Tag Archives: Review

Folders, Review

PARA MILITARY® 2 LIGHTWEIGHT BROWN CPM 15V® SPRINT RUN® — Let there be light again !

3 Comments

There are knives that become products, and there are knives that become dialects.
The Spyderco Para Military 2 since its inception belongs firmly to the second category.

For sixteen years, the PM2 has occupied a rare position in the knife world: not merely respected, but culturally embedded. Made in Golden Colorado USA Earth, designed in the lineage of the original C36 Military model and its offspring the Paramilitary 1 from 2004, the Paramilitary 2 refined the formula into something more agile, more urban, more universally wearable.
Key improvements introduced in 2010 were:
Ergonomics: Thinner, refined G-10 handle.
Mechanism: New Bushing Pivot System for smoother action.
Clip: 4-position pocket spoon clip.
Blade: Slightly thinner blade profile with an elongated tip.
From there, the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 quickly established itself as a modern classic in the knife industry. It also became the most compelling ambassador for Spyderco’s in-house Compression Lock system, turning simple fidgeting into something unexpectedly addictive.

Its full-flat, leaf-shaped blade geometry delivers near-universal utility — a fine, precise tip paired with a confident, efficient cutting edge. In use, it feels less like compromise and more like calibration.

And then there is the ergonomics: that unmistakable Spyderco palm swell and forward choil, which transform hard tasks into something almost composed, almost effortless.

Even AI now generates imaginary PM2 variants — sometimes hilariously inaccurate ones with back locks — which says a lot about how deeply the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 has embedded itself into modern knife/EDC culture.

Because the PM2 was never just a tactical folder. It became the Porsche 911 of contemporary EDC: instantly recognizable across a room, endlessly reinterpreted, yet impossible to mistake for anything else but one of the Spyderco Millie family.

And yet, for all its success, the classic PM2 always carried a subtle contradiction.
It was a knife celebrated for everyday carry that still weighed like a “serious” tool. A tool which floats like a butterfly but sting like a bee.
So, the same process which turned its little brother Para3 G10 into Para3 Lightweight has been applied: get rid of G10 scales and bring the Fiber Renforced Resin / FRN !


The new Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight changes that entirely.

At roughly 76 grams, the PM2 LW does not feel like a trimmed-down PM2.
It feels like an entirely different interpretation of the design.
To put that into perspective, it is even 16 grams lighter than the Spyderco MicroJimbo — a knife already considered compact and featherweight by EDC standards.

Compared to the classic G-10 PM2, the difference becomes almost startling: 32 grams gone, dropping from 108 grams to just 76.
That is nearly a 30% reduction in weight.

Edge-wise, the blade-to-weight ratio is remarkable — and decisively in favour of the Spyderco Paramilitary 2. 😉
Oh well, I’m joking — these two knives were never meant to compete.
They simply occupy different territories of utility, and both earn their place in my pocket for different reasons.
Still, this new Lightweight feels like the moment Spyderco finally allowed the PM2 to become what it was always destined to be: not merely lighter, but almost spectral. The Para3 LW vibes haves been compared to the Delica. The PM2 got the Endura’s: a ghost of a knife you completely forget is clipped to your pocket… until the exact second you need it.
Another clue?
The clip.
Look closely.

The deep-carry clip makes the knife feel even stealthier in the pocket, almost invisible in daily carry.
Tip-up only, though.
It’s not exactly a pocket shredder, but it’s not the gentlest on pocket seams either — even if the clip geometry and FRN patterning have clearly been tuned to make deployment and carry as smooth as possible.

In my view, the central “medallion” on the Spyderco Para 3 (pictured here) feels more refined and better resolved visually. It has a cleaner, more intentional integration into the design.

Here, on the PM2, it simply reads “Para Military 2” — which feels oddly understated. Curiously, the Spyderco name itself is nowhere to be found on that element, a surprising omission for such an iconic model.

But then again, this is exactly the kind of detail enthusiasts obsess over.

Personally, I prefer the FRN molding of the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight in the epicenter of the pattern — it feels slightly more refined and cohesive. On the other hand, I find the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight superior around the Compression Lock interface and the access to the Spyderhole, both of which feel more open, more natural, and ultimately more satisfying in use.

The handle transformation comes primarily through the FRN handle — fiberglass reinforced nylon — a material longtime knife enthusiasts still love to debate with almost religious intensity. Traditionalists often associate premium folders with layered G-10, titanium, or carbon fiber. FRN, by comparison, can seem almost too practical, too honest about its intentions. Forums discussions around Spyderco’s lightweight models reveal the familiar divide: some users still perceive FRN as less luxurious, while others praise its traction, comfort, and remarkable reduction in carry fatigue.
One thing is certain: FRN brings a significant leap in ergonomics.

You can see how the design has been subtly refined to erase the boxy, almost overbuilt feel of the G-10 version.
Spyderco’s history with FRN stretches back through legendary lightweight models like the Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Endura and the Spyderco Salt Series — knives that became icons precisely because they vanished into the pocket while remaining utterly dependable in dirty, wet, unforgiving environments.
The people at Golden has spent decades refining FRN into something uniquely their own. On a Spyderco, FRN is not budget plastic. It is engineered utility.
The texture, invented by Sal Glesser, is the key.

That bidirectional pattern grips the hand with a kind of mechanical confidence — less refined than blasted titanium perhaps, but more secure when life becomes sweaty, cold, rushed, or imperfect.

What makes the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight genuinely fascinating is not merely its weight reduction, but the engineering compromise Spyderco somehow refused to make.
Because removing mass from a back lock or liner lock is relatively straightforward.
Removing mass from a Compression Lock platform is something else entirely.
The Compression Lock is one of the defining mechanical signatures of Spyderco — a brilliantly elegant system designed by Sal Glesser that combines strength, fluidity and one-handed safety with an almost addictive tactile character. But unlike simpler locking systems, it traditionally depends on nested steel liners and a rigid chassis architecture.

In other words: it was never meant to live inside an ultralight FRN body.
That is the hidden tour de force of the PM2 Lightweight.

Spyderco did not simply shave material away from the classic design. They had to rethink how the Compression Lock itself could survive — and still feel reassuringly precise — inside a platform whose entire philosophy is flexibility, lightness and minimal structure.

FRN has a very different mechanical behavior from G-10.
It flexes differently. Resonates differently. Carries load differently.
The scale’s edges can feel a touch sharp/aggressive out of the box, but I usually knock the initial bite down slightly with my thumbnail.
Not a big deal.

And yet, in hand, the PM2 LW still delivers that familiar Compression Lock experience: the sharp metallic click, the secure lockup, the controlled drop-shut feel, the confidence under pressure. The knife retains the mechanical identity of a “real” PM2 despite having shed nearly a third of its weight.

That balance is far harder to achieve than most users realize.

Too much liner removal, and the knife begins to feel hollow or vague.
Too much FRN flex, and the lock loses its aura of precision.
Too much steel reinforcement, and the entire Lightweight philosophy collapses under its own contradiction.

Spyderco somehow threaded the needle.
In hand, the result is fascinating because the PM2 LW does not feel cheap, nor stripped-down. It feels optimized — almost industrially purified. As though the designers kept asking themselves a brutal question:
“How little knife can we leave… before it stops feeling like a PM2?”
And the answer, apparently, was 76 grams.

