Zombie,
I have one, and I don't like it much. Well, I like the design enough that I didn't send it back for a refund (I really respect knife designs that take a chance), but not enough to actually carry the thing daily.
I'm not as conversant in knife design as I would like to be, but the blade seems to have a relatively thick hollow grind. It doesn't lock up as positively as a Chinook, but it is MBC rated and has that cool Boye notch in the locking bar.
It's fine as either a slasher or a penetrator: the cant of the blade tends to catch on what you're slashing, and you don't have to torque your wrist out at all in the reverse grip. The point, obviously, isn't on-line ith the handle, but you have the same sense of point that you would with a Kukri--it's a better slasher, but the point can be used just fine.
On the negative side, the knife is very thin and smooth. That's great when it's in your pocket, but not so hot getting it out of your pocket or when it's in your hand. It's no thinner than a Police model (the only other Spyderco I own with smooth metal scales), but the Police fills my hand better. The Ayoob is so narrow (height-wise) along its full length that I never became entirely comfortable with the grip.
You can index well with the thumb and first two fingers, but the last two fingers just dont't have the same purchase. I tried grip-tape on the clip and left scale, and it didn't help much. On the other hand, there's another poster who loves this knife, so this is clearly just my own slant on things.
I can understand why Spyderco/Ayoob might have chosen the almite: lower profile in the pocket, lightweight but strong, etc. For better or worse, I think that G-10 would have been a better choice for a pistol-grip design.
So, to sum up: the general design is sound, but would be better executed in a thicker scale, imho.
Just my thoughts,
Ben
