Category Archives: Photos

Folders, Photos

SPYDERCO METROPOLITAN™ LIGHTWEIGHT – C213PBK – The Perfect Hunter Slipjoint ?

4 Comments

Disclaimer: This knife was supplied at no cost by Golden as part of their brand ambassador program. Spyderco’s decision to include this publication is appreciated, though the review that follows remains independent and unbiased.

This is my first glimpse at the middle Brother of the SLIPIT™, the Metropolitan.
Made in Maniago. It is an Italian Spyderco.
Un altro piccolo grande coltello !

It is the second Spyderco Slipjoint in M398 after the Roadie XL which I use a lot !


It is made in Maniago like my Heinnie Urban and it is a pure Sal Glesser design.
The blade comes razor-sharp straight out of the box. The factory edge is excellent, though I know it can be refined just a touch on leather. It’s a very thin grind—thinner even than on my Roadie XL. While M398 isn’t as leather-friendly as SPY27, it can still be brought to a high polish, as I managed with my Roadie XL after breaking its tip.

Being slightly longer than the Urban, the Metro’s handle comfortably fits four fingers when using the choil. This choil also adds an important safety feature, preventing accidental closure on your fingers. The choil-hump combinaison—acts like a guard, directing cutting force straight into the blade while relieving stress on the handle and pivot.

“Metro In the Middle” pictured: the G10 SPY27 UKPK “Golden Child”, the Metro and the Heinnie G10 S90V Urban.

To quote my friend Wayne Thomas Heywood Adamson: “So now we have a middle ground between the UKPK and the Urban. I was surprised when the Urban shrank in size but that was clearly now to make room for the Metropolitan.”

(Made in Golden – Maniago – Maniago.)
The 68mm Metro’s blade thickness measures 3 mm at the spine, with a full flat grind in a leaf-shaped profile. By comparison, the longer UKPK “Golden Child” comes in at just 2.5 mm, which makes it the undisputed king of SlipIt designs. That said, opting for a slightly thicker blade in M398 is a sound choice. M398 is not known for its toughness—certainly less forgiving than Spyderco’s in-house CPM SPY27 alloy—so the added thickness provides welcome reinforcement.

The S90V Urban is 2,9mm !

And the Roadie XL is 2,8mm

Making the Metropolitan the thicker of the wild bunch !
By an hair !

Now about the weight…

At 51 grammes it is really light in the pocket.

The action is very good. It is as strong as my Urban and UKPK. perhaps a bit less hard to close but this is not really an issue.
I have noticed the Metro’s back is a full spacer/spring construction like a G10 version (when the UKPK FRN Salt is not for example.)
It does not share the same “fork” spring of the UKPK but the same slipjoint mechanism as the Urban.
You can feel the spacer moving up when closing.

So what can we expected from this Metropolitan compared to its siblings?
A little more room for your fingers. The Urban and the Squeak are three fingers knives, the Metro and UKPK are four fingers.
This is also an opportunity to showcase M398 in a high, full-flat-ground, thin blade. The Roadie XL’s narrower profile already favors cutting efficiency, and the Metro builds on that. In terms of edge retention, M398 belongs in the same category as S90V—a steel I know well from my Urban model, where securing an exclusive sprint run was a real challenge. With the Metro, however, M398 is now part of the regular production lineup, offering users a true “super stainless” steel in an accessible package. But beware M398 does not like torsions, like my Walker in ZDP189 which has been able to survive all those years.

The Metropolitan could really be a major upgrade for my Italian Hares Hunter in Tuscany. For the record, skinning game—especially dealing with hair full of sand and dirt—puts a significant challenge on edge retention. Hunters typically don’t use their knives for woodcraft; their main task is working on hares and similar game. In that context, a blade of 68mm in M398 could offer a real advantage.

The Metropolitan—easy to carry, legal in many countries, and made of stainless steel—could be the perfect hunter’s SlipIt, which is great news for many of my friends.

Advice, Folders, Photos, Review

THE TREE REX Part 2 – Beveling THE SPINE.

Leave a comment

The Tree Rex is certainly my favorite hard work folder from Spyderco. Sal Glesser has made a real beauty able to deliver a lot of power.
The handle is especially thicker and rounder than any other folders proposed by the Golden Company. The pseudo wooden slabs which can be rinsed in water with zero issues. (I have erased the smell with some alcohol solution) and the mighty blade made of a very lovely steel: REX45 got that “touch” of Speed Star aka M2HSS I have loved on Benchmade AFCKs and Nimravi. The steel is easy on leather and bites steady when whittling with control. The best wood chisels are made from M2HSS.

But they are some hot spots on the spine and on the choil. I use my thumb to pushcut in wood and a square spine is painful after a while.
Knowing the Rex45 is a 8% Cobalt steel, I have decided to send it in the wind and with some water to prevent dust. The very hard steel (66,5 HRC) was eventually rounded to my taste.

    Rounding the spine to a be less aggressive was done using 600 grint sand paper. Eventually I have used the sand paper to do some convexing.
    Soon a Jade stone will be tested for mirror finish on the edge.

    Photos

    Para 3 blades swapping on New Year’s Eve

    1 Comment

    I got two Para3: a M390 Lightweight and I got a Maxamet Copper handled.
    The Lightweight is so good,  I wanted to use the 70 HRC blade on that plateform.
    Nothing wrong with M390 which is just a great EDC steel with stellar performances but staining steels are part of DNA.
    After watching Nick Shabazz having the same idea and filming it, once the novelty of the M390 faded away, I have decided to step ahead. It was really easy to do it but for the stoppong pin of the lightweight (Torx 6) which was dismounted with two tools as it was turning inside the handle.

    Easily disassembled copper scales.

    Now mounted on the lightweight handle.
    For more about disassembling a Para3 lightweight here is Eric Glesser’s Video.

    Here we go: two excellent knives. As you can notice they are users.

    I have been able to thin the edge of the M390 when the Maxamet refused to give away any particules…

    The Spyder logo is golden on the M390 and black on the Maxamet.

    Perfectly centered blades on both and smooth action with no lateral play.
    Here my Little Red Hoodie ready for tonight 24 oysters opening.

    Happy Saint Sly everyone !

    Maxamet being more denser it has add 3 grams on the scales.

    wp-1577802438772524812182051864639.jpg

    Photos

    The FICX 2019 PHOTO GALORE.

    1 Comment

    This year it has been a short but very intense Paris Knives Show visit focused mainly on the FICX 2019. The first picture was my new Puukko from Pekka and soon it will be reviewed and pictured with the Hunter Pascal had also ordered from him (All birch bark handle and RWL34 blade). This year we have noticed Finland was very well represented.
    Lo let’s start by Pekka. For the others maker I have pictured their business card.

    Des Horn also was there. As always he is a true gentleman, flying around the world whatever his health conditions are. His smile is intoxicating and his knives are stunning.

    This is a really thin folding knife !!

    This was a folder (1400 euros) which can be dismounted by the owner once the scale is removed to let the screws appears.

    Oh, this one was just a WONDERFUL balisong made as folding puukko.
    Scandi ground. Magnetic sheath. 700 euros ! Maybe next time !

    The Bali was a pure masterpiece.

    The Enterprise was such a incredible piece of art. You can see the ruby on the engines.
    Also the case is a photon torpedo shape. So many details from a true fan of Star Trek.


    This one is inspired by Aston Martin’s.

    Folders, Photos

    Blade4sell Titanium Clips – Deep Carry Alternative.

    3 Comments

    20190220_1553438892665025613971523.jpg

    Victim of his own success Blade4sell have taken almost 6 months to send to me two titanium clips. But again the perfection is at the rendez vous.
    I have been able to use the original screws on the Police but I had 3 sets of screws (one black) provided with the two clips.
    As you can notice the clips got that parallel lip at the tip which makes them less prone to scratch furniture or car paints.  It goes easy in and out of the pocket. Nothing catches.
    Let’s hope Blade4sell will be able to hire soon to honor their orders faster. But they are very honest and were OK to refund me. It’s good to see good artisan standing behind their production and helping their overseas customers. Highly recommended.

    20190220_1553406217393534049808913.jpg

    You can notice how the screw flushes with the clip. Nothing to wear your pockets.

    20190220_1601093038235236797790022.jpg

    It works great on the Police and one The Paramillie.

    20190220_1601481209879352237357687.jpg

    The Paramillie can be open with a finger flip when the Police is spyderdropped.

    20190220_16015461930904098059127.jpg

    It is almost invisible and nothing telegraphes the size of that folder: very convenient.
    Like on my Millie, it helps a lot for big folders.

    20190220_1553534864525016576944791.jpg

    Photos

    Titanium Handles Sanding ? Why not !

    1 Comment

    20180901_171035.jpg

    I always believe in personalizing your own tools. I also love how titanium can turn sweet under the fingers. So here I am on this afternoon testing different sandpapers on handles.
    Eventually I have found that 800 grid is more than enough to make the frame and edges standing out. This is what I was looking for, this feel of old denim.
    Of course I can always go back to it and by using scotchbrit refining the finish but I wanted something rough.
    The Spydiechef was the first to be sanded. The idea is to keep always the same direction.

    20180901_171150.jpg

    20180901_171525.jpg

    20180901_171522.jpg

    20180901_171852.jpg

    20180901_171603.jpg20180901_172810.jpg

    On the Spyderco Tuff the effect can be more dramatic for a much more steampunk look.

    20180901_172417.jpg

    20180901_172800.jpg

    I’m quite happy with final results.
    So let’s try that on the Falcon !

    20180901_173538.jpg

    20180901_174302.jpg

    Photos

    Amsterdam Minimeet 2018

    1 Comment

    20180304_131933-02.jpeg

    Again this year, eighty guests were lucky enough to gather at Hotel Mercure near Amsterdam Airport for a day of presentation and exchange with Spyderco. Eric Glesser and Joyce Laituri came from Golden and made a stop over before going to IWA next week.

    Again it was the opportunity to get direct access to Eric and his prototypes and “next in production” (before June !) galore but also the chance to meet friends from all over the world (a new designer Aleister Phillips came from Australia ! He was actually in France since February taking care of a WWI memorial for the Australian soldiers.)

    Capture d'écran 2018-03-05 15.24.57
    Aleister Phillips Instagram picture.

    Capture d'écran 2018-03-05 15.27.15
    And his “Redback” custom folder with licensed spyderhole.

    Again pictures were forbidden but soon 18 knives (from the 100 shown) will be displayed on Spydercollector website exclusively. Wouter was one of the “Old Timers” who has been attending the last 14 meets like my friend JD who also wrote in this columns.

    20180304_104129-01.jpeg

    The master of ceremony was Jur who always give good vibes and jokes.
    Spyderco changed the rules this year: no more passing of the prototypes in all hands.
    Instead Eric presented all the knives, from concepts to almost in production. Many designers were featured; Paul Alexander and Ed Schempp come of course to my mind as they are my favorites. Some designers were present like Tom Zoomer who was not very confortable with some questions I had, hum, asked about batonning and sharpening his bushcraft knife…

    20180304_134313-01.jpeg

    That was also the chance for new designers to defend their concept and explain to Eric what they can bring to the knife world.

    20180304_134349-01.jpegSo eventually, we left our chairs early to gather around tables where Ted had displayed all the knives. It was time for intense exchange and card writing.
    20180304_134248-01.jpeg

    Also we were gently asked to fill some cards showing our remarks about every prototype numbered and displayed. It was a chance for Spyderco to have written feedback about what we loved or hated. I think our favorites knives were the Wolf Mouse by Gareth Bull of SA and the Unnamed Redback from our Australian mate.

    Capture d'écran 2018-03-05 15.34.59Picture of the Custom original Wolf Mouse. Found on the Bull pictures.
    Imagine the same with a hole in the blade. 😉

    20180304_100243-02.jpeg

    Oh! we were given pens to write on the cards. Also the day was rythmed by a loto game with knives and goodies to win – even more surprises involving plastic spiders and other gifts. JD won a wonderful Lil’Native and soon we will have his review !

    I have noticed in the past years how the new Golden factory is bringing some of the best quality in knife manufacturing to date. For example my new Para3 is absolutely flawless: perfectly centered, perfect smooth action… I had noticed that raise in quality of execution on my last sprint run Para2 in 52100 too. Now Golden is as good as Taichung in quality control if not better. So kuddos Colorado ! Also Eric told us that they have just hired two new engineers there who will “make a real difference”. He told us that Spyderco is also training their own engineers as no school had prepared them for the knife industry. So there is a Spyderco Engineering School there.

    In conclusion, one last thing to outline: this Minimeet was a Compression Lock festival. It looks like Spyderco will be using more and more one of their  successful “in-house” locks for many models to come. It’s true, Compression Locks are extremely solid and smooth but they also are challenging in terms of placing the flipper on a blade for example but like the Spyderhole, they are a Spyderco trademark.

    20180304_131928-01.jpeg

    A lonely Eric and an empty table.

    Oh and BTW Joyce showed us how to wear a Cricket the fashionable way.

    20180304_143918-03.jpeg

     

     

     

     

     

    Advice, Fixed Blade, Photos, Review

    Bushcrafters and Whittling: when the true Scandi grinds stand their ground.

    4 Comments

    20171113_152859-01548548664.jpeg

    As I have found, a Scandi grind blade is not the easiest to be honed to your desire especially with modern powder metallurgy steels but once obtained it is a pleasure for the whittler. With that in mind I have bought two Mora Knives: a Morakniv Pro-C and a Bushcraft Survival Knife both in Carbon Steel and rubber handle. My idea was to get easily razor sharp scandi edges like I was able to obtain on the BuscraftUK from Spyderco.

    20171111_152503-01740016526.jpeg

    On the picture above only 3 of the knives are true scandis with no micro bevels.

    I have been able to compared how Scandi behave with plastic bottles and also on wood . In fact, in my own experience, Scandi edge bites with some kind of hunger the cellulose fibers and soon also acts as a wedge which makes all the cuts strong and controlled. It doesn’t go as deep as a thin convexed full flat ground blade but the wooden chips produced are thicks. It’s a pleasure to use a Scandi ground knife on wood, there is precision in the cuts which can be shallow or radical (with the wedge effect).

    20171113_154434-01804443587.jpeg

    The “Zero Ground” Nilakka being an exception as it combines the strong cuts of the Scandi with the deep push cuts of the full flat ground blades. Which makes it voracious on wood and explain the 5mm stock of the Nilakka blade.

    On the two Mora Kniv, the cheaper was the sharper. The Pro-C bites immediately when the Mora BSK was dull. I have put that on the fact there is some kind of coating and no secondary edge. So, my first move has been to remove that coating.

    20171111_152106-011616380728.jpeg

    The secondary edge put flat on a stone, the coating was removed steadily and the edge was quick able to shave hairs then the Mora BSK was able to bite in wood and was a pleasure to hold and work with.
    Both Mora are much lighter than my Spyderco Bushcrafters as they are not full tang. as i don’t plan to do any batoning with them, it is not an issue. Both Mora are true Scandis like my Spyderco Wolfspyder and Buscrafters.
    It’s not always the case, even in Norway.

    Normally Norwegian knives looks like that:
    20171019_214153-021082467779.jpeg

    Scandi knives are a pleasure to cut and drill with as the thickness of the blade runs to almost the point of the blade, making a very strong tip.

    But now you can also buy a Korean Puukko from Hyundai.

    20171019_154632-01245911696.jpeg

    It will cost you around 40 Krons, which is around 4 Euros, 5 dollars…
    But here you can see. It’s not a scandi but a thick saber grind with a visible micro bevel.

    It means that even Scandinavian countries are not protected against pure cutlery heresy. It also means that Viking don’t mind to buy crappy tools for half the price of a Mora.

    20171019_154716-01837024615.jpeg

    Why ? Because true scandi means a good steel and a good heat treatment to stand the thin geometry. It’s a century old design adapted to people building everything from wood: home, tools, furnitures… A true scandi edge angle is acute enough to be reliable and sharp.
    Quoting “Patriot Dan” on the blade forums:
    “There isn’t one angle really but 22 degree inclusive (11 per side) is a typical swedish midway edge angle for a scandi grind. The angle can be anything from 15 – 25 depending on use. (This is with the steels and the heat treat typical for those knives, some steels may not be optimal for such acute edge angles).The swedish and Norwegian grinds/edges are more obtuse than their Finnish counterparts. I believe the english bushcraft (woodlore being the most famous) knives that sport a scandi grind are based on swedish grinds but that’s just because they’re very similar.”

    So true Scandi are NOT saber grind on disguise and NOT convexed. You need to put the bevel on the stone to keep them “true” hence my work of patience on the Nilakka, restoring her edge to zero grind after some convexing.

    I haven’t made that kind of mistake on my Wolfspyder and S30V have proven to be reliable with zero chipping making that little folder a pure joy to use on wood.

    More to come soon as the tests will take some time.

    20171019_132849-01692132311.jpeg

    Advice, Folders, Photos

    52100 Paramilitary 2 by the ocean.

    3 Comments

    So here I’m in Southern Bretagne near Lorient, city of Eric Tabarly with my Paramillie Exclusive Run in 52100 Ball Bearing Steel.
    For those who don’t know Sal is a fan, this is why Eric is named Eric. 🙂

    The moisture and salt are present and cars got a serious tendacy to rust just by being parked outdoor.

    The knife has been used on food and for all the chores around another anniversary preparations. The Patina is a real surface protector as no pit or coloration has been noticed during that 4 days week end.

    It eventually has been used to pop the remaining balloons after the party.
    No oil needed. The edge did not rust. It was used daily. Very happy with that knife.
    This is a very robust folder, with a strong blade.
    It was still shaving hairs after 4 days of mild but constant uses. I did not process a lot of cardboard for example, but a lot of meat ! Duck for the matter.

    The 52100 makes a beautiful blade with its mirror convexed edge. It was noticed.