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Review

Spyderco -C94GCBL- UK PENKNIFE™ COBALT BLUE G-10 CPM® SPY27® – The Blue Djinn Who Loved Leather.

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This is not the first UKPK I have reviewed in this blog. I was a very early adopter of this Sal Glesser’s approach of the modern slipjoint all made in Golden Colorado.
Some of my favorite are the Salt Versions in FRN: the Green LC200N and the Yellow CPM Magnacut. I even think, the serrated version of the Magnacut version could be an amazing legal travelling knife.

But they are FRN versions. I like FRN but I do love G10. Better, I’m a sucker for sanded G-10. Hence my love for the Heinnie Urban and its non-slip peel-ply texture.
At first glance the satin-finished CPM SPY27 blade and signature cobalt blue peel-plytextured G-10 handle scales are juste gorgeous. Here are the full specs on Spyderco’s pages.

Like the Heinnie the skip joint got a strong mechanism. It is really a pleasure to feel this resistance which was totally absent from the very first drop point UKPK a decade ago. (Picture from Mr Blonde, Spydercollector site)

So far, I cannot imagine my self opening it with a flick like I was able to do on the LC200N FRN version. The Spring here on this G10 version is much stronger.

Let’s do some size comparaison. The UKPK is one of the long Slipit in Spyderco’s collection. It is almost a slipjoint Caly, even longer than a Chaparral. So you really don’t feel “underknifed” when you carry it in your pocket as your only EDC. It is also really handy and practical as a kitchen knife. The best thing is that this design keeps its blade length legal in most countries.

For cooking I often use a Native Chief.

The long leaf shaped blade is a must in the kitchen almost idea. It is pointy enough and its is enough for vegetables. Most of the works done in the kitchen like peeling potatoes, cutting oinions, you name it, was always done with a short full flat ground knife like a “Nogent Couteau d’Office”.

Something about the G-10 version is the spring/back spacer closing the handle of the knife when the FRN got an open handle easier to rinse.
But it is much more gorgeous and with a stronger spring for sure !

It also gives a little more heft to the knife. 48 grams for the FRN and 63 grams for the G10 version -> 31,25% heavier to be precise, almost a third ! But I do really love my heavy butt knives since my Schrade Sharpfinger.

Now this is my first CPM-SPY27 knife. Spy27 is a alloy recipe created in house with Crucible exclusively for Spyderco. It is a CPM ! So this is a premium super steel compared to VG10 or N690… In short it is a American Powder Metallurgy version of the Japanese VG10.

In Sal Glesser words:
“We offer many steels for several reasons;
1) We are Steel Junky’s (even Edge Junky’s) and we like to experience the different flavors and we try to do that.
2) We believe that many of our customers are also Steel Junky’s (even Edge Junky’s) and they too get to experience and play with and “taste” as you say, the many options.

I wanted a USA made “tweaked” version of Gingami 1 by Hitachi and after some effort with Carpenter, we have a powdered USA made steel called CTS-BD1N Which is a refinement of Gingami 1. I wanted a USA made “tweaked” version of Takefu’s VG-10 and now we have a powdered “tweaked” SPY27.“

Carbone1.25%
Chrome14%
Molybdène2%
Vanadium2%
Niobium1%
Azote0.1%
Cobalt1.5%
Manganèse0.5%
Silicium0.5%



There is a very nice analysis in Knifesteelnerd and discussion here: https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=94182

“However, it should be noted that the SPY 27 Larrin used for testing was not heat treated by Spyderco. Some minor differences between Larrin’s heat treatment and Spyderco’s heat treatment can probably be expected. That being said, Larrin is the best source of consistent, objective data and metallurgical interpretation for steel comparisons.” To quote Karl_H in
https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=87383

“SPY-27 will hold the fine edge longer… Its all about the stability of the fine edge, not the total wear resistance until fully dull. In this regard, SPY-27 can do what other stainless steels cant.” to quote Submicron in the same thread.

I am aware that Cobalt’s dust can be an health issue. Of course Rex 45 and Maxamet (10% of cobalt, 1,5% for SPY27) are the heavy weight steel in their tool steel category but the Spy27 (like VG-10), like all cobalt alloys needs to be carefully cleaned after a sharpening process.
(Cobalt may cause an asthma-like allergy. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness. * Cobalt may affect the heart, thyroid, liver and kidneys. * Repeated exposure to Cobalt dust can cause scarring of the lungs (fibrosis) even if no symptoms are noticed. According to https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0520.pdf)


Let say SPY-27 is in the same club as the S35VN steels in terms of performance and it especially loves fine ceramic and leather stropping. It gets easily a very crispy edge like VG10 or BD1N . ( Steel which are “leather super friendly” are also LC200N, 52100, VG10, AEB-L… )
This is a must and a real pleasure for me as I keep my knives sharp mostly with leather. A touch up and it makes flying hairs from my arm again.
And it seems true so far. I have not deshouldered the edge yet and intend to use it with the factory edge for some times but leather made it hair popping sharp. (Once deshouldered it is a straight razor with excellent edge retention… much better than S30V).
To quote Sal:
“SPY27 for some reason, seems to be punching above its weight.”

No crossroads, this Blue Djinn loves leather like the Bill Moran FB01 in VG10 loved it.

