Handy Pictures

Spyderco Manix 2 Blue Sprint Run (C101GPBL2)

2010-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

I took a look at the regular production Manix 2 back in October and found it to be a very good knife that had an excellent set of features at a very good price.

This sprint improves on almost everything. The liners are milled out to reduce the weight, the blade is flat ground and the handles are that same delightful blue that was featured on the Dodo and Yojimbo.

It's a new design in what I feel is a classic style that went away much to quickly back in 2005. S30V, Blue G10 and Golden manufacturing are what drew me to the company and I'm glad to see them return for this sprint run.

Spyderco Police 3 (C07G3)

2010-02-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to me!

Victorinox Swiss Champ XLT (53504)

2010-01-05T01:30:00.000-08:00

Carried this one as my EDC tool for a few weeks two summers ago. It's a nice, well made SAK but it was just to inconvenient to carry long-term. I do like it as a collector item, it showcases a lot of the SAK tools in a nice package.

Here's a review I did over at the MT.org forums.

Wenger Tool Chest Plus (16906)

2010-01-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

The first picture contains a width comparison between the Victorinox Swiss Champ XLT and the Wenger Tool Chest Plus.

Victorinox Soldier 2009 (53945)

2010-01-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

Gerber Mini Paraframe (22-08485)

2009-12-29T16:39:00.000-08:00

CRKT Get-A-Way Driver (9094)

2009-12-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

Another pocket tool today. Looks pretty good as an addition to the EDC kit.

Leatherman Blast (830140)

2009-12-19T01:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a little excerpt from a photo essay comparison I did with the Spirit a while ago:

The Blast is pure American design and execution. From the stratlingly loud click of the locks slamming home to the excessive strength of the pliers the Blast proclaims it's identity, struggling to set itself apart from the rest of it's line. There is nothing new inside the Blast, you've seen it all before. The simple clip point knife blade seen on hundreds of folders to the stereotypical box profile, the Blast is comforting in it's sameness.

In short, I like the tool a lot.

Leatherman Charge Ti (830272)

2009-12-19T01:17:00.000-08:00

This one came to me in mid-2005, one of my first high-quality tools. I carried it for quite a time and found it be a very capable tool. Even went so far as to break the bit-driver using it when I should have been using a proper tool. Other than that I've had no problems and still think it rests close to the peak of multi-tool perfection.

Spyderco Para-Military (C81)

2009-11-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

News is that there is an updated version in the works, hopefully we'll get a peek later in the year!

Leatherman Crunch (68010101K)

2009-11-18T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Crunch is one of the cooler multi-tool designs. It packs an interesting mechanism into a very small size.

Plus, it's pretty fun to open and close with one hand.

Boker Magnum "Cat-Eye"

2009-11-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

This is one of the few, if only, off-brand folders I have. It doesn't really even have a model name, just a faceless number in the Boker catalog (which I can't find right now but will update when I do.)

I bought it from a Bass Pro shops several years ago. It was the first knife I purchased with one of my own paychecks. I remember being torn between it and one of those Beretta folders with the cut-out sections in the blade. What made up my mind was the small price discrepancy; I think this one was $19.99, fully $5 less than the Beretta. Seems so expensive for what I got now, with all the great bargains out there. But it worked for me and I never had any complaints, so I do suppose I got my money's worth.

Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Pro Scout (07563) and Multi-Plier 600 Black Oxide (07550G)

2009-11-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

The Pro Scout:

The MP600 Black Oxide: This model also features a Hawkbillish main blade and replaceable wire-cutters.

Wenger Swiss Clipper (16959)

2009-11-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

This is probably the most used EDC item I have.

Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit (53800)

2009-11-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

This is my EDC multi-tool. The pocket clip is an aftermarket modification by a most excellent forum member from the Multitool.org forums.

With the pocket clip it's pretty much the perfect tool. I really can't imagine carrying anything else.

Gerber Bolt Action (7021)

2009-11-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

This is another Blackie Collins design. It uses a sliding bolt to lock the blade open, a very strong lock. Apparently they also produced a longer, skinnier model called the Fisherman as well as an Orange handled serrated Fisherman called the Rescue. Meyerco also released a version later on the was partially serrated and had a thumbstud.

I like it, very simple and functional.

Leatherman New Wave and Old Wave (830037)

2009-11-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

Equipped.org has some excellent articles on the Wave series, here are two that really help show the differences between the original model (released in 1998) and the newer revision (released in 2004).

Charge and Wave comparison.

Wave review.

I think the New Wave is a very big improvement in a lot of ways. It's got locks for the handle implements, a significantly stronger plier head and larger blades. Of course the expense is the increase in size and weight. I really prefer the Old Wave, it just carries better and feels better in the hand. The New Wave feels sharper on the corners and just doesn't feel as well-crafted as the older model. This may just be nostaglia though, the Old Wave was my first multi-tool that was actually mine. I was given it by a co-worker while doing some carpentry in 2001. It had a busted plier head, a broken knife blade and some dinged up drivers. It had been used hard and handed down to me and I really found it to be a wonderful item. After a few years I learned of the Leatherman warranty and had it replaced with a newer version of the same Old Wave model, I still find it an excellent design.

