The Mentaculous wrote:I completely disagree with you and I think this obsession with getting every last bit of edge out of a knife is just completely pointless. I would much rather have a balanced, ergonomic and safe knife than one that has as much edge as possible. Is that last little 1/4-1/2" of blade really that important? I think the choil is something that makes Spyderco unique, and the majority of Spyderco's designs are not concentrating on maximizing edge space. You can like what you want, but I hope Spyderco doesn't change any aspect of their designs just to please a few people, and in the process become like most other knife companies... BTW, There are plenty with small or no choils out there--Gayle Bradley, Paramilitary (that choil does NOT take up much space), Military, Michael Walker, the entire Tenacious series, the new Valloton model, and several more.
As for skeletonized liners, when have you ever seen it increase the retail cost? The Bradley went from full to drilled liners with no cost increase. That was minimal drilling as well. For an example of a real weight decrease, compare the Manix 2 sprints to the regular Manix 2. It is night and day. I think it would be insane to stop skeletonizing the liners, because Spyderco does it on so many models, and they turn out perfectly weighted and easy to carry. Believe me, you would notice the weight.
You're free to have your preferences, and I'm sure that Spyderco will make knife that satisfies them again at some point (for ex. tenacious series has no choil), but I just am confused how someone can be a Spyderco fan, yet dislike some of their most ubiquitous and consistent design features. Choils, large handles and lightweight, easy carry knives are some of the defining features of a Spyderco knife IMO. Disliking them is to dislike the large majority of Spyderco's designs, no? To each his own, and there are plenty of knives out there that meet those specs from other major companies.
I think that Spyderco makes balanced and safe knives without choils. And I just think that in some knives the choil is not needed. In slipits, yes every knife with a choil because it makes them safer and they are all small knives and in small knives I think that a choil is a great idea because it gives you more area to grip. I think that the Terzuola has got the best choil Spyderco makes and overall has one of the most comfortable grips. But in larger knives that have a larger handle, there really isn't a reason to use up blade for choil UNLESS the choil in in the ricasso and does not lengthen the ricasso or the handle in order to add the choil. I think that the Military is a great example of a choil that is there but doesn't really alter the knife and works well. In the Para2, it is similar, though even with semi large hands, I think that choil could be a bit small to allow a better grip when not using the choil. (With the Para2 I find that the standard grip, I feel a bit disconnected from the blade, using the choil, it feels too tight, I tend to grab it by almost hooking my finger over just the very back of the choil so if it were slightly changed to a smaller choil that was more 75:25, it would be perfect)
It hasn't affected retail cost, but it is higher for manufacturing cost, and I am sure that over hundreds of thousands of knives that cost is quite substantial and if it were not done (except on specifically made lightweight knives) I am sure that Spyderco's bottom line would be better and that can only benefit us, the consumer. You are right about the Manix 2, and as much as I really love the M4 and the S90V, when it comes to a Manix, I always grab the 154CM, because it just feels way better in the hand. In fact I am thinking that I might grab a used M2 and swap the blade to have the M4 blade on the full lined version. I don't think that I have ever found the Manix 2 to be too heavy to carry.
If the Tenacious series were of a better quality and had the variety of steel and locks that other lines do I would be extremely happy.
My favourite knives that have choils, I just never use them. Never used a Manix choil, or a Stretch choil and that is because they are extremely well made and balanced without a choil. But like I said, slipits, and even the Native I find the choils an excellent addition. ****, I would even like a choil on the Ladybug...so don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all choils are bad, I'm saying that on some designs, mostly larger knives, I feel that they are just not needed, or could be redesigned to be less intrusive to the overall knife.
On the hunt for...
. Anyway, I would love to see a production version of it.
