The Upcoming Kiwi4

TomAiello · #21

Deacon, do you think of the Des Horn as a "gentleman's knife"? I tend to think of it that way, but maybe my perceptions are just skewed by my regular carry of much larger blades.

Those photos really make me want one.

I'd love to see a ZDP version.

Loansharkx · #22

This is a knife I want to own.

Did I see that right? A Delica size Kiwi in G10?

I really like this. I like the removal of the hump on the Kiwi and the way it almost comes to appear a little like that Des Horn. To me this is definitely a gentleman's blade.

I have to say it's a very handsome knife and I really believe it looks elegant and I think it'll hold up well. I absolutely want to add this to my Spyderco collection and kudos on the design and execution of this one. Nicely done. Can't wait to see them live and one in my hand.

Julio

DougC-3 · #23

I notice that the Kiwi 4 has full liners but is longer and lighter than the Chaparral and even lighter than my G-10 Dragonfly. I have to wonder if it's as thin as or thinner than the Chaparral. I wish they'd include knife thickness in the catalog specs. The Dragonfly is 0.34" thick and I have the figure of 0.35" from somewhere for the Chaparral.

Evil D · #24

DougC-3 wrote:I notice that the Kiwi 4 has full liners but is longer and lighter than the Chaparral and even lighter than my G-10 Dragonfly. I have to wonder if it's as thin as or thinner than the Chaparral. I wish they'd include knife thickness in the catalog specs. The Dragonfly is 0.34" thick and I have the figure of 0.35" from somewhere for the Chaparral.

The overall height profile is so short there aren't many places for weight to live. A knife like this I would just assume came with solid G10 scales and no liners at all.

The Deacon · #25

TomAiello wrote:Deacon, do you think of the Des Horn as a "gentleman's knife"? I tend to think of it that way, but maybe my perceptions are just skewed by my regular carry of much larger blades.

Those photos really make me want one.

I'd love to see a ZDP version.

The elegance of the polished and accented G-10 puts it closer to being one than the Kiwi 4, and at least the folks in Taichung had the good taste to minimize the visual impact of the screws by using black ones. However, they're still there and there's also the bright metal wire clip, so it's not totally my idea of a gentleman's knife.

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Loansharkx wrote:This is a knife I want to own.

Did I see that right? A Delica size Kiwi in G10?

I really like this. I like the removal of the hump on the Kiwi and the way it almost comes to appear a little like that Des Horn. To me this is definitely a gentleman's blade.

I have to say it's a very handsome knife and I really believe it looks elegant and I think it'll hold up well. I absolutely want to add this to my Spyderco collection and kudos on the design and execution of this one. Nicely done. Can't wait to see them live and one in my hand.

Julio

Yes, the Kiwi 4's handle is a bit shorter than the Delica 4's due to better use of space but their blades are virtually identical in length. (2.94 with a 2.45 cutting edge for the Kiwi 4 vs 2.90 with a 2.56 cutting edge for the Delica 4)

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DougC-3 wrote:I notice that the Kiwi 4 has full liners but is longer and lighter than the Chaparral and even lighter than my G-10 Dragonfly. I have to wonder if it's as thin as or thinner than the Chaparral. I wish they'd include knife thickness in the catalog specs. The Dragonfly is 0.34" thick and I have the figure of 0.35" from somewhere for the Chaparral.

Slightly thinner, .339" vs .345" for the Chaparral even though it has a .5 mm thicker blade. But, as Evil D pointed out, it's not the thickness so much as the narrowness that's responsible for it being lighter. As for thicknesses in general, you might want to bookmark this thread, where many of them can be found.

DougC-3 · #26

The Deacon wrote: Slightly thinner, .339" vs .345" for the Chaparral even though it has a .5 mm thicker blade. But, as Evil D pointed out, it's not the thickness so much as the narrowness that's responsible for it being lighter. As for thicknesses in general, you might want to bookmark this thread, where many of them can be found.

Thanks, Paul. Done :)

jumbo · #27

The ergonomics of the SS kiwi are my favourite of any Spyderco I've handled.

Removing the hump, G-10, and ambidextrous lock push the Kiwi4 to the top of my wishlist.

TomAiello · #28

Looking at those photos again, I'd love to see a ZDP version, perhaps in CF.

twinboysdad · #29

would you say the robustness is equal to the Caly series?

The Deacon · #30

twinboysdad wrote:would you say the robustness is equal to the Caly series?

In some ways yes, in others no, for fairly obvious reasons. Handle strength should be similar but the Kiwi 4 blade is narrower, .5 mm thinner, and has a significantly more acute tip, so there are going to be some things it's better suited for than the Caly 3, and others where it is more likely to be damaged. Given that I've done a fair amount of cutting with a jigged bone Kiwi with a Tom Krein FFG regrind and some things that bordered on abusive with a 2 mm thick Chaparral, without damaging either, I'm not the least bit worried about breaking a Kiwi 4's blade but, as with most things in life, YMMV.

Evil D · #31

I've done quite a bit of hard whittling with Case and Victorinox blades that are even thinner.

Loansharkx · #32

Just got my kiwi with stainless grips. Lovely knife.

I would so love to see this blade shape, without the hump, in a better steel with mother of pearl on both sides in a limited run. No clip... Obviously... But coming to a standard kiwi point.

An "ultimate gentleman's folder".

Wow..

Liquid Cobra · #33

I think it looks fantastic and my patience is wearing thin lol.. Must have!

timlara · #34

Well, sounds like I'm in the minority, but I still think the hump makes the blade shape more interesting. In any case, I'm excited to pick one up when they're out. I asked someone at the SFO the other day and they said they expect to have stock by August. Just in time for my birthday! :D

DutchBlades · #35

Worlds of difference from the other kiwi's...
I loved the original design of the kiwi, including the hump.
(wich was a bit weird at first)

But the overall looks of this one changed for the better in my eyes.
Even though it kinda lost it's gentlemans folder look and became more of a small tactical folder...

Overall, I like it and want it. But it just isn't a kiwi anymore in my eyes :confused:

Loansharkx · #36

timlara wrote:Well, sounds like I'm in the minority, but I still think the hump makes the blade shape more interesting. In any case, I'm excited to pick one up when they're out. I asked someone at the SFO the other day and they said they expect to have stock by August. Just in time for my birthday! :D

Well, I wouldn't blink at getting one if it kept the hump either.... The "eye" isn't a big issue for me..

This upcoming one will also be added to my collection for sure....

#37

Thanx much Paul.

sal

Kylems11 · #38

Ill deff be getting a few of these bad boys.

Evil D · #39

What would really be cool is if there was a shallow swedge ground in the blade in the shape of the original spine/hump. Best of both worlds.

Halfneck · #40

A polished G10 handle similar to the Des Horn and matching color screws would definitely be more gentlemanly. I like the design, and how it felt in-hand. In appearance it is your standard black G10 knife.