Spyderco

Spyderco Polestar Review

When you have a thing as simple and relatively unchanging as a folding knife, the most meaningful innovation we customers can see is quality brought to affordability. A few years ago my sincerest wish for the knife market was that manufacturers would turn their attention away from the high-end and back to the sub-$100 arena.

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In a way that wish has been granted, albeit in a mild monkey’s paw scenario. The value scale has not so much been reset as it has been smashed to pieces, shattered by products and practices we wouldn’t have even thought of in 2010, blinded by our Tenaciouses. Companies like Real Steel are pumping out affordable knives with great materials and low price tags. Steel Will, Ontario Knife Company, and even knife world-adjacent companies like Statgear have laser-focused on delivering major bang for buck. And on top of all this, Kickstarter and Massdrop allow for small runs of finely made knives with premium materials at two-figure prices.

The problem is no longer a lack of value knives, but rather a surplus of such richness that it’s difficult to identify the real winners amid the churning ocean of contenders. Going knife-by-knife would be a full-time project, so we have to pick and choose – and so I started with Spyderco.

I’ve already talked about the Chaparral FRN, but after that I wanted to go lower on the price scale. This naturally lead to the Polestar, a sub-$100 Sal Glesser design. Where does this Sal Glesser design fall in terms of quality and worth? Let’s take a closer look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Polestar has a 3.3-inch blade, a 4.5-inch handle, and an overall length of 7.81 inches. It weighs just under 4 oz. and is made in China.

There’s something distinctly old school about the Polestar. With its homely lines and wide profile, it looks like one of those lumpy, charming Spyderco designs from the 90s. At the same time it comes across as a more refined Tenacious: skinnier, with a streamlined handle and narrower blade. Given its price, however, the more relevant comparison lies with the Delica and Endura. It falls between the two of them in edge length but is wider than either.

Do we call this a leaf shape blade? Whatever it is, it works wonders. I’m by no means a full flat grind zealot, but Spyderco has a particular mastery of the form. Here the full flat grind enables this medium-sized knife to slice aggressively and cleanly, while still imparting a feeling of durability and sturdiness. The closest analog I can draw is the Paramilitary 2. If you like the way that knife cuts, you’ll find a lot to love on the Polestar too.

The Polestar’s BD1 steel places ahead of the 8Crs and AUS-8, and keeps a significantly cleaner edge than either, even as it dulls. This makes it a viable cutter even at greater levels of wear than its competitors, which often get toothy and uneven as they work. BD1 also shrugs off both rust and staining/smudging.

We’ve seen S35VN and D2 at shockingly low price points recently, but if I had to forecast what will be the next de facto budget steel, CTS-BD1 (and its successor CTS-BD1N) get my vote. CTS-BD1 is a hassle-free steel anyone can manage.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Before I held the Polestar myself, I wondered if it would be all that comfortable. I shouldn’t have worried: the Polestar feels 100% like a Spyderco. Like all of their best handles, it feels like it’s rushing to meet your hand as you close it around the knife. Despite the plain appearance there are some super thoughtful touches. A dip just behind the thumb ramp accommodates the lower part of the digit more comfortably than a straight line would. An area around the pivot curves inward, creating a pinch point between your thumb and forefinger for detailed, high-control cuts. The Polestar is an unmitigated success in the ergos department.

Carry… well, not so much. This is a wide knife. At its widest point it’s about 1.5 inches across, and unlike other wide Spydercos it maintains most of the width for its entire length. I wouldn’t classify it as an unforgivable pocket hog, but you’re going to notice this one anytime you reach into your pocket, and it probably isn’t a great carry for shorts or slacks. There’s also an inch or so of knife that sticks out during carry; in the tip-up configuration, you get a massive lanyard hole and the Polestar’s little tail out for all to see.

These issues combine to be, for me, a nearly fatal flaw. During the testing period I often just didn’t feel like carrying the Polestar because I had so many other knives, some with equivalent (or greater) blade lengths, that took up significantly less pocket space. On the bright side it’s a thin knife across the spine, thinner than a Tenacious.

The pocket clip is that stalwart standby, the Spyderco spoon. It’s the right choice for this knife, keeping the Polestar in place as you walk. It’s also four-way positionable, so both righties and lefties have a second configuration if the default one irks them too much.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spyderco Round Hole plus phosphor bronze washers is rarely a bad combination, but it isn’t always a fast one. Depending on the lock and structure of the knife, you might have to slow-open whether you want to or not. My Polestar, however, does not present that problem. Its medium-strength detent allows for thoughtless flicking, but it isn’t so jumpy that you can’t roll it out if you want to.

One note: the overall fit and finish on the Polestar were great, but the detent ball did rub harshly against the tang as the knife opened. If I was slow rolling, it made a hoarse, scraping noise. A dab of Nano-Oil on the detent ball fixed this problem, making for a smooth, silky deployment.

I don’t think a lot of people associate Spyderco with liner locks, even though the Military, one of their classics, is a liner lock knife. In fact, according to Sal Glesser, the Polestar idea originated as a concept for a smaller Military designed for the Boy Scouts to use. With this in mind, you can see that influence in the larger-than-normal cutout to access the locking leaf. I thought I wouldn’t like this but over time I got used to it, and I never accidentally disengaged the lock even when gripping the knife hard. And regarding strength, I never lost confidence. The entire locking face contacts the tang, and there is not a smidge of play in any direction. You won’t ever have an issue with this knife during regular use.

Spyderco Polestar Review – Final Thoughts

The Polestar is a good knife. I like it, but I like it more than I’ll carry it, and much more than I can recommend it.

It comes down to that teeming body of sub-$100 offerings right now, and where this knife falls into that ocean. The Polestar goes for about $64 as of April 2018. That’s only $10 cheaper than a Delica or Endura, two knives that it doesn’t beat out in any category, and loses to in several. And it’s only $15 dollars cheaper than the FRN Chaparral, the best knife money can buy for under $100.

Part of what made the Tenacious such a success was its original $35ish dollar price point. Few people would’ve picked it over a Delica or Endura if they cost the same, but access to that Spyderco smartness in a cheap package was an unbeatable combo.

The Polestar is a better knife than the Tenacious, but it doesn’t enjoy the added edge of a good price. Compared to Real Steel’s myriad offerings, or Steel Will’s Cutjack line, it has an unimpeachable Spyderco design pedigree, but it’s also pricier. You’ll have to decide how much more you’re willing to pay for that pedigree – and again, if you are willing to pay for it, you may as well drop another $10 and grab a Delica, Endura, or Chaparral FRN.

A truth is that we, the consumers, don’t really get to know what goes on to get a knife made. We can guess, but until companies become more transparent that guessing will remain a fantasy, not particularly helpful. But I will say that it’s a shame the Polestar isn’t cheaper. Alongside its little brother the Alycone it could have been a real highlight, a great design and value. But with that awkward price I can only unreservedly recommend it if you aren’t interested in the Chaparral FRN, Endura, Delica, Cutjack, the RAT 1 or 2, the Skyline, or virtually anything in Real Steel’s lineup.

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Spyderco Polestar Value Folding Utility Knife with 3.33" CTS BD1 Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Gray G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C220GPGY

A Value Folder: Spyderco offers a unique breed of knives that truly live up to their name. They are perfect for novice knife buyers and as gifts for those you might want to "convert" into knife enthusiasts.
Superior Blade Steel: The heart of the Polestar is its full-flat-ground 3.33" blade, which is precision machined from American-made CTS BD1 Stainless Steel.
A Secure Grip: It has a gray scaled G-10 handle with a unique non-slip checked texture. Comfort in hand means easier use long-term.
Easy-to-Use: Its leaf-shaped profile includes a long, exceptionally capable PlainEdge working edge and a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole for swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening.
Pocket-Friendly: The Polestar includes a Walker Linerlock and a 4-way pocket clip lets the folder be set in a variety of carry and draw positions: Tip-up/tip-down left-hand/right-hand.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Polestar at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco “S” – Discontinued But not Forgotten

by A Sharp Guest Contributor 2 Comments

Jealousy is often referred to as the Green-Eyed Monster. Being a little sister, I am all too familiar with this emotion.

As a kid, my big brother always had the nicest and newest gadgets. He is also incredibly smart, so he had the best grades. I looked up to him and was inspired to think that maybe someday day I’d have the nicest and newest things. Maybe I would be even smarter than him…

That last one didn’t come to fruition, but to this day, I strive to get something nicer and newer This determination peaked one summer day before my freshman year in college.

On that day a window was opened into the world of extraordinary pocket knives when my brother showed me his newest purchase. It was a Spyderco “S” Black. When I saw it, my hazel eyes turned to green.

This knife didn’t have a solid metal handle, it was intricately carved out like a web. Once the blade was revealed, I was blown away. The whole knife was one incredible black and silver web. I had never seen anything that strong look as though it might fold under the slightest pressure.

How was this possible for Spyderco to combine a delicate façade with such interior strength? Well, that’s easy to explain. The almost 2.5” long blade has been shaped, not cut out, to look like a web by a process called metal injection molding.

Basically, there are four ingredients, steel (which is Taiwan produced 440C steel), a binder, metal powder, and heat. The first three ingredients are mixed together and then molded to shape. Once in the shape the ingredients are sintered, or heated, to combine into a solid material.

The “S” was produced with option to choose between two different handle colors, black or silver. Both are made of anodized aluminum that has been cut with the same web pattern as the molded blade. It should come as no surprise that the entire knife weighs only 2 oz.