So who, exactly, is this new Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight really made for?
Not the collector seeking desk-jewel materials.
Not the enthusiast who wants maximal heft and polished mechanical theater.
This PM2 is for people who actually carry a knife every day and do not want to feel it in their pocket. Like a ghost… a spirit.
For the light traveler, moving through the world in technical fabrics and ultralight luggage — absolutely yes. The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight is exactly on point.
For the architect, photographer, paramedic, cyclist, climber, sailor, or city commuter who notices every unnecessary gram.
For those in the field where every gram really matters — soldiers, paratroopers, operators, and anyone carrying their world on their person — the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight makes immediate sense.
For the those who slips a knife into athletic shorts and forgets it exists until the moment it is needed.
And when needed, the action remains fluid , smooth and effortless, while the absence of heft is almost disorienting at first. This is where the name Lightweight stops being a designation and becomes an identity — carried here to its purest, most unapologetic expression.
Yes—there is something almost pure in handling this Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight, something slightly disorienting in its lightness. Almost paradoxical.
Elegant, refined, stripped to essentials — and yet fully present in the hand.
It doesn’t try to impress through mass or presence anymore. Instead, it disappears, and that absence becomes the experience itself.
As the late Mark Hollis (*) once suggested, “Only silence is more beautiful than music…” and in a strange way, that idea translates surprisingly well here.
This almost weightless refinement might be the closest thing cutlery has to silence: a design so resolved it no longer insists on its own existence, only its function.

The genius of the Lightweight is psychological as much as physical. A heavy knife asks for commitment. A 76 grams PM2 becomes invisible — and invisibility is the highest achievement in EDC design.

Ironically, reducing the weight also sharpens the very essence of the PM2 itself. The famous blade suddenly feels more dominant, more alive. Several early owners have described the sensation as though “all the weight is in the blade,” giving the knife a startling immediacy in hand.

Pictured beside a 120-gram Spyderco Military 2, the contrast becomes almost absurd.
Of course, the Lightweight will not seduce everyone.

Some users will always prefer the denser, almost bank-vault solidity of G-10 scales and full steel liners. Others simply enjoy the tactile indulgence of heavier materials. (I once installed Flytanium bronze scales on a Spyderco Para 3. The result was magnificent — and roughly as subtle as carrying a ship anchor.)

And that is perfectly fair, because the classic G-10 Spyderco Paramilitary 2 remains one of the greatest production folders ever created.

But the Lightweight introduces something unexpectedly contemporary to the platform: efficiency without compromise.

This particular example happens to be a Sprint Run equipped with CPM 15V — a truly high-octane alloy. Yet the steel is almost secondary to the broader philosophy behind the knife. Much like the celebrated 15V Para 3 Lightweight before it, this PM2 LW pairs one of the most extreme high-performance steels available with an astonishingly light 76-gram platform.


The CPM 15V Sprint Run is the enthusiast’s reading of the idea — a limited-production exercise in maximum performance taken to its logical edge. 15V itself borders on the extreme in the best possible way. With an unusually high vanadium content of nearly 15%, it was developed for exceptional wear resistance and outstanding edge retention. In Spyderco’s implementation, it is further elevated by Shawn Houston’s specialised heat treatment, identifiable by the discreet “Triple B” mark engraved on the blade.

The beautifully stonewashed blade arrives with an edge that is immediately convincing — thin, precise, and unmistakably sharp straight out of the box. In my experience, it may well be one of the finest factory edges Spyderco has ever delivered. Hair-popping performance is effortless, almost casual, and geometrically speaking, even the informal “bottle” or light push-cut tests feel almost trivial. Much better than on my Para 3.

Oh well, the exotic steel may attract the headlines.
(As a bit of a steel enthusiast, CTS-BD1N on the “vanilla” Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight doesn’t really excite me — it’s solid, reliable, easy to keep razor sharp, forgiving but uninspiring. I wouldn’t seek it out like I would CPM Cruwear steel, but I’d never pass on a great design just because of it.)

But the real story lies elsewhere: the revelation that one of the most iconic hard-use folders ever produced can suddenly feel almost effortless, friction less… pure.

Not diminished.
Distilled.
Purified.
And distillation brings spirit.
Spirit is light.
And this purity is no lie.

Disclaimer: This knife has been provided through Spyderco’s Ambassador Program, upon my own request. Thank you to the Spyderpeople for letting me review it. 

(*) For a musician and singer, Mark Hollis is unusually interested in silence, in what could be described as the gaps and intervals between notes. To listen to Spirt of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock(1991), the last two albums by Talk Talk, the band of which he was singer and principal songwriter for more than a decade, is to encounter a music of fragments and dissolution, his murmured vocals often simply fading away as a song does not so much end as expire.

Fixed Blade, Review

Pekka Tuominen – The Master of the Boreal Blade

Leave a comment


It was upon receiving one of my friend Jur’s knives — a superb hunting knife by Pekka Tuominen dating from 2012, forged in Silversteel and fitted with a handle incorporating walrus ivory — that I felt compelled to turn my attention back to Pekka Tuominen.

People often ask me: who is Pekka?

Consider this, then, a renewed portrait.
Because in Finland, a knife is never just a knife.

And the snow is never just the snow.

In the deep boreal forests where autumn means moose season and winter hardens the earth into something resembling iron, blades are not judged under showroom lights but against bone, sinew, cold, and time. It is in this demanding landscape that Pekka Tuominen has built his reputation — quietly, methodically, without spectacle.

He is not a factory. He is not a brand machine inflated by marketing departments and limited drops. He is a craftsman in the most literal sense of the word. And among serious Nordic hunters, his name circulates with a particular, understated respect.
Pekka’s relationship with knives began before memory. His grandfather, a part-time blacksmith, forged blades; his father worked as a carpenter. He received his first knife before the age of five. For him, the object was never exotic — it was elemental.


As a teenager immersed in scouting and outdoor life, he reached a simple conclusion about survival: the most important tool in the wilderness is a knife. Naturally, in Finland, that meant a puukko. At eighteen, he studied in Inari, in northern Lapland, training as a wilderness guide. There, he learned the fundamentals of puukko making. That period marked the true beginning of his craft.
A decisive intellectual influence came earlier, when he first read Sakari Palsi’s 1955 book Puukko. The text, he recalls, opened his eyes. It clarified what truly defines a puukko — not ornament, not material excess, but proportion and line.
For Pekka, a knife unites tool, design, and art in a single object. He cannot imagine life without one.
I have written a long review here about it.

Ask him to describe his ideal puukko — as a user rather than a maker — and he returns to simplicity. A blade of approximately 90 millimeters, paired with a 110 millimeter handle. Dimensions rooted in tradition, refined by use. Multipurpose, balanced, restrained.

He appreciates steels such as 115CrV3, often referred to as Silversteel, RWL34, and 52100. Yet he insists on a hierarchy that reveals the seriousness of his approach: the steel matters, but heat treatment matters more.

He is no rigid purist. One of his own heavily used test knives pairs stabilized black ash burl with a CPM S30V blade. He admits to having “wrongly” used it — and to grinding it down repeatedly as a result. For Tuominen, a knife that remains pristine has not yet fulfilled its purpose.

In an age of aggressive silhouettes and theatrical grinds, Tuominen defends restraint. A true puukko is defined by a relatively short, straightforward blade; a handle without finger guards; no exaggerated pommel; and clean, continuous lines that flow from tip to sheath.

He favors birch bark for its warmth and grip, but also works with curly birch and Micarta. His sheaths are hand-stitched, typically from vegetable-tanned leather. He admires traditional Finnish patterns — Tommi, Pekanpää, Kokemäen — whose differences lie more in decoration than in structure. The essential design language remains consistent across regions.

“The material does not make a puukko,” he says. “The design does.”

In Finland, the word puukkoseppä carries weight. It does not describe someone who merely grinds blades. It denotes a professional who forges, heat treats, shapes, finishes, and sews — who understands the knife as a complete entity.

Tuominen forges Silversteel and 52100, as well as his own Damascus from 15N20 and 1090. Stainless steels such as RWL34 are ground rather than forged. In every case, he performs the heat treatment himself.

