I just started carrying this PD1 lightweight as a work knife.
With the factory edge I can feel it cut through cardboard more easily than my reprofiled Military in S30V DLC. That thinner stock translates to thinner geometry behind the edge.
I'll be posting on-going impressions of the PD1 Police to this thread as the months go by.
I have the FRN version in VG10. This was the model that opened my eyes to the viability of larger knives. Before, I thought the Military was just too unwieldy. The Police, however, never felt big in hand or in pocket. I was really hoping that the Police would have been included in the SPY27 sprint run. If you are on the fence about a 4-inch blade, maybe start with Police. I wish I had picked up one of the versions with full liners. Just image highly figured wood in that size.
I only have the P3 which has been a long time favorite. Thread inspires me to put in pocket today , I have never felt this knife lacking in outdoor use for me , comfortable in hand . MG2
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
I was actually shocked at how long this knife was when open. I love the endura but never had a police until the new pd #1 sprints came out. It is definitely not for smaller hands crew. Unless you want to swing it with two hands . But all jokes aside it is a cutting monster.
I have three: An OG stainless SE model and both PE and SE Police 4 K390.
I've carried the OG the most, because when I bought it in the 90s it was one of only a few knives I owned. Recently I've been carrying the PE K390 the most, but it's new enough that it still has the factory edge. Truth be told, I usually pick up a Military or a Stretch XL before a Police.
Threads like this one are rekindling my interest in the Police, though. Lately I've been pondering the PD-1 and the screwed-construction stainless...
I have three: An OG stainless SE model and both PE and SE Police 4 K390.
I've carried the OG the most, because when I bought it in the 90s it was one of only a few knives I owned. Recently I've been carrying the PE K390 the most, but it's new enough that it still has the factory edge. Truth be told, I usually pick up a Military or a Stretch XL before a Police.
Threads like this one are rekindling my interest in the Police, though. Lately I've been pondering the PD-1 and the screwed-construction stainless...
I'm planning to add a screw construction, 4 way clip stainless Police to my collection this year.
I have three: An OG stainless SE model and both PE and SE Police 4 K390.
I've carried the OG the most, because when I bought it in the 90s it was one of only a few knives I owned. Recently I've been carrying the PE K390 the most, but it's new enough that it still has the factory edge. Truth be told, I usually pick up a Military or a Stretch XL before a Police.
Threads like this one are rekindling my interest in the Police, though. Lately I've been pondering the PD-1 and the screwed-construction stainless...
I'm planning to add a screw construction, 4 way clip stainless Police to my collection this year.
The PE P4 LW in K390 is my favorite large Spyderco folder.
It’s not perfect, by any means, but it’s a pocket sword that cuts for days and carries real easy!
I find K390 to retain its edge longer, compared to the PD1, although the Pd1 takes a polished edge very nicely.
My most carried Police is my Police 4 LW in K390. I carried is most of last year (maybe longer) and up until I got my 15V Military 2 this year.
The Police 4 LW, and Resilience LW might be my two most favorite models.
I have hopes that someday Spyderco will make and sell a Police 4 Salt (so linerless) FFG in LC200N. I still run with my PacSalt FFG in LC200N and have been very, very impressed with it.
Of the Police 4's, I have VG-10, PD#1, and K390. Love'm all, with the K390 being the favorite, followed by the PD#1 & then the VG10.
If I ever see a good deal on the Police 3 (like the one you have) with the swedge spine and G10 scales in VG10, I'll grab it up quick.
u.w.
Last edited by u.w. on Sun Mar 02, 2025 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have a host of Police4 's and I have given away to family and friends about that same amount. There just an awesome knife!
The K390 I have is one I do plan to tear down and send the blade, to this guy on the east coast that is going to bead blast the blade, prep and DLC the blade. It's a 150 bucks to do this, but I can't carry my K390 for the rust and I mean rust, not patina; gets all over the blade.
I guess if it was just patina on my K390 I could live with it, it would be hard! My OCD will just wear me out on things like that though lol. I see a therapist and take drugs for this too lol.
I just know I don't see the therapist or take nearly enough meds to keep my horns and tail from coming out, and to over look the patina, rust and corrosion that takes place in the K390.
I guess I sweat like a hog, but the very obvious sign is the side of the blade against my leg while it's in my pocket is the worst... The sweat vapor just gets to much for this steel.
