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1st impressions of UK Pride.

Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Messages
3,625
Just got this little number from a fellow Formite. What can I say? Its the first knife I have bought in over a year...:(

So, this knife has to be a little special to get me to part with the cash! For the money this is one of the best little folders I have ever seen. Sure compared to my Damascus Sebenza or Mnandi, the Pride does not have the perfect fit and finish or rock solid wobble free blade (a feature of slipjoints is blade wiggle right?), but the combo of a razor sharp factory edge, skinner blade shape and great ergo's for such a small knife are a winner in my opinion. The Aluminium handle feels very nice and the opening action whilst a little rough (hey its a brand new knife!:p ) it snaps open with authority and feels very secure.

The detailing on this knife is very good and it is obvious a lot of thought and effort has gone into this knife. The highly scuplted handle with a perfect grip. The way the flag is highlighted with machine work on the scale, very nice indeed. The flag itself is also very nicly done, though as a spoilt CRK fan I notice the embosed flag does not quite fill the 'pocket' fully in which it sits... :rolleyes: sad I know! I AM REALLY SAD!:o Why? Because I am looking at this knife and its detailing and thinking about a Chris Reeve product as a comparison! Look at the price of the Pride! Seriously! I am not at all ashamed to say that whilst this knife is not in the same league as a Reeve product, it is certainly not embarased to sit next to one either!

To get to the point...:) This is an amazing little folder that looks and feels like a $100+ knife and then some. The attention to detail is superb. CRK&T take note, satin finished 6a looks very nice! The blade finish is always something Spyderco aught rightly be very proud of, I have yet to see a blunt or badly polished blade from Spyderco, also the grind lines are perfect! I have seen blades at 4x the price or more with poor attention to QC and detailing. Not here, no sir!

How well does the knife cut you ask? Very very well! It shaved right out of the box. Sure 6a is not a steel that inspires any interest in me and I would have prefered VG-10 as this will be an EDC for me! However this steel is servicable if disapointing against what I am used to. Then again my other EDC blades are Chris Reeve, Microtech etc products! As well as high end Spyderco also...

The use of 6a whilst disapointing to me, has enabled the Pride to be at a lower price point than if S30V or VG-10 were used, at the same time the rest of the knife is far away better in quality than the lower price point suggests. A fair compromise and 6a is a more rust resistant and user friendly steel for the non-KnifeKnut user. I approve, but would love a limited run, with a Welsh Flag in S30V! How much for this item Sal? As a one off? :)

The main and great point behind this knife however must not be overlooked. Its a tac one handed opener and closer without a lock. The sub 3" blade and lack of a lock make it the IDEAL knife for Europe and Britain. Simply put I can carry this knife anywhere I want at all times and I am bomb proof, no one can challenge me for carrying this wonderfull pocket knife. The elegant swept leaf style skinning blade gives a strong tip and a cutting power greater than the just over 2" blade suggest.

All in all a superb tool and one that I will carry as my UK LEGAL folder all the time!

Sal, you have done us proud with the Pride, thanks!:)
 
Hi General, thanks for the review.

BTW - What flag did you go for ?
I've been tempted to get a Pride (always pays to have at least one legal knife on you, right ? :D ), but I've always been put off by the thought of having an English flag on it.
 
It's the UK Union Flag, alas they don't do an English one. Or a Welsh, Scots or Irish...
I believe there are quite a few flag options now, and Spyderco will put a company logo in if you buy enough. As someone has already mentioned, these could become the new collectable series like the "Q" was.
 
Thanks guys! I have the UK Union flag model and further testing shows it is a great little knife! It now has a regular slot as left pocket carry and the knife I hand to sheeple. Works a treat even if the steel looses its edge quickly.:)
 
*Update*

Been using for a few months now!

I have had to resharpen a couple of times, the 6a steel really is a dodle to sharpen. A matter of seconds on a Sharpmaker and its shaving arm hair again! I may not be a fan of the lower end steels, but this seems to work well in this knife, low user mainenence and no probs with rust!

This blade feels like a much larger folder somehow, the skinner blade shape has really grown on me. All in all I am even more impressed than before, this knife really is great.

A Sebenza and a UK Pride are my current EDC. I think the combo say a lot for the qualities of the Pride!;) A Sebi is a hard act to partner!:p

*Oh yes, the knife opens silky smooth now!*
 
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