Watu

[dsvirsky]

I decided to pick up a Watu before they were all gone. Glad I did. Fit and finish are excellent, as good as anything I've seen out of Taichung. The blade is centered, with even bevels at 15° dps, and the textured G10/CF scales are quite nice. What's more, the is the first compression lock knife I've ever received (and I own a few, starting with the original Paramilitary) that has a good, strong detente; I cannot shake it open.

[Catchadroppimgknife]

Watu is an excellent knife - I wanted to treat it like a gent knife but it’s more than that! An exotic Chaparral is what it was for me.

Nice grab - not seeing too many of these around anymore

[Bolster]

I decided to pick up a Watu before they were all gone....

Did same. Was amazed at what a fine knife it is, and how I'd avoided owning one for so long. Really like the G-10/CF mix of the scales.

[brj]

The Watu is such a fantastic EDC I felt the need for an identical back-up, just in case. Glad that I did. The blade profile is handy, and the handle ergonomics are simply glorious without (thank God and Sal, not necessarily in this order ) killing the ergos with that stupid choil.

[Flash]

I’ve been looking to get one of these eventually, although I Should probably get one soonish.

It ticks a lot of boxes particularly the blade.

[clinton1]

Watu is awesome! Sooooo thin and slices!
Bonus: I feel very fancy when I carry it!

[DerRock]

This is a very good knife: light, cuts well, beautiful. It’s a pity that it was sold poorly and was discontinued because of this.

[Brock O Lee]

I've been carrying the Watu again this week, and I was reminded again about what a stellar (and underrated) knife this is! It must rank high up as one of the best Sal Glesser designs, in my opinion.

Here are a few pictures I took over the last 3 years...



It is vastly different than the PM2, but also strangely similar. Almost like a wharnie Para 3, but optimised for slicing.

I appreciate the generous grip size and no choil design on such a compact folder. Plenty of real estate for my XL hand. In fact, it has a longer grip than a PM2 behind the choil!



Size comparison with a few thin blades. Chaparral, UKPK, Delica Wharncliffe, Watu.



Tip comparison (same order as above). The Watu (right) is a laser beam.



I feel it is one of those rare coherent designs where the whole is somehow more than the sum of the parts.





Is hides a few secrets, with a pivot bushing, as well as a second hidden stop pin that rides in a channel in the blade around the pivot.

It is a pity it was discontinued. I would have loved a wood scaled version...

[elena86]

Totally agree with Brock. What more can I say except ... I own five of them !

[TkoK83Spy]

@Brock O Lee

Hey Hans, I'm not sure if they are still in business but I had these Figured Koa scales on my Watu a few years. Trifect Custom Shop.

[Brock O Lee]

@Brock O Lee

Hey Hans, I'm not sure if they are still in business but I had these Figured Koa scales on my Watu a few years. Trifect Custom Shop.

Thanks Rick...

Yes those are killer scales! The website is still up, but I get a sense of desolation about it. Nothing in stock and no activity in the last few years. His custom order book is closed, according to his Instagram account.

At those prices I am motivated to make a set of scales myself for the backup Watu. Flat slabs with a few precision holes, not rocket science. I have a few small pieces of stabilised hardwoods that have been gathering dust for too long...