Spyderco Forums

Michael Janich wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:12 am

...When I discussed the Chinook design with him many years ago, he summarized it as "I designed a Ferrari, and what we got was a really great Ford F150." His original design for it, which was expressed in a custom knife made by Ken Onion, was very sleek....

Thank you Michael! Very interesting history of the Chinook, explains a lot. Regards the above quote, I tried several searches to see if I could find the original Ferrari Chinook concept, but failed. Maybe another forumite with better Google-Fu can find it. I take it that the Ford/Ferrari analogy refers to the weight of the knife.

Thanks for the history, Mike. I’m excited for the new Chinook.

Bolster wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:22 pm

To add photos...

The Chinook III was the one I had in my user arsenal that I dearly loved. Also I'm sure the first run 440V units are getting quite collectible at this point. I think they only made one run of those original Chinook models in 440V.

But the Chinook III was like a Manix on really potent steroids. That was one of the beefiest blades Spyderco ever made. There are so many of those 2003 models that became classics. Same class as the Dodo model.

Thank you!
I’ve always been interested in the model and this has certainly renewed or expanded on that.
Will be looking forward to the next iteration and especially if it keeps the Powerlock.

I’m gonna study the Powerlock now, and maybe try to design a knife around it for fun.
I’ve learned a lot and come to a better appreciation of various lock designs by doing this. It’s a good exercise for the brain and drawing skills too.

JD Spydo wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:13 am

The Chinook III was the one I had in my user arsenal that I dearly loved. Also I'm sure the first run 440V units are getting quite collectible at this point. I think they only made one run of those original Chinook models in 440V.

But the Chinook III was like a Manix on really potent steroids. That was one of the beefiest blades Spyderco ever made. There are so many of those 2003 models that became classics. Same class as the Dodo model.

Yeah, the Chin 3 and the original big Manix feel like siblings, for sure. They both have an attention-commanding lockup and all-over beefiness. Authoritative 5.9 oz for the C3 and 6.1 oz for the Manix. If you're carrying one of these, you tend to always be aware of it!

OK, so I am a Blades Canada fan boy.... They still have the Chinook 4

https://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Spyd ... 30V_C63GP4

Bolster wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 12:48 pm

JD Spydo wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:13 am

The Chinook III was the one I had in my user arsenal that I dearly loved. Also I'm sure the first run 440V units are getting quite collectible at this point. I think they only made one run of those original Chinook models in 440V.

But the Chinook III was like a Manix on really potent steroids. That was one of the beefiest blades Spyderco ever made. There are so many of those 2003 models that became classics. Same class as the Dodo model.

Yeah, the Chin 3 and the original big Manix feel like siblings, for sure. They both have an attention-commanding lockup and all-over beefiness. Authoritative 5.9 oz for the C3 and 6.1 oz for the Manix. If you're carrying one of these, you tend to always be aware of it!

That pic is a revelation to me. I have and love a sprint of that beefy Manix. Seeing it against the Chinook3 confirms the latter has more cutting edge for similar handle length but less weight.

My Lil’Temp2‘s maximized cutting-edge has pretty much obiterated my childhood prejudice (“Aladdin and Other Tales…” unsettled me) against upswept blades, but I’ve never gained a sense that the Chinook is so big and beefy, yet relatively not…

I can hardly wait for the new Chinook. It's a bucket list knife for me.

bearrowland wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 4:59 am

I can hardly wait for the new Chinook. It's a bucket list knife for me.

You need one Barry ! Dan

Bolster wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 9:30 am

Michael Janich wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:12 am

...When I discussed the Chinook design with him many years ago, he summarized it as "I designed a Ferrari, and what we got was a really great Ford F150." His original design for it, which was expressed in a custom knife made by Ken Onion, was very sleek....

Thank you Michael! Very interesting history of the Chinook, explains a lot. Regards the above quote, I tried several searches to see if I could find the original Ferrari Chinook concept, but failed. Maybe another forumite with better Google-Fu can find it. I take it that the Ford/Ferrari analogy refers to the weight of the knife.