A wire clip is attached to carry in the tip-up position only but can be changed for left or right-handed carry. It’s a great length at 3.5” but the wire clip is positioned somewhat low on the handle so the top is visible when carried in a pocket.

Opposite of the blade in the handle is a Compression Lock. This incredibly strong lock has been developed and patented by Spyderco. It compresses just behind the blade and pops into place once open. The lock releases by pushing in on the tab and folding the blade back down. With four finger grips, you can be assured of a secure hold when cutting.

Fortunately, my eyes didn’t stay green for long. A few years later I was able to purchase my very own shiny, and new, “S” Silver. By far the best purchase I’ve made and one of my top five favorite knives of all time.

Even though the “S” isn’t an everyday use knife for me, it’s perfect for a special occasion or when you want to impress your friends. Unfortunately, Spyderco no longer makes the “S”, but if you want one bad enough, you’ll find it. Don’t let that Green-Eyed Monster get the best of you.

Editor: I hope you enjoyed this guest post from Jennifer Wood. As the PocketKnifeHousWife, she definitely brings a different perspective from your average knife reviewer. Jennifer and her reviews can be found at PocketknifeHousewife.com. Follow her on Instagram @Pocketknifehousewife or Twitter @PktHousewife.

Spyderco Chaparral FRN Lightweight Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 6 Comments

The word ‘refinement’ is one of those bits of critical shorthand that gets people nodding their heads without, most of the time, meaning anything. But in the case of the Chaparral FRN, the latest, least expensive entry in a series that began in 2011, we know it’s been worked over, thought about, maybe even agonized over. Sal himself has alluded to the Chapparral FRN project’s particular specialness to him and the company’s drive to get it done and get it right.

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And the Chaparral series itself is part of a longer lineage. There’s a kind of “Ur-Spyderco” design at which many of the company’s most successful releases originate. Utility-oriented blade, friendly size, ergonomic handle with a half-and-half finger choil…this is the starting point for many seminal Spyderco knives. The Caly, Sage, Cat, Native, Dragonfly, and Stretch series all originate here, and so does the Chaparral – and it may, possibly, be the best of all those knives in terms of pure EDC.

Yeah, I don’t like to bury the lead like this, but it’s no use withholding the obvious truth here: the Chaparral FRN is a great knife. It’s probably perfect, and I knew that before I even got one. This is the rare case where there was little difference between imagining what a knife was like before I owned it and discovering what it was actually like after carrying and using it. There’s not a thing I would change about this knife and I think it would please anyone in the market for a knife of this size and use category.

But then again, knives aren’t like books or games, where each one offers a different experience you can’t find elsewhere. All knives fundamentally do the same thing. Is the Chaparral FRN’s Platonic perfection worth your attention and your dollars? Let’s take a look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Chaparral has a blade length of 2.8”, with a cutting edge of 2.2”. Handle length is 3.5” without the finger choil, and with it is right at 4”. Overall length is 6.3” and weight is 2.0 oz. The Chaparral is made in Taichung, Taiwan.

In terms of size, the Chaparral falls between the Dragonfly 2 and the Delica 4. It has about .4” more cutting edge than a DF2 – enough to boost it into wider cutting capabilities – and compared to the Delica it’s more compact, albeit with .3” less cutting edge (not as crucial a size increase).

This will be a recurring motif with the Chaparral FRN, but the leaf shape blade does most things well and nothing poorly. And when it comes to detail work and surgeon-like snipping in particular, the blade really sings due to a thin, precise grind. Edge geometry and blade thickness rarely make or break a knife for me, but the Chaparral FRN’s configuration was noticeably optimized.

The Chaparral FRN marks my first long-term encounter with CTS-XHP. I’ve been so long acclimated to the solid performance of modern steels that it had virtually no chance to wow me, but that doesn’t mean it was bad. Edge retention and sharpening seemed about on par with S35VN, and maybe due to the generous edge bevel and thin blade it responded eagerly to stropping.

Now of course, seeing this kind of steel on an $80 knife plays into the value proposition with the FRN Chaparral, but I’ll discuss that further down.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The gentle central handle swell, the narrow butt-end, the forward half-and-half choil – any knife enthusiast knows these elements like the words to his or her favorite song. And as with a favorite song, familiarity has failed to breed contempt. I’m not tired of this handle design at all. Each time I returned to the Chaparral FRN after a day with something else, I was pleasantly surprised. It just feels right.

This is a very thin-handled knife, and thin handles don’t always make for good ergonomics. Narrow knives can twist and turn in hand or dig into your palm during hard cutting tasks. Thankfully the Chaparral FRN avoids these problems, with chamfered edges all along the perimeter, adding dimensionality and softening the places pressed against your palm and fingers. A subtle and smart detail that makes a world of difference.