No need to use diamonds unless you want to reprofile the blade or round the shoulder then don’t forget to rinse the blade and to clean any dust.
But talking about dangerous dust, I have sanded the scales to preserve my pockets. Never breath that dust !!! Do it under water or wear a mask.
I got a neighbor who has been working around that kind of heavy dust and now he is breathing with two tubes in his nostrils. So be careful with your health.
This Blue G10 got a very nice texture under the thumb like some denim, textil like. It is really pleasant, almost like some Micarta found on the QSP Penguin.

So when you sand G10, just go outside in the wind or work under water. You don’t want to breath G10 dust made of fiberglass and epoxy.
Just rinse it under the tap to have it back to normal.
Once tuned at your hand, G10 is a very very nice material.

As you can notice the scales are even thicket than the blade and the blade is perfectly centered.

There is the famous middle/half stop when closing or opening the knife. It works like a safety measure. This knife is harder to close than to open.

The UKPK is a very ergonomic knife. It feels like it melt in the hand. It is so confortable for heavy cuts. Because this blade can work hard with zero play.

The “pistol grip” is common in many Sal Glesser design like the Endura or the Military. It is much more pronounced on the Massad Ayoob.

No hotspots for me a very safe handle, really, this lil slipjoint is screaming to be used hard.

It is even confortable edge up.

With the Roadie XL. Another great Slipit with a very low profile, almost like a pen in your shirt pocket.

And the mighty Chaparral serrated. Two of Sal’s best designs. Two wolves in sheep disguise thanks to their thin solid blades.

I have decided to de-shoulder the edge for a gentle convex result in the middle of the belly.

My old leather with some polish compound is ready again to smooth the edge to razor level.

Because I want a better touch on the leather, I usually keep the normal edge at the point to keep material there and near the ricasso as I use this portion for special shores like removing the aluminium cap on bottles.

The Coke Bottle Butt test is passed with flying colors. As you can notice the plastic is 3mm thick. Not a single scratch on the blade.

So what do we got so far ?
A master piece of knife design by monsieur Sal Glesser with a strong construction and state of the art in-house alloy serving a thin blade and an ergonomic handle.
My advice: try to grab one before they disappear, it seems that G10 version is not here to last and it is really a sapphire: a true blue jewel !

Review

Spyderco Roadie XL C267BK – Size matters

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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.

Roadie, K390 Pingo, S90V G10-Urban and Roadie XL (all green letters mean they are linked to their reviews)

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:

  1. A fast wrist flick while holding the blade itself.
  2. 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.

Review

CRICKET™ STAINLESS STEEL TATTOO

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C29T – “When You Wish Upon a Star”

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 !

Review

Böker “Vigtig vs. Wild” in CPM Magnacut – The Bushcraft Supreme EDC designed by David Wenger.

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I got a passion for short fixed blades EDC. And they are hard to find.
Now the
I was lurking at the new Pocket Tango with its magnetic sheath but my first intention was to buy a Lulu from KNAFS. Until I have found it was a not true scandi with its microbevel because they have found that Magnacut was chipping with there grind.
At least they were honest to announced it but for the price I have found my Wolfspyder was doing the same job in a folding package.

So I wanted a robust small fixed blade which was bringing new option compared to a folding knife: lateral strength for example and by looking around all the new Magnacut fixed blades made in Italy, I have found one which was made in Solingen…. Germany !
And for less than half the price than the beautiful little Lulu.

I have found it has been designed for a TV game and for German Youtubers who are filmed while surviving in Canada.

Quoting Böker’s site:
“Two streamers in the wilderness? (…) Trymacs (29) from Hamburg and Rumathra (27) from Bonn will compete together as a team in the upcoming season of 7 vs. Wild and face the 14-day adventure in the wilderness of Canada. The two heavyweights from the German streaming/gaming scene together have over 4 million followers on Twitch (Trymacs 3.4 million, Rumathra 0.7 million) and also have a strong presence on YouTube and Instagram. As part of the intensive preparation for this borderline experience, the choice of the right equipment – especially because all items have to be stored together in a 1L Nalgene bottle – played an elementary role for the two.”
OK. Why not. But eventually who was the designer ?
He’s American and his name is David Wenger and his interview can be found here on Böker site.

David knows his art as he is a bushcrafter and former builder. So looking at his own knives you can see his passion for dependable tools to be used hard in the wilderness or in the garden and as far as I am concern, he has created a great fixed blade for Böker.
Especially knowing that simple designs are not simple to create.

Remember how I was impressed by the Casström N°10, seven years ago ? This “Vigtig” is taking the same path as far as I am concerned. Its design looks simple but in fact it is really refined. It is a robust and sharp knife !

First thing to consider is the price of this knife: 135 euros with shipping in Knives&Tools. Not bad at all as K&T are not the cheapest on the web.
But it is sold cheaper than the Casström which is at 166 euros (June 2024). (The imported LULU is topping at 295 euros !!)
And the Vigtig (“Important” in German) is provided in CPM Magnacut like the LULU !! But with a real Scandi grind ! Sharp as my mother in law’s tongue !
And that’s simply one of the cheapest knife in CPM Magnacut today.
Also with a 8,5cm blade length it is not made as “companion” knife but as a main bushcrafter and truly solid survival tool.

