UKPK or Urban?

BMBob · #1

Which is your choice? Why?

(I'm speaking of both with leaf blades)

spyderHS08 · #2

ukpk, urbans too small..

gull wing · #3

You didn't give your needs, but here is my reco:
I like the Urban more. It's small, but with the choil I can get my hand comfortably around it. It's a great Gent's knife= Thin, Sharp, Point'y. It has a very efficient blade.
UK is a fine knife, but something about the overall package just doesn't suit me.= The narrow "neck" doesn't feel right and the blade shape is a bit too long. Also, a knife this big should have a lock.

If you can't carry a locked knife, then the UK is the next best thing(a last resort). If you want a locked knife this size try the Delica, Calypso Jr.

BMBob · #4

gull wing wrote:You didn't give your needs, but here is my reco:
I like the Urban more. It's small, but with the choil I can get my hand comfortably around it. It's a great Gent's knife= Thin, Sharp, Point'y. It has a very efficient blade.
UK is a fine knife, but something about the overall package just doesn't suit me.= The narrow "neck" doesn't feel right and the blade shape is a bit too long. Also, a knife this big should have a lock.

If you can't carry a locked knife, then the UK is the next best thing(a last resort). If you want a locked knife this size try the Delica, Calypso Jr.

This is what I was thinking, pretty much. Knives that small (Urban) usually feel a bit too small in my hands, but I figure the choil would help with that. I've been carrying a Boker Trance pretty often for the last few months, and like it, but want to go back to a blade with a hole - I love them! I just haven't found a small Spyderco that I really love yet, besides the cricket, which is a little bit smaller than I want to carry day-to-day. The Urban really looks like a great choice, and with the wire clip, wouldn't attract much attention in an office environment.

tomoto · #5

BMBob wrote:This is what I was thinking, pretty much. Knives that small (Urban) usually feel a bit too small in my hands, but I figure the choil would help with that. I've been carrying a Boker Trance pretty often for the last few months, and like it, but want to go back to a blade with a hole - I love them! I just haven't found a small Spyderco that I really love yet, besides the cricket, which is a little bit smaller than I want to carry day-to-day. The Urban really looks like a great choice, and with the wire clip, wouldn't attract much attention in an office environment.

why not just hold out for the G-10 D'fly? A bit smaller blade than the urban, has a lock. and has the wire clip. also, the colour of the G10 is the same as the urban's leaf blade model (assuming you dig the urban FG colour :) )

only thing is.. the jimping. i was fairly sure there would be jimping but on the prototypes there werent any. but im assuming that the production version would have it.

clovisc · #6

as much as i'm attracted to the urban and UKPK designs, it's hard for me to make the decision to buy one. i live somewhere where large knives are the norm, and locks are very much in order. if i lived in a city, though, i'd definitely own a couple of each... :D

Mr Blonde · #7

It depends on the cutting. If all that's needed is opening stuff, cutting cords etc.. the Urban is perfect. When I'm cutting up an apple or sandwich, I'd be reaching for my UKPK. The VG-10 and S30v have their differences in performance, but I don't notice the difference much yet (Urban is only a week old). The Urban has a 'feel' all of its own though, it carries and balances very nicely. It's a joy to use, but that's also the 'newness' talking.

Wouter

Sam Vimes · #8

UKPK for me. That little extra blade length isn't a big issue but the slightly longer handle on the UKPK makes it that bit more comfortable in my hands.

BMBob · #9

Okay, so one more thing to think about...if I add the Sage into the mix, the big thing I would consider is grip on the pocket. My biggest reason for not carrying knives I otherwise love is the fact that I feel like I'm giving myself a hyper-wedgie just to get it unclipped from my pocket. This was the case with many of my G-10 Kershaws and to some extent with my Tenacious. Which would come out of the pocket more easily, the G-10 or the carbon fiber of the Sage? Also, since I don't yet own a wire clip Spydie other than the Salsa, would that make this less of an issue?

