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 !
M398 is a fragile steel compared to M390. The encounter of the tip of the Roadie XL with a tile of my kitchen has been definitive. One mm has been shattered and now I got a micro flat screwdriver as a tip. OK. Diamonds are steels best friend. I’m able to form a new tip in a diamond shape.
For now I won’t baby that Roadie XL anymore. I decide to thin the edge.
The best way is to protect the blade to avoid any big scratches.
Then it is time to play with industrial diamonds.
I will also use some diamond rod to round the jimping.
Of course I’m enough clumsy to scratch the blade twice and I’m obliged to use some diamond paste to treat the surface.
Then some polishing paste on the leather to slowly makes it like a mirror.
I’m quite happy with the result.
Time to test this new geometry. The edge has been convexed and thinned it should cut much better.
One of the most difficult task is to cut in two the butt of a two liters plastic bottle. This is a test my Scandi blades fail all the time. Any Opinel is king in that. Or the Manly Wasp ! My favorite being the Nilakka.
As a whittler it goes deep in wood.
As a steak knife, the shape of the blade brings only the new tip in contact with the ceramic of the plate.
That new tip is strong enough to be able to pierce a metal lid of a green bean jar. A hole pierce help the release of the lid on some jar. No damage no more. Now the Roadie XL cuts much butter.
Six years ago, I reviewed the Working Poney, also known as the Roadie. Mine had been reprofiled by Jan Dirk, and even at its tiny scale, it proved to be an outstanding performer. For six years, it quietly stayed in my pocket, 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 upgraded 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 flash batches — a serious step up in performance and collector appeal.
And so, here it is: Ladies and gentlemen, the Roadie XL!
Back to the Roadie XL: it is made in Maniago, Italy, like my Nano and many other excellent modern knives. The Maniago factory remains one of the world leaders in precision and manufacturing quality.
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 jeans thanks to its deep-carry wire clip. You could remove the clip, but why? It keeps the knife perfectly secured at the pocket’s edge. The clip is also reversible, though that is not essential 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 is a knife designed to remain on you almost unnoticed.
The action is smooth, with two detents before the blade fully opens. In practice, it feels smoother than my Urban, which deploys with a single motion.
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 am not in any hurry to convex the edge.
Mine came razor sharp straight out of the box, so I’m not in any particular hurry to convex its edge.
You can immediately recognize Sal Glesser’s signature design — a clear mark of his inventive approach. Sal is an inventor at heart, and it is 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 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, produced in limited flash batches in Maniago, Italy.
From what I understand, M398 is closer to CPM-90V than to M390. Quoting Darrin Thomas’s analysis:
“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%… [text unchanged] …”
When M398 was used in a previous flash batch for the SpyMyto, I was not particularly excited — it felt like overkill for a folder intended for hard use. The Myto is essentially the big brother of my Nano in CPM Magnacut, and a SpyNano in M398 is also on the bench. In comparison, Magnacut is far tougher than M398, making it better suited for wider, workhorse blades.
On the Roadie XL, however, it is a different story. Like with my Heinie Urban in S90V, these small blades are not intended for bushcraft — although skilled users can achieve remarkable results even with a 2-inch slipjoint, as shown in an inspiring video I recently watched.
Slipjoints are gentle companions for both ladies and gentlemen. For those with long nails, the Roadie XL features its distinctive “Double Dent™” — a pair of symmetrical dimples in the blade that provide a secure grip for fingernail-free, two-handed opening.
Its high wear resistance is useful, as these small blades often encounter cardboard, which can be surprisingly abrasive. I also recall Roger, my father-in-law, using his old Pradel slipjoint like a crowbar or screwdriver without hesitation. Older users often treated knives as true tools until they were worn down to almost nothing.
I am confident the Roadie XL, with its M398 blade, would make an excellent hare skinner — fur full of sand can destroy an edge very quickly. Tuscan hare hunters would likely appreciate its durability. The high wear-resistant alloy makes perfect sense here, and the blade is also relatively thick at 2.8 mm, reducing the risk of damage.
Ergonomically, the Roadie works beautifully for a slipjoint because you can use the choil for control — a feature rarely found in traditional designs. Even most Swiss Army Knives do not offer that level of security. 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 is no undue pressure on the pivot, often the most fragile part of folding knives. If you avoid twisting the tip in wood, the Roadie XL can handle direct cutting force on the blade. This makes it another “Lil Big Blade” — small, but highly capable.
It can serve as a steak knife, whittler, label remover, balloon popper, nail cleaner, or cardboard cutter. Cardboard is especially abrasive, but not for a steel like M398, rich in carbide content.
And in today’s world, one final advantage: it is extremely sheeple-friendly. It looks like a pocket knife, not a tactical weapon — discreet, elegant, and highly functional.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to me, this blade — shaped like a scaled-down cutlass — is pure eye candy.
Interestingly, I can open it one-handed in two different ways:
A quick wrist flick while holding the blade.
By gripping the blade between thumb and index finger while pushing the handle away with the remaining fingers.
So even though it was not designed as a one-hand opener, the Roadie XL can still function surprisingly well as one.
Compared to a traditional sheepfoot slipjoint, the Roadie XL is incredibly light while offering a premium alloy blade. (Since August 2025, another M398 slipjoint has joined the lineup: the Metropolitan.)
At under 100 euros, the Roadie XL is an exceptional bargain for what it delivers.
This is one of Sal Glesser’s finest EDC designs — a perfect balance of elegance, utility, and performance. And for once, size really matters with a Roadie. No wonder it sold out so quickly on the Golden site! Part II is here.
I’ve known Jiminy Cricket since 1994. I even owned a pink version of this little bugger back in the last millennium.
Today, during a small pilgrimage to the famous Kindal cutlery shop in Paris,
Mme Kindal showed me one of the treasures on display, next to a Janisong and a titanium Military…
It was love at first sight for this blast-from-the-past little big knife. A compact piece with surprising presence—perfect for another New Old Stock adventure.
The Tattoo version of the Cricket is a true jewel—both to look at and to use. It has been cleverly designed in-house by Sal Glesser (though I wouldn’t be surprised if Ed Schempp also influenced it).
Based on the stainless steel Cricket platform, it is a beautifully executed piece of cutlery.
Folded, the C29T forms a smooth, rounded package that disappears almost completely in the pocket. The clip is tip-down (right-hand), but also works as a tie clip or even a money clip. The anodized artwork gives it a refined, elegant touch.
The stainless steel construction with a Chris Reeve Integral Lock keeps the knife extremely thin and easy to carry—even in a shirt pocket.
The tip-down carry allows a very fast and elegant Spyderdrop opening, bringing its reverse “S” blade into action instantly.
The 2 mm thick, 48 mm long blade is deceptively capable thanks to its S-shape. You effectively gain extra cutting edge length in a very compact format.
Like Eric Glesser’s Dodo, the Cricket is a geometric trickster: the cutting angle is rarely 90°, creating a sinusoïdal slicing effect. It is surprisingly powerful—hence its “little big knife” reputation in the Spyderco world.
The Cricket is a joy to use in the garden on tougher materials…
…and equally effective on softer ones.
But beware: that S-shaped beak loves to grab anything in its path. Your thumb included—so be careful, it can bite fast.
The beak penetrates plastic with surprising aggression, making package opening effortless.
Not everyone likes S-shaped or recurved blades. But this form is inspired by nature—claws, talons, beaks, and teeth.
Sharpened on a rounded ceramic and finished on leather, the Cricket easily returns to a razor edge (VG10 is not difficult to maintain).
Here I’m using a jade stone: I sharpen the belly on the flat and the beak on the edges.
The open design also makes it extremely easy to clean under running water.
I highly recommend the Cricket as an EDC knife. It is a small but powerful “matter separator,” ideal for both men and women in daily use. It can be clipped to a purse, a pocket, or even a bra.
I once knew a former French Marine—six-foot-four, heavily built—who carried a pink Cricket as his daily EDC. Go figure. That’s the kind of knife that truly makes you wish upon a star.
Seven years ago, I was already in love with a KnifeCenter Exclusive Native. The idea of offering a smooth G10 handle was, IMHO, a great EDC enhancement, as aggressive G10 can quickly turn any knife into a pocket shredder.
As you can notice, the Native 5 with its OEM clip can perfectly clip into a watch pocket.
I was certain I had missed the opportunity to own one of those smooth operators made exclusively for KCI when Alex, a fellow member of the Facebook Spyderco Fan Club France, pointed it out to me. They were still in stock! HERE!!
I have known monsieur Howard Korn, the founder of KCI, since his early beginnings back in the 90s when he was operating almost alone. He even suggested that I design their logo. Howard was among the very first resellers to offer knives on a large scale using a very new medium at the time: the World Wide Web! What a venture… and eventually, what a success! That was before Amazon, and Howard remains one of the true pioneers in spreading cutlery culture worldwide. Hence the excellent videos now produced in-house. Once again, it was a smooth transaction from the USA to France thanks to great customer service for a fantastic exclusive. I may be biased, but after nearly 30 years of dealing with KnifeCenter, my experience has always been flawless and inspiring.
Eventually, I found out that I may have bought one of the very last examples of this Native Exclusive because 10 days after my order (June 2024), they were already out of stock.
So what do we have here?
I have written a lot about CPM CruWear! But this tough and well-balanced alloy, capable of taking a crisp razor edge, is perfect on both small and large folders. This is a true workhorse steel and one of the greatest high-tech alloys available in modern cutlery. I have even demonstrated how difficult it is to force a patina onto it. This time, with the DLC coating, neither patina nor rust should be a concern. BTW, DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) is even used for medical implants. It is not toxic.
This all-black version of the Native is ready to be used in all weather conditions.
So here we have a very low-profile package with a non-threatening design, because black knives matter when confronted with sheeple who might otherwise label you a mall ninja carrying a dark saber.
These days, I am reluctant to carry long blades or large folders in the city, and my search for shorter, socially accepted knives — locking or non-locking — has become obvious. I have previously written about knives suited for city use, and the Native is definitely one of them. The idea is maximum versatility in a tool that should not raise eyebrows: a friendly, non-threatening package. The kind of knife my grandfathers and father used to carry without a second thought — except on airplanes. 😉 When heading into the countryside, I do not restrict myself in terms of blade length, but in big cities I play a very low-profile game and most of the time strictly follow the law, even if I am not particularly worried about police checks. Hence the Native: the same cockpit ergonomics as Hellboy, which gets a lot of kitchen use now that the Chief has turned into a Chef, but in a shorter format.
There is also a swedge on the blade spine of the Native that is not present on the Chief.
The action is smooth with zero blade play, and a true guillotine drop can be achieved simply by releasing the lock. I have already written about how top notch these Golden-made Natives are in terms of fit and finish, having used them since 2011.
This linerless version is, to me, the best Native design ever produced, and this Exclusive represents the best of the best. In these years dominated by titanium frame locks and Axis-style locks, the opportunity to own a truly great lockback feels precious. And this one, for me, is the Last of the Mohicans!
The Spyderco Urban, Squeak, and UKPK family are the most addictive slipjoint lineups in the modern knife world. I have already written about them on this blog. The UKPK Salt is simply one of the best modern folders available nowadays. The Squeak is totally sheeple-friendly, and of course the Urban was made for city carry and can be carried almost everywhere except on 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 AEB-L and was named Cappuccino. All of them were eventually pushed out of my pocket because of the greatness of the UKPK Salt in LC200N. Still, they have all been great companions during my travels in the UK, as they are fully legal: non-locking knives with blades under 3 inches (76 mm)… Eventually, I started looking for a G10 version with a full stainless steel backspacer, and I found the Heinnie Haynes exclusive version available on their site. It is not a cheap knife, be aware of that, but it oozes quality both on paper and in hand.
First things first, this Urban features a CPM S90V blade, the same steel found on the Proficient bushcraft knife. S90V was previously known as CPM420V, and it remains one of Sal Glesser’s favorite steels ever produced by Crucible.
S90V is famous for its incredible edge retention, and after 25 years of using it, I can tell you that it can also be a bear to resharpen. Diamonds are its best friends, and even then it requires a lot of white ceramic work and stropping… Compared to non-stainless super steels like Maxamet, it can be quite tedious to bring back to a truly razor-sharp edge. But once sharp, its working edge seems to last forever. This is exactly the opposite of my previous experience with Cappuccino, my AEB-L Urban. That knife was tough and incredibly easy to keep razor sharp, but it quickly lost its edge when used on abrasive materials like cardboard. S90V eats brown cardboard for breakfast and stays sharp for a very long time, but it takes patience to bring it back to a crisp razor edge. That is excellent when you need a long-lasting working knife on a trip where you did not plan to bring sharpening equipment. Sal Glesser trusts S90V enough to use that alloy on many of his own special Sprint Runs with carbon fiber handles. I have never been disappointed by S90V. Even on fixed blades or on the Manly folders, it has always been a game changer in terms of long-lasting sharpness, and in my experience it even surpasses CPM 10V. S90V is also highly stainless. Unless you plan to use your knife in the ocean, it can handle demanding work in the forest without needing immediate cleaning. It has also been noticed that this S90V Urban features a slightly thinner blade: 0.23 cm instead of 0.29 cm. The blade is also slightly shorter than previous Urbans, although I have not noticed any difference in real-world utility.
This Urban was made in Italy, and in my personal experience, Maniago craftsmanship has never been a disappointment. Your mileage may vary, but this has been mine. I have always been happy with my Spytalians!
G10 is not a common material on Urbans, as FRN dominates the lineup, and the texture of this G10 is even more distinctive. At first, I considered turning this knife into a smooth “pebble,” but… nah! It is great as it is. I only adjusted the feel slightly by sanding it, but overall this is a beautifully made, high-quality handle — once again, kudos to Maniago. All Heinnie Haynes exclusives feature this red treatment on the handle; it is their signature. The G10 version also benefits from a longer steel backspacer that closes the handle construction more completely.
Now about the action: this Urban has the strongest spring of all my slipjoints! That is actually a very positive point. I can still open it with a quick wrist movement, but closing it requires real force, which is rather rare — even in Spyderco production. (The first UKPKs were “chewing gum soft,” to quote Guillaume, moderator of the Spyderco Fan Club.) A strong spring combined with the absence of a lock makes it a great candidate for legal everyday carry nowadays.
Now regarding geometry, Maniago deserves another round of kudos! As you can see in the picture above, I was able to split a bottle bottom in a single pass with the factory edge. That is also rare! Even my beloved Hellboy needed some thinning before reaching that level. This is thin geometry straight out of the box! The short drop-point blade makes it an excellent whittler, and Spyderco truly knows how to make little big knives. The hump and choil transmit your cutting force directly into the blade, sparing the handle, pivot, and mechanism. It is a clever design, inspired by the old San Francisco gambler’s knives. Sal’s first implementation of this “cockpit” concept dates back more than 30 years to the C36 Military. The choil-and-hump combination is brilliant for preventing a non-locking blade from closing onto your fingers. To me, it is an absolute must-have!
So here we have a legal folder with a non-threatening blade, a strong non-locking spring, excellent cutting geometry, and stellar particle metallurgy steel. What is there not to love about this wonderful Urban?
You can cut a pizza on your plate and use it as a steak knife without raising any eyebrows. I use my knives directly on plates, and I know how to avoid dulling them on ceramic. My mother-in-law never places a knife near my plate anymore — that is how I can spot where I am supposed to sit at her table.
The Urban also has the perfect size for carrying in a Levi’s 501 watch pocket, and as you can see, mine has been shredded over time by many aggressive G10 handles before extensive sanding.
So yes, I highly recommend this excellent exclusive little knife. Again, it is not cheap, but the quality is there from tip to 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 it is a Factory Second bought in a 2023 Mystery Box:
“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 definitely made for that box! 🙂
Which means it has some cosmetic flaw I was not able to spot.
The action is rock solid — in fact, much more solid than my previous Chief, the Mighty Rex 45 Orange Sprint Run: the Joker.
I have heard that CPM Magnacut could be a stainless CPM 4V.
What I have heard over the years is how CPM 4V is tough and strong. The toughest steel used in Spyderco was CPM 3V used in the Tuff by Ed Schempp.
4V is used in cutting competitions alongside CPM M4. It is tougher than A2 or D2, and also tougher than M4.
What is the advantage 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 only 5% chromium, CPM 4V can rust.
DLC helps eliminate that concern for this folder.
There is also some reminiscence of the Benchmade AFCK in M2HSS.
It was 25 years ago that this co-designed folder with Chris Caracci and Sal Glesser introduced a rust-prone tool steel on a modern “tactical” knife, protected by a black coating.
So peace of mind is a real advantage in a workhorse knife. 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 have with this Hellboy’s blade of choice?
A long folder with no hump on the blade — very slick.
A tough, pointy design you can use hard.
A very strong lock — backlocks are among the strongest locking systems 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 a good opportunity to step back in time and enjoy this incredibly slick and tough piece of equipment from a few years ago.
For my own adjustment, I have sanded the G10 so it is less harsh on my trousers.
The edge is already de-shouldered with diamond stones, and now I will tune it further to my preferences, as CPM 4V is not only tough but also strong.
I also replaced the original clip with a deep-carry Chinese clone.
And off we go!
Edit: I am back on the OEM black matte clip, which keeps less of the knife in 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 versions 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 elements. Better: a nautical version ready to stand tall in front 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 that hits a lot of sweet spots. Like a sort of totally rust-free CPM M4: strong, resilient, and able to withstand thin edges without chipping.
So why add a DLC on that alloy? Overkill can be fun, can’t it?
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 its metallurgist and 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, a hippocampus!!
All hardware is black coated except the stop pin, which is silver and made of “fearlessly corrosion-resistant marine-grade materials“.
The handle (as efficient as it is in being non-slip) 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. Even then, it will be hard on pocket lips.
The Diamond-Like Coating is not only protecting a blade that doesn’t need any protection; it also gives a strong Mall Ninja vibe.
Usually, coatings bring some kind of lubrication to material 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 moved the clip for a tip-up carry, which suits the Paramillie better in my book.
Of course, de-shouldering the edge is the first step before convexing, which I do on new knives. Especially since I have read that Magnacut loves leather stropping.
And this is true! The edge turned quickly into a über-razor state.
It zipped through meat like a lightsaber into bantha meat.
So now the game is on. The Salty Magnacut Paramillie is ready to kick all other knives from my pockets and be used long term.
Let’s see what this cutlery apogee-era knife has to propose in the long run!
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