Immediately when I held the Vigtig I have appreciated its ergos of its green micarta handle. This knife feels good in the hand. It well balanced. It is alive ! (Something I really miss in the Spyderco lately and that’s coming from a Spyderco french fanboy who loves to strop his Magnacut blade on leather. Because CPM Magnacut is a pleasure to strop.)
The micarta is smooth but naturally grippy. Oh boy, when you hold the “Important” you are gripping a real tool. Something to be used hard in a very compact size. Let’s not forget it even is shorter than an deployed Endura (22cm against 19cm for the Vigtig !)
The scales are not totally rounded but this soft boxy shape helps to know in which direction/angle the edge is. That’s why I prefer boxy/flat folders like the Native or the Wolfspyder picture here.
The Vigtig is labelled as a “survival” knife but in my opinion it is also a bushcraft knife, lengthwide and it term of ergonomy.

The rounded handle of an Opinel has always been some kind of issue for me. You gain in comfort what you lose in precision in your cut. For that I was always using my thumb on the blade to know exactly at what angle it was.
On the Vigtig you feel the knife is at ease in your palm. It is really confortable and oozes quality and strength in the tool. There are some heavy working vibes (like just said David of the KCI about the new Manix XL Crucarta.) ! This is mandatory for a compact tool you suppose to use for hours (as the Proficient for example which is hard to beat but feels more premium, less Blue Collar than the Vigtig. The Vigtig is perhaps not “excellent” here but at least very very good in ergos and eventually is even qualified as Super Knife by the Dutch Bushcraft Knives boys.


There is a sharp spine to use with fire rod near the tip of the blade. As the stock is 4mm thick it is not an issue with my left thumb confort. Those sharp edge can also be used to scrap the bark for various uses. I would have preferred a round spine for my own use as I push cuts wiuth my left hand’s thumb.

Now we got a True Scandi Grind. Not micro bevelled.
The Vigtig makes hair popping right out of the box.
Magnacut is known for its very very fine grain and strength and toughness.

It bites in wood like nothing matters and keeps its crispy edge.
Böker announced a HRC of 62-63. Its hard but tough !

If there is one thing the scandi sucks at is my Plastic Butt Bottle test.
Where a Nilakka or an Opinel will got through it with ease, scandi get stuck and this is pure geometry issue. Scandi acts like a wedge.

CPM Magnacut is also a leather stropping lover. It brings the same behavior of tool steel in a very very stainless alloy. Frankly this is a bushcrafter dream ! The edge is impervious to the elements and it is a easy going tool which can be used even near saltwater without after thought.

Especially because there is an hidden compartment inside the handle.
“A special highlight can be found inside the handle. Instead of hollow studs, the two large screws can be easily removed with the help of a coin, revealing an ample compartment with a depth of 14 mm compared to the outer dimensions of the handle, where tweezers, tinder, charcoal tablets, a fishing kit and safety pins, for example, can be easily accommodated.”

I will not use it. And certainly will secure the screws with some blue thread locker. But as least, if needed you can use the knife without its micarta scales and just use the hidden compartment. Rambo is never far away when we talk about survival knives.

My previous hardchore EDC fixed blade has been this 1095 fixed multitool. It is now replaced by the Vigtig as it is much sharper and with a much better alloy. Notice how convexed I had the old 1095, I won’t need that with the CPM Magnacut scandi edge as I got zero damage even when used on hard dry bamboo. Those compact robust fixed blades can do everything a big folder can do and much more ! The main difference is the obligation to clean the blade before to resheath it.

And another important thing to test in a fixed blade is the sheath ! The Vigitig sheath is also perfect in my book and provided with a clip to be used on a belt or in the pocket. The taco style kydex shape is my favorite as it is slimmer than the pancake style shape.

I carry the knife directly in my pocket where it is easily removed by thumb pushing the kydex lip of the sheath and replace in the sheath with one hand. The sheath’s entry is wide enough for repositionning the knife back in it with one hand. The clip is a little on the strong side for me and I like to easily dispatch a sheathed knife into a bag. So the sheath only without any hardware but its slim profile fits perfectly in my pocket against my wallet.
Inside the front pocket of my old denim, the Vigtig stays put and is immediately forgotten thanks to its perfect dimension for EDC.
Great sheath !

So, yes, really, it is designed to be a fixed blade EDC. It enters a territory forbidden to folding knives: to be ultra solid, robust and forgiving when used hard without compromising its carrying.
I’m really looking forward to use it in the forest and even I won’t mind using it by the sea ! The Vigtig could even be considered as an amphibious ambitious bushcrafter. For now it will be used in the house for mondane tasks as it is the best way to know it.

For those who consider Scandi not kitchen worthy… 😉
So far I have been able to use it with ease in the kitchen despite its 4mm thick stock blade. It zipped easily for thin loafs. Frabnkly for having using it in the kitchen, it works amazingly for such a short thick tool.

This is just a glimpse. I will certainly update that little review with new elements and pictures and make another chapter soon.
So, kuddos to David Wenger for this robust knife design and to Böker for bringing it at a great price.
The Vigtig is not a tool to destroy but a tool to build designed by a builder !