Yes, the bi-directional texturing pattern here is new, but not really different. Spyderco opted for a hexagonal motif, but otherwise the new texturing provides the same sure grip (and fires off the same trypophobia if you look at it too long) as previous FRN-handled Spyderco knives.

The deep carry wire clip is here, and yes, I admit, it is good. I’ve overcome my distaste for this clip. It hides the Chaparral completely in the pocket, which is a nice, people-friendly flourish for a knife as urbane as this. Still, I think the method of securing the clip, a screw that goes over two little prongs laid into cutouts in the handle, is weak, susceptible to knocks and scrapes in a way the standard clip screws aren’t – but not everyone is as klutzy as I am and a little care will go a long way here.

Deployment and Lockup

The opening hole is, as always, great. Accessible, ambidextrous, able to be opened one- or two-handed. It’s a winner.

But take a moment to pity the poor lock back. Wrongly neglected, it does so much right and very little wrong. It’s strong, self-adjusting, innately ambidextrous, and keeps your fingers out of the blade channel when you close the knife. Why does it have this reputation as a stodgy, cumbersome contrivance of yore, in the days before the twin lights of Michael Walker and Chris Reeve brought us out of the dark ages?

Well if you’re looking for a good argument in 2018 for the lock back, the Chaparral FRN is it. Glassy smooth, it snaps into place with authority and holds the blade dead still, with nary a millimeter of play in any direction. The overall narrowness of the knife makes repeated disengagements slightly uncomfortable, but that’s only if you’re sitting there opening and closing it for extended amounts of time.

Spyderco Chaparral FRN Review – Final Thoughts

The Chaparral FRN is a great knife. But yeah , there are tons of great knives out there right now. What, if anything, makes the Chaparral stand out?

It comes down to price. Delivering real value in the crucial sub-$100 bracket takes doing. Real value comes from innovations, not sacrifices. A knife with bad steel and cheap materials is not a good value, it’s simply cheap (whether or not it’s a good knife). The Wharncliffe Delica 4, the Polestar and Alcyone, even the Byrd line upgrades all reflect attempts at real value, and so does the Chaparral FRN.

It may be more expensive than those others, but it goes further than they do, too, bringing excellent steel, perfect size, and as much pure Spyderco design excellence as you could wish for, all while hitting a price point within spitting range of the Delica – and that’s a pretty big deal. It won’t ever dislodge the Delica/Endura lines in terms of popularity, and there’re many knives from many manufacturers to consider, but there’s a distinct chance that for anybody in the market for a pure EDC knife, the Chaparral FRN is now the sub-$100 entry to beat.

The particular Chaparral FRN under review is a special one, a Christmas gift from my girlfriend Leslie that came engraved on the show side (hence why you only get pictures of the back throughout this review). It’s part of my permanent collection on that ground alone. But in addition to sentimental value it also happens to be a perfect knife that I unreservedly recommend. I think it’s the best version of the Chaparral to get, unless you crave the pizzazz some of the pricier versions offer.

Yeah, but is it better than the Delica? Only time – and a possible Showdown – will tell.

Sale

Spyderco Chaparral Lightweight Prestige Knife with 2.80 CTS XHP Steel Blade and Gray Durable FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C152PGY

An Improved Classic: One of the newest additions to this best-selling family is the Chaparral Lightweight, which offers the same design theme and functionality as its brothers, but with a simple, reliable, and affordable injection-molded handle.
Iconic Design: Spyderco's unique Chaparral series of gentlemen's folding knives expresses the same basic design platform with a variety of unique handle materials and treatments.
Superior Blade Steel: Like the other versions of the Chaparral, its defining features include a full-flat-ground CTS XHP Stainless Steel blade.
Ergonomic: The tough FRN construction minimizes weight and offers the high-traction advantages of our Bi-Directional Texturing pattern.
Superior Steel: Nested in the handle are skeletonized Stainless Steel liners ensure excellent structural strength and precise alignment of all key components.

$105.00
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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Chaparral FRN Lightweight at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Bradley Folder 2 Review

by Travis Pike 5 Comments

I’ve set some odd goals throughout my life. Goals that are a personal measure of my own success. One of those goals was to carry a Spyderco as an EDC knife. I always associated Spyderco with expensive and high quality. Why? I’m not exactly sure. Realizing that knives from companies like Microtech can cost 5 times as much as a Spyderco didn’t change my mind. To me a Spyderco was a measure of a certain kind of success.

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I had a bit of a rush when I finally purchased my first Spyderco. This is my third Spyderco and I get that same rush. The Spyderco we are talking about today is the Gayle Bradley Folder 2. The Spyderco Bradley Folder 2 has been my EDC for most of the fall and winter so I’ve had the time to get to know it.

We all know who Spyderco is and we know they produce high quality knives designed for hard work. Gayle Bradley may be familiar to some readers, but let’s talk about him a bit for those who aren’t familiar with his work (we previously reviewed Bradley’s original collaboration with Spyderco, and the Spyderco Air as well). Gayle Bradley has been designing knives for over 30 years. His knives have set Blade Sports world records twice and stay in high demand. The calling card of his knives is the combination of form and function.

Gayle Bradley’s knives work and look good doing it. The Spyderco Bradley Folder 2 is no different. The collaboration between Gayle Bradley and Spyderco has produced my favorite Spyderco yet.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Bradley Folder 2 has an overall length of 8.48 inches, has a 3.66-inch blade, weighs 4.5 ounces and is built in Taiwan. Since it has a 2 in the name you can assume this is the second Bradley and Spyderco collaboration. The Bradley Folder 2 is longer in both blade and handle than the original, but remains the lighter knife. The Bradley 2 is a half an ounce lighter than the original.

This knife is too pretty for me. It’s so good-looking I almost hate to carry and abuse it. As you can see from the pictures I seemed to have gotten over that. I’ve used and abused it quite a bit. The handle features carbon fiber and G10 laminate grips. This gives the knife it’s eye catching outward appearance. It’s not until you spend some real time with this knife you appreciate it’s refinement. Once you get to third date you can take a peek under the skirt.

The blade is hollow ground and the symmetry is painfully perfect. The way the grinds on the top of the blade catch the light is something you can only experience with one in your hand.

The blade is made from CPM M4 steel. The benefits of this steel are numerous. It’s strong, it holds an edge forever, and it can be razor sharp with little effort. The knife gods can’t give without taking though. M4 is a tool steel and not a stainless steel so it will rust if you don’t take care of it.

My blade isn’t rusted, that’s tar. I’ve been re roofing my home and the Bradley Folder 2 has been along for the ride. Once I have the time I’ll sit down with some blade oil and a stiff AP brush and try to clean it. For now, it just adds character.

From the factory the blade is a razor. It sliced through any and everything with ease. Paper, roof shingles, cardboard, rope, and more. Dragging it over certain materials was enough to make cuts. I remain impressed by how sharp I can get this blade. Equally impressive is how long it remains sharp.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The extended handle on the Bradley Folder 2 will be appreciated by anyone with XL hands. The design includes a subtle finger guard to help resist hand slippage when working hard. The rear of the handle has an inward curve that accommodates a thumb on top grip. The screws that hold the grip panels to the knife are countersunk and blackened to blend in with the grips. There is a total of 8 Torx screws in the grips, 4 on each side.

That carbon fiber pattern offers you a grippy texture. It helps keep the knife in your hand, but isn’t abrasive or uncomfortable. The pattern itself is not just nice to look at, but functional.

The back of the blade has a small textured session to rest your thumb on. It’s nice but it could be bigger. There is plenty of room to extend the texturing if they chose to do so. The blade is easy to control for fine cuts and the handle is comfortable during long stretches of work.

Included is a simple, but long pocket clip. It’s 2.5 inches long and adorned with a cute little Spider. The pocket clip can be moved to 4 different positions. You can carry the knife tip up or tip down and it can be orientated for left or right handed carry. The Bradley Folder 2 is a completely ambidextrous knife.

Deployment and Lockup

The Bradley Folder 2 has a larger ½ inch deployment hole. When it comes to Spyderco’s deployment hole design you either love it or hate it. For me it’s easy to reach and puts the blade into action fast enough. It’s far from the fastest deployment system, but its smooth and reliable. There isn’t a little piece of metal screwed to the side of the blade that’s waiting to fall off.

Once the blade is locked in place it’s staying there. The blade has zero play in any direction. You can feel the slight hiccup right before the liner lock engages. This the only point where deployment isn’t 100% smooth. The liner locked is textured which is a nice touch. This makes it easier to unlock the knife, especially when your hands are cold and numb.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Folder 2 Review – Final Thoughts

The Gayle Bradley Folder 2 is a great little knife. It mixes both form and function flawlessly. It gives users something they can admire with the hand and the eye. The Bradley Folder 2 is a workhorse. Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean it can’t get dirty. This isn’t the cheapest Spyderco, and you are probably paying a little extra for the looks. Are looks worth it?

Well, that’s subjective. To me, it’s worth every dime. I think it’s a fantastic knife and it will likely stay in the carry rotation for some time.

Spyderco Bradley Folder 2 Specialty Knife with 3.66" CPM M4 Premium Steel Blade and Black Carbon Fiber Laminate Handle - PlainEdge - C134CFP2

Folding Knives: Locking folding knives are safe, compact, and easy to carry. They also happen to be where the Spyderco revolution began.
Carbon Fiber: Graphic fibers (the size of a human hair) woven together then fused with epoxy resin. Lightweight with a high level of tensile strength it is three dimensional in appearance.
Hollow Grind: It comes with bevels that are ground with a concave radius. The bevels may extend the full width of the blade (full Hollow Grind) or only a portion of its width.
PlainEdge Blade: This knife has a sharpened blade with no serrations or teeth sometimes referred to as a smooth blade.
Specifications: Closed Length (Inches): 4.82, Overall Length (Inches): 8.42, Blade Length (Inches):3.6, Blade Steel: CPM M4, Grind: Hollow

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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Bradley Folder 2 at Amazon.com and BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco P’Kal Review

by Chad McBroom 4 Comments

The word pikal (also spelled pakal) is a Visayan dialect word that literally means “to rip.” In the Filipino martial arts, the name is generally used to describe the method of holding a knife in a reverse grip (aka ice pick grip), but more specifically denotes a reverse grip with the edge inverted, facing toward the user. The Spyderco P’Kal is a specialized folding knife designed specifically for reverse-edge knife tactics.

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The P’Kal was designed in collaboration with Craig Douglas, a career law enforcement officer, life-long martial artist, and the founder of ShivWorks. Douglas, also known as “SouthNarc,” is a huge advocate of reverse-edge knife tactics and has collaborated on several method-specific knife designs, including another Spyderco knife, the Spyderco Reverse.

Unlike the traditional use of a blade where the edge is facing outward and is driven by “pushing” motions using the smaller muscle groups located in the front of the upper torso, reverse edge movements are driven by ”pulling” motions using the large muscles located in the back. These techniques are point-driven. The result of the pikal method is a penetrating stab that creates a deep laceration as the blade is pulled (ripped) out of the target.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The P’Kal has a fully flat ground, 2.95” (75 mm) modified Wharncliffe style blade. The leading edge of the Wharncliffe blade design only amplifies the ripping qualities of the P’Kal, since the energy applied during the cut is transferred toward the tip.

The blade is constructed out of 0.125” (3.2 mm) CPM S30V stainless steel. Crucible Steel Company’s proprietary powdered cutlery steel is one of the best knife steels on the market with its high corrosion resistance and edge retention capabilities. It is one of my personal favorites, especially for a purely defensive blade.

When closed, the P’Kal is 4.40” (112 mm) long, making it an excellent size for Every-Day Carry (EDC). Weighing in at just 3.7 ounces (105 grams), the added weight of the P’Kal is hardly noticeable when carried in the front pocket.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The P’Kal has a black G-10 handle with reversible steel wire pocket clip that can be mounted on either side, allowing the user to opt for an edge-forward or edged-back carry configuration. The tension on the clip is very tight out of the box, but loosens up to be just right with a little use. When seated in the pocket, the knife rides just high enough to allow the use to gain a firm purchase on the handle for rapid deployment.

The handle is extremely comfortable when held with either a forward or reverse grip in the intended reverse edge configuration. The addition of a secondary finger notch on the edge side of the handle (which doubles as a cutaway for the thumb hole) allows for comfortable use with a traditional edge-outward grip. At first glance, this notch appears to be located too far back on the handle to be practical; however, once you get the knife in your hand, you quickly realize that it is placed in exactly the right position given the blade and handle geometry.

The liner has 1.5-inches of aggressive jimping along the portion that make contact with palm. This jimping, which extends just past the G-10 scales, coupled with the rough texture of the scales themselves makes for an exceptional gripping surface that works even when wet.
Unlike fixed-blade knives that can be designed with a more neutral grip, folders are more limited due to the blade folding into the handle. It is a rare thing to find a folder that works well in every grip. If you keep in mind that the P’Kal is a fighting knife made for use with a full-hand grip, then you will find the design works for multiple grip configurations.

Deployment and Lockup

The P’Kal has a removable post-style Emmerson Wave feature for rapid deployment. The recommended carry method is tip up at the front of the pocket. When carried in this configuration, the knife can be simultaneously opened on the draw stroke by hooking the post on the front of the pocket. When gripped properly, the knife can be rolled into the pikal grip position immediately after opening. Of course, the blade can also be opened manually using the Spyderco’s famous round thumb hole. When using the thumb hole to deploy the blade, the handle geometry ensures that you will find yourself with a natural reverse-edge forward grip upon lockup.

The ambidextrous caged Ball Bearing Lock located behind the tang is one of Spyderco’s strongest locking mechanisms. This unique, patented locking system has a ball bearing that sits inside a slightly curved channel which provides a track for the bearing. The ball bearing is pushed toward the blade by a small shaft that is surrounded by a coil spring. As the blade rotates open, the ball bearing pushes past the detent and into the new channel to lock the blade in position.

Since the ball bearing rolls freely throughout the blades travel, the action on the P’Kal is very smooth and the lockup is firm every time. My knife was very tight out of the box, to the point where I would have multiple failed wave deployments. This was a problem that needed to be fixed because I do not wish to lose any fingers from a blade collapsing on my hand. After applying some Nano-Oil and working the blade a couple hundred times in hopes that it would loosen up, I went to the tool box and grabbed a hex wrench. I loosened the pivot pin screw ever so slightly, which immediately resolved the problem.

Spyderco P’Kal Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco P’Kal is in my opinion one of the best purpose-built defensive blades on the market. As a big proponent of reverse-edge knife tactics myself, I see tremendous value in the P’Kal as a dedicated defensive blade and cannot recommend it highly enough for such a purpose. It have become my go-to EDC folder.

One of the benefits of the P’Kal is the availability of a training version of the knife. Even though the cost for the trainer is right up there with the cost of the live version, I can’t stress the importance of the trainer enough. It is an investment that will have a far greater return if you dedicate yourself to putting in the training hours.

When choosing to carry a specialized knife like the P’Kal as a self-defense tool, it is important to seek out proper instruction from a qualified edged weapons instructor. For those who may not have access to an instructor, there are other alternatives. Craig Douglas has two excellent DVDs on the ShivWorks Reverse Edge Methods if you can find them. Scott Babb of Libre Fighting also has a newly released DVD titled, “Reaper Method – Tredecim” which covers his approach to rapid knife deployment / employment (think in terms of the Japanese art of Iaido) using a reverse-edge (scythe) grip. Both men take different approaches to reverse-edge knife tactics, but they each present valuable information on the topic.

Spyderco P'Kal Specialty Knife with 2.95" CPM S30V Stainless Steel Reverse Edge Blade and Black G-10 Laminate Handle - PlainEdge - C103GP

P'KAL: "Pikal" is a devastatingly effective system of Filipino martial arts tactics. It is also the inspiration for the Spyderco P'Kal folding knife.
Ball Bearing Lock: This lock features a patented compressive lock that wedges a ball bearing between a fixed anvil and the blade tang. The mechanism also serves as a detent to hold the blade in the closed position.
Emerson Opener: This features a small integral hook on the spine of a knife's blade that catches on the edge of the pocket as the knife is drawn. The hook pivots the blade into the open position.
Full-Flat Grind: This knife features a blade ground with flat bevels that extend from the spine all the way to the cutting edge. This grind reduces drag during cutting and decreases overall weight.
Specifications: Closed Length (Inches): 4.4, Overall Length (Inches): 7.35, Blade Length (Inches):2.95, Blade Steel: CPM S30V, Grind: Full-Flat

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I recommend purchasing the Spyderco P’Kal at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Left Handed C81GLE2 Review

by Aaron Shapiro 3 Comments

Last Updated: August 7, 2019
In 2009 my house was broken into while I was living in West Nashville. This caused me to do two things in quick succession. First, I adopted a huge Irish Wolfhound mix named “Apple,” and secondly, I bought a handgun. Now, since I tend to dive headfirst into anything that I get myself into… I began to research handguns, and that inexorably led me to the EDC community.

Buy the Left Handed Para 2 at BladeHQ

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I think that everyone has a story about their relationship to carrying a pocket knife. Mine is wrapped up in EDC videos on YouTube, and hours spent scouring BladeForums threads. One of the knives that struck a chord for me, and has endured since the very first years of my collecting, has been the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

Now, my handedness (being left handed) has limited me in several areas when it comes to knives, and it ultimately forced me into buying primarily custom knives that I could have made for me. Whenever I see a company offer a production knife in, specifically, a lefty configuration I always try to buy at least one to support that effort they went to. The Left Handed version of the PM2 (model number C81GPLE2) was a no brainer for me. After all, this is arguably Spyderco‘s most popular knife.

Editors note: It is worth noting that the only difference between this left handed version of the Para 2 and the original PM2 is that the locking liner side and non locking liner side have been swapped. This lefty version is literally a mirrored version of the original Paramilitary 2. I can’t help but think of my days studying biology when I consider the Lefty Para 2. It’s the same concept of chirality that they teach in the introductory organic chemistry course.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Paramilitary 2 Left Handed has an overall length of 8.3″, a 3.4″ blade, weighs 3.75 ounces. Just like the original Paramilitary 2, this left hand version is made in the U.S.A. out of Spyderco’s Golden, Colorado factory.

The thing that DOES stick out about the PM2 blade, and is worth talking about, is how universally great it is. The leaf blade shape that Spyderco has championed for years is one of the more useful blade shapes out there. This, paired with their full flat grind on S30V steel gives you a strong but surgical tip for delicate operations, and long sweeping primary cutting edge. Now, I’ve used this blade for a LOT; opening packages, slicing apples, I even chopped up a cream filled cronut the other day. The Paramilitary 2 is a versatile and capable blade that will carry out day to day tasks, from the campsite to the kitchen without hesitation.

As a footnote, I’m not gonna go in depth about S30V. It’s a knife-specific allow that was developed by Chris Reeve and Crucible for folding pocket knives. At this point, we should all be at least a little familiar with it, it performs well, it’s very stainless, and it’s at least reasonable to sharpen. They make PM2’s in a variety of steels these days, but not the left handed version… and I’m not a steel snob, pretty much anything from VG10 nicer is okay for me, as subjective as that might be.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Paramilitary 2, true to it’s name, was designed for LEO and Military use. Now… in reality that most likely means that it’s 99% bought and used by people like you and I, and 1% make it into the gloved hands of actual military users. But it’s intended purpose did inform some of it’s design decisions. The handle is slightly oversized with a pronounced shape to seat and lock your hand in place. There’s an alternate grip position with the knife open and your index finger inside the front choil that would allow you to “choke-up” on the knife for finer control. The handle slabs are peel ply black G10. That is very grippy. It’s not shred-your-jeans-grippy, but grippy all the same. Last big detail that is instantly apparent when you hold the knife is the thumb ramp. It’s steep, and it’s jimped. This serves as just another step in locking the knife into your grip when you hold it.

The pocket clip is one of Spyderco’s typical “spoon” pocket clips. Not a lot to say here except that they are functional and nicely designed. Tension is perfect and the knife carries well. There are a few other people that make deep carry clips for the PM2, so if you wanted another option you could find that there.

Deployment and Locking Mechanism

In keeping with the Spyderco trend, the PM2 utilizes a “spydie-hole” opening method. This is a distinguishing feature of the Spyderco line of knives. This is basically a .5” diameter hole in the blade that serves as the opening method. It’s something that Spyderco has been doing for a long time, a lot of you are likely familiar with it so I won’t belabor that particular point.

The PM2 utilizes Spyderco’s patented compression lock. For a long time I thought of this as sort of a “reverse liner-lock,”— that it just had the release on the back of the knife instead of on the bottom like a normal liner lock. Operationally and aesthetically this is true. However, in terms of use and strength that’s a bit of a misconception. The compression lock snaps into place between the blade tang and the stop pin. This “traps” the blade between those two forces. It’s not a matter of lockup “geometry” as much as it is two lateral forces holding the knife open. To use the compression lock, it DOES work like a reverse liner lock, you just have to push the liner the opposite direction of the spring and the blade will swing free.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Left Handed Review – Final Thoughts

Well… the Paramilitary 2 is my go to knife when people ask for a recommendation for what knife they should buy. I love the size, I love the grind, and I love the steel. Priced around ~$100 it packs a TON of pound per pound capability. The blade will preform equally well in the kitchen as it would on a construction site. The handles are comfortable to hold, and will stay grippy in almost any conditions. Lastly, the lock is one of the most solid out there, easy to disengage, and simple to operate.

Before I completely button up this review, I think I need to address the backwards elephant in the room. Spyderco released one of the most successful models in a left handed version, and it occurred to me (and my editor Dan), that I should touch on that fact. I think the best way to describe this would be the following: My experience with the Lefty PM2 is likely exactly the same as the right-handed world’s experience with the original PM2. Now, this is worth spending some time considering, the PM2 has a 4-way placeable clip, so most southpaws carried it lefty and just operated the lock the best that we could. The compression lock when operated with the opposite hand that it was designed for is awkward, incredibly, and can be borderline dangerous. Spyderco fixed that problem for us. As I stated earlier, whenever a company released a left-hand specific I typically buy it to support that gesture. This is a great example of that.

Sale

Spyderco Para Military 2 Signature Left-Handed Knife with 3.42" CPM S30V Steel Blade and Durable G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C81GPLE2

An Improved Classic: Undeniably one of Spyderco's most popular and in-demand designs, the Para Military 2 distills the world-class performance of our legendary Military Model into a more compact, Pocket-Friendly package.
Superior Quality: We kept the same high-performance full flat-ground blade but we've also lengthened the blade's tip and added additional surface jimping to both the spine and finger coil.
A Secure Grip: The G-10 handle is narrowed at the end improving the Ergonomics. The handle and blade have been profile thinner; removing uncomfortable angles when in the closed position.
Easy-to-Use: The Para Military 2 features extreme strength, reliability, and ease of use of our patented Compression Lock mechanism and versatility of a 4-position pocket clip.
Dependable: Refinements to overall construction may not be drastic but from the G-10 textured handle to the steel full flat blade, everything is sharper, smoother and guaranteed to provide performance and user comfort.

$198.75
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I recommend purchasing the Paramilitary 2 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews, and keep this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated.