Police XL Talk

[T-1000]

I love the idea, but confused on the liner less requests. That thing would flex around like a wet noodle!

depends on the handle thickness. the 6" bladed x2 voyagers were linerless and had no issues with flexing https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS29XX ... clip-point

This is true. I love the voyagers and have several, including an old school clip point. If you did linerless then yes you’d have to thicken up the handle substantially. The old voyagers also have a thick blade stock and lock bar. But I’m totally down with a voyageresque police. That’s my jam, especially in SE.

[JMM]

I like the P3, love the P4, but I can't imagine needing or even wanting anything larger than a P4 in my pocket. Now a G10 P4 in Rex121 or 15V, with orange or brown G10 respectively.... that I'd be all over...

[vivi]

I like the P3, love the P4, but I can't imagine needing or even wanting anything larger than a P4 in my pocket. Now a G10 P4 in Rex121 or 15V, with orange or brown G10 respectively.... that I'd be all over...

Nice collection! The P3 is one of my all time favorites. I really like the latest iteration, but I carried a P3 off and on since the week they came out and have lots of memories attached to that design.

Back when the tatanka released one reason I went with a cheaper alternative is like you I didn't see myself actually carrying a pocket knife with a ~5.5" blade.

Couple years ago I decided to try carrying one that size every day, and I found the extra blade length pretty useful in a lot of situations. It definitely changed my perspective.

I know legal and social restrictions prevent a lot of folks from EDCing something that large, but if those don't apply to you, give it a shot and see how it pans out. Might surprise yourself too.

[Evil D]

There was a time when I couldn't imagine carrying a knife the size of a Military 2 but now the Military 1/2 are among my favorites. If I've learned anything about my preferences it's that they'll change for the right knife.

[sal]

Hi David,

At my age, I have learned that many things change in a life. Often unpredictable?

I'll watch the thread. If I think there is enough demand, we might serve the demand. In the meanwhile, I'll design and build a prototype for my own testing.

sal

[CDEP]

After seeing what Sal did with the Bodacious, dropping it in to a hole in the brand that I didn't think was there, my take is let Sal be Sal and do what he thinks would work.

Every time I've thought a Spyderco knife was too big for me I've been wrong. PM2, Shaman, Stretch, Police, Chief - I have multiples of them all now.

I've reached a point where if Sal designs it I'll just buy it. Life is simpler that way.

[MyelinSheath&Borborygmi]

How about choiless Endura XXL?

[aicolainen]

Hi Vivi,

Just kidding.

If I were to design another long blade folder, I would lean more towards thin and lithe. More like the Police 4, but longer.

sal

What would you want to see from a Police XL?

This thread slipped under my radar.
With only a stainless steel Police for my "reference collection", I don't really feel like I know the Police. Newer iterations might be longer too, cause mine only has a 2mm edge advantage over my Chief.

That said, (even as someone who usually lean toward shorter blades) I'm positive to a new model with a longer blade than the Police. But to seduce me it would have to be a spec monster. It would have to be something to turn to when edge length is key. As much edge as possible for the handle length/closed length.
For a knife this size, a good edge to weight ratio would be important as well.
Even though I'm usually a big fan of linerless, I'm not sure I'd want that in a model of this size. It all depends, but if possible I'd like to see it remain quite thin in pocket as well.
While not a requirement, it would have been nice to see a knife with this amount of edge to have a somewhat taller blade to get some knuckle clearance in order to utilize as much of that edge as possible against a cutting board/cutting surface. My Chief beats my SS Police quite handily in that category, but I'd like to see the Chief beat as well.

I suspect you won't share my preference with regards to thinness, vivi, but it's not a preference carved in stone. The weight benefit of linerless could possibly do more for carry comfort than thinness, so I choose to remain open minded about it. As Steve Jobs figured out long ago, consumers don't always know what they want until you show it to them, and I have trust in Sal/Spyderco to make the better choice. But not even Steve Jobs could sell me 4.5"+ knife with poor edge to handle ratio, that much I'm sure about.

[derangedhermit]

I really like the Police 4 over the P3, having owned and used both for years now. The extra blade length, the larger hole, the refined grip shape - speaking of which, it is one of the more neutral grip shapes that Spyderco uses, and I find I almost always prefer that.

Having said that, I wouldn't want a larger Police. The closed in-the-pocket length, at 5 2/3", is about the limit for me.

What I would buy is a stretched Bodacious. Add an inch to closed length to match the Police 4, and you'd have 4 1/2" of sharpened edge. And I think the design would not suffer at all from the additional length.

The Spyderco knife I own that I think that would actually strongly benefit from being longer is the Lil Temperance 3. I'm pretty sure if it was an inch longer, it would be a more generally useful knife. That wide, short, thick blade, with necessarily strongly curved sharpened edge, would be transformed, and the handle would be a little less crowded for those with wide hands. The grip shape is already really good.

