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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:36 am
by HoB
Underwhelmed I have been by the Kiwi, but it wasn't much of a disappointment, as I really didn't plan on buying one. Really disappointed I have been by the Paramilitary. Usually, ergos on the Spyderco knifes are outstanding but the Para just doesn't fit me. Similar with the Scorpio, but again, I wasn't as disappointed as I didn't plan on buying one.
Overwhelmed,.....there are several but the most surprising were:
Starting out with the Lil'T, until I actually held it in my hand I was not sure if a 3" blade would be large enough of a knife for me.......Muhahahahaha. Since then I have begun to distinguish very clearly between knife size and blade length.
The Kris was a real eyeopener. It looks so weired, but it fits the hand so well. And the median grind just slips though cardboard for example like a hot knife through butter.
Very early on the Dragonfly: A knife that size just should have such great ergos.
The Kerambit: It is not that I really love it (I like it it but it is not among my most treasured), but it's got something I didn't anticipate, this thing actually scares me. I have lived with people that have come to accept and in parts appreciate my obsession. So whenever I get a new knife, they get to handle it and on some they appreciate it and on some they don't, but they are pretty open about it, definitely not "sheeple". The Kris was the only knife that got an immediate and almost reflex-like "holy ****, did you get that from Jack-the-Ripper?"....and frankly, I don't even blame them.
levels of spyderedge - just don't start with a Cricket
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:44 am
by jmp
Surprise:
for me, the
Tenacious is a good fit. Quality, copper washer :) and everything was a good surprise (if I had taken a better look at the images and ordered PE instead of CE).
My first spyderedge was a
Cricket. You know: thin grind and edge, serration shallow to medium with not that much of an angle increase. Makes for a good push cutter and little-tearing slicer. just the right hint of aggressive teeth, without the teeth getting in one's way. You could even it as a razor in a pinch.
Guess that's simply the best spyderedge variant on the market :) .
That probably makes the Cricket to worst possible SE knife to start with :rolleyes: .
And I'm still looking for a larger design sporting that kind of spyderedge

.
Now to underwhelming spyderedge variants:
Given that first experience, the spyderedge on the
Endura never had a chance: blade get's thick far too soon. Nice knife, but usability and serration-abusability just not up to Cricket standards. For the record, I think the Endura's innocent - it just came too late...
Not the
Yin: high angle, too shallow / too rounded / too little aggression. It's a nice veggy slicer with extended edge length, just the teeth are utterly unsuitable to start a cut. Guess that's what you get when you ask Japanese to put serrations on a kitchen knife: "good food must NOT be destroyed by tearing" :rolleyes: .
Neither the
Tenacious: I ordered the CE version, thinking that it would have Byrd-style serrations: usable, though possibly thick/high angle. Not so: the ones on the Tenacious are far too deep, too acute for my taste. That's pure tearing

