My Complete Collection - One a Day

[DougC-3]

With the Michael Walker, were you bothered by the lack of a choil, cut out ricasso, and close proximity of your finger to the blade?

[gbelleh]

I actually just found a couple posts I made about the CF Michael Walker back in May of 2010, just a couple weeks after receiving it. Here are the posts:

From May 2010:

I'm a sucker for Spyderco carbon fiber knives. So, I was excited to receive my Michael Walker in the mail today. Mine also has chips in the CF around 3 of the screws, and roughness around the lanyard hole, but it's hard to see unless you look closely and it doesn't really bother me since I do plan to carry and use this knife. Overall, it's very nice, but not quite up to the fit and finish quality of my CF Native and CF Caly 3, which have similar, smooth scales, but are near flawless in their fit and finish.

There is one thing I find strange about the Walker, ergonomically. The choil is very shallow and doesn't really provide a very secure place for your finger. Also, the jimping in the choil area doesn't provide much traction because it just barely protrudes from the scales and liner.

As a result, I find that I need to be very careful when handling this knife, not to accidentally ride up onto the blade.

Also, the way that little corner of the tang sticks out when closed makes the design look a bit unfinished to me (I guess I've become accustomed to the smooth lines of the Caly 3 and CF Native).

I do really like the placement of the pocket clip. How the middle finger rides perfectly in the indentation, but that also causes it to stick out of the pocket a bit more. Overall, I like the knife a lot, and I plan to use it, but it is far from the perfect EDC in my opinion.

[gbelleh]

Today's knife is one of my favorites. Around this time, I started to really appreciate some of the more unusual designs. Most of these seemed ugly, ridiculous, or outlandish to me at first. But suddenly something clicked, and I really began to like most of the more exotic designs, especially the ethnic series. This was my first Ed Schempp design, and my first ethnic series knife. I was very lucky to find it on a BST forum for a steal...

The Khukuri.

Knife # 17 - May 2010.


This knife is amazingly useful as a utility or EDC knife. It's slim, narrow, and light in the pocket. The handle fits very nicely in the hand, except for the clip, which pokes me right in the index finger (or middle finger depending on grip), when using the knife. This is probably the only reason I didn't end up carrying this knife a lot. The blade angle takes a bit of getting used to, but it quickly becomes very natural.



When I first received this knife, I was amazed at how that dramatically angled blade fit so snugly inside that slim handle. It really is a cool design that I still enjoy very much today. The Schempp Khukuri and Barong are special knives. Exotic, but highly useful. I hope a Khukuri sprint comes along before too long, so more people get to experience this design. This is the knife that started my hunt for all Schempp Spydercos. That hunt has been very enjoyable and rewarding, and my Schempp collection is currently complete (though not for much longer if SHOT show reports are accurate :D ).

[DougC-3]

I actually just found a couple posts I made about the CF Michael Walker back in May of 2010, just a couple weeks after receiving it. Here are the posts:

From May 2010:

I'm a sucker for Spyderco carbon fiber knives. So, I was excited to receive my Michael Walker in the mail today. Mine also has chips in the CF around 3 of the screws, and roughness around the lanyard hole, but it's hard to see unless you look closely and it doesn't really bother me since I do plan to carry and use this knife. Overall, it's very nice, but not quite up to the fit and finish quality of my CF Native and CF Caly 3, which have similar, smooth scales, but are near flawless in their fit and finish.

There is one thing I find strange about the Walker, ergonomically. The choil is very shallow and doesn't really provide a very secure place for your finger. Also, the jimping in the choil area doesn't provide much traction because it just barely protrudes from the scales and liner.

As a result, I find that I need to be very careful when handling this knife, not to accidentally ride up onto the blade.

Also, the way that little corner of the tang sticks out when closed makes the design look a bit unfinished to me (I guess I've become accustomed to the smooth lines of the Caly 3 and CF Native).

I do really like the placement of the pocket clip. How the middle finger rides perfectly in the indentation, but that also causes it to stick out of the pocket a bit more. Overall, I like the knife a lot, and I plan to use it, but it is far from the perfect EDC in my opinion.

Thanks for the thorough answer! It's pretty much what I was afraid of. Spyderco just has me spoiled with choils. Other than the lack of protection from the back of the blade edge, I really like the blade and handle shape, size, and overall design of the Michael Walker, well, except that I'd like a deeper carry clip. The carbon fiber problems probably wouldn't bother me much for a user. Sounds like it was probably made at the Taipei factory instead of Taichung.

[gbelleh]

It's actually a Seki-City model. Aside from the chipped CF, the overall fit and finish is good.

[DougC-3]

It's actually a Seki-City model. Aside from the chipped CF, the overall fit and finish is good.

Oops. I should have noticed that or checked the website. I didn't remember any carbon fiber problems like that except with the CF Cat which I think was made in Taipei.

[ManixFan]

Hmm. Got a photo of the clip?

So this is the knife everyone wants for a forum knife eh?

I heard a few vocal people talking about it in that thread but that hardly qualifies as "everyone" - as many as perhaps 5 people might have mentioned it, if even that from what I can remember (although I could be wrong since I can't be bothered to go back and count them)......... but after seeing it in this thread I am glad that it wasn't really "everyone". If it were to be the next Forum knife then I would definitely have to skip that one......as I suspect a lot of people would.

