chinook II - 2 thumbs up

Hmmm...I wonder if I should send in my lockbacks because they all have some blade play...even the new Police I bought a few weeks ago. It's not a lot of play, but I would like to have a knife with zero movement.
 
All of my lockbacks have a VERY small, barely noticeable, amount of vertical and horizontal blade play. This includes my new Chinook II, though with this knife you really have to attempt to induce it. For that matter, every folding knife I've owned or handled has had at least a hint of blade play, regardless of lock type, except the CRK Sebenza. The Chinook II and my Lil' Temperance's have less play (virtually none unless you really torque it) then any other folder except the previously mentioned Sebenza. No worries as long as it's not excessive.

The Chinook II is an incredible folder. I would recommend anyone considering it to buy one. You won't be sorry. Solid does not even begin to describe this knife. The thin, razor sharp hollow grind solves the one main complaint I had about the first Chinook. Spyderco should be proud to bring this one to market. No one else has anything comparable as far as I've seen.
 
Well, I write from work and I have only my antique Native with me.
I checked it yesterday for play, but ElectricZombie had me thinking I might have missed something.
Nope.

Actually, I can find one strange angle, neither vertical, radial nor horizontal, in which I can feel something in the grip but not in the blade.
By something I mean I can feel a faint thunk, but the blade itself does not move.
The single instance of vertical play I thought I felt yesterday must have healed itself. :)

I have flown helicopters for 35 years now.
I look for play in the moving parts of my helicopter all the time, and I report play I can feel but not see to my mechanics.
I think I could feel play in my Spydercos if it existed.

Like I said, I have had this Native since forever.
If I didn't get the first one off the assembly line then I got one made the first week (mild exaggeration).
Can someone tell me how many years I've had this thing?
I certainly got it in the first few months of production.

By the way, I stopped by the local knife shop the other day and handled a new Native.
Very interesting.
In a variety of details the Native has gotten better over the years, but only in tiny, tiny increments.
I think a casual observer would see no difference between my old Native and the current Native (I had to look hard, perhaps I imagined them).
Still, I think the tiny changes I see would require new drawings, new CNC programming and new molds.
These itty-bitty changes cost money, and money Spyderco did not have to spend, as my ancient Native demonstrates: they had already made a "good enough" knife; and besides, such subtle improvements.
I would like to know how many times Spyderco has changed their tooling and specs for the Native over the years.

So, who can remember when they bought their Native?
Who has the oldest Native?
 
My Native has minor play also but that's inherent with any lockback. Not a safety issue by any means.

But alas, the subject of this thread is the Chinook II. I was fortunate enough to pick one up yesterday at New Graham Pharmacy. Mano man what a knife! Sal wasn't flim-flammin'. This is THE premire production American made folding Bowie. If I was the CEO of a competing knife company, this knife would have me up nights. How is it possible to produce such a product (in America) for a mere c-note? No doubt that question is running thru the boardrooms of various knife manufacurers from coast to coast right about now.
I don't even see how such a knife can be produced overseas at that pricepoint. This thing positively reeks with quality and precision.

As the handle is too heavy for Spyder-droppin', I went ahead and converted it to tip-up. It sits well in the pocket in either configuration however. What a knife. If you own an original Chinook and can't quite justify the hundred bills it takes to own the "II", fear not. Spend the cash. It's well, and I mean WELL worth it.

Buy, sell, trade. Skip lunch. Refill your printer cartridges. Clip coupons. Pick up aluminum cans. Cut firewood. Get a paper route.

BUY ONE OF THESE KNIVES!!!
 
Did Harry Callahan actually physically go to the New Graham Pharmacy in Bluefield Virginia and buy a Chinook II?
How cool. :)

Harry wrote:

"This is THE premire production American made folding Bowie. If I was the CEO of a competing knife company, this knife would have me up nights. How is it possible to produce such a product (in America) for a mere c- note? No doubt that question is running thru the boardrooms of various knife manufacurers from coast to coast right about now.
I don't even see how such a knife can be produced overseas at that pricepoint. This thing positively reeks with quality and precision."

Hah!
Good writing.
Happily, New Graham has already shipped my Chinook II, 'cause after that endorsement I don't expect anyone to have an easy time finding a Chinook II in stock anywhere.
Mine will arrive any day now.
 
New Graham Pharmacy is a treat to visit. They have a better selection of Spyderco knives on display than Spyderco's own Factory Outlet. No kidding. I was in Denver area over Christmas vacation for a ski trip. The Spyderco Factory Outlet is a small shop inside of a strip mall. I just couldn't believe it. Extremely disappointing.

New Graham Pharmacy also serves one heck of a breakfast special. I always try to get there in the morning. :)
 
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