Kicking it old school. In praise of the Police. -And some reminiscences.

[tortoise]

A long one, so I included a pic of what was in my pockets tonight:

I haven't had a Police model in years. I did once, maybe sixteen-seventeen years ago.

It didn't last long with me. I never used or carried it much. Around the same time I had a Military. You remember the variant: those beautiful ones with the 440V blade and script etched "Military, etc."

That one didn't last long either. I wish I had it back. Back then it seemed like a sword when I pulled it out around a lunch table full of guys.

It's so odd to look back and see choices made.

For a while I preferred smaller knives. And they generally do the job no doubt...

Then, at a point I decided that for me the larger knives did everything the smaller ones could do and then some. So I traded up, size-wise. I still loved the little guys, but for everyday my choice became the Military. I felt and said many times, that it was the finest folding knife ever designed.

I still think that is true. One knife? Spyderco Military.

I have a Sebenza that I happen to love. I started carrying it more than my Militaries. The blade shape is nearly perfect. Stunning really. -And the pivot bushing? Genius.

A stupid problem arose. At work my knife rides on the chasis of my thigh rig. The Military fits perfectly between the two straps. The Sebenza comes up just a bit short. It started to drive me crazy. Flopping around, constant adjustment...

...And then I had a series of staggeringly-specific incidents that led me to wish that I had a slightly longer thinner blade than either my Seb or my Mils. And the cutting problems were hard shelled. So I looked around. My research led me back to a stainless, serrated Police. The first time I saw Spydercos (Workers, Hunters...) they looked like surgical instruments to me. Eventually I came to love the stainless models. Then I moved on to other choices.

Twenty years later, I'm back full circle. Well wow! It's been about a week on the job with this knife. Wow! The design has been tweaked over three decades. It shows. It worked then. It really works now. This thing cuts like magic.

Wow!

So in praise of the old school: the Police model is still the goods! Thanks Sal!

[JD Spydo]

The Police model is truly one of Spyderco's most flagship models. I particularly like the G-10 handled version ( the newer one).

However it's one Spyder that I even like with a stainless handle along with the Caly Jr stainless, Stainless REscue model and our beloved Harpy in stainless.

The Police is probably a bit big for a lot of people's general uses but I love the blade geometry and the handle ergos both. I hope that they never quit making the Police or the Harpy.

[Mr Blonde]

I've had a similar experience, sort of. I started with a SS Police, then moved onto newer models. This summer I took my old SE SS Police with me on my vacation trip, it was perfect for slicing up French bread. I'm not replacing my smaller EDC models, but I am considering a Police 3 in full SE again. Anyways, a model I had long since considered 'obsolete' for my needs turned out to be very useful again.

[skatenut]

The Police was my first spydie as well, back in the late eighties and I still have it. Bought a Police3 G-10 a while ago.

[recoil]

I carried a titanium as well as the aluminum Tuffram Police while on duty quite often, never a problem with size or weight with both being lighter then the stainless model.
I also carried an original PE P.I.G. model but that one, along with me has retired now.
stay safe.
dave

[tortoise]

I think the first Spyder I kept, carried and used was a Hunter. I still have it and have posted a pic here before.

Ahh Tufram! I never had any, (at least I don't think they were considered officially Tufram) but the aluminum scales on my Mouse were pretty close. Great stuff.

It is funny, maybe everything old is new again. I see some senior screenames over in the other thread. It's like the '90s again.

But I can't lie, I do not miss my old dial-up! :D

[recoil]

Tortoise,
You bring up a very interesting point in realizing the benefits of the serrated edge in hard core tactical/swat use. I also found that nothing beats the larger serrated blades when having to rip through something when time is of the essence and technique goes out the window. I was part of a multi-jurisdictional task force during world cup 94 when Sal sent me that serrated Tuffram Police model with my name engraved in the handle. I carried it for years and it performed quite well.

dave

[KardinalSyn]

I think I am now where you were at with the Military. I simply cant do without it and have it in my pocket every day.

[tortoise]

Tortoise,
You bring up a very interesting point in realizing the benefits of the serrated edge in hard core tactical/swat use. I also found that nothing beats the larger serrated blades when having to rip through something when time is of the essence and technique goes out the window. I was part of a multi-jurisdictional task force during world cup 94 when Sal sent me that serrated Tuffram Police model with my name engraved in the handle. I carried it for years and it performed quite well.
dave

Hi Dave!

And I've been down that road before. That first Military that I returned was serrated, bought from a catalog. The second one, once (-I thought I was) more of a blade afficianado, was plainedge. I got it from Sal himself at the NYC show, I don't know: '98, '99, '00?

I bought into the "plainedge can do anything serrated can if properly sharpened" thing. All the "serious" knife guys prefer plainedge because it's better than serrated haven't you heard? Well... maybe.

Then, since the Military was so good I wanted a serrated just to have both. Got that one in '02. I found (-as all we edge snobs know... ) that I preferred the plainedge. It cuts cleaner, and I am generally a "push-cutter." It seemed easier to sharpen.

