for me is the one that I fall in love again with every time I go back to it. It may be a bit bulky and heavy in the pocket for the edge length, but its beauty and ergos are stellar.

- Paul

[Evil D]

Howdy D,
Glad to hear she hasn’t completely lost her luster after the honeymoon... especially when up against such stiff competition.
And some sort of ‘exotic’ sprint would be very cool to see, but I have no idea if sales are going well enough to justify such a thing. I wonder if something like Kickstarter could be used to pool funds and pay for a ‘crowd-sourced’ exclusive... It would require some coordination with the mothership, if they would be open to such a thing...
I’ve been carrying mine with the slightly amped-up detent (which has smoothed out a bit more with incessant flipping), and am still extremely pleased with how Spyderco realized the design.

And not to get too off topic,
The Phoenix for me is the one that I fall in love again with every time I go back to it. It may be a bit bulky and heavy in the pocket for the edge length, but its beauty and ergos are stellar.

- Paul

Well if the vendors don't or can't make a dealer exclusive happen and Spyderco seems it too risky for a sprint, some kind of Kickstarter campaign to come up with the funds might work if Spyderco allow it, but my understanding is it costs a LOT of money to make a run of knives so we'd need a whole lot of support. If the materials are right you can count me in.

[p_atrick]

...but my understanding is it costs a LOT of money to make a run of knives...

Since they already did a run, they have all the appropriate tooling. So wouldn't that reduce the cost at least a little bit? The idea of crowdfunding the "perfect" Spyderco is interesting. So many posts here (I'm among them) are about making some changes to the models we love. This is a fascinating idea. I hope it gets a lot of scrutiny.

[Evil D]

...but my understanding is it costs a LOT of money to make a run of knives...

Since they already did a run, they have all the appropriate tooling. So wouldn't that reduce the cost at least a little bit? The idea of crowdfunding the "perfect" Spyderco is interesting. So many posts here (I'm among them) are about making some changes to the models we love. This is a fascinating idea. I hope it gets a lot of scrutiny.

They basically have to be paid for up front so if you do a sprint of 1200 knives at say $150 each, that's $180,000. I guess smaller runs could be done for less cost.

[holeshot]

Originally, I wasn't going to buy the Sliverax. Now, I'm so glad I did. What a great design!

Absolutely, I liked mine so much I got one to grind off the flipper and EDC one for the collection. I would love to know what you are going to do for an encore Paul. :)

[hambone56rx]

Thanks for the post EvilD. I am really enjoying my Sliverax. The flipping action is continuing to get better and better as it wears in. I 100% agree with you in how easy it carries in the pocket. It puts the PM2 & the M2 to shame in those categories, due to the slinder profile & the deep-carry, wire, pocket clip. It has been finding it's way into the pocket the most of all my knives! Something I have found on the detent, while I can still flip it well, I have found it has come open in my pocket a couple times. That got me wondering, "I wonder if I can shake it loose?" Sure enough when I grab the handle and give a swift motion downwards, the blade swings open by itself. I'm assuming this is due to the week detent. Has anyone else had any similar issues?

Again it's a stellar design and I'm carrying it more than anything else for a reason!

[Sharp Guy]

"I wonder if I can shake it loose?" Sure enough when I grab the handle and give a swift motion downwards, the blade swings open by itself. I'm assuming this is due to the week detent. Has anyone else had any similar issues

I can shake the blade out on mine but I have to really go at it hard to do it. So hard I just about throw my arm out. I have other knives that I can shake out easier and none have ever opened in my pocket. Perhaps the detent on yours is overly light? You might want to consider sending it into W&R and have them take a look.

[pftbahaa]

I've put mine down for about four days. Now I just miss it. I've even begun thinking of selling the majority of my other knives. It may not be absolute perfection to me, I admit, but it is inarguably excellent.
All I find myself wanting from spyderco now is a small knife, same amount of sleekness, compression lock front flipper. I think that would basically complete my overall edc wants/needs.

[gull wing]

Say, does this knife have ball bearings or the PB washers at the pivot?

[Tdog]

Got mine out yesterday because of this thread. Did the fluff and buff, and will start carrying it more. A good reminder that rotating Spydies helps one appreciate the designs, differences, and uniqueness. :spyder:

[Evil D]

Say, does this knife have ball bearings or the PB washers at the pivot?

Bearings, but different than all the other bearings thus far, and they're riding on the blade and steel liners instead of on additional washers.

[gull wing]

Fascinating!
I don't suppose you have a picture of that?

[gull wing]

Ok, I found pic's.
Thanks!

[paulwa]

Absolutely, I liked mine so much I got one to grind off the flipper and EDC one for the collection. I would love to know what you are going to do for an encore Paul. :)

Howdy holeshot,
I think I have 4+ models that I’ve submitted that are still unreleased, a couple probably fairly close to production, some undecided, and others whose fate will be determined by the response to the first model in the ‘series’. Maybe the new catalog will have some info, I cannot say for sure. (I look forward to the catalogs, supplements, meet reports, etc. just as much as the average forumite). I’m also close to submitting another smaller design (just a tad shorter than the Ouroboros) which does some very Spyderco things in ways that are a bit different, so I’m not sure how well that one will be received (by Spyderco and/or the fans).

So, lots of irons in the fire, but no specifics I know/can share.
- Paul

[hambone56rx]

Absolutely, I liked mine so much I got one to grind off the flipper and EDC one for the collection. I would love to know what you are going to do for an encore Paul. :)

Howdy holeshot,
I think I have 4+ models that I’ve submitted that are still unreleased, a couple probably fairly close to production, some undecided, and others whose fate will be determined by the response to the first model in the ‘series’. Maybe the new catalog will have some info, I cannot say for sure. (I look forward to the catalogs, supplements, meet reports, etc. just as much as the average forumite). I’m also close to submitting another smaller design (just a tad shorter than the Ouroboros) which does some very Spyderco things in ways that are a bit different, so I’m not sure how well that one will be received (by Spyderco and/or the fans).

So, lots of irons in the fire, but no specifics I know/can share.
- Paul

SO MUCH YES!

[holeshot]

Absolutely, I liked mine so much I got one to grind off the flipper and EDC one for the collection. I would love to know what you are going to do for an encore Paul. :)

Howdy holeshot,
I think I have 4+ models that I’ve submitted that are still unreleased, a couple probably fairly close to production, some undecided, and others whose fate will be determined by the response to the first model in the ‘series’. Maybe the new catalog will have some info, I cannot say for sure. (I look forward to the catalogs, supplements, meet reports, etc. just as much as the average forumite). I’m also close to submitting another smaller design (just a tad shorter than the Ouroboros) which does some very Spyderco things in ways that are a bit different, so I’m not sure how well that one will be received (by Spyderco and/or the fans).

So, lots of irons in the fire, but no specifics I know/can share.
- Paul

Sweet! Sounds like the next few years will be to say the least, interesting. :)