New Wave on the left, Old Wave on the right.

Photo set for the New Wave:

Photo set for the Old Wave.

TL-29 pattern Imperial Slipjoint

2009-11-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a Bladeforums thread with some more pictures and information on the TL-29 pattern.

Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool-PST (61010103)

2009-11-04T19:02:00.000-08:00

Eagle-eyed viewers will note that this is one of the early, riveted, Japanese produced models. Here's a thread with some more pictures and information.

This is the "original Leatherman" one of the most produced multi-tools of all time it had almost a 21 year production life with almost 20 million produced. It's still unparalleled in the size/function ratio and serves as a reminder to effective engineering and functionality.

Spyderco J.D. Smith (C58)

2009-11-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

Zero Tolerance M.U.D.D. (0500)

2009-11-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

M.U.D.D. or Multi Utility Dirt Defiant. Another of my G & G Hawk collaborations. Here's a good amount of info on the custom version and the overall design.

How is it? Very large, very capable and extremely well made.

CRKT Hawk D.O.G. (4504)

2009-11-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

Another G & G Hawk collaboration!

The CRKT D.O.G. or Deadbolt Over Grabstep was the first production G & G Hawk collaboration that I am aware of. I believe it was released in 2003 by CRKT and came feature packed. In the box you get the knife and two different sets of Zytel scales, each set has a different texture for personal preference. The knife has a unique pocket clip system in that the clip is under tension from an o-ring that sits between the clip screw and the pocket clip spacer that allows the pocket clip a little bit of wiggle room to make insertion and removal a little easier while still giving a solid hold. The lock system is very easy to use and appears to be extremely strong. Only minor complaint is that the Zytel scales are a little fat and can make access to the locking tabs a little difficult.

Spyderco Manix 2 (C101G2)

2009-10-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

This is far and away one of the best folders I've ever seen from Spyderco. I was hesitant when I first saw the prototype pictures. The hollow grind, all that jimping and the caged lock were things I didn't really see the appeal of. Things changed when I handled it at the Blade show in Atlanta over the Summer. Listening to Mr. Schempp explain what he knew of Eric's design philosophy while I handled the knife changed my opinion drastically and I quickly became a huge fan of the design.

The added jimping works very well without any discomfort. Deeper index finger position offers more control with a more comfortable grip and I really can't fault the hollow grind after using it. It works just fine. The caged lock did take some getting used to since it can't easily be actuated with a thumbnail like it's uncaged cousin. But once it broke it I found it to be nearly as smooth and a lot more secure feeling, this knife really looks to be one of the strongest, most secure folders I've ever seen.

And the price point! USA made with good steel, G10 and a good lock is just amazing!

Spyderco Left-Hand Military (C36GLE)

2009-10-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yes! Yes! Lefty Spyderco Military is here. My review thread over at the Spyderco forums.

Spyderco Stretch FRN (C90BL)

2009-10-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ongoing review thread over at the Spyderco forums.

Spyderco USN Endura 4 (C10PSGRWBK)

2009-09-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a little description of the knife from the Spyderco on-line catalog. (Thanks to Spyderco forum-maven TazKristi for bringing it back.)

This knife was something a little out of the ordinary for me. I don't generally like combo edges, nor do I have much use for the Emerson Wave opener. But I really like Toxic Green and black finished blades. Those two features; combined with wanting to support the USN forums and this was a must buy for me. I can't get over the idea that Mr. Glesser went out of his way to ask the forum what they wanted in a knife and then actually produced it!

I've carried the knife for a little more than a month and have taken quite a shine to it. The Emerson Wave is a really nice feature and the combo edge was a change of pace for me.

CRKT K.I.S.S. (5510)

2009-09-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

An Ed Halligan design here today; as produced by Columbia River Knife and Tool. I first encountered the K.I.S.S. several years ago while I was in High School, not sure how I picked it up but I do recall carrying it for several months. Even took it to the first semester of college with me. I recall my dormitory floor mates praising the effectiveness of the thick tanto tip on puncturing beer cans for shotgunning. Not that I would ever partake in those activities, just a guy who likes to lend a hand. ;)

Spyderco Native 4 (C41CF)

2009-08-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

Sadly the appeal of Carbon Fiber is lost on me. I prefer the looks and feel of G10 or the newer bi-directional FRN. Not much to say about this one, it's a nice evolution of the design and feels/looks very good compared to it's FRN sibilings.

Spyderco Phoenix (C114)

2009-07-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Spyderco and Bladeforums for the chance to handle this one via passaround.

The Spyderco Phoenix.

Overall-it's a nice knife. Well worth it if you're into that sort of thing.

Only complaint I have is that the locking surface would nick my thumbnail every time I closed the knife. Not a huge issue and something I could fix if it were my knife and not a graciously donated passaround piece. See the last picture for my reenactment of this occurring.