This decision is not romanticism. It is control.

Heat treatment determines hardness, toughness, edge retention, resistance to chipping, sharpening behavior — in short, character. By managing austenitizing temperatures, quench timing, temper cycles, and when appropriate cryogenic steps, he tunes each blade for hunting reality rather than laboratory extremity. He does not chase maximum HRC for marketing appeal. He pursues balance.

The difference is felt not in specifications but in seasons.

One Finnish hunter wrote on a forum, after two moose seasons with his knife, that he had done nothing more than strop it. A Swedish outdoorsman described the sharpening behavior as clean and predictable, “no surprises.” The praise is never flamboyant. It is consistent. Stability, reliability, endurance.

While many outside Scandinavia associate Finnish craft primarily with the puukko, Tuominen’s strongest following among experienced outdoorsmen is tied to his dedicated hunting knives. These are not nostalgic reinterpretations of folklore. They are instruments designed for skinning and field dressing large game in cold climates.

Their geometry avoids ego. Clean drop points, disciplined grinds, carefully judged balance. No theatrical belly, no tactical posturing. In hand, they feel neutral — and that neutrality becomes invaluable during extended work. Fatigue diminishes. Control increases.

In sub-zero conditions, poorly treated steel reveals itself quickly. Edges chip, roll, or turn brittle. Tuominen’s blades are repeatedly described as stable. It is a modest word, but in the field it is decisive.

Finland formalizes its craft traditions through national qualifications overseen by the Ministry of Education. Tuominen earned the title puukkoseppämestari, Master Blade Smith, after passing rigorous examinations and presenting a master’s work to a jury. At the time of his certification, only seven craftsmen in the country held that distinction.

Today, knife making occupies the vast majority of his time. His waiting list extends roughly a year. Collaborations, including work with Spyderco, have broadened his international presence. Yet when asked about ambition, his answer remains almost disarmingly modest: he wants to become a better knife maker.

He considers craftsmanship a lifelong education — one in which imperfections are not failures but invitations to improve.

In a global knife culture increasingly captivated by spectacle, Pekka Tuominen’s work stands apart for its restraint. He works alone. He grinds, heat treats, shapes, and stitches himself. From blade to sheath, the knife remains under one set of hands.

He often summarizes his philosophy with a line that sounds simple enough: a simple man makes simple knives.

In Finland, however, simplicity is never simplistic. It is discipline. It is proportion. It is respect for the task at hand.

And in the forest, that is what endures.

Pekka’s site: https://pekkatck.fi

More articles about Pekka: HERE

Folders, Review

Spyderco Edgerati – The Power and The Passion.

6 Comments

Disclaimer: this a first glimpse at the Edgerati provided through the Ambassador’s Program.

Sal Glesser is an inventor driven by passion. His love for performance in general, high-performance sports cars, and sailing races is reflected in every one of his creations.

His knives are known for their radical aesthetics and their uncompromising performance, always respecting the fundamental purpose of an edged tool. He is also recognized for taking his time, developing and testing numerous prototypes before releasing a new design.

For this knife, his inspiration comes from the world of sports cars—more precisely from the legendary Maserati Birdcage.

Masten Gregory deftly guides his British Racing Partnership 19 (#953) through The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca during the 1962 Pacific Grand Prix. Dan Gurney and Lloyd Ruby each won one of the weekendÕs two heats in other 19s, but overall honors fell to Roger PenskeÕs Zerex Cooper. Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Produced between 1959 and 1961 for privateers competing in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Birdcage was available in 2-litre and 3-litre configurations. Its name came from its revolutionary tubular space-frame chassis, made of roughly 200 chrome-moly steel tubes welded together in triangular formations at high-stress points. This construction method resulted in a chassis that was both lighter and significantly more rigid than anything else on the grid at the time.

Why not apply this design philosophy—and this obsession with performance—to a knife?

This is not Sal’s first attempt at creating an ultra-light, all-metal folding knife. I remember his “R” model, for instance.

I was never a real fan of the approach that consists of punching a spider-web of holes through both the handle and the blade. I understood the intention, the démarche, but as a user, it never convinced me. All those holes meant a knife that was constantly dirty, always in need of rinsing and cleaning… and, well, not my cup of tea.

So you can imagine my skepticism when the Edgerati was first revealed. The steel itself was not some exotic new alloy, and the handle seemed to scream: wash me under the tap and rinse me after every use.

I was wrong.

The moment I first held the Edgerati changed everything. At least two people—Mason and Robin—insisted that it was something you had to experience in hand. They were absolutely right. The knife is incredibly light, yet somehow feels substantial at the same time. My first impression was purely tactile. That beautiful clip point blade and those great ergos, the Edgerati is a bold move.

Because its handle is not thin, but thick enough to feel genuinely comfortable and secure for hard chores. That was the first excellent surprise: how this Birdcage homage actually translates into ergonomics. The aluminium feels warm under the fingers, and the triangular cut-outs provide excellent grip and retention.

The thick handle, combined with the complete absence of hot spots, makes it perfectly suited for hard use. Kudos to Sal—this is the work of someone who knows how to design a true tool, not just eye candy.

The action is smooth, with zero blade play. It feels extremely solid—reassuringly so.
On closer inspection, the Edgerati could almost be described as a Shaman stripped down and laid bare. The two knives share the same overall profile, down to the last screw.

(screenshot taken from CRBx video “Spyderco EDGERATI: Shaman in SEXY lace?”)

Spotted on Reddit: birds of a feather flock together—and it turns out there’s even the possibility of swapping blades with a Shaman (thanks to Armand for the heads-up).

I have asked to Golden.
— Imagine a Shaman Magnacut blade on that handle ?
— I have to admit. I’ve done the swap. The thicker blade stock on the Shaman throws off the balance, and the detents are not a perfect 1:1
It’s possible to flip the blade out, just with holding the handles and flicking your wrist. The Edgerati blade in Shaman scales is a nice treat though. Unfortunately, the Shaman in the Edgerati frame doesn’t work nearly as well.

So, you are warned.


And yes, we also get the rare opportunity to see now inside the “engine” of the knife. One major advantage is the ability to fully clean it after dirty or demanding tasks. The Compression Lock remains a small masterpiece of engineering and operates with real authority. The spine of the handle, if I may put it that way, truly feels like an aircraft carrier for the hand—broad, stable, and extremely reassuring.

Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder, but this is undeniably a beautiful knife once you get used to that “Eiffel Tower’s effect”. The pictures speak for themselves. It does not project “tactical” vibes; instead, it feels like a refined, high-tech engineer’s cutting tool. I can easily see it appealing to hikers who carefully count every gram they carry. Its versatility could also attract cyberpolice officers, climate change firefighters, alien hunters—and even starship troopers, for whom weight savings are critical, like astronauts. That may explain why it is also available in a full-black, partially serrated configuration. It is a toolish delicacy. A very capable solid reliable lightweight tool. Very very light and powerful !!

Aluminium (and its lightness and its structural resistance) is very much in fashion in 2025. Apple, for instance, uses aluminium chassis on their iPhones 17 Pro because aluminium is light, solid, rust free and an excellent thermal conductor. Coated aluminium, however, is also known for scratching easily. It willmark over time, and the pristine, “brand-new” look of the Edgerati’s handle is clearly not meant to last. Instead, the knife will develop what I would call a “war patina”—the visible proof of use. The Edgerati will become personalized quickly, for better or worse. Sanding the handle might eventually help even things out, but scratches are inevitable if that kind of wear bothers you.

If there is one aspect I am not entirely happy with so far, it is the pocket clip. It’s the same heavy-duty style clip found on models like the Shaman, the Tenacious or the Lil’ Temperance. This means the knife sits proud in the pocket, and replacing the clip with a third-party option is not straightforward. On my sample it is also not particularly easy to slide in and out of the pocket. I’ll see later how—or if—I can improve this by slightly bending it.

