6 month long knife test. -Need you to vote please-

[Fred Sanford]

I am going to choose one (yes just one) knife with your help to use every single day for at least 6 months. It will be an ongoing review type of thread with pictures.

I am going to give you a choice of knives. I will not be babying the knife at all. I will not be using it as a screwdriver or a prying tool but it will cut anything and everything and I will get it dirty.

So which one would you like to see me use every day for at least 6 months and report back on once or twice a week?

-Paramilitary CPM-S30V (black or satin finish)
-Mini Schempp Persian
-Centofante 4
-Foliage Green UKPK
-Adventura
-Harpy SE
-A.T.R. SE
-Tenacious PE
-Other (you suggest something not on the list)

Which ever knife is chosen will be purchased brand spanking new and I will put it in my pocket and carry it daily for 6 months and use nothing but it for all my cutting needs.

Along with your choice, if you don't mind, put a little reasoning behind why you would like to see the test done on the knife you've chosen.

Thanks :)

[Doc Pyres]

FG UKPK

I say the UKPK for several reasons:

1. I really like the knife (I have an orange one) and want to see it become a star. :)

2. With no lock, I want to see how well the UKPK stands up to everyday cutting chores. So far, it seems like the jury might still be out on this one and David's test might allay some fears about shortcomings of the design.

3. The 'Other' knife I'd like to see in this test, the Ed Schempp Rock Salt, might be a bit on the large side for David to EDC. :D

BTW, great idea David. :) :) :)

[Tank]

Aside from a delica, as my collections has grown the ATR SE saw the most consistant pocket time and served me so well. I carried it exclusivly for almost a year actually. Next choice if there was one would be the adventura

Neat thread I must say

[bh49]

My vote goes to mini Persian. I would go for C83, which I carry for two years and it handle all my tasks, but it is difficult to find. I believe, Mini Persian would be able to do everything what you need and also look good while doing this.
I certainly would stick with PE, IMHO it is more universal.
My second choice would be UKPK or Adventura. Both knives have little disadvantage, at least for me:UKPK has no lock and Adventura has SS handle, which can be an issue for outside chores, during winter or if your hands get wet.

[ghostrider]

My Dear FOM,

Let me get this straight.

Your going to use only ONE knife!?
And, your going to do this for six months!? :eek:

You haven't by chance had a change in medical doses recently, have you?

J/K


I like the idea of the Cento 4. Thin blade that's being put to the test. :D

[stap2211]

How about either the Delica or Endura ZDP-189 combo edge.

Let us know how well the serrations hold up (do the edges or points become chipped/broken in hard use?) and also. how the factory secondary bevel is to live with (without reprofiling). Some say it's way too obtuse to take advantage of the harder steel ... and a crazy time eater to reprofile.

In fact ... don't even sharpen it for a month or two and see how well it does ... and then detail how much time and effort it takes to bring it back to sharpness.

I'm wondering if it's too brittle or hard to live with.

[araneae]

Wow. 6 months with one knife. I will have to think about that before I vote. That's commitment. Cool idea, but I could not resist the temptation of my other Spydies.

[Fred Sanford]

Wow. 6 months with one knife. I will have to think about that before I vote. That's commitment. Cool idea, but I could not resist the temptation of my other Spydies.

Well, for right now I have other financial commitments that I have to stick to. My savings account for my girl, retirement, house remodel stuff, and just generally socking away money now that we are out of debt.

So, It will be at least 6 months before I buy another knife of any kind, so that's why I am doing this.

[Raqudu]

I would be interested to hear your reports on living with a non-locking knife for a bit, especially in light of your thread on traditional folders.

I've been considering the UKPK in either the FG or orange flavor, but have been holding back awaiting the arrival of the Urban.

[Joshua J.]

I voted for the Harpy, just because hawkbills are often underestimated.

Personally I'd go with the ATR, as it's undoubtedly the sturdiest knife on the list, but seeing as we already know how sturdy it is we wouldn't really learn anything new from testing one of those.
I expect EDCing a hawkbill would produce a few more "eureka" moments than any of the other knives.

[LowSpeedHighDrag]

UKPK as I am frankly afraid to carry one.