Murindo wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 25, 2022 1:06 pm

Here is the decades old "Chinook 0" that Ken Onion made to Keatings design with a trainer as well. You can see how the Chinook 1 developed from it.

In the end, if Sal makes a Chinook 5 and it's a Chinook 4 with a newer steel, I'll still buy it.

This is from last year's Chinook 5 thread. Sadly, no other specs about the custom were given aside from the attached photo.

Always interested in a new Chinook.

I have one Chinook 3 and two Chinook 4's. I'll buy a Chinook 5. If I really like it I'll buy two.

Manixguy@1994 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:52 am

You need one Barry ! Dan

Wow, cool! I find that photo strangely compelling! I think that somewhere, out there, I have a doppleganger!

mikey177 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 6:57 am

This is from last year's Chinook 5 thread. Sadly, no other specs about the custom were given aside from the attached photo.chinook zero ken onion custom for james keating.jpg

Thanks for posting this. I had missed last year's C5 thread. Honestly my first impression is that it's not so "sleek" (referring to the Keating quote of Ferrari/Ford) but I can't tell how heavy it is by looking, obvi.

I think Sal's response in the older C5 thread is worth repeating. You can imagine that Sal is constantly getting mixed messages:

sal wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 25, 2022 7:19 pm

...So I'm getting mixed messages on what would be desired. We made the later Chinooks lighter due to the many complaints about the weight of the earlier models. Most of the "I love the older models" was based on their appearance and not their performance. I am working on a Chinook and I did speak with James about it, bu we didn't go into details. I had thought to use the Power lock, but have recently changed my thinking to a Compression Lock....

sal

I would be really interested in seeing the Chinooks dissembled to see how their locks and internal construction has evolved with each iteration.

Thanks to this thread, I now have a C4, my first Chinook, coming to me, appropriately enough, from the Great White North’s Warriors & Wonders. FYI, now OOS…

Really stoked.

And I get a PowerLock to stand in for one I lost when I sold my Tatanka (I like big, just not that big).

wrdwrght wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:02 pm

Thanks to this thread, I now have a C4, my first Chinook, coming to me, appropriately enough, from the Great White North’s Warriors & Wonders. FYI, now OOS…

This won't really have happened, until we get photos in this thread...!

Bolster wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:15 pm

wrdwrght wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:02 pm

Thanks to this thread, I now have a C4, my first Chinook, coming to me, appropriately enough, from the Great White North’s Warriors & Wonders. FYI, now OOS…

This won't really have happened, until we get photos in this thread...!

Noted.

I suspect my pair (composed in the manner above) will need to show my C4 (sleeker than the C3?) next to my Manix2 XL (def sleeker than my original Manix sprint).

You're welcome, Bolster.

I recently got a Chinook 1 with the pinned construction, and it is definitely the beefiest Spyderco I have so far encountered. Of course, I've never seen or held a K2 or Tighe Stick.

Plus, the Chinook 1 comes in a steel that has 425 more V's than the hot new whizbang steel

mikey177 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:47 pm

You're welcome, Bolster.

I recently got a Chinook 1 with the pinned construction, and it is definitely the beefiest Spyderco I have so far encountered. Of course, I've never seen or held a K2 or Tighe Stick.

Plus, the Chinook 1 comes in a steel that has 425 more V's than the hot new whizbang steel chinook_02.jpg

Ha ha ! The think what I like the most of the original opposed to my Chinook 2 is the lack of an exaggerated hump above the Spydie hole . The blade looks so much cleaner . Your picture is beautiful too . Dan

You're so right buddy!!

Manixguy@1994 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:52 am

bearrowland wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 04, 2023 4:59 am

I can hardly wait for the new Chinook. It's a bucket list knife for me.

You need one Barry ! Dan

Has Spyderco ever produced a folding, traditional looking Bowie blade that wasn't an instant success and a long-term sought-after grail item? Let's see, we have:

Chinook 1
Slysz Bowie
Schempp Bowie

...others?