All in all, I genuinely thought the Edgerati would be a collector’s piece—a “safe queen,” and therefore not really my thing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Edgerati is a user, through and through: an ultra-light, ultra-solid tool with a genuinely utilitarian blade in CPM S30V, heat-treated by Golden.
It is very hard not to fall in love with such a unique knife, once you hold it in your hands, especially if you already love its heavyweight brother: the Shaman.
But this Edgerati is a KWEMRP (click on it for the Part 2 of the review and discover what a KWEMRP is in reality…) !

“The Shaman design began a long time ago. It took several years to complete and refine the design before I was satisfied. Then the “Bodacious” and “Edgerati” variants were designed to serve what I thought might be requested.“
Sal Glesser

“Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Oh-oh, the temper of the time
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you’ve got to take the hardest line”
Midnight Oil.

Edge’s up !

Advice, Folders, Review

MIKE READ PITS™ 2 – C269TIP – Part 2 – Low Profile De Luxe SlipIt.

Leave a comment

Digression: Did you think we were born in peaceful times?

In Western Europe today, amid increasing concerns over violence and insecurity, carrying a fixed blade — something I’ve done for decades with a short fixed blade — or even a locking folder can easily be misinterpreted.

And every single day, in the fall of 2025, the European newspapers report yet another knife attack or crime.

Knife attacks in the United Kingdom have shown a persistent and worrying upward trend in recent years. National data indicate that police recorded just over 53,000 knife‑enabled offences in the latest annual cycle, with assaults and robberies accounting for a substantial portion. While knife-related homicides represent a small percentage of overall offences, the absolute numbers remain high, with young people disproportionately affected. Offences involving the possession of bladed weapons have also risen, highlighting broader issues of accessibility and carrying habits in urban areas. Compared to a decade ago, knife-related violence has increased significantly.

(From a locking folder to slipjoint folder…. Sign of the times ?)

Most knife crimes in the UK use everyday knives like kitchen knives, because they’re cheap and easy to access. But a significant minority of attacks involve more “exotic” or dangerous blades: like machetes !

In Germany, some state-level police offices estimated more than 21,000 knife attacks in 2022, which corresponds to about 60 knife attacks per day nationally.

In France, knife attacks also remain a major concern, with more than ten thousand recorded assaults involving bladed weapons in the most recent year across areas policed by the national force alone. This figure corresponds to roughly a few dozen attacks per day and does not include all regions or the gendarmerie’s jurisdiction. Schools in the Paris region reported over a hundred knife-related incidents within a year, highlighting a sharp increase in youth involvement and the normalization of carrying knives. Broader national indicators show rising attempted homicides and a high proportion of armed robberies committed with knives, underscoring the central role of bladed weapons in everyday violence.
French law places certain knives (e.g., automatic opening, butterfly/balisong knives, fixed-blades over a certain size, double-edged blades) into stricter categories (Category D weapons) when carried without legitimate reason. Folding pocket-knives of everyday use (e.g., classic French models) are more tolerated — they may be treated as tools rather than weapons if not used aggressively or carried without justification.

CountryEstimated Knife-Crime / Knife-Attack Rate (per 100,000)
England & Wales (UK)~89 / 100,000 (using ~55,008 knife-enabled offences and a population of ~61.8 M)
France~15 / 100,000 (based on ~10,397 reported “knife attacks” and a population of ~68.6 M)
Germany~10.7 / 100,000 (using ~8,951 knife-attack figure from 2023 data)



In the UK, the rules are straightforward: a non-locking knife with a blade under 3 inches.
But now it seems that one-hand-operated folders are no longer welcome;
For the record, one-hand operation is actually safer: not only for opening, but also for closing the knife. A closed folder is a safe folder, and being able to switch your tool into “safe mode” quickly is a genuine advantage.

In France, things are far murkier — everything hinges on intention and context of use. It’s almost a Minority Report situation.

Ironically, in the country of Opinel and Laguiole, we’re now backpedaling because of sheer stupidity. And I’m not blaming the criminals who use knives to hurt people — that’s obvious. I’m blaming the people who carry a knife for self‑defense.
After a search from the Police in front of an high school:
“Why do you bring this knife to school ?”
“To defend myself !”
A knife is not a self‑defense tool — it’s a catalyst for problems.
Awareness, on the other hand, is a self‑defense tool, and that’s something you really need to keep sharp.
Even something as simple as wearing AirPods can compromise your ability to stay safe, cutting you off from your surroundings.

Unless you’re a gangster settling scores with your own kin, a knife will never be your bodyguard — not even with training.
In fact, it can make things worse, especially if you think you’re “trained in knife fighting.” A knife as a weapon is a killer’s tool, meant for ambush and combat, not for duels.

(The only blade that might actually “help” you — for example in an attempted‑rape situation where you are physically overwhelmed, dominated, and restrained — is also the one that will almost certainly land you in even more trouble afterward. And if you ever reached that true last‑ditch moment, your best hope would ironically be a short serrated edge rather than a razor edge; under an adrenaline surge, an aggressor won’t even register a clean cut. The Spyderco Manbug Wharncliffe SpyderEdge comes to mind.
But even then, you would need the mindset to become the aggressor just to survive — and you must be prepared to defend your actions in court afterward.)

I remember reading about an elderly man who was being harassed by a gang of young men. In the confrontation, he slashed the hand of one of his aggressors with his Swiss Army Knife — and in the end, he was the one standing before the judges.
“To claim self‑defense, sir, there must be proportionality between the attack and the response.”

“It’s also a mindset.
I’ve carried a knife since I was 9 and have never had the inclination to cut or stab someone.
It’s all about how you have been raised.”
Des Horn

So let’s remain ladies and gentlemen, and let’s be low profile in our EDC choices.
The knives we carry and appreciate are not pocket bodyguards — they’re tools we genuinely enjoy using for simple, everyday tasks.

Enter the Alien/PITS2 and the whole generation of modern slipjoints.

Carrying a knife in today’s civilian world means opening parcels, prepping food, cooking, doing small repairs — being a handyman or -woman, or at least trying to be. I’ve written before about the modern slipjoints we now have access to: knives that benefit from three decades of “tactical” evolution. They offer deep-carry clips, true one-hand opening and closing, and high-performance steels refined for modern cutlery.

All of that is perfectly embodied in Spyderco’s SlipIt line.



So why would you choose a Mike Read folder? Is it better than a UKPK or an Urban?
Nope. The SlipIt flagship UKPK, for example, also has a thin edge, and you can even dress it up with titanium scales if you feel like it. Its mechanism is also stiffer, with a two-stage closing “safety” that makes the blade feel more controlled on the way down.

So why choose the PITS2?
It ultimately comes down to taste — your willingness to spend a bit more, your appreciation for the mechanism, the maker behind it, and of course a love for titanium and M398.

So what does the Alien/PITS2 truly bring in the long run?

In my case, I was genuinely surprised by how this “hard-to-open-one-handed” knife has grown on me.
That stiffness actually makes it reassuring to carry — you know the blade won’t pop open by accident. Especially when you carry it in the back right pocket.

First: it slides in and out of the pocket effortlessly.
That deep-carry clip is a real asset. It reminds me of the C181GTIP Lil’ Lionspy — also made in Maniago — but this one is even better than a wire clip: smooth, secure, and gentle on pockets.

Even though it’s light, the PITS2 feels dense and substantial in the hand. If you love titanium, you immediately recognise that warm, almost organic sensation it gives in the palm. Chris Reeve was the first to offer that pure‑titanium tactile experience, and the PITS2 carries that same aura.