One video reviewer I really enjoy is Floriano Bitturini with his Vlog PDT Il Parchetto di Tagliagole . The Cutthroat Park.
Here is his video in Italian:

And here is a French video I really enjoyed too:

Review

C127GPRD SPYDERCO URBAN HEINNIE® EDITION – The S90 Urban UK Legal Wonder.

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Spyderco Urban, Squeak and UKPK family is one of the most addictive slipjoint proposition in the modern world. I have already written about them in this blog. The UKPK Salt is simply one of the best modern folder available nowadays. The Squeak is totally sheeple friendly and of course the Urban made for the city and to be carry everywhere but on the airlines.

Spyderco’s description:
“This Exclusive version of the Spyderco Urban™ was manufactured specifically for Heinnie Haynes (heinnie.com) and is available only through their sales channels.  Originally introduced in 2009 and later discontinued, the Urban remains a cult classic among devoted fans of Spyderco’s non-locking, one-hand-opening, clip-carried SLIPIT™ knives. This distinctive expression of it showcases a leaf-shaped blade crafted from premium CPM® S90V® particle metallurgy stainless steel. The PlainEdge™ blade is full-flat ground for exceptional edge geometry and is proudly laser engraved with the Heinnie Haynes logo.Not to be outdone, the handle of this knife features distinctive red G-10 scales with a non-slip peel-ply texture. They complement the jimping (textured grooves) on the blade’s thumb ramp and index-finger choil to ensure a positive grip and outstanding control during use. A reversible deep-pocket wire clip provides a choice of left or right-side tip-up carry, making every aspect of the design completely ambidextrous.”

This Red One is my third Urban. The first one was in K390, the second one was in AEBL and named Cappucino. All of them has been pushed out of my pocket because of the greatness of the UKPK Salt in LC200N.
Anyway they all have been great companion during my UK travels as they are totally legal: non locking under 3 inches blade (76mm)…
Eventually I have been looking for a G10 version with a full stainless steel back spacer and I have found the Heinnie Haynes exclusive version available on their site. It is not a cheap knife be aware of that but it oozes quality on paper and in the hand.

First thing first, this Urban got a CPM S90 V blade, the same found on the Proficient Bushcraft knife. S90V was known before as CPM420V and it is still one of Sal Glesser favorite steel ever to be produced by Crucible.

S90V is known for its incredible edge retention and in the last 25 years of using it, I can tell you this one can be a bear to resharpen. Diamonds are its best friends and even then it needs a lot of white ceramic time and stropping… Compared to non stainless super steel like Maxamet it can be really tedious to get really sharp. But one it is sharp, its working edge seems to stay forever on.
This is exactly the opposite of my previous experience with Cappucino my AEB-L Urban. This one was strong and a breeze to keep razor but it was back to butter knife level quick when used on abrasive matters like cardboard for example.
S90V eats brown cardboard for breakfast and it stays sharp for very long but is it tedious to put it back to a crispy razor edge.
That’s great when you need long lasting working knife on a trip when you have not planned to bring a sharpening stone for example and Sal trusts enough S90V to put that very alloy on all his own special Sprint Runs with CF Handle. I have never been disappointed by S90V and even on fixed blades or on the Manny folders it has always been a game changer in term of long lasting sharpness and is even better than CPM100V in my book.
S90V is also very stainless. Unless you want to use your knife in the ocean, it can handle some hard work in the forest without to be cleaned immediately.
It has been found that this S90V Urban got a little thinner blade 0.23 cm against 0.29 cm… The blade is also a little shorter than previous Urban bot nothing I have noticed in terms of utility.

This Urban has been made in Italy and in my own experience Maniago craftmanship has never been a bad surprise. Your mileage may vary but this is mine. I have been happy with my Spytalians !

G10 is not a current material on Urbans as FRN is everywhere and, better, the texture of this G10 is even more unique. I was first thinking to turned this knife into a pebble but, naah ! It is great as it is.
I have just adjust the feel by sanding it but all in all this is great high quality made handle and again kuddos to Maniago.
All Heinnie Haynes exclusive got that red treatement on the handle, this is their signature. And a G10 version got a longer steel backspace on the handle closing it.

Now about the action, this Urban has been the most hard to close of all my splipjoints ! It is really a positive point. I can still open it with quick movement of my wrist but the closing ask for some force which is really rare (even in Spyderco production, the first UKPK were chewing gums to quote Guillaume, Spyderco Fan Club moderator).
Strong spring, and no lock make it a great candidate for carrying a legal folder nowadays.

Now about geometry, Maniago desserves another kuddos ! As you can see on the picture above, I was able to split a bottle butt in a single pass with the factory edge. This is also rare ! Even my lovely Hellboy needed some thinning before to reach that level. This is thin geometry right out of the box !!
The short blade drop point makes it a great whittler and Spyderco knows how to make little big knife. The hump and the choil are transmitting your force’s cuts directly to the blade, sparing the handle, its axis and its mechanism. This is clever and Sal has been inspired by San Francisco Gambler’s knives. His first implementation of this “cockpit” has been 30 years ago on the C36 military. So choils/humps binome are clever and great for avoiding a non locking blade to close on your finger. This is a must have !

So here we got a legal folder with a non threatening blade, strong non locking spring, great geometry and stellar particule metallurgy steel.
What not to love in this wonderful Urban ?