I don't like the lack of a choil or even a pronounced guard......also a little too small in blade size for my preference. But for those times when I would want a smaller blade, the Native 5 or Dragonfly IMHO is a much nicer knife and looks like they would both be far more ergonomic in hand. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I really do like Knife No, 6 though (ZDP189 CF Stretch)..........I picked up a used one that was in pretty good condition not long ago. I also have the SB Stretch and one day when I have some time I think that I will try a blade swap .....like the one Nemo and Jacknifeh posted about.

[gbelleh]

The day after finding a great deal on the Khukuri, I found a great deal on the Barong too. Another Ed Schempp ethnic series classic. This knife is not as carry-friendly as the Khukuri, mostly due to the sharp point at the end of the handle, which sticks straight up out of the pocket. The knife operates very smoothly and easily, and I find it to be very comfortable in hand. Many people didn't like the large "choil" that removes an inch of potential edge from the blade, but that never bothered me in use. It is a large knife overall for a 3" edge, but the handle offers a lot of versatility and comfort. I don't really carry this knife anymore, but it's a much appreciated member of my Schempp Spyderco family.

Knife # 18 - May 2010.

[swigert]

What are your thoughts on the Zulu gbellah? A local store has one I've handled a few times. Feels great in hand but blade shape throws me off every time.

[gbelleh]

What are your thoughts on the Zulu gbellah? A local store has one I've handled a few times. Feels great in hand but blade shape throws me off every time.

The Zulu is one that I'm glad to have. I appreciate the design and build quality of it, but the blade shape doesn't work as well for me as other designs. So, I almost never carry it. Plus, I don't like how the tip-up pocket clip rides in the pocket. If it was my only knife, I could get by just fine, but I just have too many other options that work better for me.

[gbelleh]

Next was a knife that represented a major shift in my view of Spyderco, and knives in general. When I first saw pictures of the Chokwe, I thought it was the most ridiculous, absurd knife I'd ever seen. Preposterous, ludicrous! But through research (and time here at this forum), I was learning a lot, and really starting to appreciate the ethnic series. When I actually did some research into the Chokwe people, and the original Chokwe knives, the Spyderco version became irresistibly fascinating. Reading about the Chokwe people and their culture was extremely interesting, and the merging of such vastly different cultures through the appreciation and design of a tool, struck me as very special and worthwhile. I was starting to realize just how much passion Spyderco has for their products, rather than simply cranking out cheaply made, me-too products, just to take advantage of market trends. A project like the Chokwe, that revived and modernized a knife design used for centuries in a country halfway around the world, was amazing to me. When I finally received my Chokwe, I was amazed again, at the usefulness and comfort the design offered, the smooth, lightning-fast operation, and build quality. It quickly became one of my favorites, and I still enjoy using and carrying it.

Knife # 19 - May 2010.

[3rdGenRigger]

Nice Chokwe! And your thoughts about it mirror mine almost exactly. You forgot how good it is at tailstands though.

[timlara]

Ironically, I like my Chokwe so much, I tend to treat it like a collector's piece and almost never carry it, even though I WANT to carry it! It is surprisingly usable and ergonomic despite its funky appearance.

[3rdGenRigger]

It's definitely one of my favourites. Great, and VERY underappreciated knife.

[gbelleh]

Next was the Gayle Bradley Folder. There's no question this is an excellent knife. Very well built, and nice looking. But it's never been one of my favorites. It's just a bit too wide and heavy to be a daily carry knife for me. The handle is ok, but there are others that fit me better. It's just more knife than I usually need or want to carry. So, this one has remained an often appreciated, but seldom used piece in the collection.

Knife # 20 - May 2010.

[gbelleh]

My next knife was a sprint that I found very intriguing. I still like the idea of this locking mechanism, and I enjoy having this knife. But I never really found it practical enough to actually carry on a regular basis. The thickness is a bit much for a knife this size, especially when other options like the Dragonfly are available, that offer more blade length in a slimmer, lighter package. The lock is a bit more fumbly for me to operate one handed too (though I'm sure I could get used to it with enough practice). It's still a very cool little knife that I like very much.

Knife # 21 - May 2010.


The secret of the sliding scale is exposed...

[On Edge]

I see your point regarding practicality for carry, but I'd like to have one just for the collectible aspect … isn't this the only Spyderco knife (or ANY brand) employing the "phantom" lock?

Thanks again for seeing this through - great thread.

~ edge

[ManixFan]

The most intriguing knife that I've seen so far in your collection that I never came across before but would not mind picking up if I could find it for a reasonable price would be the Khukuri.

Hard to believe that such a blade at such an angle could fit into such a slim closed configuration.

[Blerv]

I still love this thread :D!

[timlara]

The MeerKat is great and I'm really bummed that I missed the sprint with Burgundy scales. I'm too cheap to pay the aftermarket prices I've found so far, so I'm holding out for another sprint someday.

I have large-medium hands, so I actually kind of prefer the chunkier handle on the MeerKat vs. the slimmer Dragonfly. I feel like I can get a little better grip on it. Plus, the lock is just darn cool.