Then your thumb finds the hole. It’s stiffer than most Spydercos I know, but that final click when fully opened is immensely satisfying. Forget about using your ring finger — it’s your thumb or nothing.

The hole is sharp enough to allow a “Spyder‑Drop,” though it occurs in two deliberate steps rather than one smooth motion.

Another major advantage: the PITS2 cannot pinch your fingers during opening or closing — a problem that the PITS1 sometimes had.

And, as I mentioned in the quick first‑look, that relatively tall blade comes with very thin geometry. This is the first Spyderco edge in a very long time—aside from my Chaparrals—that didn’t need to be convexed. I usually “de‑shoulder” everything to my taste and to my standard test: the plastic bottle butt.

This is where the PITS2 truly shines: pure cutting performance.
So far, it has never disappointed me. At first, I thought its more “gentle” blade tip wouldn’t be pointy enough for my tastes—especially since I’m used to the UKPK, Yojimbo 2 or the Microjimbo—but the PITS2’s tip is razor‑keen. It finds its way into soft or dense materials with nothing more than a light, controlled pass.

Actually, butter knives do not need to be sharp. 😉
The PITS2’s thin edge can slip effortlessly through delicate materials—like slicing a layered birthday cake without crushing it. And it can zip through cherry tomatoes, which is always a great test of geometry and edge aggressiveness. Tomato skin resists, tomato flesh is fragile; a good blade needs to pierce the first without mangling the second.

Well, well, well… go figure: tomatoes can be tricky — and a perfect opportunity to put your favorite edge to the test.
But honestly, what more could you ask for from a good EDC, superb slicing ability. A sharp knife is a safe knife.


M398 in that matter continues to surprise me. It reacts to leather like… K390 ! Amazing steel !
I’ve already used M398 on the Roadie XL and the Metropolitan, and it proved far more forgiving than I expected. I initially thought it would be brittle — especially after snapping about half a millimeter off the tip of my Roadie XL — but in everyday use it has shown itself to be an excellent alloy that also responds beautifully to stropping.


After some real use, I still haven’t managed to chip or even noticeably dull the PITS2’s thin edge. What’s remarkable is that it’s still as razor-sharp as it was right out of the box.


I also love how easy it is to check, clean, and oil the PITS2.
I can appreciate how skeletonized hidden liners have added lightness and strength to folding knives, but they also tend to become little nests for rust. For that reason, I really appreciate it when liners are DLC‑coated — and even better when they’re made of titanium.

Regarding the PITS2’s titanium handle, the absence of hotspots and the beautifully beveled edges make it a real pleasure to hold.

The cutout for the mechanism isn’t beveled, so you can feel its slightly sharper edge. I’ve also noticed that the two handle slabs are symmetrical, while the cutouts around the pivot are not identical.


Low profile usually comes with a deep‑carry clip or no clip at all… but the PITS2 clip is really shiny, so it still catches the eye. I know, because I’ve checked my reflection in a mirror and eventually had to unclip it and drop it deep into my pocket before passing through security recently.
Low profile wise: a tip if you are ever checked, do not open your knife with one hand, use both.

In those days of increasing knife crime and genuily believe that your EDC’s shape needs to be sheeple‑friendly.
If I pull out my fully serrated Native Chief Salt, anyone around will instantly assume that this long, pointy, toothy, shiny blade is straight out of Jack the Ripper’s toolkit.


The PITS2, with its rounded profile and non‑threatening blade shape, is a perfect example of a legal and friendly high tech EDC that won’t raise any eyebrows if used in public.
It’s actually even less threatening than a UKPK.

ll in all, the PITS2 delivers on its promises.
Incredible thin edge. Enjoyable mechanism. Low profile. Easy to clean.

It’s a friendly, high‑tech luxury tool that can be brought to the table to slice a sausage, yet also serves as a reliable outdoor companion capable of carving a walking stick. I’m loving the Alien in these times of shifting paradigms.

So let the weary land be rested and the killing season over
Let the shadows stretch forever in the light of burnished silver
For I fear the age of consequence and I wish that it was over
Bring me the snowfall, bring me the cold wind, bring me the wiener…

(My Nano has been heavily resharpened into a convex edge, while my PITS2 comes with its thin, perfectly even factory edge.)

Folders, Review

Spyderco Microjimbo Sprint Run CPM-15V – The Evil Baby Brown Benjamin

3 Comments

Created by Michael Janich, the MicroJimbo takes the iconic Yojimbo 2 design but in a smaller form, making it more legally and practically usable for everyday carry (EDC).
This piece is a true jewel. With an MSRP of $300, it ranks among the most expensive Spydercos when measured by cost per millimeter of edge: just 57 mm. That’s a scale of value I may have to start considering. On the Microjimbo in 15V, for example, each millimeter of edge comes to $5.26, whereas on an Endura in VG10 it’s only $1.56 per millimeter.

Of course, CPM 15V is costly, and two signatures on the blade mean royalties. It’s a jewel, yes—but also a gem in its own right.
No disclaimer on this one, as it was bought by myself at Lamnia in Finland for 237 euros. Great service and it was delivered in France 5 days later.

Action wise, the detent on mine is quite strong, with no lock stick, and the blade drops freely back into the handle. This little folder practically oozes quality.

Compared to my Yojimbo 2, the Microjimbo features a full flat–ground blade with a distal taper—very reminiscent of the first Yojimbo in that regard but with full-flat-ground Wharncliffe style blade, roughly 2.45 inches long.

It is made of Made from CPM-15V, a cold-work tool steel with nearly 15% vanadium, prized for insane wear resistance and edge retention.
The blade is heat-treated using a protocol developed by Shawn Houston, further enhancing its performance with a HRC of 65 (more or less but that’s a lot !).

Ambidextrous, tip-up carry only for the MJ and its reversible deep-pocket short wire clip.

It is equipped with Spyderco’s reliable Compression Lock.

The 3.7 mm thick, stonewashed blade is a beauty—short, sharp, and full of character. The edges aren’t perfectly even toward the tip, but that doesn’t bother me; sooner or later it will be convexed anyway.
After just a couple of passes on leather, the Microjimbo was already delivering a crisp, razor-sharp edge, effortlessly shaving arm hair. And for once with CPM-15V, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the steel responded to stropping.

In my CPM-15V family this little folder is not the one to underestimate.
That blade shape as proven to be incredibly powerful.
This knife feels like Lotus Seven equipped with a V8.

The Microjimbo 15V, with its self-defense pedigree, actually falls into the same MBC category as the Lil’ Temperance. With such a compact edge, it’s more of a last-ditch option—a tool that could still deter a threat. It won’t reach vital organs, but it could sever an artery. That said, knives remain one of the worst possible choices for self-defense in my book.
Knives are ambush/backstabbing weapons.

Another last-ditch, highly capable small folder is the Chaparral Serrated. Its serrations can be extremely painful—an advantage in self-defense situations when you need to break a hold and get away.


Remember: 1 – Run, 2 – Hide, 3 – Fight.
Fighting should always be your last option!

For three times the price of a Metropolitan, you get the same edge length but in a heavier package. Once in hand, it feels remarkably secure—despite having neither guard nor choil—almost like holding a small fixed blade.

Another comparaison shot: the Lil Native convexed by Jan Dirk feels much smaller and stubby than the Microjimbo. But on the picture there is no real difference. Both are reliable lil’big knives with strong blades and strong locks.

There’s no jimping on the handle or the blade, yet indexing the knife is effortless. You always know exactly where the edge is, allowing for precise, controlled cuts.
That G10 definitely leans toward the pocket-shredder side.

I prefer my G10 with a smoother finish, so I used 400-grit sandpaper to tone it down—taking care to avoid inhaling the hazardous G10 dust.

I’m able to carry the Microjimbo in my watch pocket. I appreciate the strong detent—it keeps the blade securely closed while in my pocket. However, because it’s so strong, it’s difficult to open with any finger other than the thumb. No easy Spyderflick on this one.

The Microjimbo isn’t out of place on the kitchen cutting board. In fact, this will likely be its main battlefield, as I use my pocket knives extensively in the kitchen. I do need to be careful, though—its pointed tip tends to catch the flesh with a predator-like hunger.

Once razor-sharp, I haven’t been able to dull any of my CPM-15V blades so far, even after cutting cardboard and other abrasive materials. I’m glad to carry such a compact yet robust folder as I continue to explore this remarkable alloy.

Michael Janich has clearly done his homework on this little knife. Designing smaller blades is always tricky, and this one is a pure gem. The choice of a full-flat-ground blade is fully justified by the placement of the Spyderhole, and the geometry remains uncompromised.

I’m looking forward to putting this little knife through its paces.

Review

SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390 -Part 2 – Draw Shorty !

3 Comments

First things first: I needed to “de-shoulder” the edge, and K390 proved its reputation as a hard steel. I noticed it again when rounding the spine a bit — those vanadium carbides really make sanding a challenge. Then again, sanding has always been something of a signature for me, especially when shaping convex edges. With 2% cobalt in the mix, keeping the blade clean is essential to avoid stains or rust.

Now, onto the fun part! When you get a new knife, what matters most is how it fits into your life: what makes you smile, how people react to it, and how it feels to carry and draw it from your pocket. The joy of using a good tool should always be a pleasant experience.

The Lil’ Temp 3 is stubby, with a distinctly modern folding knife look. Its blue handle helps it appear approachable — a friendly tool rather than a “ninja weapon.”

One of the biggest drawbacks of the original Lil’ Temp back in 2001 was its clip. That thick, rigid piece of steel with four screws made getting the knife in and out of your pocket more difficult than it needed to be.

The LT3 solves this with its spoon clip, which is easy to tune. Following Sal’s advice, the knife is now effortless to retrieve from the pocket — a huge improvement. The LT3’s handle design also helps: I carry the folder tip-up, and the beak at the end of the handle, combined with the FRN traction patterns, makes the knife practically jump into my hand. Drawing it is effortless, even while sitting in a car.

The squarish handle also is a big plus: it helps indexing the knife instinctively : You know where is your edge immediately.
So, it is very safe and easy to draw it and open it, do the cut and then close it and pu it back in the pocket. You do that without thinking. Muscles memory…
It is a huge plus for a working knife’s user to be able to use the LT3 and close it and put it away back in the pocket in a breeze.
This is also really enjoyable, and coming from many great Spyderco Designs like the Military 2 or the Sage 5 or the Para 3, it is noticeable how nice that LT3 LW is in getting into action.
To sum up, it is really pleasant !

For exemple my lovely Lionsteel Nano is not the easiest to bring into action but it is forgiven as it is considered as a “Lady & Gentleman” folder.

But for a workhorse they are other specifications. Safety and reliability in putting in action your knife is mandatory.

FRN once molded in scales can propose high tech shapes and pattern designed by Sal Glesser which are enhancing the ergos even with wet hands.

The LT3 is one of the most confortable folder i have ever grip. The handle is thick, filling my hand’s palm and ready to be squeezed for hard cuts. The thick blade spine is asking to be pushed into materials.
That’s why my first mission was in the kitchen with tomatoes and lemons…. 😉

After a first cut into lime and avocados the blade was already getting its nice patina. K390 is deadly serious about getting stained and it is a good thing as that patina will protect the naked steel from pitting. I just wipe it clean after a rinse under the tap and check that the pivot to be well oiled.
This is exactly the opposite I do with the Sage 5 Salt ! I’m careless wth those Salt folders. This Sage is smooth like butter even without any oiled pivot. Magnacut and the Sage pivot design turn it like into a knife you can keep dirty and forget in the sink.
Not the LT3.
As strong as its is, its Achilles heel will always been proper care and maintenance. But serious users know how to take care of their tools. And maintenance is also part of the fun of owning good knives. The patina on the K390 blade will always show proudly that your knife is a user not a safe queen.

There is also the solution to cut cheese to keep naturally some grease your blade.
Those two cuts here has been made with the LT3. As you can notice those are clean push cuts. the geometry is that great.
Actually, in the kitchen, or preparing the meal in a camp, that LT3 is at home. That 4mm thick spine is not an obstacle as the blade is tall.

This is one of the things I love in my Cold Steel Voyager or Recon 1 XL: thick high blade but thin geometry. Thhose got much longer blades than the LT3 !

But the C69PBL3K390 does not act like a wedge on fruits like avocado or apple.
But once you turn it against harder material like plastic, you can apply a lot of force ! The handle is so comfy you can use it like a fixed blade. This stubby folder turns into one of the most solid “matter separator” ever made by Spyderco. It feels much more solid than their flagship, the Military and much confortable than their Shaman ! Go figure !
Let’s not forget they all got the same designer but, after 25 years of in house refinement, the LT3 is not a small contender. I even feel the LT3 could be the personal answer from Sal to the Spyderco Techno !
3 inches of pure K390 performance.

Now thickness is always an important factor in performance.
The UKPK is uncanny sharp with its thin blade. But it is designed for more mundane and delicate works not for being used hard in a construction site, for example.
The LT3 plays in the same field as the Tenacious. (The last sprint run in CPM-M4 is really perfect for dirty hard chores.)

Both knives are choil less, with full flat ground blades, and they got an open back construction handle, easy to check and clean.
The Tenacious is a little bit longer offering a great blade/handle ratio.
But the LT3 got a stouter blade and a much better action/ compression lock.
And also a much much confortable handle.

About blade ratio, let’s quote Sal:

Many of our blades are designed to a blade length legality. The Delica is a perfect example. The blade length is 3.0″ which is acceptable in many places for legal reasons and for social concerns. The handle designed to the blade length is just not large enough for many of the people that use knives as tools. So I made the choice to give the handle extra length for safety and control. 

In my opinion, blade to handle ratios are an “eye” thing, which is fine, but I prefer to design with the bend towards function and safety. “A scalpel would not perform better if the handle were smaller or the blade longer”.

“Choil less” does not mean that your index finger is in jeopardy !
In case the ultra strong compression lock would fail or get disengaged…
There is no choil but there is a kick ! So your index finger is relatively safe !

Wait a minue! That LT3 Lightweight’s handle reminds the handle of the now discontinued Spyderco Vagabond. (The FB12 Vagabond was a compact fixed blade designed for on-the-go food preparation, such as picnics or packed lunches.)

See?

Same “beak” at the pommel too !

Thick handle and thick 3 inches blade on both.

Same designer again. 😉
I told you the LT3 was a “wandering rōnin” 😉

So once the LT3 has jumped in your hand, it is really sheeple friendly with all its gentle curves and nice handle color. It looks like a puppy of a bigger knife, a cute knife actually. That’s also a big plus for a low profile working tool.
If someone working in a ranch uses a LT3, it won’t raise any eyebrows. It is as threatening as a screwdriver. Nowadays this is a big plus to own a low profile knife. Also when in sheeple hands, the LT3 is able to deliver. Yesterday, the family kept borrowing my knife, even to cut the crust of the pie for the Grand Ma ! This would not happen with my beautiful pointy Military 2 (Even my pointy UKPK was seen by them as a weapon able to pierce some armor…) ! The Lil’Temperance is just seen as a high tech folding tool, easy to control and put on “safe” and this is just what we ask when children are running around the table.

“The game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card” Alan Parson Project.

The Temperance tarot card represents balance, moderation, and harmony. It encourages patience and finding the right mix in life – whether in emotions, relationships or work. It is a sign of inner peace and divine timing.
And this is exactly what the Lil Temperance3 Lightweight is oozing from its synthetic pores right at the moment you hold it.