You can cut a pizza in your plate and use it as a steak knife without raising any eyebrows. I use my knives in plates and I know how to avoid to get them dull on the plate ceramic. My mother in law is never putting a knife near my plate, this is how I can spot where I’m going to sit on her table eventually.

Also the Urban got the perfect size to be carry in A 501 watchpocket, and as you can see mine has been shredded by many aggressive G10 handles before massive sanding.

So I highly recommend this great exclusive little knife, again it is not cheap but quality is there from the tip to the clip.

Folders, Review

Spyderco Native Chief: HELLBOY 2 – The Kitchen Army

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Since the reception of my Chief Native I have found that he was a sole survivor from a Xmas Mystery Box bought in Spyderco’s plant in Golden in December.
In that box were different items and a rare Sprint Run Second Factory which was destined to end in my pocket and considered by myself IMHO as the perfect realisation of Sal and Eric ideas about pocket knives. In fact I think it is my favorite Spyderco ever.
I have written a first review here.
And now it is time for a second approach of Hellboy which has succeeded in kicking other knives from my pocket and quench my thirst for novelty.

So why ?

First the Native family feature an absence of hump on the blade making them very slick and beautiful.

Even the Shaman benefits from that.

The Chief is on the left and the Shaman on the right.

As you can notice the design of the Native Chief is really close to one of my favorite design: the AFCK.
Sal Glesser was no stranger in the Benchmade BM800 AFCK back in the 90’s. He helped Les De Asis founder of Benchmade on it. They had both learned how to make Michael Walker’s linerlocks at Bob Terzuola shop.
Both company were accelerating on the tactical lane in close formation.

As you can notice, my AFCKs (Advanced Folding Combat Knife) which was also designed by Chris Caracci a former Navy SEaL have been used a lot. The first version got a Spydiehole and the second version got an oval hole and an axislock.
This design was one of my favorite for a big folding knife as EDC.
And back then I was really in love with concept of tool highspeed steel on a modern plateform.

The same happend with that special Native Chief which got a very special alloy for its blade: CPM-4V.
With that steel, the edge is strong and the thin blade is very solid.
It gives a lot of confidence when cutting on a plate made of ceramic of glass. No chipping can happen.
Hellboy has been used a lot for cutting pies and cake on glass plates and the edge behavior was not disappointing. When I have noticed a little shiny spot, some white ceramic was able to put everything back on line but it was really minor.

Now CPM4V is not stainless. It will form a patina or, worst, rust very quick and easily when used in acidic matters like cutting lemons and being used on a salad with vinegar.
DLC coating is really welcome for that kind of behavior. Back in the 90’s Benchmade was offering only PVD coating which is really inferior to Diamond Like Coating. So far the blade of my Chief is not marked and scar by it various cutting tasks even when cutting.
My previous Chief was a naked Rex45 blade and it was another story told here.

Even strawberries can darken the edge of CPM 4V.

But cheese is a great way to notice how DLC is making the surface of the blade less sticky but more stinky.

The Chief was not always used on gentle medium like wood.

It was also used on plate with vinegar salsa. Here it is basamic vinegar from Modena.

In the kitchen the knife is really behaving like an paring knife. It is really handy on fruits and vegetables. Its very pointy blade is great to carve.
.The mechanism has never suffered from being wet and rinsed under water. The knife was smooth through and through its various wet works.

Now I like to have chamfered and smooth handles and blade spine. The Chief is known to be very square everywhere. The G10 has been easy to smooth with sandpaper used wet to avoid toxical dust.
Now the blade spine is DLC coated and it was my esthetic choice to remove the coating on all the length of its spine.

I love the result.

It has been done with some diamond rods.
Now the spine is much more confortable for my thumb in case of push cuts.

CPM 4V on that Native Chief platform is really the bread and butter for a strong thin folder. I’m not afraid to use hard on wood and plastic.
And it is a must in the kitchen various missions.
It has been also test on different hard wood and compared (geometry speaking) with many other knives I got.
One of my champion is the Swayback in term of smooth pushcuts.
But also the Wolfspyder and the Yojimbo.

My Chief needed more convexing and thinning to go to the level I was expecting. Again diamonds has been used handfree to remove the shoulder of the edge.
CPM 4V keeps a very very crispy edge and bites in the wood very aggressively.

CPM M4 is a stunning alloy which is prefered on fixed blade but it is a gem on a long and thin folder. It makes it super solid with a very permissive edge.

Quoting Larrin Thomas Phd:

Some will argue that toughness is not important in folders or fine slicing knives and feel that only edge retention matters in that case because they don’t use their knives in aggressive ways which are likely to lead to chipping. However, broken tips are still common on small knives and kitchen knives. And with higher toughness, the knives are better able to handle thin, low angle edges without chipping. And they can be heat treated to higher hardness to help prevent edge rolling and deformation, while still maintaining good toughness. This means that, indirectly, higher toughness can lead to better cutting performance because of the possibility of thinner edges.

The good news is that CPM Magnacut has been copied on CPM 4V behavior.

Folders, Review

Delica K390 with Lynch Titanium Scales – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing !

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I got the chance to get that customized Delica through Henri Ramsey, a Spydiefriend from the Facebook French Spyderco Fan Club.