Sam Vimes · #10

I can't say I've ever had such extreme problems with UKPKs :eek:

. I'd guess much will depend upon the tension of the clip. However, all else being equal, the CF of the Sage is a touch less grippy than the G-10 of the UKPK.

HTH

Jay_Ev · #11

Urban. The UKPK is similar to the Caly 3, of which I already have several.

gunmike1 · #12

I am having the debate of Sage vs. UKPK now. The Sage comes out of the pocket easy, has real nice CF, feels good in the hand, but I just love the ergos of the Caly 3 and have a chance to trade my Sage for a twice carried and never used Orange UKPK. I don't think I would miss the lock at all, I just wonder if the edge thickness is thinner on the UKPK (I LOVE thin edges). The Sage actually looks quite thin and I do like the CF, but since I don't particularly like liner locks, and I do like the Orange G-10, and love Caly 3 ergos I really am thinking seriously of trading the Sage as long as the edge is relatively thin on the UKPK. Who knows, I may send it to Krein anyway to make it real thin.

Mike

Fred Sanford · #13

I have never held or even seen a Urban so I cannot comment on that model. I will say however, that I love the UKPK just for the simple fact that it's made in the USA and it's got CPM-S30V steel. I cannot say enough good stuff about the UKPK.

Although I do love VG-10 steel equally, since both are the same price I would rather have the one that is a tad larger and made in the USA. :->

rkh · #14

I have an Orange/Wharncliffe Urban and both an Orange and Black UKPK which seem to be my favorite Spyderco knives with the Dragonfly a long time favorite. The edge on the Urban and the UKPK are about the same in thinness. These are excellent knives and both have a great ergonomic fit in the hand. They just feel great when I use them. I think you need both but I could get by with just the Urban. This knife is just close to perfect. Good luck on your choice.

RKH

Caly E · #15

Hi, I just wanted to say that the Caly 3 is my 2nd favorite (Calypso Jr is top) folder ever. I have never used the UKPK, but am sure it gets the job done as equally as my queen of cutting, miss caly 3.

I recently acquired a orange urban. I decided to carry it right away. Since then, I have carried it full-time. It is the first slippy w/ a clip I have ever carried. I was at first skeptical since it had no lock but man, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!! And it also get good feedback w/ non knifers! It really seams to create warm fuzzy where ever it goes! I love it and cant wait to get my hands on the green one!

BMBob · #16

Thanks for your comments, everybody. After looking for awhile and examining pictures and such, I pulled the trigger on a green Urban. I think what did it for me in the end is that the shape and size of it really reminds me of a bit of a thinned out Salsa. My Salsa is my favorite knife to have in-hand, and the only thing that keeps me from carrying it is the fact that it carries SO high in the pocket for a small knife. I will say that its aluminum handle is my favorite feeling handle material (more than the textured aluminum Kershaws I own) overall, and I love the compression lock. Maybe the Urban will make me love G-10 a bit more, and I'm looking forward to trying a slipit!

gull wing · #17

Wonderful choice! :)

bladese97 · #18

spyderHS08 wrote:ukpk, urbans too small..

:spyder: :spyder: :cool: :spyder: :spyder:I agree...I have fat fingers, and prefer the UKPK size over the Urban, but also because I favor CPM-S30V over VG-10<still love it though :)

BuffaloBill · #19

well i would go UKPK, just look at a price standpoint.

the urban is basically a shrunk down UKPK. correct? why not get more blade and "better" steel for the same price?

i've never had a truly scary issue with the UKPK not having a lock.

it fits my hand well too. also its made in USA if that is a selling point (to some it is)

take this all with a grain of salt as I do not own any Urbans

duff72 · #20

never handled ukpk but missed an urban at the last gun show for 65.00 nib what an idiot. it was very nice feeling in the hand and i am more of a lock blade kind of a guy, but was very impressive