I’ve been an early adopter of the Chaparral. Nearly 13 years ago, I called it the “Extra Flat Companion”in my first review from 2012. Back then, the Chaparral was designed to serve as a platform to test different handle materials, while the Sage (another model “made in Taichung”) showcased various lock designs used in folders.
Twelve years later, Spyderco has introduced a major improvement to the Chap’s blade: their famous serrations. The brand is, of course, known for its Spyderhole, its clips, and… the performance of its serrated edges. Sal Glesser has long advocated the superior cutting performance of Spyderco’s sserrations. Scallops, moon quarters, and thin chisel geometry all work together to create the ultimate “matter separator,” making tough cutting tasks effortless.
Sal has refined his serrations into a recognized patterns and created the Spyderedge: “Spyderco’s two-step serration patterns consist of one large and two small serrations. The pattern increases the cutting edge’s surface area by up to 24%”. On the Chaparral, the serration are even better as they are rounded to avoid snagging when cutting. Those same enhanced serrations can be found on another serrated folder made in Taichung for Spyderco: the LC200N made Caribbean.
I’am not a serration’s fan. I prefer a short convexed blade like my Roadie XL to EDC but this is the opportunity to pocket a serrated knife designed to be low profile folder easily displayed in the middle of the sheeples.
The Chaparral is another Lil’ Big Knife in disguise. Go figure, his lock is equipped with an hidden pin which gives a lot of strength and stability. This improved backlock is also found on the Sage 4 but do not worry about vertical play.
Also the Chaparral’s blade is only 2 mm thick. A razor blade with serrations ? It should be interesting !
It even has teeth on its handle. The FRN scales feel almost like shark skin, which can be tough on pockets. My first step was to temporarily remove the pocket clip, then sand the scales to smooth them out.
The FRN doesn’t react as quickly as G10 when sanded. I still ended up with a slightly toothy handle, but it’s much more acceptable to me. Of course, this is a matter of personal taste — many users will appreciate the aggressive grip the pattern provides. I, however, prefer not to carry a pocket shredder anymore.
Lately, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy knives I can carry in my denim watch pocket. The Roadie XL, which I can now flick open with a wrist, is the king of that pocket and I use it hard despite its small size.
But this little “Tooth Faerie”, the Serrated Chaparral, also demands heavy use — and beware of its cutting power! Its steel, CTS-XHP, is known for being extremely reliable, even on thin edges. I’ve used it in many knives, including some Cold Steel Voyager XLs, and it never disappoints.
It will be very interesting to see how the Chaparral Light platform, equipped with a top-performance factory edge and an improved backlock, performs as a true workhorse — pushing the envelope of what the Chap’ can do. Spyderco has also just released a Slipit (non-locking) Chaparral, sold at nearly double the price of the FRN serrated version. Clearly, this one isn’t marketed as a “precious” collectible but as a pure performance tool. Spyderco has supercharged the Chaparral to be a user’s knife.
To summarize:
2 mm thick blade — this is thin !
Backlock enhanced with a hidden pin — zero vertical play !
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 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 !
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 !
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 !
I love my Spyderco mantra 2.
Great engineering, ergos and materials. An attention to details and a signature: Eric Glesser. He is a perfectionist and a clever one. But I do hate one thing: the trademark “little” hole. A place to catch grim and hard to clean on the field.
Why don’t you just print a circle instead to drill into the blade ? The trademark hole is even on my Spyderco fixed blades…
Anyway, the Des Horn was a first step. A second step is the ST0770CF.
I was in need of a “blind” folder. I mean a folder without any hole or thumbstub or disk.
The Real Steal Megalodon was on my list: with its beautiful lines like a Sukhoi 27, M390 steel….
But then the Zero Tolerance caught my eye through all its great reviews.
ZT knives were always synonym of heavy fat ground knives à la Strider. Not something I would enjoy as EDC.
Unless I start to follow a special project around the ZT0770in M390 and especially a version in CPM M4 (ended with 69 dollars of international shipping fees).
So I went to “La Coutelerie Tourangelle” famous for their good prices, great shipping fees (5.9 euros with tracking in France) and total absence of communication…. 😉 Just kidding, even if they are mute like a brick wall, they delivered a great service world wide.
The ZT0770CF got no name. Its blade is beadblasted. This is a user not a safe queen.
The assisted opening is strong and seems reliable. I have found some people were able to remove the spring easily and even order another bronze washer. But my idea was to have a spring making my flipping secure and complete.
Many times my flipping was not 100% on my Southard on my Domino…. and it was frustrating.
So no ball bearing on the ZT but a strong spring. Again if you don’t like it, you can remove it.
I love it.
It is positive and definitive. SCHLAKK !! It’s open.
Now if you don’t want to be noticed you can open it against your leg, halfway and with a gentle flick it is open.
All is silent.
Balance wise, the ZT is perfect: the Carbon Fibers handle is so light. There is a black spacer, beautiful and very scifi. But the point of balance is just behind the pivot ! Perfect.
The knife is “alive” in your hands.
The texture of the carbonfiber is smooth but matte. Just like my sanded G10 handles. There is enough blade to open the knife like a gentleman folder. It won’t jump from your hands, the spring is not “that” strong.
There is a detent you can also feel at the end of the blade course.
The action is smooth, enough smooth to have the gravity works fine when unlocked.
This is a beautiful knife with a great attention to details.
The liner lock is thick and nested. Easy to operate. The detent ball is visible. Everything is in place.
The jimping on the blade is not to aggressive. The jimping on the flipper is more aggressive but do not come in contact with finger once open.
The guard is very cleverly thought. The position of the pin and the jimping on the flipper. It’s a clockwork !
Closed or open, there is no hot spot on the ZT0770CF, all lines flush together: very impressive.
The pivot screw is beautiful and despite its exotic look just need a torx to be unscrew. You can rest your thumb on it, it works like my Calypso’s screw guard.
The CF handle is renforced by nested liners and despite being light the construction is very solid.
Ergos are great. I mean they suit my four fingers. I already loved on my Mantra how the flipper served as guard once the blade open. Here on the ZT the guard in integrated with flipper like on the Domino but more pronounced. I really love that configuration.
The ZT got a particular blade: high flat thinly ground with a kind of sheepfoot shape. It works.
You got some belly near the pivot and a straight edge near the point, something between a Spyderco Positron a stretch Cricket.
It cuts aggressively and pass my plastic bottle bottom with force and ease. Eventually I find the ZT’s blade is simply gorgeous, all in curves… The belly near the pivot will give a lot of power for pushcuts into wood.
I love Elmax since my Lionspy. I remember beating the crap out of it and it was really forgiving: no chipping and great sharpness.
Also I’m in love with a Squeak in Elmax with titanium handles for a year now and this pure little Italian wonder will be review soon.
Elmax is such a great knife steel. No chipping, edge stability, ease of maintaining. What not to love ?
The black clip is short but made for deep carry. This is a very low profil configuration which leave almost zero print. The knife can find a nest into the watch pocket too. We got here a very compact package and very light: a true EDC.
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