[SpeedHoles]

The Spyderco knife I own that I think that would actually strongly benefit from being longer is the Lil Temperance 3. I'm pretty sure if it was an inch longer, it would be a more generally useful knife. That wide, short, thick blade, with necessarily strongly curved sharpened edge, would be transformed, and the handle would be a little less crowded for those with wide hands. The grip shape is already really good.

That's a whole different discussion, but one I could get on board! That is definitely the strong potential basis platform for a real hard work folder.

[gk4ever2]

G10 to give a little more weight in handle to offset blade for better balance . CruWear would be a possibility and blade similar to P3 . Dan

I could not agree more about G-10 on a knife this size. This is one reason why the Police 4 is not my favorite, and is not likely to get any significant carry time.

[SpeedHoles]

G10 to give a little more weight in handle to offset blade for better balance . CruWear would be a possibility and blade similar to P3 . Dan

I could not agree more about G-10 on a knife this size. This is one reason why the Police 4 is not my favorite, and is not likely to get any significant carry time.

The Police 4 came in G10 at one point.

[yablanowitz]

Ya think?

[shunsui]

G10 Police4 and Ulize

[gk4ever2]

G10 to give a little more weight in handle to offset blade for better balance . CruWear would be a possibility and blade similar to P3 . Dan

I could not agree more about G-10 on a knife this size. This is one reason why the Police 4 is not my favorite, and is not likely to get any significant carry time.

The Police 4 came in G10 at one point.

Thank you, that's good to know; I guess the G-10 P4 was before I got more interested in Spyderco knives.

I'd consider it but I'd be far more interested in a Chief XL or even a Bodacious XXL. I just really favor the no thumb ramp designs lately even though I'm loving the Military 2.

I started a thread last year about a Chief XL, and it didn't seem to get much interest. I would still love to buy one if it ever happens.

Hi David,

At my age, I have learned that many things change in a life. Often unpredictable?

I'll watch the thread. If I think there is enough demand, we might serve the demand. In the meanwhile, I'll design and build a prototype for my own testing.

sal

Sal,

I'm a little younger than you, but not much. Things in life sure do change, and at least sometimes they can be very unpredictable - I went to the hospital about 6 months ago with back pain, and a couple days later had quadruple bypass surgery on my heart. I have finally recovered, but it was slow at first.

I was recently reflecting on much less important changes, like my knife preferences, and other things too.

Keep up the good work, and take care!

Gene

[Jeb]

Derangedhermit wrote:
"What I would buy is a stretched Bodacious. Add an inch to closed length to match the Police 4, and you'd have 4 1/2" of sharpened edge. And I think the design would not suffer at all from the additional length."

Have you checked out the Manix 2XL... I have 4 of them right now and they are a lot like what your asking for in this quote above.

They are a different blade lock, and I will be the first to say I don't care for them till I have worked the blade lock spring over, once I did that the Manix 2XL is a really nice big knife and the shape of the blade of the Manix 2 is very similar to the Bodacious. The grip of the Manix2 XL is really something special as well...

The Police4 is a totally different design of blade from the Bodacious. Police4 with an up grade in blade steel and made to be a 5" blade would be a serious commitment and up grade...

The Police4 's as they are and those that I have put G10 scales have replaced most days, the knife I carry my 5" Protech assisted opening, but I still do take it with me ever so often.

A Police4 with upgraded steel and 5" would have my Protech shelved for good. I like the Police4 design that much and that is over a 5" assisted opening beast that I have had and carried almost 20 years now.

Carried hard too. Through thick and thin! It snaps open, guys I promise everybody knows it's out and in charge.

For me it's something about the darn 14mm thumbhole lol that thumbhole just works and makes these knives happen.

Sure I like the pocket clip too, but it's how you can open the Police4 and that loud and proud snap of the backlock, well it brings attention...

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

"C.O.P" - Short for "Chief of Police."

That's clever. Such a knife wouldn't be for me, but the name would be cool.

Agreed, cool name Nick

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Well tracking says I’m supposed to be getting my first P4 tomorrow (PD#1) and I’ve heard it’s a big boi but sometimes bigger is better and biggest is best so I’d be game for a C.O.D.

[Larry_Mott]

While it would be as redundant to me as most Lynn Thompson creations, i like the C.O.P. moniker, and would most likely buy one ...just because :)

[vivi]

Well tracking says I’m supposed to be getting my first P4 tomorrow (PD#1) and I’ve heard it’s a big boi but sometimes bigger is better and biggest is best so I’d be game for a C.O.D.

I like my PD1 version quite a bit. The coating is better than what Spyderco typically uses on japanese knives, and the steel sharpens up very easily.