That Metropolitan is mine !

[Nate]

It’s sweet that these are finally here. I like the Urban, but the Metropolitan is a bit more like a mini UKPK. Hand a little less cramped, thumb ramp isn’t as dramatic, a smidge more blade. Knew the scales were a winner when I picked up a closeout SpyDK ages ago, been a long wait!



Probably just a matter of time before I rock it in the orange scales…

[weeping minora]

It’s sweet that these are finally here. I like the Urban, but the Metropolitan is a bit more like a mini UKPK. Hand a little less cramped, thumb ramp isn’t as dramatic, a smidge more blade. Knew the scales were a winner when I picked up a closeout SpyDK ages ago, been a long wait!



Probably just a matter of time before I rock it in the orange scales…

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Metro is essentially a re-bladed SpyDK! That was one of my favorite slipjoints, and unfortunately I lost it some years back. Is this Metro ground as thin BTE as the SpyDKs were?

[Nate]

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Metro is essentially a re-bladed SpyDK! That was one of my favorite slipjoints, and unfortunately I lost it some years back. Is this Metro ground as thin BTE as the SpyDKs were?

Unfortunately I need new batteries for my micrometer, so I can’t say for certain about the bte measurements, but they look and feel similar in thickness.

Sorry to hear you lost your SpyDK! The frn scales are indeed from the same molds, Sal spoke to it earlier in this thread:

Posted on the "Eddge Matters" forum in the UK.

sal

The Metropolitan was planned many years ago when we made the Danish model. It was designed to be a 2.75" blade model to sit between the Urban and the UK, mostly for the UK market. I didn't want to tool up an FRN handle for what I thought would be a short run on the Danish model, so we planned in the Metropolitan.

But then we realized that the maker was making the Urban a 2.65" blade length and I felt that the Metropolitan would be too close. So we had to make the change to the Urban to 2.5" blade length and then run through inventory before beginning the Metro. So now, years later, the plan is finally coming to fruition.

I hadn't thought about it as a forum knife as I'm not sure about delivery? It would also take a long time to develop if changes were to be made besides engraving.

sal

Would love to see sprint or exclusive variants!!

[weeping minora]

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Metro is essentially a re-bladed SpyDK! That was one of my favorite slipjoints, and unfortunately I lost it some years back. Is this Metro ground as thin BTE as the SpyDKs were?

Unfortunately I need new batteries for my micrometer, so I can’t say for certain about the bte measurements, but they look and feel similar in thickness.

Sorry to hear you lost your SpyDK! The frn scales are indeed from the same molds, Sal spoke to it eatlier in this thread:

Posted on the "Eddge Matters" forum in the UK.

sal

The Metropolitan was planned many years ago when we made the Danish model. It was designed to be a 2.75" blade model to sit between the Urban and the UK, mostly for the UK market. I didn't want to tool up an FRN handle for what I thought would be a short run on the Danish model, so we planned in the Metropolitan.

But then we realized that the maker was making the Urban a 2.65" blade length and I felt that the Metropolitan would be too close. So we had to make the change to the Urban to 2.5" blade length and then run through inventory before beginning the Metro. So now, years later, the plan is finally coming to fruition.

I hadn't thought about it as a forum knife as I'm not sure about delivery? It would also take a long time to develop if changes were to be made besides engraving.

sal

Would love to see sprint or exclusive variants!!

I need to recharge my brain batteries, as I read that post (been a while I suppose), and totally forgot about that . Thanks, Nate!

[Doc Dan]

How is the action? Is it better than the Urban? I have two SPYDKs and they are pretty nice. I have one Urban of three that is almost as nice.

[SpydieCollector]

It’s sweet that these are finally here. I like the Urban, but the Metropolitan is a bit more like a mini UKPK. Hand a little less cramped, thumb ramp isn’t as dramatic, a smidge more blade. Knew the scales were a winner when I picked up a closeout SpyDK ages ago, been a long wait!



Probably just a matter of time before I rock it in the orange scales…

I had a moan about this knife in a different thread. But it sure does look sweet in those pics. Maaaybeeee I ... don't 'need' jimping

Look at it there nestled up to a UKPK, awesome!

Looks like my Spyderco Salt 2 Warncliff budget is blown

[SpydieCollector]

more 'n more appealing ...

[Nemo3000]

My thoughts and review on the Metropolitan so far: I’m genuinely surprised by this M398 SlipIt!

https://nemoknivesreview.com/2025/08/19 ... slipjoint/

[SpydieCollector]

My thoughts and review on the Metropolitan so far: I’m genuinely surprised by this M398 SlipIt!

https://nemoknivesreview.com/2025/08/19 ... slipjoint/

The review was really educational regarding this knife. If you don't mind, I'll save it as a PDF for future reference. The photos were great too,

[Nemo3000]

Oh, thank you for the nice words my friend ! See you in March ! :-)

[SpydieCollector]

Oh, thank you for the nice words my friend ! See you in March ! :-)

All the best.

[UkSpydie]

Got mine 2 days ago and I didn’t realise just how much the UKPK could do with the traditional spring, and not the split-spring system now. The strength of the metropolitan is much more compared to the UKPK, while still being easy to open and close.

Sadly I think I’m going to return mine as it’s a bit too small/unwieldy for myself personally, but blimey it’s a fantastic option.

[SpydieCollector]

Got mine 2 days ago and I didn’t realise just how much the UKPK could do with the traditional spring, and not the split-spring system now. The strength of the metropolitan is much more compared to the UKPK, while still being easy to open and close.