The K390 Delica has always been a monster of pocket knife (click on the name to go to my old review of the Delica with buffed sprint alloy). The thin blade mixed with the super tool steel allow (K390) alloy has proven to be amazing for hardchore.
From their Seki Japan plant, Spyderco is producing many different K390 model, folders and fixed blades. The Stretch 2 being highly regarded as one of their best design.

The Blue Pingo has been made in Golden though.

So here you got an incredibly tough, strong and wear resistant blade on scales produced by Lynch. A typical Sal Glesser design: performance first !

But Lynchnw has taken that game to another league with their scale:

“A few years ago Casey put out a very limited run of the LynchNW MOD 1 Delica 4 and some scale sets. This is our newest Delica MOD 2 Titanium Scale Kit, modifying your choice of Delica 4 Knife with a set of Custom Titanium scales, featuring a forward finger choil, blade profiled scale holes, smooth bellied profile, a custom titanium back-spacer, enlarged lanyard hole, and a custom designed deep carry titanium clip. ” To quote Lynchnw.com site.”

What bring these new scales apart of adding titanium for the pure neo industrial look of it ?
It bring many things:

A finger choil. A real one.


A longer handle and your pinkie will thank you for that.


A slim package which is soft on your pocket trousers.


Seven holes which are showing the edge of your knife when it’s closed.

See how cute is it ?

So here we got a very friendly city pocket knife which is not screaming “I’m a sword from Hell !!” like my new beloved Hellboy Chief or this AFCK in M2.


It looks like a lady and gentleman knife.
But beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

This one share the same core engine as a Police 4: K390 at 65HRC in a thin geometry ! It is a Metropolice knife.





Review

Deadpool’s choice: the C244GRDBK Spyderco Native Chief in CPM 4V.

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This is my second Native Chief and this is a Factory Second bought in a Mystery Box of 2023:
“This limited-edition Exclusive version of the Native Chief™ was specially manufactured for St. Nick’s Knife Factory (stnicksknives.com) and is only offered through their sales channels.…
…Our Red & Black Holiday Sale starts December 1st at 9:00AM MST! This online-only event will feature deep discounts on select factory-second knives, two different Mystery Boxes containing seconds of special high-value models, Sprint Runs, and Exclusives.“
Red and Black ? This one was made to go in that Box ! 🙂


Which means it has some cosmetic flaw I was not able to spot.
The action is rock solid. I mean it is much more solid than my previous Chief the Mighty Rex45 Orange Sprint Run: the Joker.

I have heard that CPM Magnacut could be a stainless CPM 4V.
What I have heard through the years is how CPM 4V was tough and strong. The tougher used in Spyderco was CPM 3V used in the Tuff by Ed Schempp.
4V is used in cutting competition with CPM M4. It is tougher than A2 or D2 and tougher than M4.
What is avantage in a folder like the Chief ?
Simply look at the blade shape:

The Chief’s blade is more pointy than the PM2.
To quote Spyderco:
“This advanced alloy was specifically developed for demanding industrial applications requiring high degrees of both toughness and wear resistance. The PlainEdge™ blade is full-flat ground for a superior balance of strength, edge geometry, and point utility and features a stealthy black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating that also helps protect it from corrosion.”

Yes this is a good thing because with 5% of chromium, CPM 4V can rust.
DLC is really clearing one issue for this folder.
Actually there si some reminiscence of the Benchmade AFCK in M2HSS.
It was 25 years ago that this co-designed with Chris Caracci and Sal Glesser folder propose a rusting tool steel on a modern “tactical” folder.
And it also was protected under a black coating to prevent rust.

So ease in mind is a good point in a workhorse.
In the signature theme of St. Nick’s Exclusives, the linerless handle of this knife is constructed with vibrant red peel-ply-textured G-10 scales. To complement the blade’s low-profile DLC coating, the four-position pocket clip, lock bar, and all other handle hardware also have durable black coatings.


So what do we got with this Hellboy’s blade of choice ?
A long folder with no hump on its blade. Very slick !
A tough blade on a pointy design that you can use hard !
A very strong lock as Backlock are one of the stronger locks around.
Quoting Sal in my previous Chief review:
“Actually Eric and Tom went over this model with the engineers for quite a while before making the decision to make it liner-less. We’ve done a lot of experimenting lately and you can see a lot in the many different designs and options. It surprises me that some would think to make decisions on values without any experience. if we screwed it up, we’ll fix it, but we don’t screw up often considering the many envelopes we’re willing to push.”

Now that Spyderco is promoting a lightweight FRN version of the Chief in CPM Magnacut, this is good occasion to step back in time and enjoy this incredibly slick and tough piece of equipment of some years ago.

Now for my own adjustement, I have sand the G10 to a point my trouser will less suffer.


The edge is already deshouldered with diamond and now I will tune the edge to my suits as CPM 4V is not only tough it is also strong.

Also I have changed the classic clip for a deep carry cheap chinese clone.
And hope we go !

Edit: I’m back on the OEM black matte clip which gives me less knife into the pocket. Deep carry is not mandatory on this one.
The Chief needs to be proud to be red !

Review

The Amphibian Milestone in CPM Magnacut : the Paramillie 2 Salt has landed !

