Mud Shrimp Moe wrote:When I'm just fooling around with the knife, I can see how it would. But I know if I really whacked the back of that blade ... say I was working in a tight space and hit something while drawing up ... that my finger in the choil area would probably slip on up the blade.
Said another way, when the blade closes it pinches down on the index finger in the choil, which is a nice safety feature. But I only trust the finger to stay put if the impact is pretty light.
IMO, if you closed it too hard, the choil would shear off your finger before it slipped out onto the blade.
gbelleh wrote:About the Kiwi slipit, I agree, that spring is way too stiff. Almost dangerous to try to open or close one handed.
The G-10 UKPK and Urbans are the perfect tension, IMO.
In fairness, it's not just the spring tension, it's the combination of that, a relatively small Spyderhole, and the narrow stainless steel handle that offers little grip. Even the all stainless locking Kiwi can be difficult to open one handed. If you want a Kiwi, and must settle for the slipjoint version, I'd suggest either going with the stag or one of the all stainless ones New Graham had engraved by Robert Valade.
I'm pretty much bound to non-locking Spydies for public carry so I'm used to their limitations. Learned to work with pocket knives as a child and haven't ever had a problem with any of them. I'd say it's good to have one in your collection just to be able to get a feel for it and see if you can work with it. Especially if you like the looks of the knife. You might get a positive surprise. After all Spyderco does great designs and ergos on all of their knives. And like some other people've said before: the Slipits are no exception and in some aspects even surpass some of their locking brethren.
She: Did you say pink :spyder: sprint run?! - He: Yeah. - She: Wow, wouldn't this go great with my purple Delica?! - He: ? - :D
:spyder: Delica 4 FFG purple ::: Dragonfly Salt Yellow SE ::: Ladybug Foliage Green PE ::: UK Penknife Safety Orange G-10 ::: Byrd Robin G-10 PE ::: Delica 4 FFG pink - modded to non-locking ::: Squeak ::: Grasshopper ::: Kiwi - got snagged by the husband ::: Endura 4 FFG Orange ::: Delica ZDP-189 ::: Centofante 4 ::: Byrd Tern ::: Manix 2 Blue Lightweight :spyder:
You know,I felt the same way about getting a Slipit but I really liked the way the blue looked on the UKPK so I ended up buying it.Its not a bad knife at all and I took it to work with me to try it out and she did great!!Then I got a Squeak about a week ago for the heck of it and I really like it.Its good if you're carrying your Mili and got to cut something in public with people around.I can carry anything where I live with no blade length limitations as well.
I was also worrying about safety and comfort of use before I got my first UKPK. In fact I got caught when KC had the orange G10 Rescue on sale. And this knife is my absolutely loved woodworking tool. Whenever there´s some branch cutting or whittling to be done (no artistic fine work) those teeth bite and that spring has just the right amount of tension to be able to close it one handed while enabling a thumb flick for opening. I got four other UKPKs since but the, at least in reviews, not so loved Rescue is always with me when I´m out in the woods.
I am tempted by the orange Wharncliff Urban put on sale at different sites but 3mm VG10 keep me off.
gaj999 wrote:Yeah, 3mm is way too thick for a blade that small.
I actually find the Leaf Urban to be terrific with the 3mm blade thickness. It has a substantial and light feel that belies it's proportionally thick blade. Too bad they're disco'd. It's one terrific slipjoint :) Once you have a very sharp green Urban in hand there's no going back :D :D Pretty sure the Wharnie would feel the same :)
Charlie
" Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
[CENTER]"Integrity is being good even if no one is watching"[/CENTER]
flash900 wrote:Suzie,
I see you have a Squeak. Love the looks and have been very tempted with that as well as the Urban Safety Orange.
But I have the Cat -- similar in size to the Squeak but smart enough to come with a lock.
Ah, you know, apart from the fact that local law prohibits locking folders in combination with one-hand opening, for such a small knife I really don't see the need for a lock. The tasks I've thrown at my Squeak so far were handled admirably. Absolutely no complaint whatsoever from me. I'll be getting a few more as soon as Spyderco comes out with some more fun colors :) And if I want to go at something more serious where a non-locking blade might become an issue I just grab my Endura or the Manix 2 :D :cool:
PS: I've been tempted by the orange Urban more than once, too. Especially because I adore Wharncliffe blades. I just think for such a small, non-locking blade the price point is kinda ridiculous :-/ And I've got the UKPK in orange G10 so I decided to skip the Urban.
