Micromelt PD#1

[Skidoosh]

I'm surprised but please to see PD#1 come back. I still remember how when people were wanting cruwear everything PD#1 mules were available for a long time. Does PD#1 offer any real difference from cruwear or is it like M390 compared to CTS 204P and 20CV?

[RadioactiveSpyder]

It’s certainly very close. Micro-melt PD#1 has a titch more chromium and some manganese in it. I’m guessing they’d be nearly indistinguishable (assuming similar heat treats) but I’m sure Larrin can chime in.

[The Mastiff]

I don't notice any differences in the steels during use. I've been waiting for a Cruwear Endura for years and this will be it for me. I can tell the difference in Cruwear/PD#1 and the old ingot Vascowear when I'm sharpening but I can't tell between Cruwear, PD#1 and Zapp's Z wear. They are all the same to me.

Now that it's coming I will happily buy one or two but it will have to fight for pocket space with K390 and that is a tough nut to crack for any steel. The only thing that defeats the mighty K390 performance for me is July and August's heat and humidity where I get soaked in sweat just walking to the car and starting it and waiting for the AC to cool it off.

[p_atrick]

I hope the P4 sprint sells well. I’d like to see more sprints in that model. This will be the first coated knife I buy.

[aicolainen]

I hope the P4 sprint sells well. I’d like to see more sprints in that model. This will be the first coated knife I buy.

I'm not big on coated knives either. Actually I'm not a big fan of big knives or the Knife nuts colour scheme either, so this is far from an obvious choice for me. But if I can pick one up from any of my regular European dealers without going through hoops, constantly surveilling their inventory I might buy one of these.
Just like the Military Model, that's also above my size preference, the Police seems like one of those classics that I should have even though I don't have a ton of use for it.
My ideal version would be FFG CE, but steelwise this should be about as good as it gets for me with this model.

[aicolainen]

I'm not big on coated knives either. Actually I'm not a big fan of big knives or the Knife nuts colour scheme either, so this is far from an obvious choice for me. But if I can pick one up from any of my regular European dealers without going through hoops, constantly surveilling their inventory I might buy one of these.
Just like the Military Model, that's also above my size preference, the Police seems like one of those classics that I should have even though I don't have a ton of use for it.
My ideal version would be FFG CE, but steelwise this should be about as good as it gets for me with this model.

I notice I've been writing this a lot lately. I should probably keep an eye on the total numbers here. It adds up quickly

[p_atrick]

Actually I'm not a big fan of big knives…

The P4 LW really opened my eyes to bigger knives. It didn’t feel all that big in hand or in pocket. It’s a great model. Disassembly is a right pain, but it won’t need to be done all that often.

[aicolainen]

Actually I'm not a big fan of big knives…

The P4 LW really opened my eyes to bigger knives. It didn’t feel all that big in hand or in pocket. It’s a great model. Disassembly is a right pain, but it won’t need to be done all that often.

Good to know!
I have warmed up slightly toward lager models in later years, so I'm not as reluctant as I used to be, but I know that the small to medium knives win out in terms of pocket time, so justifying a large knife is always a bit harder.

[Skywalker]

Interested in these. Like @The Mastiff the regular production K390 makes it a little less "must have."

Been thinking about a regular clip point Endela after liking the handle on the K390 wharnie one I picked up at the discontinued sales, so this might be a good one. Similar thoughts on Stretch 2 XL since I haven't tried that one either. And the K390 regular productions will be there if the sprints are unobtainable.

It's nice to be spoiled for choice; I remember when the Hap40 run came out and thinking how wild it was to get non-stainless tool steel in Seki models

[Mat_ski]

I’ll likely pick up delica in PD1, unless it sells too quick.

[Manixguy@1994]

The Stretch XL or Endela interest mainly for comparison with Cruwear. Black blade is a nonissue for my taste . MG2

[Manifestgtr]

Disassembly is a right pain, but it won’t need to be done all that often.

LOL

I just had a flashback to putting micarta on my P4 lw. I’d probably be sitting there fiddling with it still if it weren’t for zip ties and a decent torx set.

[steelcity16]

I'm super excited for the PD#1 run! Great color scheme and a great steel!

I know they can't include all of the models, but I wish they would have included the Delica Wharnie and Manbug Wharnie in this run. Maybe in reveal 16 they can do a second wave of the PD#1 Sprint with some Wharnie models and a few oddballs like the Jester, PE Ladybug Hawkbill, and a Cricketfly or Dodofly.

[steelcity16]

I've been waiting for a Cruwear Endura for years and this will be it for me.

I'm glad you are finally getting the Endura! I know you have been wanting this for a long time!!

[VooDooChild]

I would like the manbug and endura in this but I dont like that they are coated and also dont like how they look. May wait for a non coated sprint.

[The Mastiff]

I'm glad you are finally getting the Endura! I know you have been wanting this for a long time!!

Thanks! It's true. I tried talking Sal into it for a while. Decades maybe. I even sent Sal a small sheet of ingot Cruwear to entice him but it turns out he was already well aware of the steel and already had a knife(s) made of Vascowear . He was just humoring me. :) He even jokingly called Cruwear "mastiffwear" once or twice.

I have a pile of knives in that steel but the Endura is my favorite carry knife so I'll be happy to finally have one. Doing it in PD#1 is the same to me.

[Traditional.Sharpening]

It’s certainly very close. Micro-melt PD#1 has a titch more chromium and some manganese in it. I’m guessing they’d be nearly indistinguishable (assuming similar heat treats) but I’m sure Larrin can chime in.

I'm going to add this only because it's such a critical point...

Cliff Stamp has said that it's difficult to ACTUALLY perceive differences in performance between entire CLASSES of steel, let alone small changes between steels in a similar class. I say actually because many people claim to see a big difference between steels which are very similar but what they are actually seeing is often a product of changes in geometry, heat treat, edge, etc. Basically many other factors carry far more weight at changing performance than differences in steel.

In summary, if you're happy with Cru-wear then simply buy PD#1 and consider them entirely interchangeable. If you think you're seeing a big difference then you really need to do some high level testing with both a very large number of trials in as controlled manner as possible (ideally with some form of blinding where you don't know what knife is cutting what or have someone else do the cutting) in the real world (not CATRA) to prove to yourself that is actually what you are seeing.

[ZrowsN1s]

Actually I'm not a big fan of big knives…

The P4 LW really opened my eyes to bigger knives. It didn’t feel all that big in hand or in pocket. It’s a great model. Disassembly is a right pain, but it won’t need to be done all that often.

The Shaman was my first clue that I might like big knives, the Police4 was confirmation. That it was slim and easy in the pocket for it's size helped a lot. The Police4 is in my top 3 favorite Spyderco's, I don't know that everyone needs to own one but I wish everyone could at least carry one for a month. There'd be a decent number of people who discovered they love it as much as I do.

I'm in for the P4, a Dragonfly, and an Endura to customize.

[Gtscotty]

I've gotten to where I like cruwear quite a bit, this is the first Stretch XL that's been in a steel I like, so I'll probably pick one up.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

I'm going to add this only because it's such a critical point...

I’m glad you added all that to say exactly what I said: they’re basically indistinguishable.

I also really liked this KnifeCenter pic (their pic of course) of all of these new PD#1 offerings in one shot: