Like I had mentioned in the glimpse review of the Serrated Chaparral, this little, thin folder is built to punch above its weight. Thanks to its sturdy construction and relatively strong stainless steel — the same type found on my Cold Steel Recon 1 XL — it can be tested and used like a much larger knife without compromising performance.
Solid steel, sturdy lock? Not much difference from a larger knife, in fact. 😉
So far, I’ve put the knife through its paces, cutting anything I could, and maintaining the edge with some Jade stones (see first picture). The mechanism shows no signs of play in any direction — rock-solid performance.
The plastic is thicker that the blade.
As you can see, the serrated edge is a chisel grind, which means it tends to deviate slightly to the right of the material being cut, much like a fin in water. I started the cuts with a bit of sawing, then transitioned to push cuts, and the knife effortlessly sliced through the thick plastic used to form the bottle.
This little knife is fierce in term of cutting performance. It is a lot of power in your pocket ! It is a pocket chainsaw !
The serrations really shine on the plate. You can push the knife hard against ceramic surfaces, and if the points ever need a touch-up, a few passes on a ceramic corner — or in my case, a jade corner — brings them back like new.
I have been able to reach razor level just by passing gently the Jade on it.
Actually it is fun to enhance the edge.
Actually, this is a bit of a comeback for me with serrations, dating back to my AFCK experience 25 years ago. Back then, I mostly used partly serrated edges, which helped initiate cuts on hard materials.
With a fully serrated thin blade and no plain edge, I initially wondered how useful it would be in the kitchen — especially since my wife’s favorite knives are Victorinox fruit knives (serrated). But it turns out, neither fruits nor vegetables can withstand the sharp, wavy edge of the Chaparral.
Funny enough I have been able to strop the edge of the Chap by using the side of the leather belt. CTS XHP is a steel which loves leather in my experience.
All in all, so far, so good. The Chaparral delivers impressive cutting power. Its thin, fully serrated edge is unique within the Spyderco line, pushing the design out of its comfort zone — and for a “knifeaholic” like me, that’s pure fun.
The next step is to trust this little knife enough to take it on a road trip in Italy — handling food prep, wood, and low-profile carry as my only pocketed folder. The Chaparral will make its return in May.
Six years ago, I reviewed the Working Poney, also known as the Roadie. Mine had been reprofiled by Jan Dirk, and even on its tiny scale, it proved to be an outstanding performer. For six years, it quietly stowed away, accompanying me across the UK, Vietnam, and countless places where knives were frowned upon.
Then, in 2024, I noticed the announcement of an XL version — the C267BK — featuring a better steel and a clip. Right away, I saw the new pointed blade, replacing the classic sheepfoot-style blade, now ground from Böhler-Uddeholm N690Co. Even more exciting, the XL uses M398, an exotic steel reserved for flashbatches — a serious step up in terms of performance and collector appeal.
And so, here it is: Ladies and gentlemen, the Roadie XL !
They say an image is worth a thousand words, so here you have 4,000 words with no syntax or spelling errors.
Back to the Roadie XL: it is made in Maniago, Italy, just like my Nano and many other excellent knives these days. The Maniago plant remains one of the best worldwide in terms of quality and precision.
Specifications:
Overall Length: 6.51″ (165mm)
Blade Length: 2.74″ (70mm)
Steel: M398
Closed Length: 3.76″ (95mm)
Edge Length: 2.31″ (59mm)
Weight: 1.5oz (43g)
Blade Thickness: 0.108″ (2.8mm)
Its shape and size make it extremely pocket-friendly, easily fitting into the watch pocket of a pair of denim jeans thanks to its deep-carry wire clip. You could remove the clip, but why? It keeps the knife perfectly on the pocket’s lip. The clip is also reversible, though that’s not mandatory for a two-handed opening folder.
With its thin profile and light weight, combined with the clip, the Roadie XL can even be carried in a shirt pocket like a pen. In short, it’s a knife meant to stay on your person almost unnoticed.
The action is smooth, with two stops/steps before the blade fully opens. In practice, it feels smoother than my Urban, which only requires a single hand to deploy.
With a slightly longer blade than the Urban, the Roadie XL remains legal to carry in countries such as Denmark, the UK, or Germany. Mine arrived razor sharp straight out of the box, so I’m in no particular hurry to convex the edge.
Mine came razor sharp right out of the box. So I’m not in a special hurry to convex its edge.
You can immediately recognize Sal Glesser’s signature design—a clear mark that it’s his invention. Sal is an inventor, and it’s always impressive to see how he manages to create clever, practical tools. Quoting him directly:
“When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) briefly considered allowing the carry of knives on airplanes again, Spyderco designed the Roadie™ to fit their guidelines. We created an incredibly popular modern expression of the classic penknife. Since bigger can indeed be better, the Roadie now has a big brother: the Roadie XL. It faithfully offers all the defining features of its smaller counterpart—including a non-locking “notched-joint” mechanism, a textured index-finger choil, and contoured, injection-molded handle scales. Its full-flat-ground sheepfoot-style blade is crafted from M398 stainless steel and features our distinctive “Double Dent™”—a pair of symmetrical dimples in the blade that provide a solid purchase for a fingernail-free two-handed opening. In addition to its larger size, the Roadie XL also adds a deep-pocket wire clip for convenient top-of-the-pocket carry.”
Now, let’s talk about M398, one of Spyderco’s premium powder metallurgy steels, only available in limited flash batches, all made in Maniago, Italy.
From what I understand, M398 is closer to CPM-90V than to M390. Quoting Darrin Thomas’s analysis (which is worth reading in full):
“The original M390 has a reported carbide volume of 20.5%, and the new M398 has about 30%, so there has been an increase in carbide of almost 50%. We would expect this to lead to a significant reduction in toughness along with an increase in wear resistance. The datasheet shows that the toughness of M398 is only about a third of M390, though at somewhat higher hardness. So it is apparent that the design of M398 is all about wear resistance and essentially ignores toughness. M390 has only slightly lower toughness than K390 with similar carbide volume (though K390 was tested at 62 Rc). M398, on the other hand, has significantly less toughness than the similar carbide volume S290. However, M398 does have some positive traits, such as increased hardness and reduced retained austenite relative to M390. I’m personally not all that interested in yet another high edge-retention steel that sacrifices toughness, ease in sharpening, and workability. We had other options and this initial look doesn’t make M398 appear to be an improvement over the other available steels. M398 was a relatively simple modification of M390 and I can’t help but think that a more optimized version could be made. M390 did offer similar toughness to cold-work tool steels like K390 with a similar carbide volume, but M398 has significantly lower toughness than the similar carbide volume S290. So M398 doesn’t appear to be over-performing relative to its composition and carbide content. I wrote about some Bohler-patented high wear resistance steels using niobium instead that look very interesting but haven’t seen a commercial release. Those steels would be breaking new ground and potentially offering new property combinations not previously available. But if Bohler pushes out M398 more broadly it will be interesting to see how knifemakers utilize the steel for applications that benefit from high wear resistance and edge retention.”
When M398 was used in a previous flash batch for the SpyMyto, I wasn’t particularly excited—it felt like overkill for a folder that seemed built for hard use. The Myto is essentially the big brother of my Nano made in CPM Magnacut, and a SpyNano in M398 is also on the bench. In comparison, Magnacut is far tougher than M398, making it more suitable for wide, workhorse blades.
On the Roadie XL, though, this is a different story. Like with my Heinie Urban in S90V, these small blades are not intended for bushcraft—but some highly skilled bushcrafters can make miracles with even a 2-inch slipjoint, as shown in an inspiring video I recently saw.
Slip-joints are gentle companions for both ladies and gentlemen. For those with long nails, the Roadie XL is equipped with its distinctive “Double Dent™”—a pair of symmetrical dimples in the blade that provide a solid purchase for a fingernail-free, two-handed opening.
Its high wear resistance comes in handy, as these small blades often encounter cardboard, which can be surprisingly abrasive. I also recall Roger, my father-in-law, wielding his old Pradel slip-joint like a crowbar or flat screwdriver, without a second thought. Old-timers often treated knives mercilessly, using them until the blade was as thin as a needle.
I’m confident the Roadie XL with its M398 blade would make an excellent hare skinner—the fur is full of sand that can destroy an edge almost instantly. Tuscan hare hunters would likely appreciate its durability. Its high wear-resistant alloy makes perfect sense here. Additionally, the blade is relatively thick at 2.8 mm, which would otherwise be prone to breakage.
Ergonomically, the Roadie works beautifully for a slip-joint because you can hold the blade by its choil—a feature rarely found on traditional slip-joints. Even most Swiss Army Knives lack that level of security, and with M398’s toughness, the blade cannot close on your fingers. As Spyderco notes:
“Unlike traditional penknives, the Roadie also features a subtle index-finger choil that increases control of the knife during use and acts as a safeguard against unintentional closure.”
There’s no undue pressure on the pivot, often the most delicate part of many folding knives. If you are careful not to twist the point in wood, the Roadie XL can withstand applied force directly to the blade. This makes it another “Lil Big Blade”—small but versatile.
It can serve as a steak knife, whittler, label remover, balloon popper, nail cleaner, or cardboard cutter. Brown cardboard is notorious for edge damage, but not for an alloy like M398, packed with carbides.
And in today’s world, one more practical advantage: it is extremely sheeple-friendly. The Roadie XL looks like a pocket knife, not a tactical or soldier’s tool, making it socially unobtrusive yet highly capable.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to me, this blade—shaped almost like a scaled-down cutlass—is pure eye candy.
Interestingly, I’ve discovered that I can open it one-handed in two distinct ways:
A fast wrist flick while holding the blade itself.
By gripping the blade with thumb and index finger and gently pushing the handle away with the middle and ring fingers.
So, even though it wasn’t designed as a one-hand opener, the Roadie XL can function surprisingly well as a one-handed knife in either technique.
Compared to a traditional sheepfoot slipjoint, the Roadie XL is incredibly light yet sports a premium alloy blade (Since August 2025 another slipjoint with M398 is available: The Metropolitan.). And at under 100 euros, the Roadie XL is an exceptional bargain for what it offers.
This is one of Sal Glesser’s finest EDC designs—a true Every Day Carry folder that balances elegance, utility, and performance. And for once, size really matters with a Roadie. No wonder it’s already sold out on the Golden site! There is part II here.
I’ve been eying the Nano from Lionsteel for almost a year now. Magnacut and Titanium framelock made in Maniago in compact package is very very tempting. Lionsteel has decided to invest a lot on the “darling of all steel” aka the CPM Magnacut and you can find a lot of their new collection in that wonder steel. Lionsteel is also known for a very high quality in manufacturing. I had already reviewed a MKM designed by Bob Terzuola made in the same factory. Also I was a huge fan of their great collaboration with Spyderco on their LionSpy great knives.
So, back to the Nano: what not to love in this chunky little big knife ? Magnacut and Titanium encapsulated in a beautiful well thought Italian design ? Amore a prima vista !
See how it is beautifully crafted ? A picture worst thousand words.
Nano by lionSTEEL, technical specifications from their site:
Total length: 162 mm. – 6.38 in. Blade length: 65 mm. – 2.56 in. Blade thickness: 3.8 mm. – 0.15 in. Total weight: 101 gr. – 3.56 oz. Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut Blade finish: Satin finished Locking system: Frame lock Frame: Gray titanium Handle material: Titanium 6AI4V Handle colour: Blue Packaging: Cardboard box
This is designed to be the “ultimate every day partner” quoting Lionsteel.
For me it is the Italian answer to the Spyderco Techno. even the upcoming Techno 3 looks a lot like the Nano ! It is an ultra solid short fixedblade with a strong lock and a strong steel. The stop pin is hidden like on my Swayback. A natural born workhorse at 200% ! A Landrover in a Ferrari skin ! Zero play, vertically or horizontally. Build like a tank.
Let’s flip it.
The flipping action is not the best out of the box despite its the Double Crown ball bearing system. It perhaps needs a drop of oil ? Edit: with a drop of teflon oil (for bikes) it works fine now.
Any way the flipper is not the main way to open it.
There is a notch in the blade which is totally useable to open it one hand. I’m able to notch drop opening my Nano.
The flipper is removable and it is called the “ReF” (Removable Flipper system). “The Removable Flipper system let the user decide if the flipper tab has to be part of the blade or not. The tab can be installed when in need, or removed and replaced with the second “cap” screw.”
I intend to keep the flipper also works as a little guard.
Zero issue also to close the knife. “The titanium frame locking bar is reinforced with a hardened steel insert so that the titanium part doesn’t get worn by the rotation of the blade in time.”
Nice touch and a tech totally mastered by Maniago !
Out of the box it is sharp.
Magnacut loves leather and it will soon be stropped. See the edit at the end of this article.
Now about the clip.
The clip is gorgeous and very solid. “The clip comes out a single piece of Titanium CNC milled. It is reversible, so it can be fixed on the opposite side for left hand users.”
But it is very hard to clip and unclip on my denim thick pocket. This is almost tedious. Not a big deal but for a serial clipper like myself the Nano will prefer thinner frabric to get clipped too. Anyway, as a small knife it can go easily the pocket without being clipped. The clip does not ruin the ergonomy and this is also important to notice. There is no hotspot once closed or open. Edit: I was skeptical about the thinner “edges” on the handle, as a square handle proposes more flat side like on a Native for example. But no, the handle is confortable even when cutting in hard material.
The handle is exquisite with a lot of attention to the details. It looks and it is a premium folder. It is exquisite ! And for the price (I got mine discounted at La Coutellerie Tournagell for less than 200 euros) it is a steal ! That kind of top notch manufacturing in my favorite USA brand would be much expensive, even made in Taiwan. The Nano is a bargain for the very high quality it is offering.
The blade spine is rounded like a Chris Reeve Sebenza ! So confortable for pushcuts using your thumb.
Testing on a piece of hard wood, the geometry is excellent and it goes deep right of the box. Magnacut being strong and easy to maintain sharp, it is a wood worker knife by essence.
The Nano offers also a lot of blade, a tiny bit more than my Native for great handle/blade ratio.
So this was a first glimpse to my 35th SICAC found which has just jump out of its box. It is a short knife with a lot of cutting power and an exquisite design and realization. Kuddos to Lionsteel and Pauletta Gianni for this absolute ge of a knife. Mine is blue. “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”. And I feel like “Felice di stare lassù !”
Edit: I have decided to deshoulder the edge and start to turn it into a convex edge as usual on my knives.
Using a DC4 from Fallkniven and protecting the blade with gaffer.
And it goes through the bottle butt ! Right in the thickest part.
To Quote Prince in his song 1999: “I got a lion in my pocket and baby he’s ready to roar, yeah hey.”
Edit: There is a video of CBRX which I highly recommend to discover the insides secrets of the Nano. Very informative !
I know Jiminy (Cricket) since 1994. I even have used to have a pink version of this little bugger in the last millenium. Today, while making a little pilgrimage in famous Kindal cutlery shop in Paris,
Mme Kindal has displayed me one of her many treasures displayed, next to a Janisong and a Military titanium… It was love at first sight for that blast from the past little big knife. Because there is a lot of power in that compact package, it was the chance to carry another one of those New Old Stock.
It is true, the Tattoo version of the Cricket is a pure jewel and delight to look at and to use. It has been cleverly designed in House by Sal Glesser (but I won’t be surprise if Ed Schempp would have been also its inspiration). Based on the stainless steel version of the Cricket Tattoo it is really well made piece of cutlery.
Folded the C29T creates a rounded package that carries nearly invisibly in the pocket. The pocket clip carries right-handed tip-down but also attaches to a tie or makes a fashionable money clip. The anodized illustration is really elegant.
The Stainless Steel design using a Chris Reeve Integral Lock makes it really thin and easy to wear even in a shirt pocket.
It is a tip down carry which allow a very fast an elegant Spyderdrop opening. So its reverse “S” shaped blade get in action very very fast.
Its 2mm thick and 48mm long blade is tricky, thanks to its “S” shape: you got a longer edge to use. And like Eric Glesser’s Dodo, Sal Glesser Cricket is a geometrical trickster: the cutting angle is almost never at 90° to the separated material, acting like a sinusoïdal guillotine. It is very powerful. For a knife of its length, the Cricket is packing a lot of cutting power hence the name “Little Big Knife” used for that kind of Spyderco.
The Cricket is a joy to use in the garden on hard material…
… and on soft material.
Beware of that S Shape, beak or claw design, loves to catch anything around, you thumb for example can bleed in a blink of the eye.
The beak penetrates in any plastic sheet very aggressively. It is even surprising how easy it can open packages.
Some people are not fans of S Shape blade or any blade with recurved edge. It is a natural shape found in claws, talons, teeth and beaks. But by using a rounded ceramic (VG10 is not difficult to get back to razor) and the corner of the leather pad, the Cricket keep its razor edge.
Here is with a Jade sharpener. I sharp the belly on the flat and the beak on the corners.
It opened design makes it a breeze to clean under the tap.
I highly recommend the Cricket as an EDC knife. It is a little but powerful “matter separator” destined for Ladies or Gentlemen for daily duties which can be clipped to a purse, a pocket even a bra. I also knew a former French Marines, six-foot-four and full of muscle, who had adopted the Pink Cricket as his main EDC. Go figure how this little knife makes you wish upon a star !
Seven years ago I was already in love with a KnifeCenter Exclusive Native. The idea to propose a smooth G10 handle was IMHO a great EDC enhancement as G10 can turn any knife into a pocket shredder.
As you can notice the Native 5 with its OEM clip can perfectly be clipped to a watch pocket.
I was certain I have missed the opportunity to own one of those smooth operators exclusively made for the KCI when, Alex, a fellow member of the Facebook Spyderco Fan Club France has pointed it to me. They were still in stock ! HERE !!
I know monsieur Howard Korn, the founder of the KCI, since his very beginnings back in the 90’s when he was all alone, and suggested me to design their logo. Howard was the very first reseller to propose knives on a big scale using a very new medium: the world wide web ! What a venture ! And eventually what a success ! It was before Amazon and Howard is one of the pioneers in terms of spreading the cutlery’s culture worldwide. Hence now the great videos which are produced in house. Again, it has been a smooth transaction from the USA to France thanks to a great customer service for a great exclusive. I may be biased but this is my customer experience for almost 30 years with the Knife Center: flawless and inspiring.
Eventually I have found out I have bought perhaps the very last one of those Native Exclusive as 10 days later my order (June2024) they are now out of stock.
So what do we got here ?
I have written a lot about CPM Cruwear ! But this tough and well balanced alloy which can provide a crispy razor edge is perfect on small or long folders. This is a workhorse steel and one of the greatest high tech alloy available in modern cutlery. I have even proved how hard it was to get a patina on it. This time with DLC coating no patina or rusting will be feared. BTW DLC Diamond Like Coating is used from implants. It is not toxic.
This all black version of the Native is ready to be used in all weather conditions.
So here we got a very low profile package with a none threatening design as black knives matter when confronted to sheeples who could point you as a Mall Ninja with a dark saber.
These days I am reluctent to carry in the city a long blade/folder and my search for accepted shorter knives, locking or not locking is evident. I have previously studied knives which can be used in the city and the Native is one of them. The idea is a maximum of polyvalence for a tool which should raise eyebrows. A friendly not threatening package. The knid of knives my grandfathers and father used to carry without any after thoughts but in planes. 😉 When heading for the countryside, I don’t restrict my self in terms of blade length but for a big city, I play a very low profile game and most of the time I do strictly follow the Law even if I’m not fearing any kind of Police check. Hence the Native: same cockpit as Hellboy which is used a lot in the kitchen as the Chief as turned into a Chef but shorter.
There is also a swedge or on the blade spine on the Native which is not present on the Chief.
The action is smooth with zero blade play as chute drop is obtain by releasing the lock. I have already written and how those Golden Native are top notch in term of fit and finish, using them since 2011.
This version with no liner is for me the best design and this Exclusive the best of the best. In those years of titanium frame locks and axis locks, the chance to own a great lockback is precious. And this one is for me: the Last of The Mohicans !
I got the opportunity to carry JD Native avter he has used it for months (since october).
Now the Lil’Native is smooth and easy to open it and close it but more interesting, JD as refined the edge to some sort of pseudo scandi grind !
And this knife is cutting so well…
Push cutting through bottle’s bottom is made easy with that new geometry.
JD has made a beautiful regular thin edge from the choil to the tip.
The very solid construction, glass smooth action and thin edge turned the Lil’ Native into a very impressive knife. Again this is SPyderco specialty to bring short powerful matter separators. The lock is strong, the blade is strong, it is a very capable tool in a compact size. The belly also helps for push cuts.
This version of the Manix is equipped with one of the strongest lock ever produce by Spyderco in a light package. We are touching here a “Knife of Excellence” and one of the best Eric Glesser’s design. Sadly it is discontinuited in 2019 but this is also the last chance for you to get an absolute fabulous workhorse at a great price. Mine came for 99 dollars…
Can you imagine better bargain for an all made American knife of high performance ?
The operation of the lock goes deep in the notch while unlocking.
And the G10 is factory smoothed (I have used 800 grid to get it even smoother later) and the action is perfect. Lockback lovers can only fall deeply in love with this one.
The pivot screws are huge even compare hardchore folders like the Yojimbo2 and it is only a part of the enhanced strength of this version as also the blade is a little thicker than normal Manix 2 version.
Here the blade thickness is 0.145″ (3.7 millimeters) against the usual Manix thickness of 0.125″ (3.2 mm) !!
Half a millimeter in black thickness is a simple way to have a stronger blade.
G10 is extraordinarily strong and with such thick scales this version of the Manix do not need any steel liners which can rust or get dirty too easily, especially if they are skeletonized !! So this thick G10 use is a great plus in my book: the Manix 2 Lockback is easy to clean and easy to check for grim … It’s a plus for hunters which use their knives in the fiels were hair and blood can get inside the handle. I should also mention than this one, like all my Native 5 got ZERO vertical play and his so smooth it is fun to flick open.
Also don’t forget you can make stealth fixed blade (even Fred Perrin made Balisong’s blade and handles) only with G10: this is a real solid material.
Here the blade is made of S30V. Spyderco knows how to heat treat than steel so this is a no brainer.
The plain stell back space and thick G10 slabs of the handle are just wonderful to avoid blisters. This is where you recognized a tool you can use hard without hand sore.
The balance of the knife is also improved with this full G10 construction, the sweet point is just under the second horn of the handle not the one of the choil, the other further back.
Well it is a lightweight linerless handle construction, fine-textured G10 scales and a stainless steel backspacer ! There is no lateral movement. You know my favorite expression “built like a tank“… so here we go !
The tolerance and the QC are really high. The action is smooth and the blade locks with a firm “KLAK!!”
As you can see, as much as I love the Shaman design, this Manix 2 is the true daddy of the linerless G10 version of the Native. Again a very solid and light EDC.
In both the ergonomy is at its zenith: large choil, no jimping madness the handle spouses your palm.
Both are made in Golden, Colorado, a plant with now very high tolerance and excellent quality control: the blade is perfectly centered.
So what do you got here ? A incredibly solid and versatile outdoors knife ! Easy to clean and maintain, rock strong locking system and of course the full flat ground leaf shape blade which is a must in cutting control. Strong lock, stronger blade, great ergos… This is really a shame this knife is discontinuited …
Perhaps its reincarnation can be found in the Spyderco Chief found in this review from April 2021.
“We were sanding in the rain – like we invented sanding
There’s a light in the sky from a million street lights
And we danced all the steps from all those old time movies
Rolling down the hill with laughing hearts…”
My first experience with Massdrop exclusive design was one year ago. The Falcon has been a surprise in its quality and design and since has been my Spyderco Techno replacement. The Gent is even a better deal !! We are in presence of a real masterpiece in modern cutlery and, pardon my French but I weight my words.
First thing I have noticed is the blade to handle ratio: in a folder, the blade will be most of the time shorther than the handle but with some designers tricks you can give the illusion… It was already the case with the Falcon: we got a real elegant knife despite being short, the blade is perfectly centered, the blade evenly ground, the action is smooth as butter and the edge cut my hairs… WOW !!
The large choil seems to be a Ferrum Forge signature and it is handy for precision cutting. Also when not using it I can hold the handle with 4 fingers. It is much more ergonomic and fonctionnal that my Izulas in that matter.
The lock is similar to the Spyderco PPT. It is a thick pride liner lock made of bead blasted grey titanium. The slabs are G10 with a very nice texture. Attention to details is stunning: quality is at the rendez vous. The lock feels strong and any way your hand is protected by the flipper used a guard and by the choil if you choose to use it. This is a very solid folder.
The blade is exquisitely ground and the edge is thin, razor sharp our of the box.
The opening construction is ultra minimalist and VERY EASY to keep clean !!
I love ultra minimalists design as found on the Spyderco K2 for example.
The spine is gently chanferred for an excellent confort in thumb pushing cuttings.
Something I won’t have to do myself.
Immediatly you want to play with and put the high saber flat ground S35VN blade in its pace. A steel first introduced to me through the Spyderco Native 5.
As a Lady/Gent knife it is small like a jewel.
Non threatening is a must in that kind of EDC knife. But don’t get fooled by its size; this is a real workhorse !
The detent is a little harder than the one of my Falcon or my ZT0562CF but it works and fires every time. It is really smooth and no side play so far. I was not able easily to open the blade without using the flipper.
The deep carry clip is well thought and it makes the knife disappearing in the pocket. EDC is often better in low profile configuration.
So let’s put a little convexing on that baby: Stuff 2, Fallkniven DC4 and leather…
Diamonds are in play for the first round. The thin edge makes it easy to scratch and of course I have scratched it. You can notice the very nice belly on the blade.
But nothing some use and future stropping won’t erase in a “beautility” attempt. The idea is just to bring convex in the middle of the belly.
Leather stropping, razor sharp let try it on my favorite test in ergos and edge: the Bottle Butt !!
As you can see it was an easy cut for that little knife. There is power in this one. The blade is just thick enough to provide a comfortable spine to strongly push through.
The Belly always help for push cutting in hard material.
So far what do we got:
an elegant, non threatening short folder with premium materials (Titanium and S35VN).
It can be deployed and close with one hand. Great balance with its sweet spot just behind the pivot. Great ergos, thin edge and easy to clean ?
This is almost the perfect EDC, worst it the best EDC you can buy for 80 dollars !!
This kind of high quality knife could be the only folder to bring with you anywhere. A great little big knife ready for anything ! Thank you to my friend Dan Sharpe for having introduced me to that little wonder !
SPECS
Produced by Drop
Designed by Ferrum Forge
Manufactured by WE Knife (in Guangdong, China)
Blade: CPM-S35VN stainless steel
HRC: 58–61
Blade type: Drop-point
Grind: Flat saber
Finish: Stonewashed
Handle: 6AL4V titanium with rosewood or carbon fiber scales
Lock: Liner lock
Open: Flipper tab
Ceramic detent ball
Caged pivot bearings, hardened steel washers
Choil for easy sharpening
Reversible, deep-carry steel pocket clip
Blade thickness: 0.13 in (3.2 mm)
Handle thickness: 0.4 in (1.1 cm)
Blade length: 3 in (7.8 cm)
Closed length: 3.6 in (9.7 cm)
Overall length: 6.6 in (17.5 cm)
Weight: 2.4 oz (68 g)
Founded in 2009, Ferrum Forge started from humble beginnings in Elliot Williamson’s garage in Southern California. Using found pieces of steel like old files and leaf springs, Elliot gradually taught himself the art of knifemaking and metallurgy. As his skills and passion grew, so too did the demand for his work. Luckily, Elliot’s brother Chris joined the team in 2012 to help expand Ferrum Forge to what it is today: a small operation dedicated to designing and producing custom knives through a rigorous process of development, machining, iteration, and quality control.
The story of the Gent starts back in 2016 when Elliot and Chris Williamson from Ferrum Forge teamed up with Drop (formerly MassDrop) for a cross brand collaboration. Ferrum Forge designed a series of unique Drop x Ferrum Forge knives that they produced, but none would compare to the Gent. After the success of the first few models, Drop asked for a less aggressive design better suited for carrying in an office environment. It was time for Elliot from Ferrum Forge to break away from aggressive, “tactical” style and give the world his take on a modern, gentlemen’s folding knife. Not only did he accomplish his goal, he created the most popular, best selling knife that Drop ever sold.
Ironically, Elliot didn’t like the Gent after he rendered it in 3D. His artistic side screamed it was boring and too simple. Meanwhile, Chris, lacking that artistic side, saw the elegance in the simplicity and loved it. Drop cast the tie breaking vote and the Gent came to life.
The Gent started their evolution toward slimmer, lighter, more pocket friendly, and less expensive knives. It was the first ever Ferrum Forge liner lock design and would eventually lead them to creating liner locks like the Stinger, Mini Archbishop, and Prolix.
Unfortunately their collaboration with Drop ran its course and they discontinued the Gent.
The first PPT was release eight years ago. It was the mind child of Sacha Thiel and Philippe Perotti. For the record Philippe Perotti aka “PP” was Fred P.’s student in knife making (and PP being an instructor in handguns and fire arms). I still own one of PP’s Streetbowie made in D2 and also one of his great great Commander knife made with Sacha Thiel and produced in Maniago which looks a lot like the Spyderco Streetbowie.
Now the design’s goes in the stardom with a luxury amazing S90V / Carbon Fibers corrugated stunning handle.
This rude boy is a beauty like Marlon Brando in a Streetcar Named Desire or Tom Hardy in Taboo. It’s heavy in your palm. But this weight is a pleasure exactly like the Sharpfinger. Marc Animal McYoung in his book “Knives, Knife Fighting and Related Hassles” was choosing a butt heavy short knife over any other. The weight is like an anchor in your hand as the knife handle is cuddling inside your palm. You find the same idea of weight distribution on heavy butt first Streetbeat.
Talking about the handle, this macro-texturing shows a wild side of this tool.
On this picture you can notice the unique clever sturdy lock. It’s made to be secured once the handle is hold tight.
The steel liners and the full steel back spacer, the full steel construction, while sturdy, makes for a dense carry. Being able to use the “pommel” as a crowd pleasure won’t be a surprise. Anyway it’s a lil hammer which can certainly be used to drive a nail in a plank.
Balance wise, let’s just compare it with a titanium folder, the Spydiechef.
It’s a matter of taste but I love it as the butt heavy balance suits me.
In eight years the Taiwanese manufacturer has refined his production.
The choil used to be a hotspot in the first version I had handled back then. No more now, there is absolutely no hot spot but… the infamous clip.
The way it’s stand with a point prouddly high …it’s really not the best Spyderco clip just compared with for example… the Lil’ Lionspy great great spoon deep carry clip !!
The pointy end of that clip needs to be parallel to the handle as this one is an invitation to scratches cars doors and catches things.
But its zips easily inside the pocket. It’s a no brainer.
Like the Spydiechef the design of the PPT notice how it give you a lot of power in case of cutting on a board. But the PPT won’t be as easy to clean with it’s squeleton thick liners but nothing which cannot resist to some hot tap water.
This new incarnation got a very thin edge. Those full flat ground blade in S90V provided by Spyderco lately are a pleasure to use and performance oriented.
The PPT got a very strong spirit, mix that with Sacha Thiel attention to details and Philippe Perotti pragmatism and you got a very powerful EDC which can be used by soldiers, firefighters, hunters, cooks, collectors and bushcrafters.
A little edit: after some EDC carrying and using.
Of course I have started to de-shoulder the edge and gives the PPT a more friendly way to get strop on leather.
Ergo wise, this heavy butt is really addictive. It works like a magnet because of that handgun handle. It makes your tool almost jumped in your hand and really anchored it in your palm while the perfect radius of opening makes it a very fast and safe opener. The meat of your finger is caught by the sharp hole and SHLACK !! It’s really one of my fastest tip up carry opener so far.
Why is the PPT a tip up carry ? I remember Fred bitching about the way some newcomers (back in 90’s) who were providing RIL locks with a tip down carry: the clip was in the way. What I loved in the RIL lock on the Sebenza was the way the hand will secure the lock just by holding it tight. With a clip attached near the pivot, you could not squeeze the handle anymore and secure the lock.
So the PPT reflect all those years. It’s a real biker friendly design, like the La Griffe has always been. Bikers are modern world horse riders. The PPT would a horse rider best friend too. In the part 2 the rider could be a nightrider ?
What strikes first when you hold the Comrade is its thickness and weight.
This 9 cm blade non-locking slipjoint folder is massive; once open, see how its beautiful classical lines are gentle to the eye.
I have chosen the CPM S90V version with a camo G10 theme. As this non locking knife, it deserves some virility. It’s a a slipjoint with a very strong attitude. The kind of knife our grandfather would have loved. The notch in the blade is like a reminiscence of my childhood…
Also it is such a pleasure to have a non-locking traditional knife with a CPM420V AKA CPM S90V blade.
As you can notice the blade is perfectly centered !
And it comes with a clip which is unfortunately not a need carry clip.
The Peak has got hidden recessed liners whereas the Comrade has got a more simple layered construction. It gives a real confort as the square handle fits the palm of your hand.
There are three steps before to open it completly. The last one is the harder to pass giving a very secure feel in the non locking open position. This is really a knife to open with two hands. Once open the choil forms almost a quillon where the index goes to secure it.
Like on a locking Spydie Millie, this is a system found first in boot knives. The force applied during the cut goes directly to the blade.
I have sanded mine to my taste and for that I removed the clip.
No doubt we got here a hardchore workhorse non-locking folder with enough blade for many tasks and a steel which is hard to beat in term of edge holding.
Its clip makes it easy to carry. The edge is thin like on the Peak and it’s going to be a great knife to go around places where locking knives are forbidden.
Also after watching the video of BlackforestGhost here, I think batonning with a slipjoint non locking knife is less stressful for the tool as there is nob lock to take the impact. The slipjoint is a spring ! So no lock failure possible. 😉 “I bend and do not break…” from the Oak and the Reed from Jean de la fontaine.
I really love that Bulgarian Comrade which is the only industrial S90V slipjoint I know so far. Manly, please do a 3 inches version and a one hand open version !! 🙂
More to come soon.
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