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The Amphibian Milestone in CPM Magnacut iq PARA MILITARY® 2 SALT® BLACK G-10 CPM MAGNACUT® BLACK BLADE – C81GMCBK2 which is much too long to fit in a title.

This is not my first Paramillie 2, I usually wear the 52100 carbon fiber version but I have used many many version in S90V, CPM Cruwear and S30V. The 52100 is actually the exact opposite of this new version.
Announced at the 2023 Amsterdam Minimeet, a Paramillie impervious to the element. Better: a nautical version ready to stand tall in frond of the salty waves of the ocean’s breakers.
Then the wait began.

And here it is, in all its glory !
Delivered with Larrin Thomas dreamlike alloy: the CPM Magnacut !
A steel which hits a lot of sweet spots. Like some sort of totally rustfree CPM M4: strong, resilient and able to withstand thin edges without chipping.
So why adding a DLC on that alloy ? Overkill can be fun, can’t it be ?

Here are 3 versions. The 52100, the CPM Cruwear and CPM Magnacut from right to left. Three excellences in their own way all designed by Sal and Eric Glesser.
CPM Magnacut is a story of love.
Quoting his metallurgist of designer:
“The carbide structure of MagnaCut is much finer than the common powder metallurgy stainless steels such as CPM-154, M390, Elmax, S35VN, etc. The only stainless PM steel I have imaged which is competitive in terms of carbide/nitride size is Vanax. MagnaCut is even somewhat finer than CPM-4V and Vanadis 4 Extra, the non-stainless steels that MagnaCut was modeled after. This is an excellent result and should lead to excellent properties.”

Quoting Spyderco:
“This tour-de-force expression of the Para Military 2 showcases a full-flat-ground blade crafted from CPM MagnaCut—a state-of-the-art particle metallurgy steel that offers an exceptional balance of edge retention, toughness, and superior corrosion resistance. Cloaked in a non-reflective Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating, the PlainEdge blade is housed in a handle featuring peel-ply-textured black G-10 scales machined with the signature Caribbean Bi-Directional Texture pattern of Spyderco’s US-made Salt Series knives. To complement its blade steel and finish, the knife’s nested stainless steel liners, four-position pocket clip, and all other hardware are also made from ultra- corrosion-resistant materials and black coated.”

That new Salty Paramillie is destined to be an amphibian workhorse, an hippocampus !!
All hardware is black coated but the stop pin which is silver and made of “fearlessly corrosion-resistant marine-grade materials“.
The handle (as efficient it is to be non slippery) is destined to be a pocket shredder as it is carved to be used with wet oily hands. Your trousers will suffer !!
Unless, like myself you are a compulsive user of sandpaper. And even then, it will be hard on pocket’s lips.

The Diamond Like Coating is not only protecting a blade which doesn’t need any protection, it gives a strong Mall Ninja vibe also.
Usually coating brings some king of lubrification to the matter separation. I’m not impressed so far, even on sausages.
The geometry is perfect on my PM Salty. Thin as a razor though.

One thing I had to change was the clip. It was replaced by a Flytanium Universal Titanium Clip which is short and deep carry.
Also I have moved the clip for a Tip Up carry which suit the Paramillie better in my book.

Of course de-shouldering the edge is the first step to convex that I do on new knives. Especially I have read that Magnacut loves leather stropping.

And this is true ! The edge turned quick into a über razor state.

It zipped through meat like a lightsaber into banta meat.

So now the game is on. The Salty Magnacut Paramillie is ready to kick all other knives from my pockets and be used on the long run.
Let see what this cutlery apogee era knife has to propose on the long run !

Advice

Choosing a knife for the city.

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You don’t need a reason to carry a knife.
Whatever they ask you, just lie or tell them what they want to hear.
In the woods or in the countryside carrying a knife, whatever your gender, is wise.
But in the city ?
You really think you will defend yourself with a knife ? Let’s forget about it. A chair, a stiletto shoe, an ashtray will be better defense tools if you know how to train your mind first. And be prepared mentally whatever your gender, is wise.
Knife is not the best tool to get away of trouble. It’s like playing with matches in a gaz tank. It’s used by madness and idiots to create horrors. So unless you want to be an idiot.
Since knives, cheap and ugly dull knives, are often used to hurt people. Worst, some people think knives has been used when they were not even in history.
An example ? When Lucheni, a madman, has stabbed the Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Geneva he did it with a file. “There was no blood on the file and the tip was broken off, which occurred when Lucheni threw it away. The file was so dull in appearance it was speculated that it had been deliberately selected because it would be less noticeable than a shiny knife, which would have given Lucheni away as he approached.”
So you want to carry a knife in the city. It’s your choice, your business. Nobody else business. Your freedom of choice. In those days where metal detectors are common and official journalists are scanned all over their body before filming some president from ten yards away, when policemen can search you with no good reason because of the state of emergency… you better carry something which is small and sheeple friendly.
Better: you should conform with the laws of your country.

