Choosing a travel folder is easy for me — I own quite a few knives of various lengths dedicated to that purpose. Traveling from France to the UK, however, means avoiding any locking blade and any edge longer than 3 inches (76 mm).
For the record the non locking mechanism of the SlipIts is reviewed in this review here.
But this time, I’ve decided to take the Squeak designed by Sal Glesser. The Titanium/Elmax Sprint Run Jewel. Easy to pocket, One Hand opening are my choice. Usuaully I use a UKPK from Heinie for my UK trips. This time, it will be the SqueakDeluxe. This micro-folder has been a constant companion in my pocket since 2017, and it’s perfectly watch-pocket friendly — but as my only knife for a road trip? That’s the real question.
I don’t know about you, but my uses for a knife when traveling abroad are many — from cutting labels to sharing a piece of cake.
The first thing I ask from a blade is that it stays very, very low-profile. A deep-carry clip is mandatory in that regard. However, the Squeak’s stock clip isn’t exactly discreet, so I swapped it for a MicroJimbo clip — the same one used on the Lil’ Native — which is noticeably shorter.
Frankly, this shorter clip should come standard on all SlipIt models from the factory!
I often use my EDC knives right on the plate. Eating with a sharp blade is non-negotiable — and most of the time, my wife ends up borrowing mine, so it goes back and forth throughout the meal.
Of course, ceramic plates aren’t exactly a razor edge’s best friends. They can sharpen a blade in spots, but mostly they’ll dull it fast.
For food prep or eating on a plate, my favorite blade shape is the Wharncliffe, since only the tip makes contact with the hard ceramic surface. The MicroJimbo would have been perfect for that — if only it weren’t a locking knife. Honestly, I’d love to see a Wharncliffe SlipIt someday!
For now, the Squeak brings a bit of belly and that razor-sharp Elmax edge. It truly shines with pizza — that perfect mix of soft top and hard crust demands a blade that cuts deep and steady.
I didn’t bring any sharpening stone to touch up the edge, but I found that mostly the tip was the part coming into contact with the ceramic. With longer blades, I usually tilt the knife slightly to avoid any 90° cuts against the plate. But with the Squeak, I just went at my pizza like a hungry wolf.
The result? A bit of dulling — maybe 1 mm toward the tip — but nothing I actually noticed during the trip. I sometimes straighten a rolled edge on a mug’s rim or a sink edge, but not this time. I didn’t bother. Elmax isn’t brittle, so there was no real concern anyway.
The tip needs to stay razor sharp, since I also use it to open plastic bags, while I use the edge near the pivot for cutting labels. Despite the dulling, I couldn’t feel any loss of performance on plastic.
Using a short blade naturally means a bit more sawing motion, or sometimes two slashes for one cut — but with the Squeak, that was no issue at all.
Its biggest challenge might have been scones, but with those, I just think twice and cut once! Even slicing a lemon for tea worked perfectly — I simply rolled the fruit on the board while cutting through it.
All those mundane tasks only proved how essential the Squeak was as our sole cutting tool during our five-day road trip. It handled every meal — cutting bread for toast, slicing soda bread leaves — and never once did I feel underknived. The Squeak performed flawlessly in every task, and above all, it was an absolute pleasure to carry and use.
So, does size matter? In this case, the Squeak has clearly proven itself as both a great travel companion and a perfect EDC for countries that are cautious about knife laws.
The SLIPIT™, is a group of American-designed folding knives developed by Spyderco. Originating from the UK Penknife (UKPK) project — the first folding knife to combine their one-hand-opening Trademark Round Hole™, clip carry, and a non-locking mechanism — and drawing inspiration from the Caly series, the group comprises the UKPK, Metropolitan, Urban, and Squeak models. All were designed by Sal Glesser.
The Blue Brother of my Slipit family is the UK Penknife (UKPK) Blue G10 CPM SPY 27 version AKA “The great slicer” or “The Golden Child” as it is made in Colorado when the others are made in Italy. My UKPK is the G10-handled version in CPM SPY27 steel. It features the thinnest blade (2.5 mm vs 3mm for the other members of the SlipIt family) and offers the best slicing performance, with a cutting edge measuring 75 mm. You can notice its this G10 version got 4 screws on the handle. (When Spyderco site is only showing 3 screws for their UKPK G10 SPY27 model) Edit: I got an answer from Golden about that: “The photo of the G10 model you see online is a photoshopped version of the lightweight model, which only has 3 screws. The 4 screw version is standard for the g10 variant.” The FRN UKPK got 3 screws and a short spring/backspacer. Perhaps easier to rinse and clean. Its Salt version even exist in yellow with CPM Magnacut and in green with LC200N and also with serrated edge.
On mine, its thin CPM SPY27 blade is particularly well-suited to maintenance by leather stropping, and this model is unique in the group for employing a fork spring, likely necessitated by the longer stainless steel backspacer. Thanks to its blade steel, the UKPK also provides the greatest lateral strength of the series.
Its versatility makes it suitable as a travel knife, steak knife, whittling tool, office companion, or even a light kitchen knife. You can even change for another style of clip if you want a toolish look. The UKPK won’t let you down FRN or G10 version. They are great travel non threatening folders.