Folders, Review

Six months with the Golden Child – Spyderco -C94GCBL- UK PENKNIFE™ COBALT BLUE G-10 CPM® SPY27® – The Part 2

6 Comments

I have had the chance to buy that UKPK in G10 for 100 euros in January 2025.
Since, it has been my “go to the city” favorite folder.

Sometimes replaced by the Roadie XL for a lower profile or Dredd my Urban in S90V made in Maniago and exclusive to Heinie in the UK.


The UKPK is remarkably versatile, proving itself even in woodworking. Its strong, reliable mechanism keeps it ready for anything — all while remaining fully within legal limits. Stripping vines, carving rods, scraping, cutting — it handles everything with ease. The spring “lock” never falters, and the finger choil adds an extra layer of passive safety, even if it’s rarely needed.

Its thin yet strong CPM SPY27 blade is a true joy to use on wood. In this domain, the UKPK stands out as one of Spyderco’s best hidden gems across all categories made in Golden. And if I ever had to defend myself against an animal, I believe it would perform every bit as well as the legendary Calypso (all the story here).

The tip has seen plenty of use, and all I can say is that Spyderco’s in-house SPY27 steel is extremely forgiving. You can push it hard with no damage to the edge. I’ve compared it with many of my favorite wood-cutting knives — including some specialized for woodworking — and it performs impressively in the same league.

One way I now measure the value of a pocket knife is by the pleasure I get from using it. The UKPK easily ranks among the top on my list. Strong, thin, and precise, it excels as a true “matter separator,” handling everything from everyday tasks to more demanding jobs like scraping paint.

There’s also a distinct joy in keeping the edge razor-sharp, and SPY27 has become my new favorite for that. Achieving a razor edge is a breeze. Being in the AEL-B class, it’s even easier to work on than Magnacut and is extremely leather-stropping friendly. After just a quick session on leather, SPY27 regained that legendary crisp edge — and it’s such a pleasure to use!

Hairs are flying and the convexed home made edge is shining like a mirror.
This is really part of the joy to use leather strops on a steel.

So it is a joy just to strop it again and again just to maintain this razor edge.

Then for forced push cuts, the geometry of the UKPK is just a killer.
It goes deep like a thin Opinel blade can go.

To keep the knife sharp, I’ve mostly relied on leather stropping, with occasional touch-ups on white ceramic, even after cutting cardboard, plastic, acidic food, and hard wood. The UKPK in SPY27 is a winner, offering a significant boost in edge retention and versatility. Maintaining its vorpal edge is even easier and more enjoyable than with the excellent Magnacut or LC200N versions.

It’s no wonder this steel has earned such a special place in my heart.

And I was not able to get any chipping or edge bending in six months.
It gives an hint about the high quality of the inhouse heat treatment on that inhouse steel.

Used in the plate, the SPY27’s core refused to be damaged:
no pitting, no rust, no stain. No damage on the plate ceramic too.
It a gourmet companion and a wonderful carnivorous friend.

In the kitchen, geometry-wise, the UKPK can compete with the best — for example, the Patrick Bonetta Kitchen Warrior. The G10 version is also a visual delight. I never felt “under-knifed” with my Urban, but the UKPK could easily be my one and only Spyderco. A three-inch, legal, high-performance sharp blade is a must-have for EDC, and such knives are surprisingly rare.

This is 100% Sal Glesser design. This Golden-made gem is the all-terrain pocket knife my grandfather would have dreamed of!
Hence its name The Golden Child. 😉

For an alternative you can now get The Metropolitan. Its little brother.

Advice, Folders, Review

MILITARY™ 2 BROWN G-10 CPM® 15V® SPRINT RUN® – Part 2: Convexing the edge.

4 Comments

You know what ? It’s time to thin the edge of Gambit.
Pictures are better than thousand words.

The gaffer is here to protect the blade against my clumsiness.

The Double Stuff 2 is the main tool. But it is old now.
It has lost some of its teeth in many many edges reprofiling…

But eventually it is a cheap Sharpy bought on Amazon which seems to be 15V best friend. It is 800 grit.
And it bites into 15V like no tomorrow.
So I was able to round the edge’s shoulder. Let’s test it.

It goes deep and steady.
There is real improvement. But gosh, 15V do not like to lose its particules. Compared to Magnacut or SPY27, CPM-15V is hellish.
Now I perhaps don’t have the best diamond tools for that.
But really, it is not a piece of cake in my book.

Now could it be a answer: The Military 2 reaching the 67 HRC ?
But that was exactly my impression after watching the YouTuber’s video — until Jake, a metallurgist for 14 years, left an exceptionally detailed, well-sourced comment under this review.
To quote his conclusion:

“… Spyderco did an amazing job getting a near custom level heat treatment on an amazing steel at an affordable price to many people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to spend large sums of money on customs. But expecting 67Rc is a bit too much. Shawn has said it repeatedly that it isn’t realistic for a production knife company to hit hardness levels that high and also be able to work the material.“

Many thanks to Jake for his eye-opening comment — truly appreciated!

Advice, Folders

GETTING A CONVEX EDGE WITH THE CPM-15V BLADE OF THE HOULAHOULA PARA3 LIGHTWEIGHT PART 2.

3 Comments

Since the first try of convexing the Para 3, it is time now to reach the same level of de-shouldering as on my Sage 5 Salt.

My goal here isn’t to touch the edge itself, but to smooth the border between the flat of the blade and the edge angle. This allows me to maintain the edge primarily on leather while reducing drag when cutting hard materials like plastic or wood.

The equipment I used was again the Spyderco Double Stuff 2, focusing mainly on the diamond side. I experimented with gentle, round strokes on the flat diamond stone instead of always moving in the same direction — it seems to remove metal much faster.

For aesthetics, I plan to follow up with white ceramic or jade stones to approach a mirror finish, similar to the Sage 5. Magnacut responds beautifully to polishing, whereas CPM-15V doesn’t particularly care.

The use of gaffer helps preventing any deep scratches on the blade finish.
It works great. The black dust is metal removed by the diamonds.
I do that outside in the wind. I don’t want to breath that dust.

Eventually this second round has gone so smoothly (compared to the first one linked at the start of this review) that i was on the verge to work on the Military 2.

Remember Sal saying:
“The Edge is a Ghost. Always changing. Dying (dulling) being reborn (sharpened) split personality (angles and geometry changing). Think of the edge as gas in a vehicle. It runs out of gas and you put in more gas. We provide the format, materials, design for use, variety to avoid boredom and create interest, but the edge is your creation. The result of your understanding, education, experience and practice.“

The comparison between the Sage 5 Salt and the Para 3 continues. In short: the Sage 5 has superior geometry thanks to its high 3 mm FFG blade, while the Para 3 features a sturdier blade, a thinner point, and is overall lighter (no steel liners).

It’s really your choice — both are highly capable and complement each other, coming from the same design mind. Shawn Houston even notes that the Para 3 carries “that Delica vibe.”

I’m impressed by the Sage 5’s exceptionally smooth action — one of the best among Spyderco’s compression lock knives. I love both knives. These days, the Sage Salt rides with me, but while both won’t let you down, the smooth Sage is more fidget-friendly. Both are great, but the Sage 5 is simply less popular… 😉

Review

SAGE™ 5 LIGHTWEIGHT SALT® – C123YL – The Magnacut Amphibian EDC –

4 Comments

First of all, thank you to Guillaume Xais who has convinced me to try the Sage 5 Salt. I have found a deal under 200 euros.
In the past, I have owned some Sage(s) from the Sage 2 to the Sage 4 actually.
You still can find the reviewss by clicking the links.
The Sage 2 was a Sebenza killer when all the crave was about Christopher Reeves Integral Lock and titanium slabs.
The Sage 3 was the Blue Brother.
The Sage 4 was a masterpiece with its Front Lock and titanium Bolster never reviewed because too much a jewel of a knife.

(Picture by Guillaume Xais – instagram Spydigex_knives)

I wasn’t particularly interested in the Sage 5 Compression Lock, and even less in the Sage 5 Lightweight. Yet both the Sage 5 G10 and Lightweight versions proved so popular and well-regarded that Spyderco expanded the lineup into Maxamet, SPY27, REX 121, Magnacut, and CPM-M4 (thanks to Guillaume for the editing).

With the vanilla S30V, the Sage 5 was offered in six different alloys — some of the most impressive in terms of performance — demonstrating just how versatile and capable this design can be.
 “The Sage 5 Lightweight has also proven itself to be a perfect platform for showcasing the elite properties of high-performance blade steels.”

(Picture by Guillaume Xais – instagram Spydigex_knives)


For the record the Sage Series has traditionally expressed the same iconic design with different lock mechanisms, paying homage to the innovative designers who created them. Also Spyderco donates approximately 5% of sales of the Sage line to the National Alzheimer’s Association Denver, Colorado Chapter.
(A Sage 6 is soon coming with a button/compression lock as found on the Smock.)
So I have asked to Guillaume in the Spyderco Fan Club France, why should I invest in a Sage 5 Salt Lightweight in the first place ?

(Picture by Guillaume Xais – instagram Spydigex_knives)

“Its action, like any self-respecting Sage LW, is dazzling!
This yellow contrasts with the hardware, the clip, and the deep black of the liners, like a Black Mamba face… I love it!
My first Magnacut, by the way… I fish and am quite often at the seaside, it will complement my Ukpk salt (which is also very good).
My favorites, however, remain the 2 and 4, true works of art!

For me, it does everything better than a Para3: handling, fluidity, less fragile tip, less tactical image, more rewarding feel of the FRN… there’s no comparison (from my point of view, of course).
Add to that the Taichung Quality and Magna’versatility… they’re worth it, right?“

I was convinced !

First impressions: there’s some real heft to this lightweight — thanks to the full liners. I love it. The blade is perfectly centered, and the lock doesn’t stick.

The detent is impressively strong, almost magnetic — stronger than the detents on my recent Para 3 and Military 2. Go figure! And the action is smooth as oily butter. Classic, perfect Taichung craftsmanship.

The FRN pattern is hard, grippy and catchy I even got some issue to put in my pocket.
It the same issue I had with my Chaparral Lightweight.


A passage under the sandpaper would be perhaps mandatory ? Let’s see what Papa Sal would advice in my case of protecting my pockets:
“You can lessen the tension on the clip as an easy solution. Some sand the scales bit.” Sal in the Forums.

Some gaffer to protect the black screws when using sandpaper.
Then cleaned under the tap and it’s good to go.

Well… it is so compact it can eventually be carried inside the pocket watch.
But Sal was right like always, bending the clip a little has completely changed the way it clipped and for the better.

The metal hardware is all black certainly PVD coated.  “Like all Salt Series folders, the clip, liners, and all handle hardware are also crafted from marine-grade materials.” said Spyderco.
And Guillaume is right, the contrast between the black and yellow is an eye candy.

I have found a little hot spot on the choil which I felt under my index finger. Nothing a little diamond file won’t eliminate in a matter of minutes.

Now let’s compare it to the Para3 Lightweight.

The Para3 is a really light package because there is almost no liner.

64 grams.

78 grams for the Sage 5 with its nested steel liners

The FRN is smoother on the Para3 as it is not the same pattern.
Being a Salt the Sage 5 is destined to be used with wet hands.

The Sage 5 has a thinner 3 mm blade, and the chamfered edges on its spine are just stunning — smooth under the thumb and a true Taichung signature. Even the Spyderhole is gently finished.

A major plus for whittling is how easily my left-hand thumb finds a comfortable spot on the blade spine. With the Para 3, the thumb doesn’t have a proper ramp parallel to the cut. On the Sage 5, the parabolic spine of the leaf-shaped bladelets the thumb push comfortably in the middle of the spine, which makes a real difference during whittling.

Same blade length, but a different spine shape. The Para 3’s Spyderhole is especially suited for use with gloves.

Is the Sage more of a civilian EDC and the Para 3 more tactical? Not entirely certain. The Sage feels more solid in the hand and has more heft, while the Para 3 feels like a light, quick-reaction tool, and the Sage 5 is an all-terrain EDC.

The Sage handle is more compact and can be carried in the watch pocket, thanks to its grippy FRN and strong clip.

Grip is essential when working around water or with wet hands. The Para 3 is gentler on pocket edges, while the Sage out of the box can be a pocket shredder. Following Sal Glesser’s advice, I flexed the clip slightly for lighter retention — now it’s perfect.

Next, let’s take a look at the Sage’s geometry straight out of the box.

I was able to cut through the plastic without having de-shouldered the edge yet. It will be done in the next chapters. For the record, I was not able to get a clean cut with the factory geometry of my new Para3 and Military2 in CPM 15V.


So this blade has excellent geometry right out of the box: this is really impressive ! Without any touchup of the factory edge it goes deep in any material, soft or hard.

The Sage 5 Salt is a pure Sal Glesser design with its iconic leaf-shaped blade. Fun fact: the letters S‑A‑G‑E appear in order in his name!

This great folder is made in Taichung, Taiwan, renowned for its exquisite manufacturing and quality control. The blade is chamfered, and the jimping is soft under the thumb, making it a joy to handle.

Ultimately, this is a Highlander knife: “In the end, there can be only one.” The Sage 5 Salt feels like a Spyderco to rule them all — the only one I’d ever need in terms of portability, reliability, and performance.


Purely stainless from blade to screws, it is a true all terrain tool. I mean, you won’t need another knife as this one is totally impervious to salt water and boast that CPM Magnacut blade known for its great performance: “a revolutionary particle metallurgy steel that offers an exceptional balance of edge retention, toughness, and the extreme corrosion resistance.” It is true when properly heat treated and with the best geometry.
(Again all those green marks are links to previous review or sources of this review.)


Polishing the Sage’s edge on a leather strap — aka stropping — removes the final imperfections, leaving an even razor-sharp edge. Magnacut, in particular, responds beautifully to leather stropping.

With the Vigtig and the Nano. I managed to get these three knives for under €200: the Sage 5 at €194, the Vigtig at €130, and the Nano at €192.

This means that, as of March 2025, CPM Magnacut knives can be found for as low as €130 — a good deal, though it may not last. The UKPK in CPM Magnacut should be in a similar price range, which I’m looking forward to.


So far, first impressions are excellent! The yellow handle makes it feel less threatening — more like an everyday tool than a “ninja mall weapon,” which is a definite plus these days.

It’s also ready for kitchen use, thanks to a strong edge that isn’t afraid of ceramic plates. Magnacut takes a razor-sharp edge easily with just a bit of ceramic and leather work. No need for diamond paste like on the mighty CPM 15V.


The amphibious Sage 5 is a perfect traveling companion — from mountain rivers to the ocean. It delivers impressive cutting power for its size, biting into hard wood effortlessly. The blade spine is very comfortable for push cuts, making it a reliable all-terrain tool.

It’s a dream knife for fishermen and woodcrafters, capable of accompanying you in virtually any environment.
So far the Spyderco Salt serie is enlarged to very nice plateforms with Military flavours and civilian purposes.


First impressions of the Sage 5 are excellent — in terms of action, geometry, and ergonomics. This is a great EDC that’s fearlessly corrosion-resistant.

Thanks to Guillaume for the tip!
Now time to convex it !