I'm not so sure it's an unpopular opinion. I think both camps are well represented.JoviAl wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 4:24 amPossibly an unpopular opinion but I’d much prefer a linered Salt P4LW, a la the Caribbean or PM2 Salt. I value both the heft and extra burliness the liners give a knife, especially on longer blades. If I’m carrying a big ole knife I’m generally doing something a bit more at the rough and tumble end of the cutting spectrum. I’ve finally come to terms with my SE S2XL Salt having such a light handle, but I certainly baby it a bit more than my SE P4LW (rabid little pocket chainsaw that it is).
For me it's the realization that folding knives spend most of their time in the pocket, so weight matters. And for backpacking / hiking even more so. This is a use case where both linerless and salt are welcome features, and the combo is just ideal.
I don't think I use my longer blades harder, but I sometimes want a longer blade to cut stuff with a larger circumference. This is especially true if I plan to do creative outdoor cooking. Still I've never felt the need to baby my linerless Spydercos. Or Cold Steels for that matter.
I have carried and used my TRL Endura a whole lot since I got it, so I get that liners have their place. It's a more likable knife than my soulless, cheaper feeling Pac Salt. And definitively smoother. But I'm function over soul and would probably get a linerless version instead if I could. And use it just as hard. I have mostly linerless knives and I still haven't broken one. Which is kind of a shame as I have endless amounts of spares I need to justify :D
I wish we could have it both ways, so everyone got their perfect knife, but that would probably result in a mountain of SKUs and logistics **** for Spyderco. So while obviously biased in this matter, I think it also objectively makes sense to separate linered and linerless offerings depending on their saltiness. For the most part. There will always be exceptions.
