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The Retract has Ed Schempp written all over it both as design and concept.When I opened the new Reveal and spotted the Retract, something attracted me like a magical magnet. I allways had a thing for the kukri style blades and this folder packs both the exotic funkiness of a nepalese kukri and its usefulness. Of course I wish it was released with a better steel but I shall score one anyway. I only hope the heat treatment of the 9Cr offers me a good experience as an ordinary end user, close enough to what I experienced with 14C28N. I am not obsessed with high hardness or high wear resistance in a steel, I favor ease of maintenance( sharpeability) instead. I also wish it was lighter(max. 3.5 ounces) but I might remove the backspacer from mine. Call me weird but I dislike the tumble finish they put on the BD1N blades lately so at least I was happy to see that the Retract is released with the good old satin finish on.
P. S Hoping for a future Retract sprint in AEB-L or something similar. The key word is “toughness”

I am hyped too indeed, Marius!

- Like you the looks of the Retract really appeal to me, I also find it cool that one actually can´t see what will literally "unfold" here when the knife is closed (as in closed it looks really "normal" and the super-negative blade angle is not obvious)

- Then I always appreciate a good linerlock, in many ways still the best and most natural to operate and just by concept I also like the usually simple but ingenious "idiot proof" finger safety if the knife also offers a finger choil (!)

- Speaking of the choil: I love "high" (not too recessed) and flat choils, and this one looks like one!
I am sure I´d use this model almost always choked up on the choil, but still appreciate the safety that the massive guard can offer in particular tasks when gripping the knife behind the choil

- "Negative blade angle" often means "not ideal for work on a surface/cutting board", but the particular blade shape and belly of the Retract should remedy that to some degree

- And: Don´t know, but Spydercos 9CR might become a great user-steel for me - like in a breeze to touch up, but still decent edge retention...?

- Loop over but NOT deep carry clip is also nice!

Glad you like it. Are you going to score one ?

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 6:15 am

I am hyped too indeed, Marius!

- Like you the looks of the Retract really appeal to me, I also find it cool that one actually can´t see what will literally "unfold" here when the knife is closed (as in closed it looks really "normal" and the super-negative blade angle is not obvious)

- Then I always appreciate a good linerlock, in many ways still the best and most natural to operate and just by concept I also like the usually simple but ingenious "idiot proof" finger safety if the knife also offers a finger choil (!)

- Speaking of the choil: I love "high" (not too recessed) and flat choils, and this one looks like one!
I am sure I´d use this model almost always choked up on the choil, but still appreciate the safety that the massive guard can offer in particular tasks when gripping the knife behind the choil

- "Negative blade angle" often means "not ideal for work on a surface/cutting board", but the particular blade shape and belly of the Retract should remedy that to some degree

- And: Don´t know, but Spydercos 9CR might become a great user-steel for me - like in a breeze to touch up, but still decent edge retention...?

- Loop over but NOT deep carry clip is also nice!

Thanks for reminding me of another plus that the Retract brings to the table, for me at least : the linerlock, which is my fav lock. I know most knife folks here look down on this “non self-biased” lock but I love it. Easy and intuitive to manipulate one hand and strong(safe) enough when properly engineered . Never had issues with Spyderco linerlocks which are probably the best built in the industry.

elena86 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:30 am

packs both the exotic funkiness of a nepalese kukri and its usefulness.

There’s nothing in common between how a kukri is used and this little thing, so I’m not sure I understand what you mean by it having the “usefulness” of a kukri. I kind of wish knife companies wouldn’t use such terms, it’s gimmicky. I’m sure it will be a useful knife but its utility will not come from the kukri.

It does look like a fun little piece. I may snag one at some point. I’m a little concerned about all the finger grooves and how well my hand will fit the handle. Or does the index finger go on that half choil right next to the blade?

zhyla wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 7:24 am

elena86 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:30 am

packs both the exotic funkiness of a nepalese kukri and its usefulness.

There’s nothing in common between how a kukri is used and this little thing, so I’m not sure I understand what you mean by it having the “usefulness” of a kukri. I kind of wish knife companies wouldn’t use such terms, it’s gimmicky. I’m sure it will be a useful knife but its utility will not come from the kukri.

It does look like a fun little piece. I may snag one at some point. I’m a little concerned about all the finger grooves and how well my hand will fit the handle. Or does the index finger go on that half choil right next to the blade?