Other than that it is typical Spyderco quality. Fit/finish were very good, the knife was mechanically sound and it was very comfortable to cut with. If I wasn't such a cheap bugger I'd have one already, they just haven't really been available on the secondary market with any real regularity.

lava_lamp; the dude who had the knife before me also posted some sweet pictures over here.

Meyerco Paradox

2009-07-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

My first multi-tool was an 8$ bastard that stole my heart and left me in the pouring rain.

It was called the Meyerco Paradox and at best was completely forgettable before it ever rolled off the assembly line in Seki-City, Japan. The knife featured a 3 inch blade of AUS8 steel with a skinny but solid liner lock and a chunky fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle that had a fold-out pliers/bit holder/screwdriver tool that actually worked pretty well. I purchased the knife quite simply because it was the best quality I could afford. Prior to my encounter with the Paradox I had never really been a knife owner, I had had my share of Swiss Army knives and the ubiquitous knock-off models and I had even had a real, honest-to-God Leatherman Tool (the Holy Grail of mischief makers to a child of 11) once before my Junior High teacher confiscated it and sent it away to the June box. But those items were lost or traded away with little emotional attachment. The Paradox changed my view of knives, they were no longer mere tools that were never to be maintained and discarded when too dull or broken from abuse. Knives were now to be researched and maintained and oiled and cared for. Knives would eventually allow me to make a fair living for myself all the way through College, but of course, that is another story.

I found the Meyerco Paradox whilst slowly orbiting a poorly-lit, poorly-cleaned hunting store, doing my best to look like a discerning customer and not like a student trying to soak up free air-conditioning before class started. In the back of the store, right under the blessed air-conditioning vent there was a large wooden crate with a hand-written sign that stated "USED/CLEARENCE/PAWN" and featured several dozen boxes as well as a few dozen more items in ziploc bags with little orange stickers displaying the price. I must have walked past the crate some half-dozen times before I decided to stop and see if there were something interesting that I could purchase and hopefully improve my relationship with the shop clerk, a crusty old woman who seemed to be trying very hard to remember exactly how to kick some deadbeat out of her store. I was to begin my first actual job since entering college the following weekend and for some reason I had decided that a knife must accompany me to said job. So I started moving boxes around trying to find the cheapest knife in the crate, something I could use for a while and then discard or trade away when needed. I had amassed quite a little army of low-cost low-quality Chinese folding knives when I happened upon a hefty box bearing the name"MEYERCO." As I had done previously with my Chinsese folders I opened the box and inspected the knife. I remember thinking then that I had hit gold, I had found my excalibur. Upon inspection I was sure of it; the Paradox snapped open with a solid Ka-CHUNK and featured a fine looking polish and an edge that, to my untrained finger, seemed like it could slice open a cannonball. With one sweep of my hand I scattered the Chinese folders back into the crate and bounded up to the register to make my purchase, divorcing myself from the rest of my lunch money for the week in the process but having no regrets. I remember feeling elated that I had gotten such a good deal on such a quality tool that would be so useful to me.

The knife never left my side for an entire year. I learned to sharpen using the Paradox, a skill I value highly to this day. I became a Mr-Fixit of sorts thanks to the knife. Co-workers and family came asking what I could do for their broken or malfunctioning equipment. I started carry a small pouch filled with bits that would fit in the Paradox bit holder; a Torx T15 for my manager's cash drawer, a Robertson bit for my father's doorknobs, several Allen heads for my bicycle, and the regular old Philips/Yankee combination for recreational use. I carried it while washing dishes til 3am at the local diner, loaning it out dozens of times a night to co-workers and even a few customers. I carried it on the dark, cold December walks from the library, moving as quickly as I could towards the warm, comforting palace of my girlfriend's cramped studio apartment. I carried it when I drove 900 miles in one day to see my father in the hospital.

I cut everything with it and the pliers/screwdriver combo still influences my EDC to this day.

I lost the knife on a flooded Alabama dirt road during a hurricane while I was attempting to wince my best friend's car out of a ditch before it was washed away. The rain was coming down in angry torrets of water, each drop striking like the fists of Zeus himself. After the car was all tied up the driver attempted a preliminary pull but fed the engine too much gas. My ears filled with the roar of the powerful V8 as rich red mud splattered my face and chest. Stunned and in pain, but trying to stay on my feet, I slipped in the mud and while scrambling to regain my balance the knife seemed to jump from my grip and land in the flowing river of mud and rock that had filled the ditch, making a sickening bloik as it disappeared forever in the raging current. My heart screaming after it, never to save it.

Sometimes on the way home from work I take the long way and drive down that same cursed road. Sometimes I imagine I see a sparkle of AUS8, or the beautiful void of black fiberglass-reinforced nylon sitting there in the mud waiting for me. But I never stop, I never really look, I just imagine that someone will see the same perfect sparkle. That someone will stop and look around, asking their buddy "Hey! What's that?" before bending on one knee and becoming the rightful owner of an 8$ knife. An 8$ knife that I could never pay enough money for again.

I earned more than 100 dollars for that winch job and before the mud had dried on my boots I had ordered three new knives. They were more expensive, more practical and all-around better products than the Paradox but they never really felt right to me. To this day I search for a replacement, afraid to re-purchase the Paradox for fear that it will be different than I remember. Or even worse, better than I remember, prompting me to throw the rest of my knives to the four corners of the globe in an orgy of reunification with the only knife I ever really loved. If you ever head into East Alabama look around for some of the dirt roads that parallel highway 280, specifically for County Road number 88. That knife may yet cut another line in the rain and the mud.

Scrap Yard Knife Company - Dumpster Mutt

2009-07-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

Quite a brute.

SOG Micron Tanto

2009-06-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

This was a little freebie by SOG for filling out a survey a few months ago. Very thin and sharp, of note is that it is screwed together with little tiny screws.

Spyderco Pacific Salt (C91YL and C91BK)

2009-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ah, the one that started it all. My first Spyderco folder ever, and one of the knives I've carried and used the longest (not these specific knives though). I reviewed this knife almost five years ago.

Ulster Boy Scout Knife

2009-06-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

This was one of my late step-grandfather's pocket knives. I inherited it when I was a young teen and actually carried it in my pocket everyday for the last 2-3 years of High School. This was in the late 90s early 2000s too. Not quite sure why this was allowed, nothing ever happened to me and I recall using it on campus at least a few times a year and even sharpening it in Auto Shop.

Which is why it has a slight recurve and some obvious marks on the blade. One of those things you learn as you grow up, bench grinders are for grinding not for sharpening.

Soviet Picnic Knife

2009-06-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Picked up this "Soviet Swiss Army Knife" from Rodion over at the Multitool.org forums about a year ago. Here's what he has to say about it:

Some 20 years ago, during the Perestroyka, my dad bought this picnic knife in Ukraine. Last night, I've found it at my parents' house and decided to bring it back into shape. After dunking it in hot water (to get the joints moving again), sharpening, cleaning it up and oiling (with vegetable oil), I realized someone here might like it.

And here's a nice picture he made of it.

And here are some pictures I took of it today. I don't know much about it, I posted it over in Bernard Levine's forum at Bladeforums but I can't find the original thread anymore. I'll update if I eventually do. Now, if I recall correctly, the only info I got was that the knife, being a product produced in the Soviet Union had the price set by the government which is molded into the handle scales.

It's an interesting piece in comparison to the Swiss Army Knives and other pocket slipjoints we Westerners are so familiar with.

Kershaw External Toggle (1900)

2009-06-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Picked this guy up at the BLADE Show a few weeks back. It's been in my pocket ever since. A really interesting design from Grant and Gavin Hawk produced by Kershaw. : Check the G & G website for some more information or their other awesome designs right here. I spoke with Gavin for a few minutes at BLADE and would just like to relate how personable and friendly he was. I got to handle some of his and his father's custom designs and will say that they are worth every penny. The custom E.T. is a real treat, it's a little different that the production version and is something I would really like to own one day. Not to mention the custom MUDD, RAM and DOG! Well, one can dream.

Focusing back on the E.T.; it's an impressive design with a lot of moving parts and unique open/close/lock system. I'm working up to a full review but in the meantime here is a link to cutlerylover's review to help explain how this knife works.

I really like it overall, definitely one for the collector in me. Of course that is what everyone says about this knife. But really, how does it actually work as an EDC blade? So far it's a little slower to get into action tha a regular folder (due to the safety) but otherwise it cuts very well and has one of the strongest possible "locks" for a folder. Expect to see an update with a link to my full review within the next month or so.

Leatherman Skeletool CX (830849)

2009-05-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Wah?!

A multi-tool?

Well, I figured if I was going to do SAKs then I might as well add the Skeletool since it is one of the few multi-tools that can conceivably replace a typical EDC folding knife with little/no loss of utility and function.

Victorinox Rescue Tool (53900)

2009-05-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, it has a friggin' windshield saw.

Victorinox Soldier (53929)

2009-05-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

This model was actually the first folding knife I bought after deciding I was into that sort of thing. I recall making a thread on bladeforums asking advice about a good first folder and among the recommendations the Soldier caught my eye for some reason. I ordered it at the same time as an Inova X5 and X1 and had my first EDC that lasted me through my first Summer of College.

To think that I actually walked around with two lights totaling less than 20 lumens and a small slipjoint for my EDC! And that was it. I was prepared though, the tools on the Soldier came in handy quite often. It seems like when you first start EDCing a SAK there are all sorts of things to fix. The world is fresh, new and slightly loose. Things need fixing or adjustment, people ask for your help. But after a few years it seems like everything in your sphere of influence has been screwed tight or repaired and your tools just don't see much use.

I remember when I was working my first dishwashing job using the Soldier to adjust the temperature booster on our dishmachine. I think the only reason I was allowed to do so was because I had a SAK, it's almost like the knife expressed a certain intellect upon the user and let me slide by and do something that was generally outside the scope of my duties.

Now, this particular knife isn't actually the first Soldier I've had. The original one I bought after the bladeforums thread was "lost" while sitting in class during the fall of that year. It fell out of my pocket and when the girl sitting next to me picked it up to hand back to me (the only boy in the class) I was too embarrassed to admit it was mine. I'm fairly sure it either ended up in the lost & found or the trash. Probably the latter, it was a Women's Studies class after all.

Boker Subcom (BO589)

2009-05-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

I was enamored with this knife when it was first released. My example is one of the earlier ones that has 420J steel, produced before Boker upgraded to AUS-8 for this model.

It's a Chad Los Banos (mentioned previously in the Spyderco Lava post) design that really caused a lot of chatter when it was first released. There were, and still are very few small knives that have good ergonomics like the Subcom. 'Course, it's not all good, the large jimping become uncomfortable when a lot of pressure is needed. I also had some issues with sharpening the blade due to the shape but that is most likely a failing on my part. Overall a nice knife but I retired it after a few months because I just didn't need two knives in my EDC.

RAT Model-1 Folder

2009-05-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

I hesitate to include this knife because I have a real problem with how it was priced after I purchased it, but it is still in my collection so here it is. I did a review over at Bladeforums. I forget the details but a few months after I purchased the knife some issue occured and the knife dropped in price by almost half, I was pretty miffed about this and remember finding the explanation very unsatisfactory. Bottom line is that before buying from Ontario you need to be very sure you are going to be satisfied with the price they're charging. RAT cutlery and Ontario have since split and I believe the model is discontinued.

A.G. Russell Fruit Testing Knife

2009-05-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have a special consideration for fruit testing or sausage testing knives. When I saw A.G. Russell has a version with modern materials I had to pick one up. It's a really nice thin and light folder that cuts very well.

The Victorinox Classic SD (53003)

2009-04-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

*The SD signifies that the end of the nail file is not a point but is a small flathead screwdriver tip.

This is one of the most common knives carried today. I picked this one up on a vacation to Chicago that wasn't going well as a way to cheer me up a little worked pretty well and found a home on my keychain for a year or so until the Wenger Swiss Clipper bumped it off and into the collection box.

The CRKT Lightfoot M1 (M1-03K)

2009-04-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Unlike the other CRKT knife in my collection I actually carried and used this one a lot. It was one of the knives I EDCed when I worked at the Yellowhammer Restaurant. I recall carrying it for 5-6 months and having no problems with it. It's one of those big beefy knives that just works well. The large shark fin flipper gives a very positive opening that swings the big wide blade open with a nice deep *clank*.

The CRKT E-Lock Starlight (7343)

2009-04-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

I used to have a thing for CRKT knives. My first true EDC ever was a CRKT KISS Tanto I carried in High School. I flirted with a CRKT collection for a few years but eventually got rid of most of them in favor of the more lefty friendly and higher quality Spydercos.

This is one of those odd-duck knives that you find in your collection for no good reason. Maybe you bought it because it was cheap or it came to you in trade but whatever the reason it's never been used or carried and just hangs out in the box in your safe. The E-Lock is one of those knives. I like it, I think the design is good as is the implementation but I've just never got around to carrying it and it ain't worth it to me to try and sell the darn thing. Oh well, it does feel good in the hand and has a nice locking system.

You can check out some of Mr. Elishewitz's work here.

The Mini-Griptilian (BM555GRN)

2009-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

This is another one of my first-knives. I bought it almost five years ago from New Graham with the intention of giving it to my then-girlfriend. That explains the color.

I never got around to giving it to her and actually ended up carrying it for quite a while. I believe it was my EDC knife when I started working at my first real restaurant job. Overall I like the knife but it suffers from the same problems as it's big brother.

It was also one of the three subjects of my first knife review. Like ever. It's also the only one of those three that I still own today.

The Benchmade 530

2009-04-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

The lightest and thinnest knife I've ever seen in it's class. I love the idea, but for some reason I never got around to carrying it for any appreciable amount of time.

Maybe I need a revist.

The Benchmade Griptilian (550BKOD)

2009-04-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

This folder came to me before the whole "Boycott Benchmade" thing, before the Vex and whatever other else that happened and caused some ill-will between fans of the Spyder and Benchmade. I missed most of that episode and still haven't devoted any serious thought to the matter so for the time being I will table any discussion of it.

I carried the Grip for a while but never quite took a shine too it. The lack of a choil and the uncomfortable back spine jimping eventually caused it to be retired. It did end up being lost for several months after I lent it to my girlfriend to use on her vacation to a TreeHouse Hostel in Southern Georgia. We re-discovered it in a hotel room in Chicago when she was unpacking the sleeping bag she brought with to sleep in the van on the way home. I was quite overjoyed to say the least, it's a fairly rare model and one I carried long enough to become attached to. It was nice to have it back.

The Baliyo (YUS100)

2009-04-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

Turns out I forgot one of the Spydercos in my current collection. Here's the Baliyo, Spyderco's answer to the 2008 industry trend of bringing out tough, expensive, aluminum pens ostensibly designed as some sort of impact weapons. (See Surefire, Benchmade, etc.)

...A garishly colored plastic pen whose sole function is entertainment during those idle hours of the day. It is awesome.

The Kershaw RAM (KS1910/KS1910CKT)

2009-04-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of Grant and Gavin Hawk's designs. My first exposure was in the form of the CRKT DOG, a knife I never *actually* owned but did consider buying several dozen times. I missed that design but when the Hawk-designed RAM rolled around I was intrigued again. After reading dozens of reviews and studying lots of pictures I added it to the top my purchase list. Of course, I've not been known to follow any such list so it took a while for me to actually buy it.

8 months later I got to handle one at a vendor table at the 2008 Blade Show and was blown away. I ran to the ATM but by the time I got back the knife was sold and I couldn't find another plain edge model in the entire show.Unperturbed I managed to snag one off the BladeForums classifieds for a very good price. The ease of use, lefty friendly lock and clip and just overall quality of the blade knocked Spyderco out of the EDC line-up for several months.

Here's the black version in hand. I haven't gotten around to using this one; seeing as it basically serves as a pre-need replacement right now but I have extensive use of the uncoated model in the last picture.

Here's a little plug for the G & G Hawk website; they've got some really neat stuff!

*ETA: Here's a link to some more pictures and a smallish review of the RAM.

The Barong (C124)

2009-04-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

The Barong is my last Spyderco for the time being, I'm going to start moving through the rest of my collection. Stay tuned for some more pictures!

This is the second of Ed Schempp's Foliage Green 2008 Ethnic knives.

It is quite a large folder with an impressive blade that caught quite a bit of flak over the largish unsharpened ricasso/choil area directly under the Spyderhole. I carried mine for a few months and occasionally rotate it into my EDC and have yet to notice any problem with this area.

Yablanowitz did a very nice review over at Bladeforums.com.

The SpyderCard (SC01PS) XX

2009-04-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

What's up with that little XX up there?

It signifies that this knife is a factory second. There was some cosmetic blemish that caused this one to be rejected for regular sale, it was marked on the spine of the blade and sold without a warranty.

Paul Berretta (The Deacon from Spyderco Forums) has an excellent page about how to tell if you have a second.

This is the second of Eduard Bradichanski's Spyderco designs.

The Dodo (C80GBL)

2009-04-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Dodo, quite possibly the most interesting knife to come out of Golden, Colorado.

Why?

Because there hasn't been anything quite like it before or since it's much too short run. There are plenty of knives out there with shorty 2-inch blades, plenty with full-size handles, but the Dodo is the only one that combines both these features for a very appealing concept. Nothing else compares, believe me I've looked long and hard.

Anything close to it either has a handle that's too small or a blade that is too long.

The Dodo is...just right.

The Massad Ayoob (C60)

2009-04-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Picked this one up on a whim.

It's an interesting model, designed by an interesting man. I believe the main point of the Ayoob is related to self-defense, something I don't particularly focus on so I'll just fill you in on the utility and overall feeling of the knife. I'll let Don Rearic tell you about the self-defense capabilities of the knife.

Whenever I open a package containing a knife I've bought over the internet I am always surprised at how much smaller it is than I expected it to be. This is a common trait of those of use who buy our knives solely from online sources and one of the neat surprises that come with every knife.

The Ayoob shattered this surprise by being both larger and heavier than I had expected. It also has a funky profile while closed that just didn't feel right in the pocket. Once I got it open and actually cut with it I was very impressed with the ergonomics and blade style. The negative blade angle has the same effect as I mentioned on the Schempp Khukuri earlier. It seems to align with the body better than a more zero/more acute angle blade. Overall it's an excellent piece but I found the weight and odd shape in the pocket to be less than desirable and retired it from my carry shortly after I got it.

The Orange 93mm Rescue (C14OR)

2009-04-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Although we've already seen one Rescue model and one Atlantic Salt model, the latter of which shares the same handle, I figured I had to put up my Orange Rescue as well. You know, keep things nice and round.

I got this model in trade for a flashlight from the now defunct Pentagonlight. I feel I really got the better end of the deal. This knife is a nice in-between separating the much older Rescue C14S with the FRN clip and the much newer Atlantic Salt C89. Compared to the older model it is much more defined. The lines are more crisp and overall the knife feel better and more performance oriented. It has some different features as well, most noticeable is the hump on the blade and the Boye Dent.

The hump is there to aid in different grips, the index finger goes into the depression and is supposed to give more control when making certain cuts. I found it somewhat "off," my hand just did not conform to the cutout and subsequent handle interaction with the rest of my hand. This is odd because I am familiar with this grip and use it quite often on my other knives with no problems.

Also note the smaller bottom choil and the lack of jimping. This area is one I feel needed development and was eventually perfected on the Atlantic Salt, here it can be seen wanting on some of the more choked up grips.

*ETA: Here's a link to some more pictures and smallish review when I first got the knife. Artwork provided by Mr. C. Keen Zero.

The Atlantic Salt (C89YL)

2009-04-15T18:20:00.001-07:00

I'm going to have to come back and say some more about this knife since I have carried it longer than any other.

I did a review of the knife when I first received it on Bladeforums.

The Yojimbo (C85GPBL)

2009-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Lava (C110P)

2009-04-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is one of the few stainless-handled knives I own. I don't particularly care for SS handles because the of the feel and the weight. When at work my hands are generally greasy or wet and SS just doesn't perform very well in that area. I do like the LBK concept of the Lava and anxiously await a production version of the G10 prototype I handled at Blade '08.

The Endura 4 (C10GRE)

2009-04-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

The Delica 4 (C11GRE)

2009-04-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier I never warmed up to the Delica/Endura 3, I did find the D4/E4 much more intriguing and purchased the top-end versions at the time with the wonderful British Racing Green handles and ZDP-189 blades.

The Native (C41BK)

2009-04-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

This was the second Spyderco knife I owned. It's the S30V version that infiltrated Wal*Mart stores for a few years and was the best deal running at the time for $39.40 + Tax out the door. Of course I bought it online two or three years before this for @$60, that is definitely worthy or some eye-rolling.

I carried this knife for a few weeks while I was holding down two jobs and a full school load at the University I attended. It was a weird time for me, living on my own, very poor and extremely busy. I didn't mind the school and my first job, it was the second that was something else. I worked at a franchised Italian restaurant named Johnnie Carino's. It wasn't a good place to work, I was one of the only young college students that worked in the kitchen, washing dishes. It was a horrible job, everything was either greasy and hot or sharp and hot. The second or third night shift I worked I had two helpers and we didn't leave the kicthen until 3:00am, even though our shifts were secheduled to end at 11:00pm. After that I switched to days so I could still go to school but I shudder at thinking of how I used to wake up on those cold January days at 6:00am and head in to work, always starting with mopping the floors and having the day get worse from there.

I did make it out alright though, the two jobs afforded me enough to live comfortably and my grades for the semester were decent. I dropped the second job later the next semester when it became too much to deal with and I acquired a promotion at the other restaurant I would spend the next 3 years at. I also switched to another EDC and ended up sending the Native to my brother who had called me one day excited about his new job working as a factory mechanic and related how he needed a good knife. He liked the Native and EDC'ed it for a few years until I somehow ended up with it back. He's the one that broke the tip off and is responsible for the JB Weld stains on the blade. I think it's pretty cool just the way it is. It's warn and it's beat up but there is a lot of life left in the blade.

The Captain (C111G)

2009-04-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

This is a Jason Breeden design.

It's chunky and has a weird blade shape but it works pretty well. I EDC'ed the Captain for a while but at the time I was working in a kitchen and the liner-lock just wasn't fast enough on closing for me to adopt it long-term.

I did discover that it is just about the best sausage cutting knife ever.

The Ed Schempp Khukuri (C125)

2009-04-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

This my current EDC knife.

I generally abhor liner-locks since I'm left handed but the interesting design of this folder overcame my feelings and I managed to snag it off the CPF marketplace for a decent price. I have ground down some of the liner, where it contacts the thumb, in order to make closing a little easier on the pad of my thumb and my thumbnail. Other than that it works suprisingly well for a lefty.

Overall the knife is very comfortable to use. The negative blade angle changes the way force and stress interact with the hand and wrist, to the user's benefit I believe. The blade is fairly thick for a small folder and feels very strong during use.

The Manix (C95G)

2009-04-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

I owned one of the first production pieces of this model back in 2004/2005 when it was first released. It was my first Spyderco with a manufacturing defect; this caused no amount of headache. When I received the knife I remember thinking that there was really no reason to own anything else, this knife was beefy and sharp and just all around awesome.

Then I tried to reverse the pocket clip to lefty tip-up carry.

Turns out the holes hadn't been tapped on that liner. I was miffed, to say the least and ended up trying to tap the holes, glue the screws and other micky-mouse methods before my father gently suggested that I could just flip the liners around and solve my problem. I did so and carried it for several months.

I stopped EDCing the knife when I accidentally nicked the finger of a friend one night after work. We were unwinding and messing around with wine corks, carving them or some such nonsense, when he reached across me right as the Manix slipped though the cork nicking one of his fingers. He gave me a hard time about in a jocular way but I beat myself up over it a bit and retired the Manix in place of smaller fare. I eventually sold it during my flashlight infatuation period. Someone over a CPF got a hell of a deal, that's all I'll say.

This piece is of more recent production.

The G10 Endura (C10GFG)

2009-04-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

I've never really like the Endura series. I though the E3 was ugly and the FRN E4 I own just doesn't gel with me.

So of course I loved the G10 model (not really). Which is sad, because it is the pinnacle of the evolution of one of the most recognizable Spyderco blades but it just didn't work for me.

*Oddly enough I am infatuated with the Pacific Salt. Just goes to show how a small alteration in blade shape can be the difference between a hit and a flop.

The UK Pen Knife (C94FG)

2009-04-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Not much to say about this one. It's a simple blade with a sad story.

The Military (C36GPBK)

2009-04-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

*News today is that there is a left-handed Military in the works! I will definitely be buying two, lefty-liner locks are a rare treat. The only one I have seen in production is the odd one on the One-Hand Victorinox knives.

The SpydeRench (T01S)

2009-04-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

Based on my on-line activity over the past few years I am actually more of a Multi-Tool guy than strictly a knife guy. I post over at forum.multitool.org quite a bit and have amassed a monstrous collection of multi-tools. More on this later.

Anyway, the SpydeRench is Spyderco's take on the Multi-tool concept. It is...interesting, to put it nicely. The tools works but it is requires, as one poster at MTO.org put it; quite a bit of "fiddle-factor" to run it as an EDC tool. My best friend took a peek at it after being shown some of the more mainstream tools and described it as "janky."

Whichever adjective you prefer, the tool was at least worthy of collecting and was the first to feature a premium blade steel in a multi-tool, as well as a bunch of other firsts.

*I will say that I am somewhat perplexed and disappointed at the re-release of the tool. It doesn't gel with the Spyderco philosophy, re-releasing a tool that was marginal, at best, with no new features and updates, produced in two different countries?

The Lil' Temperance (C69)

2009-04-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

The Lil' Temperance was my first "grail" Spyderco knife. I remember first seeing it when I was a teenager and having my eyes nearly pop out of my head when I saw the price tag (this was before I learned that ones does not always have to pay MSRP for their knives.

It took several years before I found one at an acceptable price, being that the knife enjoys a fair amount of aftermarket demand since it was discontinued. I like the concept of the knife and the overall design but the lack of a left-handed clip left me cold and I only carried my PE example for a few weeks before retiring it to the collection box. The SE example pictured here was picked up a few months ago on a whim. Anyone have an idea if the pocket clip filler in the tip down position was a factory item? Mine is the first I have ever seen.

JD Smith Sprint Run (C58G)

2009-04-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

In 2009 a sprint run of 1200 pieces was produced. The sprint knife featured a G10 handle in Foliage Green with dual liners (the original only had a single liner), a four way pocket clip and a fully-flat ground blade. This sprint is actually an excellent illustration of what a sprint run is supposed to accomplish. It brings back the basic form and function of the knife but with a myriad of small detailed changes that usually enhance the knife overall.

In addition to the in-hand pictures here's a link to more pictures and thoughts of the Sprint Run:

The Gunting (C68)

2009-04-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Designer: Bram Frank

ATS-55 Rescue (C14S)

2009-04-09T22:40:00.001-07:00

Ah, one of the old FRN-clipped models. Compared to modern fare it seems nebulous and blurry, not nearly as high-performance as newer models. This feeling goes away as you use the blade but it's obvious this is an older model. Although the benefit is a significantly lower entry fee!

The Shabaria (C59)

2009-04-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

This is one of those Spyderco knives that has a lot of history behind it.

Designed by Eduard Bradichanski (who also designed the Spydercard) this knife was one of the earlier Ethnic blades released by Spyderco. Sal Glesser, the Big Chief at Spyderco, described the designer as having a "good eye and magic hands." Tragically, Mr. Bradichanski was killed by a terrorist attack in the West Bank a mere two weeks (around August of 1999) before his designs were to be released. He was identified by the prototypes of the Shabria and Spydercard that were in his possession, the fire that consumed his body and automobile did not damage the knives. The basic idea possessed by the Spydercard lives on in the modern Flatbyrd, a model introduced under Spyderco's spin-off Chinese line; Byrd Knives. It bears the Bradichanski maker's mark and is well worth tracking down if you missed the orignal Spyderco design.

The Shabaria was available in Plain or Combo edge patterns and went through at least one refinement wherein the pinned/closed back model was upgraded to phillips-head fasteners and an open back design.

Production life was 2000-2002 with a MSRP at release of $150.95.After discontinuation the model could be had for around $40-50, a few years later the aftermarket price hovers between $100-$200+ and even higher for a new Plain Edge model.

The Tasman Salt (C106YL)

2009-04-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

PE
Yellow FRN Handle
H1 Steel.

I wanted to like this knife and was excited when I ordered it from Newgraham Knives but in the end I was disappointed with the blade thickness and weight. It didn't have the front end bulk for inertial closings that I found so joyous on my Atlantic. An interesting piece but it appears to perform the best in a more specialized role, one that doesn't apply to me.

The scene so far.

2009-04-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note on the point of this blog. Of the millions of knife/tool photos that have been posted on the internet a small majority are actually useful to the potential user. One of the easiest ways to give a fair indication of size, regardless of one's photographical skills, is to take a picture of the knife in an adult's hand. Even though human hands vary greatly in size it is easier to mentally understand the basic dimensions when framed by fingers, a thumb and the palm.

To this end, I will slowly move through my entire collection; giving the viewer at least 3 pictures (closed knife/open hand, open knife/open hand, open knife/closed hand) of each knife I own.

We will start with my Spyderco collection and move on from there.