Review request: Chinook
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shootist16
- Member
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee USA
Review request: Chinook
WHo can tell me about the Chinook? Would this make a good daily carry? How did the Chinook fare during testing?
Shootist16, I have never done one of these before but I felt bad that nobody else had answered your query. Understand that I have only had my Chinook (#402) for a little more than two weeks so this is really a summation of my first impressions.
My previous carry knife was a Starmate so I will be comparing the two. The only real advantage the Starmate has over the Chinook is that it is significantly lighter. The Chinook is not light. The Chinook has a blade that is a similar length and thickness as the Starmate but because of the Bowie design is much bigger. Add to this a lock with the same thickness as the blade, full stainless steel liners and thick G10 handles and you have a very substantial knife. My shooting buddies (not sheeple) first impressions were “wow that is heavy”. Well, this knife is built like a tank and tanks are not light.
The real question is can you carry it daily and I have without problems since I got it. I am not a big guy (5’10”, 170 lbs.) and I have mostly being wearing jeans the last couple of weeks. But I have tried it in Dockers and my suit pants. I am a runner and although I don’t normally run with a knife I tried it. I used some shorts with good elastic and although you notice it is there it didn’t make my shorts slip. The weight of the Chinook will definitely be a issue for some people and although I don’t really like how much it weighs I think it is worth it.
I like really the blade on the Chinook. Both knives have the same steel (440v) and similar grind. For utility I am not sure which blade is better but the Chinook is definitely cooler looking. On the downside it is probably less PC and more likely to intimidate sheeple. I never abused the Starmate and just used it for ordinary cutting chores and the Chinook has preformed just as well. Some testers cut down trees and stuff but that is not really my style. If I had to pick on the knife for such a task I would choose the Chinook, it gives the impression that it would withstand a lot of abuse. I haven’t had to sharpen the Chinook but I see no reason it would have significantly different edge holding properties than the Starmate. They are probably not much different when it come to sharpening either.
I have partial serrated versions of both. The serrations on the Chinook are much more aggressive and the more typical SpyderEdge while the ones of the Starmate are more subdued.( I didn’t really notice that until today). The Starmate has about 45% to 50% serrations while the Chinook only is about 40% serrated. The Starmate has four of the large serrations while the Chinook has three. I like serrations so I would actually prefer more but that may be just me.
Both handles are made of g-10 of similar texture but the Chinook has full liners. I think the Chinook has a more comfortable handle. It is more contoured to the hand and less likely to slip. The Chinook allows you to choke up with a small finger groove (poor description I know) at the bottom of the blade. This makes precise cutting easier.
In terms of locks the Starmate have a very good liner lock and the Chinook is the strongest lockback Spyderco has ever tested. Trying to compare the two would be silly so I won’t bother. I do like how the Chinook’s lock release notch is smaller to prevent a white-knuckle release. The lock works well and seems very strong. When opening the Chinook you can tell it has a significant blade. – Real Cool
The current Chinook carries a military clip, which is pretty similar to the Starmate’s. It sounds like future generations of Chinooks will carry a dedicated ambidextrous clip, which would be nice.
If I had to describe the Chinook in one word it would probably be Tough. This is a desert island survivor type knife. I am not an MBC practitioner but I don’t have any other folding knife that seems like it would be near as good for self-defense. It sounds like the Chinook line might change and evolve more than most Spyderco models but the one I have now is a very good knife. That being said, if a future ambidextrous model came with more serrations I would probably get one of those too. I would recommend it anyone who values strength and toughness over weight. I hope that answers your questions.
- Glenn
My previous carry knife was a Starmate so I will be comparing the two. The only real advantage the Starmate has over the Chinook is that it is significantly lighter. The Chinook is not light. The Chinook has a blade that is a similar length and thickness as the Starmate but because of the Bowie design is much bigger. Add to this a lock with the same thickness as the blade, full stainless steel liners and thick G10 handles and you have a very substantial knife. My shooting buddies (not sheeple) first impressions were “wow that is heavy”. Well, this knife is built like a tank and tanks are not light.
The real question is can you carry it daily and I have without problems since I got it. I am not a big guy (5’10”, 170 lbs.) and I have mostly being wearing jeans the last couple of weeks. But I have tried it in Dockers and my suit pants. I am a runner and although I don’t normally run with a knife I tried it. I used some shorts with good elastic and although you notice it is there it didn’t make my shorts slip. The weight of the Chinook will definitely be a issue for some people and although I don’t really like how much it weighs I think it is worth it.
I like really the blade on the Chinook. Both knives have the same steel (440v) and similar grind. For utility I am not sure which blade is better but the Chinook is definitely cooler looking. On the downside it is probably less PC and more likely to intimidate sheeple. I never abused the Starmate and just used it for ordinary cutting chores and the Chinook has preformed just as well. Some testers cut down trees and stuff but that is not really my style. If I had to pick on the knife for such a task I would choose the Chinook, it gives the impression that it would withstand a lot of abuse. I haven’t had to sharpen the Chinook but I see no reason it would have significantly different edge holding properties than the Starmate. They are probably not much different when it come to sharpening either.
I have partial serrated versions of both. The serrations on the Chinook are much more aggressive and the more typical SpyderEdge while the ones of the Starmate are more subdued.( I didn’t really notice that until today). The Starmate has about 45% to 50% serrations while the Chinook only is about 40% serrated. The Starmate has four of the large serrations while the Chinook has three. I like serrations so I would actually prefer more but that may be just me.
Both handles are made of g-10 of similar texture but the Chinook has full liners. I think the Chinook has a more comfortable handle. It is more contoured to the hand and less likely to slip. The Chinook allows you to choke up with a small finger groove (poor description I know) at the bottom of the blade. This makes precise cutting easier.
In terms of locks the Starmate have a very good liner lock and the Chinook is the strongest lockback Spyderco has ever tested. Trying to compare the two would be silly so I won’t bother. I do like how the Chinook’s lock release notch is smaller to prevent a white-knuckle release. The lock works well and seems very strong. When opening the Chinook you can tell it has a significant blade. – Real Cool
The current Chinook carries a military clip, which is pretty similar to the Starmate’s. It sounds like future generations of Chinooks will carry a dedicated ambidextrous clip, which would be nice.
If I had to describe the Chinook in one word it would probably be Tough. This is a desert island survivor type knife. I am not an MBC practitioner but I don’t have any other folding knife that seems like it would be near as good for self-defense. It sounds like the Chinook line might change and evolve more than most Spyderco models but the one I have now is a very good knife. That being said, if a future ambidextrous model came with more serrations I would probably get one of those too. I would recommend it anyone who values strength and toughness over weight. I hope that answers your questions.
- Glenn
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Sergiusz Mitin
- Member
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
Nice review Glenn, thanks!
And here is mine on BladeForums: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002263.html
Please visit it <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I have read your review after Sing posted the link, really a lot of my impressions are the same as yours.
Edited by - Sergiusz Mitin on 10/31/00 2:39:59 AM
And here is mine on BladeForums: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002263.html
Please visit it <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I have read your review after Sing posted the link, really a lot of my impressions are the same as yours.
Edited by - Sergiusz Mitin on 10/31/00 2:39:59 AM