Khalsa revisited

[fredswartz]

For the longest time I thought that the Khalsa was the most ugly knife that I had ever seen (until the Gunting came along). At some point it started to seem interesting. I bought a PE version but the lock-up was bad. Spyderco gave me another knife under warranty. I then bought an SE version. The clip screws aren't anchored into the liner on this one but I still like it. Last night I scored another PE version on ebay. I have no idea about lockup etc. since the vendor didn't answer my email but I took a chance. Does anyone else have an affinity for this model? It has become one of my favorites.

[swede]

Hi,

I like 'em just enough to have 1: a PE. Got a numbered one with a good lock-up. I know what you mean about quality problems. I've seen maybe 3 dozen, some of which have a liner lock (pretty thin material, too) which travels way past the centerline of the blade base.

I am interested in your "ugly" comments. When I saw my first Spyderco, an Endura or Police, as I remember, I thought, "God, what an ugly knife". Well, I finally bought one, and the rest, as they say, was history. Somehow for me, function and feel win out over ugly most of the time. Same reason I bought an old VW Beetle years ago. And after a while they don't seem ugly anymore.

My 2 cents.
Dave

[Zrexxer]

I've got a PE version and the blade flops around in it like crazy, but as soon as the lock engages, it's tight. As loosey-goosey as the whole knife is you wouldn't think it would lock up but it does.

The liner engages about 30% if you open it normally, if you pop it open hard it goes to about 60% and then it's a BEAR to get loose. It will really jam up against the tang. Heck, I guess it won't come loose accidentally, then, either.

All in all, I'll keep it. It's not an EDC and never will be, but it's an interesting piece, and Jot Singh Khalsa is an interesting character, to say the least.

~Z~

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H. L. Mencken

[EarthDog]

I have a Khalsa SE version. What I enjoy most about it is the overall "funky" look of it. I also like the feel of it in either forward or reverse grips, I find the choil especially useful for "choking up" on the grip for fine cutting. I've had no problems with it being loose. The lock does get tight if I pop it open quickly.

Bottom line: It's not my favorite, but I do enjoy carrying it occasionally.

EarthDog

[Stevie Ray]

Collect this knife .... Buy a PE ... It's likely more collectible. I really don't think this knife is up for much hard use though based on past threads.
SR

[CKE]

I have a PE. I love the handle on them. So comfortable. Makes for an interesting peice in the collection. I like to think it compliments my Shabaria. Both very different designs. Take Care!!!

"everything else is just a jeep"

[chinook]

"...Jot Singh Khalsa is an interesting character, to say the least."

All of these guys are interesting. Can you match the Spydie collaboration to each of the designers pictured here?

Disguised as a Responsible Adult

[dialex]

This is among the few custom collaborations that didn't hit the spot <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
OTOH, the Shabaria is beautiful, the Chinook is OK, the Vesuvius is elegant, the Lum is cool, the Starmate is awsome and the Gunting - fascinating. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>

[Zrexxer]

Well, the esteemed Jot is on the top left. The top right gent is Frank Centofante. But I'm blank on the other two...

Z

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H. L. Mencken

[Dijos]

Bob Terzuola is under Jot, but, the last is lost to me.

[leroys_45]

I love the Khalsa, but have had some trouble getting one to keep. I had one a few years ago, but the lock just absolutely died. I then had a SE, but I really wanted a PE. I picked one up for cheap and the lock was pretty beat, but I'm fixing it up and doing a few other things to it. It's going to be my custom Khalsa. I'll be posting pictures whenever I get it done.

I love the way it just fits the hand. Few knives fit my hand more naturally.

[3knife]

i just traded for a se khalsa nib yesterday. wild looking knife. my blade is not marked as to what type of steel. my old catalog says gin 1. wonder if that was only steel used? the old ads in some of the knife magazines were neat ,showed khalsa flying on the knife..

[fredswartz]

My PE Khalsa arrived today. I got it from an ebay vendor and it was NIB as advertised. It even had the 1998 mini catalogue in the box. I held my breath while opening the blade for the first time.....would this one have a good or bad lockup??? Turns out, when opened normally the liner lock is 1/3 on the tang and when snapped goes to 1/2 which means that I lucked out. The lockup on my SE version is much better but everything about my other SE knives seems much better and it must be Murphy's Law since I like PE's best.

Edited by - fredswartz on 11/13/2003 2:15:28 PM

[Zrexxer]

Whoa, check this out! I came across this picture today - apparently it was a prototype and never put into production, but it's a Khlasa with titanium handles!

I never knew they even considered such a thing.

~Z~

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H. L. Mencken



Edited by - Zrexxer on 11/13/2003 3:11:26 PM

[Rger No. 1]

I have one. Don't use for EDC but rather for package opening and letter opening. It is the smoothest opening <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> I own. I like the off beat design. Mine is a SE. I would never sell or trade. None of the problems recounted above. BTW, the very creative ad for it is in the <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> book.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." Albert Einstein