Spyderco Forums

I leave this to your judgement and wisdom. How screwed am I?
I had to return a SR1 Lionsteel. I used it to cut a tomato and the DLC coating came off when I wiped the blade of with a spunge. I really liked it.
I usually gift knives to family and my buddies serving over seas. So I was given a store credit: I now serve as a scout master and wilderness survival merit badge instructor. BTW, fixed blades are against the BSA rules.
I had every intention to get discontinued ZT, which are on sale. I looked at the ZT
550, 770, 561. Any of them would have done well. I looked at the Lionspy, Tuff, Gayle Bradley, Szabo, Military, Manix 2 XL, etc. I pulled out the Ulize and bought it. Of all the knives I looked at, I choose the Ulize to take camping in November. My laspe of jugement was how it fit my hand. It is so thin-similair to the AL Mar Eagle HD, but with better steel.
Still, I'm an idiot. I throw my poor judgement on the mercy of the forum.

Meh, I would have chosen the Millie or the GB but you're good. Certainly not an "idiot" move. I reckon you'll enjoy the ulize just fine out there. If you're worried then throw a Delica or Endura in your pocket too...or even one of the salts. They can handle anything you'll be doing out there.

I work in an Office downtown. I have another knife comrade at work. He was depressed and bought a Mchenry Williams BM. I took the ulize in to work to show him. Due to the envoronment, we keep it pretty low key. I showed him and shoved it in my trousers back pocket. It is so thin, I forgot it was there. The clip kept it in place as I sat at my desk.
Thanks for the encouragement. I agree the GB or Military would have been perfect. I could have bought the titanium military with my credit. I guess the design caused a lack of judgement?

Tatanka, GB, Tuff, or Military for Christmas. I'll order online, it'll safer.

My question is, what kind of use are looking to put on your knife?

Honestly, I am not a hard use advocate. If I'm in a survival situation with a folder, that means I've lost my gear.
I teach my Boy Scouts how to build a shelter, fire, traps, snares-the beginnings of bush craft. Probably the hardiest activity is fire wood prep. I teach them to protect their knives as the tool they can't afford to break.

I see no wrongdoing here, my friend. You're a guy with a penchant for high-quality knives just like the rest of us. I like to say there are two things you should never regret: a good haircut that cost too much and a high-quality knife purchase.

thanks. it makes me feel not so dumb. I'll try to post some pictures in November.

You could have done much worse!

In my opinion, it might be a challenge doing some basic things with a larger blade like that. Cutting notches in wood... I think you would be trying to cut three inches away from the handle to get away from the inward curved section of the edge.

I would appreciate it if you could give us some feedback on the Ulize for some normal use type stuff.


Did the coating really come off the Lionsteel? I have a couple of black coated knives made by Lionsteel, they've been through some things and I've never seen an issue with the coating.

Also, I would think even out in the woods at the Boy Scouts, pulling out something the size of the Ulize could get some "whoa!" reactions. You could be "the guy with that really big knife". :p

I was amazed. I have the Hest 2.0 by Lionsteel. No problems. I sliced a tomato from our garden. I immediately wiped it off on the soft side of the blue sponge and the DLC came off. I tested the nuclear tomato on my Protech PR4 and Microtech DOC without incident. I'm thinking it must have been a diffective batch. I really didn't have time to send it back to Italy and wait for a response. Fortunately, the Blade store made me whole with an in-store refund/credit.

Certainly not an idiot move. I like the knife, but it is little too big for me. Do not worry about knife addiction. Most of us here are addicts.

dragonram7 wrote:I agree the GB or Military would have been perfect. I could have bought the titanium military with my credit.

If you ever will consider titanium Military, I would strongly suggest Fluted variant:better looking, better grip, lighter.

No fixed blades in the Scouts!? Times certainly have changed. Now, where's that Purelle?

Not sure this makes you an idiot, you can do a lot worse than a Ulize for camping. That said there are probably at least a dozen knives in the catalog that would serve you better. Still, you have a great knife and what's really important is that in that moment it spoke to you, sometimes that's all it takes for me.

Yeah, and no fixed blades? Really? That's nonsense.

I wasn't allowed to have a fixed blade in scouts and that was in the early eighties. I am not sure when they actually changed that.

The ulize would not be my first choice for camping let alone scouts but if you like it then you did not make a bad decision. I do not like recurves and they are difficult to sharpen in the field. It is also a rather large knife to have or use around a lot of children but as long as you are using it and not the children then it probably does not matter much. The only other thing I would be concerned about might be the reaction of some of the other parents when they see a rather large knife designed for police work or self defence. Bring a SAK or multitool so you have something maybe a little more innocuous if you think it may be an issue.

If you like it and you liked the ergos then you made a good purchase. We all buy knives we can't really justify and for many of us just wanting it is good enough. :)

I've have picked something in an FFG and not a hollow ground recurve, but that is just personal preference. It looks like it will do the job.

good recommendation: I usually take a multitool to show the scouts the versatilty. I'll bring a SAK.