Of course I realized that when I absolutely positively had to cut everything in the room, that I could accept no substitute for serrations. I remember making the comment a decade or so ago about how if, to save her life, I needed to cut through my K9 partner's thick leather lead and I could only have one edge to do it, it would be serrated every day of the week and twice on Sunday. At the same time I remember discussions that blade steel had gotten so good, hardness, toughness, wear resistance... that perhaps serrations had outlived their usefulness, were no longer necessary. Seriously, you can find those threads here and at BFC.

Anyway, I've been carrying plainedge most commonly on duty for the last several years. It has served well. But (-and my long-winded tome shows) this changes.

Currently I am of the mind that I need to be able to cut whatever I need to be able to cut, regardless of how many cuts I've already had to make today, of whatever materials.

We simply cannot have it happen that the coarse-edge sharpened plainedge (-that cuts "just like" a serrated edge because of the micro-serrations) bounces off whatever we are now trying to cut, because earlier in the day we tried cutting something or "somethings" else and rolled or chipped or somehow dulled the edge, and now that we really need it, it's a butter knife..

Have you posted a pic of that Police?

I think I am now where you were at with the Military. I simply cant do without it and have it in my pocket every day.

And who could blame you? As I said, Best folding knife design ever. It's strange though, I rarely carry any single blade folders in my off-time these days. Most often, it's a Vic Explorer: corkscrew, scissors, screwdrivers, magnifier, awl... God help me this stuff is useful! I find, in my leisure-time urban-setting, that I rarely require a stout cutting edge. However, I often need a basic toolkit, such as the Explorer provides. So that's what I carry most.

My Spyders aren't going anywhere though. They do more serious business than clip threads or open wine! :D

Doug

[tortoise]

Tortoise,
You bring up a very interesting point in realizing the benefits of the serrated edge in hard core tactical/swat use. I also found that nothing beats the larger serrated blades when having to rip through something when time is of the essence and technique goes out the window. I was part of a multi-jurisdictional task force during world cup 94 when Sal sent me that serrated Tuffram Police model with my name engraved in the handle. I carried it for years and it performed quite well.

dave

All right Dave, I am still hoping to see a pic of that Police.

That's job history right there. That's the kind of thing that's earned, and it's motivating to see.

Give brother,

Doug

[tr4022]

Gentlemen, this was a very, very interesting discussion for this knife noob. It's been my experience that serrated edges generally don't garner much respect or attention from knife folk. Good to hear the perspective of guys in the trenches. Thank you for the education.

Tod

[recoil]

All right Dave, I am still hoping to see a pic of that Police.

That's job history right there. That's the kind of thing that's earned, and it's motivating to see.

Give brother,

Doug

I've been a bit busy for a retired guy, but I finally had a few minutes to pull these oldies out of the display case, so here you go.
dave

[tortoise]

Very cool! The blade on the P.I.G. model is immaculate. You are obviously not an abuser.

Thanks for sharing.

[recoil]

Very cool! The blade on the P.I.G. model is immaculate. You are obviously not an abuser.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Doug,

The PIG Police was carried a lot more then it was used plus it was cleaned up a bit before retiring it to the display case. That one is also a plain edge which were harder to come by.
BTW, Pulling these 2 blades out of the display for the pictures brought back a few memories. Funny how you associate certain activities with the blade you carried. I find the same to be true with some of my watches I wore while working and now I have to keep them forever also! :)

dave

[tortoise]

...Funny how you associate certain activities with the blade you carried. I find the same to be true with some of my watches I wore while working and now I have to keep them forever also! :)

Oh yeah.

My everyday watch is my Explorer, bought it back in '04 on the eve of the RNC detail in Manhattan. I figured if I was going to go high order, it might as well be while wearing the watch I really wanted.

-POTUS, VPOTUS and most of the line of succession all in one place with two wars raging, Bin Laden and AQ still on the loose, and domestic protestors everywhere, all a week before the third anniversary of 9/11.

Long, high stress days. I worked with a lot of great people from all over and we got it done.

Wouldn't trade the memories, or the watch.

[Rwb1500]

Off topic, but Rohrbaugh for the win!

[recoil]

Oh yeah.

My everyday watch is my Explorer, bought it back in '04 on the eve of the RNC detail in Manhattan. I figured if I was going to go high order, it might as well be while wearing the watch I really wanted.

Funny, I had the RNC detail on the Jersey side of the tunnel.
Explorer is a nice one!
I wore a GMT from 1988,
It seems that having quality equipment does not stop at the folders we clip on.

dave

[tortoise]

Off topic, but Rohrbaugh for the win!

Yeah, it's a solid little pistol. -And the price I got it for, I would have needed my head examined not to have grabbed it.

[sal]

Hi Doug, Dave,

Thanx for the memory trip.

sal

[Evil D]

There's nothing like a SS/SE Police. Those knives make me wish i liked serrations more. If there's one knife i think really stands out in SS, it's the Police.




That's also the most convincing "prop blade" i've ever seen. I would't be surprised if they used a real sharpened knife in those shots.