She: Did you say pink :spyder: sprint run?! - He: Yeah. - She: Wow, wouldn't this go great with my purple Delica?! - He: ? - :D
:spyder: Delica 4 FFG purple ::: Dragonfly Salt Yellow SE ::: Ladybug Foliage Green PE ::: UK Penknife Safety Orange G-10 ::: Byrd Robin G-10 PE ::: Delica 4 FFG pink - modded to non-locking ::: Squeak ::: Grasshopper ::: Kiwi - got snagged by the husband ::: Endura 4 FFG Orange ::: Delica ZDP-189 ::: Centofante 4 ::: Byrd Tern ::: Manix 2 Blue Lightweight :spyder:
dbcad wrote:I actually find the Leaf Urban to be terrific with the 3mm blade thickness.
I didn't say that they weren't terrific, just that they'd be more terrific with a 2mm blade. Do some cutting with a Centofante 4 and you'll see what I mean.
gaj999 wrote:I didn't say that they weren't terrific, just that they'd be more terrific with a 2mm blade.
That´s what I feel about it. At that size the blade seems quite thick. I am used to Meadowlark, Robin, FRN UKPKs and Delicas being 2,5mm thick and small blades. A Wharncliff blade could be even thinner for I would use it as a slicer. Too bad the Centofante 4 is discontinued.
And I had some minor troubles with VG10 in a Moran fixed (it seems to stain a liitle, edge holding bothers me and it chipped cutting (hard) bread), so if there´s a choice I take S30V.
Commendatore wrote:That´s what I feel about it. At that size the blade seems quite thick. I am used to Meadowlark, Robin, FRN UKPKs and Delicas being 2,5mm thick and small blades. A Wharncliff blade could be even thinner for I would use it as a slicer. Too bad the Centofante 4 is discontinued.
And I had some minor troubles with VG10 in a Moran fixed (it seems to stain a liitle, edge holding bothers me and it chipped cutting (hard) bread), so if there´s a choice I take S30V.
Never had any chipping issues with VG-10 myself, but if you want something in S30V with a nice thin blade, and locking folders are legal for you, consider the Chaparral. Its blade is 2mm thick and it has excellent ergonomics.
The Chaparral is very high on my list. I just fear to like the CF too much to really use it. I think I will wait for the next version as I can´t wait to try XHP.
There are no lock or length limits in Austria so I´m in some kind of knife enthusiast paradise. I just found out slipits will serve me better in (sub)urban environment: I like to open/close them without caring about a bar to push or a liner to take out of the way. Extra small knives without choil construction need a lock though (my hawkbill Ladybug wouldn´t be safe without).
When it comes to hunting chores or wilderness path clearing (I like to do that with rescue type blades) a bigger knife with a sturdy lock is my prefered tool, if not a fixed blade.
Commendatore wrote:The Chaparral is very high on my list. I just fear to like the CF too much to really use it.
That is a really sweet looking knife. It having carbon fiber handles is saving me money. If it was FRN or G10 I'd lose control and have to buy several. LOL The only handle material lower on my list is stainless steel. Well, maybe rubber. Or owl manure ...
If I was American, I would probably never have considered a slipit, would probably just EDC a PM2 but I'm English and not wanting to risk prison, replaced my Lone Wolf Presto with an Urban Leaf for EDC.
Now, if there were to be a change in the law permitting locking blades to be carried, I honestly think the Urban would remain my number one pocket knife. It is simply a wonder of ergonomics and a pleasure to use. I have several other slip joint knives including an orange G-10 UKPK and various Victorinox SA knives but the Urban is perfect for me.
Would love a sprint run Urban in blue G10 with an M390 blade...
Nothing wrong with a slippie if you know what you're doing. Respect the edge and it will do fine. I find the G-10 UKPK had just about the perfect backspring tension.
So many knives, so few pockets... :)
-Nick
Last in: N5 Magnacut The "Spirit" of the design does not come through unless used. -Sal
I can appreciate traditional pocketknives because I appreciate history, and 'antiques', but I have memories of doing something with either a boy scout knife or SAK as a kid, and scoring the back of a couple of fingers, on a couple of occasions. Those experiences stick in my mind. I consider a lock mechanism a safety feature. My only non-locking Spydie, a T-mag that I got on closeout, did nothing, unfortunately, to reinforce the attractiveness of non-lockers. Even using the forward choil on that model was a little unnerving for me. Not the best example of a Spydie non-locker, I know, but there it is. I'll stick with locks until the time when I hypothetically have no choice but to carry a slipit. That being said, if I have to carry a slipjoint folder, it will be a Spyderco.
