Spyderco Forums

Anyone have both a Bob Lum and an Astute?

I've never owned a Lum Chinese Folver, but I do have an Astute. It's one of my favorite knives, but what few gripes I do have with it seem to be answered with the Lum. Less belly, no thumb ramp, maybe a bit of a more universal/neutral (not quite sure how to explain what I mean) handle. Obviously, it's not a 1:1 comparison; they are very different designs. But, I do find myself comparing the two in my head. Maybe it's just that they're both 3" choil-less liner locks with vaguely bulbous blades.

How do they compare to each other in your opinion? Anyone with both want to share a side-by-side picture?

Also, here's hoping they do another Sprint of the Chinese Folder. Maybe in K390.

Unfortunately, Ive never handled an Astute and my friend has been using my Lum Chinese Folder non-stop since I let him borrow it almost 5 years ago so I can't offer any actual help.

I just wanna say that I would buy at least 2 k390 Chinese folders. That would also give me hope of seeing a k390 Lum Tanto.

I have an Astute and enjoy it, though it is a little smaller than I'd like. In a perfect world it would be 25% larger and have an upgraded steel. I've never had a Lum but I've come close to ordering them in the past because the design really appeals to me. I'd love to see some new releases in both sizes, and I second your vote for k390.

olywa wrote: ↑

Thu May 12, 2022 8:04 am

I have an Astute and enjoy it, though it is a little smaller than I'd like. In a perfect world it would be 25% larger and have an upgraded steel. I've never had a Lum but I've come close to ordering them in the past because the design really appeals to me. I'd love to see some new releases in both sizes, and I second your vote for k390.

I sometimes think the same thing, but I do enjoy how small the Astute is. It really stands out as a tiny knife with a regular sized blade. If scaled up it'd be a regular sized knife with a huge blade, which would be cool, but lose a bit of the charm for me. It's like a 300 HP subcompact compared to a 500 HP full size sedan. I'd take the subcompact any day.

Toucan wrote: ↑

Thu May 12, 2022 3:03 am

Anyone with both want to share a side-by-side picture?

Here you go:



The handle on the Astute is just a smidgen too small for my hands to be perfect, but it's my favorite of the Chinese Spyderco line. The Lum Chinese is probably one of my top-five designs, and, yeah, I'd love to see a new run in a super steel.

Great shot, thanks. Now I'm consumed with unrequited Lum lust...

Thanks for sharing that picture!

I’ve had the astute on my list for a long while…now I seem to want the Lum Chinese. AND the lil lum

I already own a lum Chinese but this thread really makes me want to pick up an Astute

my carbon fibre Lum Chinese is my gentleman's/BBQ knife. I like it so much it's hard to use it but no safe queens allowed.