Younger I felt some kind of thrills being an outlaw. My first knife even was a folding AF dagger from Gerber. Go figure ! But later, I have found it is more fun to be lawful and cleverly respect the rules, because it gives you the occasion to try new designs and new makers. Of course you can always carry a Swiss Army knife. I almost never do. It’s in my bag not in my pocket. Because since the 90’s I have fallen in love with clips. Clips are such a great way to avoid a pouch or a scabbard or anything used to say to the world: I carry a knife !! So the clip is mandatory for me. My last clipless knife has been slipping under my wallet and at the Airport it has been taken away from me. So no more clipless knife for me.

So, in the city, I need to follow the rules and I need a flat design clipped to a pocket’s lip. Again a thick Victorinox Swiss Champ is a no-no as is an rounded handle Opinel. Opinel are not for the city unless they are under N°8. And I want a slick design something easy in and easy out without telegraphing around I’m going to use it.
I love the Worker design from Sal Glesser , the very first clip it, which could be used without opening it completely the blade thanks to its false edge. Very clever.
In the city I want elegance. the object needs to be warm and tell a story. I’m not a predator, I carry a tool not a weapon. For the records, hammer, screwdrivers are much more lethal than any Perrin Lagriffe destined to wound and not kill. I like to be able to cut my food without using the dull silverware of restaurants. Because there is some places which are not fast food too. And even at the Macdonalds, using a sharp knife can help to share in two portions a single burger. But in restaurants nowadays it’s not common to find good steak knives. I always enjoyed bringing my own knife like my grandfather used to and that manner that my father hated so much. My father was carrying a switchblade for SD and then a La Griffe. He also used a small turtle shell slipjoint folder made in Nogent in his bag. The exact opposite of my way. Strange how generations go counter clockwise just to complete a full circle thinking they are re-inventing the wheel.

A knife, may it be a slipjoint of a locking folder, is a door for adventures. I often walk on the avenue of the Opera remembering Ernest Hemingway.
“He was a customer of the house Kindal, 33 avenue de l’Opéra, he used to go through the shop, after his purchases, to the Ritz, Place Vendôme. His Parisian triangle was the Harris Bar, Kindal then the bar of the Hotel Ritz. His deer stag handle locking folder, with blade, saw, bottle opener and corkscrew, was his daily companion, he even packed his tobacco and curated his pipe with it. The stag’s wood cracked at the end with time and the tobacco was constantly caught in the cracks, obliging him to clean his knife regularly, he had the idea to place an ivory knob, coming from one of his African hunts probably.
Many years after his death, Mrs. May Kindal, found Hemingway’s knife at the bottom of a drawer, left there for maintenance.
She had him reborn by Jacques Mongin, knifemaker and Meilleur Ouvrier de France.
Since then, the Hemingway knife is sold exclusively by the Kindal cutlery.” Translated from Kindal.

I remember the first time I have seen Ray Mears on the TV. He was walking in the beautiful English countryside and he used one of his elegant Woodlore fixed blade to cut some plant and give some stories. Wait a minute, this guy is walking in the UK and carries a fixed blade in his pocket. But as a black belt in Judo he won’t go in trouble with bushcraft knife anyway.

In the city, knives are making conversations. So it will leave your hands for those of a friend who want to see it. And you will be sitting in the sun drinking a cappucino. So the knife needs to be beautiful and smooth and not aggressive in any way because it can be display in public like smartphones and cameras.

I also need the knife to be out of the way, because I carry stuffs in my pockets or I got a messenger back and it happen sometimes: the knife get hooked to something and falls. So the clip and the way to carry it needs to be secure.
It needs to be very sharp also. And stays sharp. Because I’m not going to show my honing and sharpening skills in the street and a dull edge is dangerous for your finger. So, a good geometry and a good steel. A knife thought to be used not only to be displayed.

So here are some examples.

The Delica in its Knifecenter Special Edition is my actual companion. This one is so sharp it goes beyond my scale. HAP40 can be thinly honed, it’s a true razor. More can be found on it following that link:

In the very highest performances you also got Pekka Tuominen little Wonder Nilakka. You can click on its link. Again a little big knife with performance and ergos which change the game of current gentlemen folders.

The Michael Walker is a rare Gem and this Sprint run has proven how excellent it was as a skinner for very serious hunters.

In the Slip It territory the Urban is the perfect companion unless one hand operation is forbidden by the law. The steel of this one just does wonder and I’m thinking a lot about testing the new Police Model…

One of my old little city companion has been that little Tim Wegner Mouse II knife.

Spyderco has covered all the ground about small knives to carry by men or women. The Dragonfly is one of their pure example of acceptable locking Clip It.

My friends Xavier Conil and Laurent Monnier propose an elegant not threatening folder: le Pointu.

This knife got no clip and is not one hand opening but I have bought it in South Africa at the Good Hope Cape’s shop. This is my Southern souvenir. It has no vertical play and got a story to tell.

respecting the Danish law, the Pingo is one of the solutions for having a clipped knife with no opening hole.  The hole here is only a trademark.
There is a Sprint run with Elmax blade and Titanium handle, I often look with envious eyes…

This one is French, it’s JD’s folder a Sacha Thiel which will be reviewed soon. The blade can be open with a gentle flick helped by the thumb and the deep pocket clip makes it disappears.

So here my knives for the city. My Griptilians are too tactical. My small Sebenza has been lost. I could dig my drawers for more but I think you were able to catch my drift.
Here is a following up about choosing a 3 inches folder.