I don't ever leave crud on the blade that does this and I have tried all the normal things to help prevent this all to fail. I oiled the blade like we do all I rifles and hand guns, I have tried Flitz and different waxes, nothing keeps the rust off.
So I just need to make this blade an appointment with this guy and spend the 150 bucks and get this done. This might just be this next week's project to tear the K390 down and send it off...
The mean time the Micro Melt PD#1 has been the Straw Boss around here when it comes to the Police4.
I honestly can say I don't see that much difference in blade sharpness retention between it and the K390 either.
These two are really good steels and it's like what else do we have in the Police for a choice?
I would pay 300 bucks right now just for a roughed out Police4 profiled blank blade of Rex121 and a new lockbar from Spyderco and they could send this kit form to me in a plane ol'e brown box. Let me finish this blade blank out.
They want to make this a complete knife kit, just unfinished, send me everything to finish out the complete Police4 with liners, clip, hardware and two phosphorus bronze washers, I would pay 400 bucks for all that in a brown box!
I feel certain I can make the knife from that. I know the Rex121 is a beast to finish and hone out, but what a wonder this knife would be in that steel. Spyderco Police4 - Rex121- kit knife!
I think a Spyderco kit knife would be awesome. Sort of like they do with the Mule runs, just a folder. Now I want this in a big folder like the Police4 or the other favorite of mine the Manix2 XL , just give me the Rex121 however please lol.
This PD#1 is already coated to help with protection and all I can really say is this sprint run of these knives is quite the knife. Has tamed my wants and needs in the mean time lol.
I probably should buy several more of these and just rat-hole them for whatever might come up. I have 5 of these here I have bought the G10 scales for, drilled the lanyard hole and have trued up the factory edge on.
Any guesses why they drilled the lanyard hole in the other sprint run knifes like these, just smaller; but they never drilled the Police4? I think they over looked it...
I have some of the other smaller little monsters of these, but I don't have the Stretch XL, never bought one of those for what ever reason.
Guess I should look at that knife again and make sure I don't need one, heck I have never even had one in my paw to check out sprint run or otherwise.
I would be curious if they have drilled the lanyard hole in these too lol. All of the smaller one's I have bought have been drilled lol.
My most carried Police is my Police 4 LW in K390. I carried is most of last year (maybe longer) and up until I got my 15V Military 2 this year.
The Police 4 LW, and Resilience might be my two most favorite models.
I have hopes that someday Spyderco will make and sell a Police 4 Salt (so linerless) FFG in LC200N. I still run with my PacSalt FFG in LC200N and have been very, very impressed with it.
Of the Police 4's, I have VG-10, PD#1, and K390. Love'm all, with the K390 being the favorite, followed by the PD#1 & then the VG10.
If I ever see a good deal on the Police 3 (like the one you have) with the swedge spine and G10 scales in VG10, I'll grab it up quick.
u.w.
I've been hoping to see Police and Military salts for decades. We're getting the Military soon, so hopefully the Police will follow!
Dang that's a bad thing too if you ask me. I thought those liners to be good stainless. Heck I will be checking mine really closer when I tear that knife down.
Maybe I just get this guy to DLC the blade and the liners. Matter a fact I freaking will after seeing yours. Heck I don't want that either.
I am not a 100 percent my liners are not rusted but surely I would have seen that mess on them when I cleaned and polished the blade.
The last time I cleaned it I used a rag wheel buffer and compound to really get the worst off. Still left dark spots in places down in the porosity of the steel I couldn't remove, even buffing the hound out of it hard with two different compounds.
The guy that I visited about doing the DLC said that would not be a problem once they bead blast and prep. Heck now you got me wondering about my liners lol.
I am going to get them coated also now regardless though.
Thanks for sharing that info as that is something I was not aware of. I will address it though since I am doing the blade also.
The P4 DLC job I had https://www.razoredgeknives.com/ do is completed! I don't have it in hand yet, but when I do I'll give you some shots of the liners. 439.jpeg438.jpeg
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
I only have the P3 which has been a long time favorite. Thread inspires me to put in pocket today , I have never felt this knife lacking in outdoor use for me , comfortable in hand . MG2
. But all jokes aside it is a cutting monster.