I am sure you understood exactly what I meant by “usefulness” of a kukri. I have(a few) and used a real kukri from Nepal and know exactly how it works. I am well aware of the limitations of the “little thing” in comparison to the real kukri but you dismiss all resemblance despite being quite obvious IMO. The vibe is there anyway.
P.S I am not going to elaborate on cutting mechanics, negative and reverse S blade angles and such …

elena86 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 7:53 am

I am sure you understood exactly what I meant by “usefulness” of a kukri.

I literally have no idea, I’m sorry.

I have a Nepalese kukri as well. Interesting piece, good for chopping. Will you be swinging the tiny Retract like you swing a kukri? I would like to see that lol.

The shape of the kukri is to enable the chopping. Similar to how axes are weighted offset from the handle. A recurve knife is designed that way for pull cuts for the most part. Very different usage.

No offense to Spyderco, but advertising these things as kukri blades is a bit cringey tbh. They’re not the only ones that do this either. It’s unnecessary in my opinion — this seems like a useful, interesting knife.

I am very excited for the Retract indeed. I'm in a weird spot in Germany, the majority of Spydercos aren't street legal and for the typical light work around my small village property (speak: "garden"), I use a Resilience or even one of the (thankfully few) clones I've inadvertedly picked up while collecting. All my other non-slipit Spydercos tend to stay on display. (I know, I know...)

This? Feels like it could be a handy user, and it's affordable enough to do just that. More importantly, it is so very clearly an Ed Schempp design, and in my eyes, beautiful. It just ticks all the boxes, and I will definitely be getting at least one.

Spyderco Khukri / Spyderco Retract
Unmistakable similarities

Yes, other than the black G-10 I think I like the Retract better than the old Khukri model.

Makes me miss working in the warehouse. Draw cuts would be a dream with this knife!

I love Ed’s designs. So many great ones from the past. I look forward to adding this one. It looks like a wonderful work knife for my rural acreage.

Kleon

Ed is easily one of my favorite knife designers. Such unique designs, often adaptations of traditional knives from around the world, great ergos, just great knives. Super stoked for this and I preordered it.

I am definitely getting one. I don’t love liner locks, but I like this implementation without a lock release cutout in the scale and liner.

Ed Schempp is also one of my favorite designers. I think I like this more than the older kukri model. I appreciate the handle being taller at the choil, that is more comfortable and safer in my hands.

It is a well designed knife. I don't think anyone makes a better grip than what I am seeing on this folder.

I always look at the safety of using a knife. I do not want to be cut. I am not sure what the first inch of the grip would be called? A bolster? It's looking good to me.

I'll have to get one and try it out.

"Spyderco has a new model designed by Ed Shem..."

Yes, please and thank you, and twice on Sunday.

Hyped? No. Interested? Yes.
I never liked the Khukri (too small), but I'd most likely be getting this one.

elena86 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 6:48 am

Glad you like it. Are you going to score one ?

I am pretty sure I will. For the model itself, but also cause I am really interested in Spydercos 9CR (btw I could say exactly the same sentence concerning the Byrd Gooney)

elena86 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 6:54 am

Thanks for reminding me of another plus that the Retract brings to the table, for me at least : the linerlock, which is my fav lock. I know most knife folks here look down on this “non self-biased” lock but I love it. Easy and intuitive to manipulate one hand and strong(safe) enough when properly engineered . Never had issues with Spyderco linerlocks which are probably the best built in the industry.

Yes, "easy and intuitive to manipulate" is a perfect description of the linerlock and I am glad this model features one!
As I always say: I think the image of the linerlock suffers a lot from the many cheap and badly executed that are out there (not on Spydercos!) while a good one can be great.

Sidenote: One thing that will be interesting to see:
- With how far back the hand sits on the Retract handle (when not using the choil) I wonder if the choil or the edge would potentially hit the finger when the lock is activated.
If it is the former this will be another example of a linerlock Spydie with choil hopefully finally ending the (at least to me )myth that linerlocks inevitably and always are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path". While in fact and on the contrary a linerlock with a good choil has a built in "safety feature" in the first closing phase: One literally can´t activate the lock without at the same time putting the thumb in a place where it would automatically get hit by the choil and thus prevent the edge to close on any finger.

Definitely!

I’ve handled several genuine Gurkha Kukhris over the years and although this isn’t like one of those in any meaningful sense -at all - I am interested in exploring its utility as a quirky but not expensive folder.

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 11:41 pm

linerlocks inevitably are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path".

Exactly! Very well said.

It is an unavoidable required operation when using a liner lock. A finger MUST be placed in the path of the blade to operate a liner lock. That's not up for debate either. (If you want to be unreasonable about it, sure you can use a stick or something to push the lock bar but that's just absurd, if we're being realistic.