The Black Brother of the Slipit family is the Metropolitan, a tad shorter than the UKPK but often described in my book as having “an everlasting edge.” This model is notable as the only Slipit presented here with an FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon) handle. FRN is great and solid and the Metro got a full spring/back spacer.
Its key strength lies in the choice of blade steel: Böhler M398, known for delivering extremely long-lasting edge retention at a comparatively very accessible price point. Despite its 3 mm blade stock, the Metropolitan remains an excellent slicer. While M398 offers less lateral strength than CPM SPY27, it excels in edge holding, making this model particularly well-suited as a folding skinner or for heavy-duty tasks such as breaking down cardboard.
The Red Brother of the Slipit family is the Urban, my Low Profile London Traveller, produced as an exclusive edition for Heinnie Haynes. This model was acquired at approximately twice the cost of the Metropolitan, owing to its premium blade steel: CPM S90V, a high-performance alloy offering edge retention on par with Böhler M398. Now the FRN Urban is released with M398 too which makes my previous expensive Heinnie S90V Urban quest totally obsolete.
Released prior to the availability of the Metropolitan and the M398 Urban, this knife also features a G10 handle with a distinctive finish. Its compact dimensions allow it to be carried discreetly, such as in the watch pocket of denim trousers. In this collection, the Red Brother is primarily employed as a travel knife for use in London. I have it equipped with the short MicroJimbo clip for the lowest profile possible.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Overall Length: 5.95in 151mm Closed Length: 3.54in 90mm Blade Thickness: .114in 2.9mm Blade Length: 2.49in 63mm Edge Length: 2.15in 55mm Handle Material: Red G10 Origin: Italy Steel: CPM S90V (on mine) M398 for the FRN version. Knife Weight: 60 gr (for mine) 56 gr for the FRN version in M398.
Big Pizza ? No problemo.
The Silver Brother – The Tweetanium ! The Squeak is truly a jewel within the SlipIt family. Despite its compact size, it never leaves me feeling “under-knived” when carried in a watch pocket. I once owned a Squeak Deluxe Sprint Run with a titanium handle and Elmax steel blade, which I eventually passed on to JD. Thanks to Guillaume, I was able to acquire another example, new in box.
Later came the titanium sprint-run version, which felt even sharper at the edge, requiring less effort when cutting. Its rounded titanium scales were warm to the touch, slipped smoothly into the pocket, and offered a more refined feel than the FRN model. The stiffer titanium construction also produced a stronger spring, giving the knife a crisper “walk and talk.” While one-hand opening was slightly more demanding, both versions remained capable of the classic “Spydie drop.” The titanium scales are smooth under the thumb and provide superb ergonomics in a three-finger grip. Construction is minimalist, relying on only two body screws plus one for the deep-carry clip.
This is a three fingers grip when the Urban is still a four finger grip.
This rare titanium variant stands out as a refined upgrade over the standard Squeak—an elegant evolution of an already excellent design. I love Elmax steel since my Lionspy. I remember beating the crap out of it and it was really forgiving: no chipping and great sharpness. It is tough for a stainless steel.
Its short blade is full-flat-ground, exceptionally thin at the edge, and employs a slipjoint-style “notched-joint” mechanism: the spring holds the blade open during use and offers resistance when closing.
It slice through a Coke bottle butt with its factory edge ! Not many models from the Spyderco line can do that right out of the box. In practice, performance is outstanding. The small blade slices cleanly through materials such as plastic, wood, ropes and even after extended use—up to a year on my first Elmax Squeak—it remains razor-sharp with only minimal stropping required. Elmax, a rare style among Spyderco knives, is that good !
The Spyder hole and blade spine are the also the sharpest of the family. It could be used to strike some ferro rod.
Compact yet versatile, the “mini micro” knife proves remarkably capable for everyday tasks: cutting meat at the table (where the blade’s belly is especially effective), opening tags, breaking down plastic, and more. It also maintains a discreet, non-threatening presence in public and restaurant settings. It makes a great money clip too.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Overall Length: 5.05in 128mm Closed Length: 3.05in 77mm Blade Thickness: .118in 3mm Blade Length: 2in 51mm Edge Length: 1.75in 44mm Handle Material: Titanium Origin: ItalySteel: Elmax (for mine) N690Co (for the FRN version). Knife Weight: 69 grams (48 grams for the FRN version) The Squeak in this titanium version is the heaviest of the family.
Le Choix des Armes
Blue UKPK – the versatile slicer.
Black Metropolitan – the non locking hunter’s companion.
Red Urban – the low-profile city dweller.
Silver Squeak – three fingers power house.