[ozspyder]

Mini Persian for me David :D

Whilst a fair few out there are crying out for the Large Persian, I was thinking of doing what you are insanely doing yourself now !!! (well done , now THIS is commitment !)

The Mini Persian is a concentrated version of the much loved , yet much larger and heavier big brother. I think it is a very capable beast and its cutting power is almost unsurpassed for a knife of its size (well, Caly III is its colsest competitor). Add to that the classy shiny bolsters and the knife is a multi-tasking jack of all trades.... and master of most :p

Oh ! guess what I have in my right back pocket today.... Mini Persian :D

Whilst I'd also love for you to carry and review a Rock Salt, I think for your profession a folder would be much more practical Might I suggest one of the new Goddards, Black Delica, or Rookie ? All perfect EDC sized. As a tangent, maybe one of the white or orange Ladybugs ?

[yablanowitz]

I'd like to see you use the UKPK. I've carried mine for over a year and a half, although not exclusively. I know it is far more capable than people think it is, and you have an opportunity to show them that. I believe you know how to use a folding knife correctly, so it shouldn't be a huge challenge.

[benplaut]

...

[dialex]

Hi David, good luck with your testing. May it be enjoyable and instructive as well.
I was also thinking of the Adventura myself, however as much as I'd love to hear a second opinion, the Adventura is discontinued and I carried it enough to see where it could be improved.
But I always wanted to see how the serrated ZDP performs like, that's why I'd like to propose you instead the ZDP Endura (or Delica), SE or at least CE.

[kukoka]

Hi David,

That sounds like a very serious commitment, I wish you all the bests for it! I voted for the Para on the following basis:
(i) there is little use in testing disco'd models IMHO
(ii) the Harpy is too specialized for a 6-month EDC test, the UKPK does not have a lock
(iii) I really like the Para :D
Actually, this third one is the most important of course. The only thing that keeps me from buying several more Paras (I have the FG D2) is that the blade play development issue surfaces on the forums from time to time. I would love it if you could confirm that this is not a real problem under regular hard use.

Thank you for your effort,
Akos

[Murdoc]

Hi David,

I'd choose the Tenacious, because this knife is meant to be an EDC knife for people who are just starting with knives, and maybe bought as a first EDC, so it would have to get them into Spyderco and knives at all, without support from other Spydies (or the forums which are addictive as well :) ).

Other than from a collector's point of view, the Tenacious would be seen by them as a tool only and has to do exactly what it would do in your test to get them into Spydercos: perform flawlessly, cutting everything without being babied, sharpend only occasionally (if at all), and maybe slightly abused.

That would put the design to the test as well as its "cheap" :eek: steel. Maybe it would show that such a steel isn't that bad in (as) a user at all?

And if the cheapest "real" Spydie would perform well in this real world EDC test, that would tell us a lot about the potential of all the "better" Spyderco knives, don't you think?


Dennis

[Sherpa]

I chose a paramilitary, I know that one is your favorite! :D

[Billy]

Hi David. WOW! I like this idea and like many here, I also carried only one knife for years at a time. For me it was a Delica 1, then a D2 and then the Adventura. Each knife saw multiple YEARS as my only pocket knife and it's kinda cool to get to know that one inside and out. Only slightly less than a year ago did my obsession with Spyderco really take hold along with multiple knife carry. :)

So with that said, I voted for the Mini Persian. It is a great knife that I think tends to be pigeon-holed as just a fancy, dress knife to be saved for only formal occasions. At least that's what I thought when I first bought mine. Once I got over that, I saw the real usefulness of this knife and I would like to see others exposed to the benefits and joys of carrying this knife day in and day out. My second choice for you would be the Tenacious for the exact same reasons Murdoc gave.

[Gibsoniam]

Hi David,

what a great idea! I picked the UKPK for a few reasons:

1) The Calypso, Jr. form factor is one of Sal's best, imo.

2) I think 'slippits' are going to be increasingly important to Spyderco, and think a 6 month long test is a great way to demonstrate that a slipjoint can handle just about anything yov throw at it.

3) Your test might bring to light limitations that in turn may help Sal refine the concept.