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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.
Buy the Spyderco P’Kal at BladeHQ
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.
- Crafted from the highest quality materials
- Built for performance and durability
- Made in Japan
- Made in Golden, Colorado; Ambidextrous tip-up clip; Patented encased Ball Bearing Lock, G-10 handle with skeletonized steel liners
- Screw construction; Flat-ground blade
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.
I imagine the opportunity to actually USE this knife for it’s intended purpose – especially after going through the intended training – is incredibly rare. And it’s probably not a very practical day-to-day knife for actually cutting things (how mundane)
But boy oh boy, if you were in that situation and you needed to defend yourself this thing would be scary as sh*t to an attacked. Whip this thing out of your pocket into a reverse ice pick grip and square your shoulders up, yikes!
Still, not for me. Knives seem like quite a legal liability as a self defense strategy. But it’s a cool blade.
If you carry a firearm for self-defense, the likelihood of actually using said firearm for its intended purpose is also incredibly rare.
A risk assessment matrix, which is commonly used by the military, law enforcement, and other entities that deal with risk management, assesses the probability of an event, the severity should the event occur, and the controls used to eliminate or reduce the risk (i.e. equipment, training, etc.) An event that has a low probability, but a high level of severity will be given a high level of priority in terms of controls.
For example, Police shootings are relatively rare given the number of police officers, the hours on the job, and the frequency of contact with criminal elements; however, the severity of risk to the officer (risk of being maimed or killed if they do not react appropriately and accurately), the criminal (in the case where an officer responds with an inappropriate level of force), and the public (in terms of the officer’s ability to stop a threat to the public, as well as the officer’s ability to apply judicious marksmanship) make firearms training a priority in any department’s training plan.
I, as well as many others, have chosen to apply these principles to my own daily life. The probability of needing to use a knife (or firearm) as a defensive weapon is very low, but the severity of not being prepared to do so is very high. So, I will continue to train and educate myself. I will continue to train and educate others. I will continue to be as prepared as I can be for any situation that places my life in jeopardy, and by doing so, I will increase my own odds, because the likelihood of occurrence means nothing when you are fighting for your life.
A fantastic review and overall explaination. I couldn’t agree more as I read each point. As mentioned, this knife makes an invaluable EDC blade. Whatever the carried purpose, the trainer is without a doubt the way to go, specs are truly spot on(but really, what do you expect from Spyderco?).
Hello,
Thank you for the helpful detail. I notice that many knife reviewers refer to the P’Kal as an EDC even though it is intended to be held with a reverse grip. Could you use this to cut open a box or on slice a cord? Or would the reverse grip make those sorts of maneuvers awkward? I’m assuming since it’s being called an EDC you can but I’m just struggling to picture it. Thanks!