Pass on the Pattadese

[drkanafani]

Now, I know this is a Spyderco fan forum. I am certainly a fan. Got a bunch of them, from para 2 and 3 to spydiechef to other frn models. I thought I'd try out the new Pattadese. This is a pretty mediocre effort from Spyderco. On the plus side, it does have a nice form factor and it is lightweight. That's it, literally. For a $200 knife, it falls very short. First, the overall build quality and tolerances are poor. Scale/liner interface is sloppy. The blade grind lines are coarse, especially near the pivot. The lock is poorly designed and executed. Access is way too aft of the interface, requiring too much torque and pain to open. It has significant lock stick. In the closed position, the lock bar actually appears bowed; see picture. The detent is terribly weak. I disassembled the knife. It runs on very small bronze washers, which came dirty and burred from the factory. It is easy to center, I will say that. The hardware is decent. Overall, the knife feels cheap and not worth the asking price.

[VooDooChild]

I got a pattada at a good price last year. However after having carried it a few times I realised the design wasnt really for me so I knew I wasnt going to get the pattadese.

I will say my pattada didnt seem to have these issues. Detent is fine, lockup is good, no lockstick, fit and finish is fine.

I actually think the design of the tang/lock interface/ stop pin interface of the pattada was very well thought out. Not sure if its the same on the pattadese.

[RamZar]

There was another thread where others had issues with the Pattadese.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88975

I don’t know which knife maker in Maniago, Italy makes the Pattadese: FOX, LionSteel, Mercury and Tecnocut (Viper). I know SpyOpera is made by LionSteel. I’ve had knives from all four and their quality is consistently very good.

[ChrisinHove]

My Pattada was well made, although overall it wasn’t a keeper for me.

[JRinFL]

I'd like to see more examples before I condemn the model, but for the asking price it should be expected that it will face closer scrutiny.

[Cricket Bite]

Now, I know this is a Spyderco fan forum. I am certainly a fan. Got a bunch of them, from para 2 and 3 to spydiechef to other frn models. I thought I'd try out the new Pattadese. This is a pretty mediocre effort from Spyderco. On the plus side, it does have a nice form factor and it is lightweight. That's it, literally. For a $200 knife, it falls very short. First, the overall build quality and tolerances are poor. Scale/liner interface is sloppy. The blade grind lines are coarse, especially near the pivot. The lock is poorly designed and executed. Access is way too aft of the interface, requiring too much torque and pain to open. It has significant lock stick. In the closed position, the lock bar actually appears bowed; see picture. The detent is terribly weak. I disassembled the knife. It runs on very small bronze washers, which came dirty and burred from the factory. It is easy to center, I will say that. The hardware is decent. Overall, the knife feels cheap and not worth the asking price.

First off welcome to the forum.
My experience was the total opposite. I was thinking about starting a thread about how much I like the Pattadese. The fit and finish are excellent (equally comparable to my Kapara). It does surprise with lightness. The action is the smoothest liner lock I have ever had. Easy to flick open but it is a bit stiff to close but I am confident it will get easier once broken in. It has a great popping sound when the lock engages For me the size is perfect. I have medium hands and I typically carry smaller knives. Just for reference I love the Native 5 and the Chaparral. I also love my Kapara but its is on the upper end of size for what I prefer and need. The execution on this knife is exactly what it was intended and works very well. Maybe you just got a bad one. I understand if the size and style is not your cup of tea. For me I am wondering how this is not more popular. Worth every penny IMHO.

[shaztec]

I have to be honest I was a bit worried when I heard these would be made in Italy, but my example is absolutely spot on build quality wise. I did ask for the retailer to check it for me first before sending it to me here in Australia.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

I’m pleased to report the lock stick I was experiencing and mentioned in the other thread has now worked itself out after a few days of use and lots of fidgeting. Definitely a knife worth considering if you’re interested in the design. As for Maniago-made knives, other than this temporary lock stick on the Pattadese, all their other models have pretty phenomenal fit and finish.

[Sharp Guy]

Threads like these make me wonder what the OP's knife is really like. Is it actually as bad as they make it sound?

[Cl1ff]

I did see that a popular reviewer had similar troubles when dissembling his knife, but it’s nothing that appeared to impede function in any way.
Just weird washers and tight liners that were difficult to take apart.

[elena86]

Mine is almost perfect.I ordered a backup. Enough said.

[timlara]

Sounds like the QC might be a little hit or miss on these, although hard to say without knowing the size of this first run that was made. My example is very well executed and has none of the issues that some people have mentioned. I like the design very much.

[metaphoricalsimile]

More like Passadese amirite?

[araneae]

Sounds like a QC miss on that example. If you thought it was that bad, I wonder why you wouldn't return it rather than disassemble it? Have to wonder when a first post is just a negative review with no further interactions.

[sal]

Hi Drkanafani,

Welcome to our forum.

Sorry your first post had to be a negative on the model, but there are also many positives and the model is selling well. Sorry you didn't like it, but that's why we make so many models. Hope you can find something we make that you like?

sal

[JRinFL]

I just received mine yesterday. The lock was very hard to unlock at first and I thought it might be a bur on the lockbar. On very close inspection it turns out the lock face is carbidized. This leaves a rougher surface than a machined edge and it requires break in. Viper Knives Lion Steel in Italy claims they carbidize all lock faces on liner locks and RILs. So maybe this is made by Viper Lion Steel for Spyderco, or other Italian makers have started to do the same.

The lock still has a bit of stick, however it is getting easier and easier. It's a bit off-putting on a $203 knife to have to break in the lock, but I got a good price so I'm less concerned than others. The blade is a thin FFG, so it is very slicey with a very fine tip. The knife is very comfortable in my hands as is the full size Pattada.

The design is excellent and I'm glad I have both sizes. It is not much mentioned here on the forum, but I suspect it will be a grail knife for some once it gets disco'd. If it does, that is. Now they need to make one with real rams horn scales!

Edited: It was Lion Steel who posted on BF about the lock face carbidizing, not Viper. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/car ... st-7597932