Sadly I think I’m going to return mine as it’s a bit too small/unwieldy for myself personally, but blimey it’s a fantastic option.

So you prefer the UKPK despite its split spring over the Met? I'm still weighing up taking a punt on getting a Met 'just to see if I like it' and I want to be convinced it'd make a good EDC. Just not sure yet.

I don't have any issues with the split springs. I've had my PKs apart lots of times for cleaning and the springs look robust. Great knife that UKPK, hard to beat for us Brits and EDC.

[aicolainen]

Hmm..
It's hard to know without having it in hand, but I'm starting to feel a bit disappointed about this release.
Sure, the blade shape looks to be a bit more useful than the shortened/new Urban, but still the handle real estate seem under utilized. Just like on the Urban. I don't get it.

Well, I get the part about rules on blade length that makers have to take into consideration, but wouldn't it be a good idea to make handles that are a good fit for the blade? Sure, maybe that's not feasible on the smallest models/versions in order to accommodate a good grip, but there shouldn't be a need to take that approach for all blade sizes. As it is now, it looks like the blade on each slipit model would fit in the handle of the smaller model. Or just about.


From my simplified and unqualified point of view there are mostly disadvantages to this approach.
For every blade size available it weighs more and takes up more pocket space than necessary.
And just like on my Endela, that also has a short blade for its handle size, the tip seems to end up on a lower point of the curve in the back of the handle, leaving the tip almost exposed

<sub>snip from the video review of Metropolitan posted above


my Endela for comparison. This is taken before any sharpening, which has since only exaggerated the issue</sub>

I just don't get it. My Stretch 2 also has this tendency - not as bad as the Endela, but clearly a step in the wrong direction from the Stretch 1, that utilizes the full handle and I can sharpen it for many years before the tip will sit as shallow as a brand new Stretch 2.
This is the same for several newer/current models, while I don't see it so systematically in old designs. How is this progress? What am I missing?


_{For comparison, two of my favorite Spyderco designs: Rookie and Stretch 1}

[vivi]

I'd rather have a larger handle myself. In fact if I lived somewhere with silly knife laws I could see myself carrying a Police or Manix XL or something with the blade ground down to the legal limit.

[Brock O Lee]

What am I missing?

I recall a thread about blade-to-handle ratio, where Sal said something along the line of "handles are made for holding". There need not be any tension about a long handle with a short(ish) blade.

In fact, I prefer the longer handle of the UKPK. It is the smallest Spyderco I carry regularly and it fits my hand well.

[aicolainen]

What am I missing?

I recall a thread about blade-to-handle ratio, where Sal said something along the line of "handles are made for holding". There need not be any tension about a long handle with a short(ish) blade.

In fact, I prefer the longer handle of the UKPK. It is the smallest Spyderco I carry regularly and it fits my hand well.

Sure. I briefly addressed that. It is also true that all hands are different, so no handle will fit everyone anyway.
Looking at this Slipit lineup, where every model leaves a lot of room for more blade, with the possibly added side effect of a more exposed tip, it just seems to me that the two perceived goals of accommodating different hand sizes and different blade length restrictions over several models could be aligned in a better way. Again, I'm not a knife designer, so there could be other considerations that I'm not aware of.

I'm sure there are many large handed fellows out there that appreciate the larger handle on the Stretch 2 over the S1, but there will also be those (like me) who preferred the old handle size of the OG Stretch. Quickly measuring my S1 and S2, blade length is approximately the same (9cm/3.54"), whereas the S2 has a longer handle and shorter edge than the S1. While the S1 is ergonomic perfection for me, the S2 still feels nice and ergonomic in hand. With the added handle length the blade could have grown with it, but it didn't. Why is that? At least from a safety point of view, it seems like it would be preferable to extend the blade a few mm, and have the tip sit deeper in the handle - similar to the OG. Or not extend the handle as much in the first place.

I have the deepest respect for Sal and the rest of Spyderco as knife designers and design facilitators, so I'm not trying to pretend I know better, I'm just trying to understand where these choices come from. It seems to be a departure from earlier design philosophy. If the answer is simply; "we've come to prefer it this way", who am I to argue with that? It's their designs and their choice. I just have a different preference.

[SpydieCollector]

I'd rather have a larger handle myself. In fact if I lived somewhere with silly knife laws I could see myself carrying a Police or Manix XL or something with the blade ground down to the legal limit.

They'd still be illegal in the UK because they lock. Even a 1" knife is illegal in the UK if it locks. Crazy but true.

[Brock O Lee]

I'm just trying to understand where these choices come from. It seems to be a departure from earlier design philosophy. If the answer is simply; "we've come to prefer it this way", who am I to argue with that? It's their designs and their choice. I just have a different preference.

I understand your frustration. I've been puzzled by this discrepancy before... My first instinct is to always optimise for maximum utility.

I'm pretty sure they try to hit very specific blade lengths with these slip joints. Just guessing, but perhaps these decisions were tweaked after the handle molds were already made? Or not?

[sal]

Some thoughts to share

Many of our blades are deigned to a blade length legality. The Delica is a perfect example. The blade length is 3.0" which is acceptable in many places for legal reasons and for social concerns. The handle designed to the blade length is just not large enough for many of the people that use knives as tools. So I made the choice to give the handle extra length for safety and control.

In my opinion, blade to handle ratios are an "eye" thing, which is fine, but I prefer to design with the bend towards function and safety. "A scalpel would not perform better if the handle were smaller or the blade longer".

sal
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"No more than necessary and no less than perfect"