Each model is reliable, discreet, and delivers outstanding cutting performance thanks to their blade geometry. They shine on the plate and impress with pure slicing ability on the hardest materials (my pastic bottle tests…). Thanks to their relatively strong non locking mechanisms, they also handle whittling tasks—yes, even the Squeak is surprisingly pleasant and powerful against any piece of wood. And don’t forget, now their slip-joint strength is impeccable. Also each knife comes with a choil, keeping your fingers safe from unwanted blade closure. Really, when it comes to staying open, Sal Glesser’s four slip-joint designs outclass his excellent Roadie XL—and put Anderson’s COBOL to shame. Sharp, firm, secure, and reassuring—no surprises when handling these slipjoint knives which are proof that size doesn’t define performance. 😉
Not long after the original Squeak SC154PBK came out I got one. I carried and used it for a few months and enjoyed its performance. The blade was thin enough at the edge to cut well, the steel (Böehler N690Co) held its edge and was easy to resharpen. The handle was comfortable and I am a fan of the wire clip. The back spring was strong enough to keep the knife open and closed as needed, but not to stiff to impede easy one hand manipulation. The overall fit and finish was excellent. Well done Spyderco Maniago!
For me and my urban life style I have found that five centimeters of sharp is enough for my usual cutting tasks. The Squeak fit the role of urban cutter to a tee!
During the last Spyderco Meet in Amsterdam I enjoyed handling Nemo’s titanium and Elmax sprint run version of the Squeak. When Nemo suggested I try it out for a few months, I was delighted! Having carried this one for a while now, on its own as well as alternating with my FRN version, and I must say: I am impressed!
It seem even thinner at the edge and making it cut with little effort than my FRN version. I was unable to find any difference between the steels. I have found that it is difficult to tell steels apart in use. It is much easier to tell them apart by much effort they are to sharpen. Besides, I have a Spyderco Urban in Elmax from the same factory that I have carried and used for months that held its edge well.
The titanium handle was nicely rounded and, after having been in a pants pocket for a while, pleasantly warm to the touch. The smoothness of the titanium helped it slip in and out of the pocket just a little easier than the FRN model, without fear of it falling out by its self.
On Nemo’s Squeak the back spring is a little stronger due to titanium being stiffer than FRN, making the walk and talk more pronounced and the blade slightly harder to open with one hand. By-the-way, both the FRN and the titanium version can be opened with the Spydie drop! A sharp flick of the wrist does the trick!
Fit and finish is of a very high level. This knife exudes quality. All in all an excellent upgrade of the standard Squeak. Well done Spyderco!
The author: JD is a good friend and a regular contributor to the NKR. He also known for his precise skills in sharpening and is a real encyclopedia about knives. His carrying preferences goes for small folders. All Pictures and text copyrighted by JD.
It’s time to present a one year old friend who doesn’t want to leave my watchpocket.
The Squeak in its Deluxe Sprint version: Titanium handle and Elmax steel blade.
This little knife is made in Maniago Italy but has been designed by Sal Glesser.
You can find Sal signature engraved / laser etched on the blade near the hole.
This is one of the shorted blade I own, but again, unique to Spyderco, this is a little big knife.
The first sensation is purely tactile. The smooth titanium handle is a pleasure under the thumb and in the palm: its smooth surface and rounded edges are very appealing. The ergonomy is superb in its three fingers grip.
Noted that Satin finished Titanium can be a scratch magnet but you can easily remove them with light sandpaper or jeweller erasers.No big deal.
It’s a very minimalist construction every is hold by two screws. A third one is used for the deep carry clip which is my SPyderco’s favorite
The blade is full flat ground and especielly thin edge witha great steel: Elmax.
The choil makes it a reliable folding tool even if its a slipjoint.
The sprint is strong, much stronger than my UKPK, and the short blade offered less leverage for closing. To quote Spyderco: “The Squeak’s blade is held in the open position when cutting by a notched-joint at the knife’s pivot. When closing the blade, the notch generates resistance functionally similar to traditional slip-joint penknife and performs the additional function of smoothing the motion of the blade opening.”
It’s a very very sharp blade. It goes through plastic bottle butts very very easily. The excellence in steel choice and the great edge geometry is so great that I have not touch it at all since I got it. After one year on regular use, the knife is still razor sharp. I keep it that way with some white ceramic and stropping on leather. That’s all. It is ‘that’ great.
I was very surprised by how usefull a short blade like this one can be.
Carried as a second folder (when usually I only use one knife or one multitool)
in my pocketwatch, the Sqweak has proven to be very useful.
I have been also able to eat with it. Its belly helps a lot to cut the meat in a plate. Again, the knife is not rising any eyebrows, nobody seems to notice the little tool in public places or even in a restaurant. Let’s be clear, knives in restaurant suck, one of my favorite low profile knife for that is the Mantra 2. It’s always handy to carry a small sharp blade in places where any knife could afraid the sheeples. I use mine a lot in the supermarket. It gets fast in the hand, open fast and closed fast. Very discreet and very powerful on cardboard and plastic tags of all sorts. Also last year I have been obliged to carry a Leatherman Wingman and the lil’ Squeak was my main eating knife for bread, cheese, sausages, meat and it was easily a much better blade than the multitool’s short thick blade…
The Squeak has also replaced my Pingo as my UK knife. I was on the verge to by an elmax Pingo but eventually I really need the opening hole. I need a one hand opening knife. Also it has renewed my love for Elmax so badly that I have bought the Zero Tolerance ZT0770.
NemoKnivesReview 