. Strangely it can slice paper - the serrations are far too deep, so the paper cannot get out the concave part of the serration, and inside the edge is indeed upto Spyderco standards.
Do test the teeth of a new SE or CE Tenacious: put a finger without any pressure at all just near the teeth, then be happy about the blood drops slowly appearing in a 1mm - 3mm pattern out of the tiny bites. Teeth like that will tear (instead of slice, regardless of care/pressure during knife use) for a long time to come...
cu
Peter
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:37 am
by Mr Blonde
My most disappointing spydie is the large Wegner; the grip didn't fit my hand at all.
One of the most suprisingly useful spydies has been the Swick; Initially I figured it was more of an MBC type knife (considerin its SPOT pedigree), but the Swick is an excellent little utility necker.
Wouter
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:22 am
by Spygineer
Of the knives I own:
Surprise - Nav II. Didn't consider it much since I already owned the lava which had great ergos, and I also owned the D'fly which had the nice FFG leaf-shaped blade. Then by chance, I found one for a pretty decent price, and to my surprise, got the best of both worlds - great ergos and blade shape for a LBK. My current EDC (along with the cricket).
Dissapointment - Spin. Because I was such a huge fan of the cricket, I thought I would love the spin. But, unfortunately, I could never get a comfortable/secure grip on it. Still like it, and it's good for fine cutting, but not my preferred carry.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:01 pm
by Raqudu
Of those I own, the most surprising were the Yojimbo and the Millie. Like others, I kept putting off the Yo, thinking it looked a bit too unusual, but I kept coming back and looking again. Closeout pricing at STP pushed me over the edge, and the feel of Yo in the hand was a very pleasant surprise. The Millie was put off for a long time, too, as just too big. CPM D2 was the purchase impetus this time, and it has ridden in my pocket almost every day since it arrived. For all of Spyderco's LBK's, this one is a BLK - a Big Little Knife. It fits even my small hand well, and rides easily in my pocket.
For disappointment, it would have to be the D4 CE. The flat sabre grind just doesn't yield the cutting performance of some other grinds. I guess I'm just spoiled. :o
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:38 pm
by Domanfp
I think my most suprising knife had to be my meerkats I got it bc I remembered actually not being able to close one in a store and wondered how that knife closed for a good five years until I came along this site and found out where I could get new ones. And since then I have carried an SE meerkat almost everyday.
I think my most disappointing was the para mili, it just didnt fit me to well and it felt like the handle was huge compared to the blade. Oh well doesnt stop me from buying other models!!
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:05 pm
by RIOT
I just got the citadel in the mail today and im not too impresed at all.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:28 pm
by telemeister
Domanfp wrote:I think my most suprising knife had to be my meerkats!!
I concur!! They're a great little knife. Have you got a picture of the SS?
RIOT wrote:I just got the citadel in the mail today and im not too impresed at all.
Why aren't you impressed??
Once again, the LBKs surpass my expectations. I just got a Co-Pilot yesterday and it is a great knife!!
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:37 pm
by ClockWork
RIOT wrote:I just got the citadel in the mail today and im not too impresed at all.
Yes I am also curiuos..... I am thinkin about getting one. What is it that you don't like about it? How would you say it compares to say a Benchmade Auto?
Thanks...
.
_Clock
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:48 pm
by Sakuraba#1
I was disappointed with the cricket and the Tenacious. the cricket's handle was just way to thin for me and the jimping, thin G-10 scales and liners ruined the Tenacious for me which I had high hopes for.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:32 pm
by jaislandboy
ClockWork wrote:Yes I am also curiuos..... I am thinkin about getting one. What is it that you don't like about it? How would you say it compares to say a Benchmade Auto?
Thanks...
.
_Clock
this might answer your question ClockWork

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:18 pm
by A.P.F.
jaislandboy wrote:this might answer your question ClockWork

LMAO, Brian! :D
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:24 pm
by ClockWork
OK...
maybe I'm missing it... sorry.
But; What?????
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:48 pm
by A.P.F.
ClockWork wrote:OK...
maybe I'm missing it... sorry.
But; What?????
That is Brian's clever graphic that means 'Do Not Feed the Trolls'.
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:02 am
by quattrokid73
i don't see a troll, i see ET's mutated brother. :confused:
:D
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:12 am
by flyguy
quattrokid73 wrote:i don't see a troll, i see ET's retarded brother. :confused:
:D
That's not very Politically Correct... I think you mean ET's
special brother, right?
But if that is meant to be a troll, I don't understand either. It's not like you can ask how it compares to the other Spyderco autos, right? So, why not compare w/ BM?
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:22 am
by quattrokid73
very special, indeed!!!
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:57 am
by ClockWork
Benchmade vs. Spyderco strikes a nerve in here???
Sorry guys didn't mean to bring it up.
(I like my spydies MUCH more than my 5000s Benchmade... FYI)
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:37 am
by mrappraisit
My only dissapointing spydie is my ZDP D4. I think my expectations were a little unrealistic. It is still a great knife but I think in my newbie haste I didn't give enough consideration to what I typically use a folding knife for.
That being said, I still reach for it when doing rough yard work or hiking/camping, and of course it is really well made.
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:59 am
by rorschach
Most disappointing: the salsa. I really tried to love it, but left-pocket carry is out of the question as the blade pops open too easily (mine does not have a switchable clip.)
Biggest surprise: my FRN Walker. I got in from Japan on a whim and I swear it's just about perfect for my EDC. Super fast deployment, very light, plastic clip (!!), easy to sharpen. For some reason I carry it many times a month. Good size for the office too.
:][: