Chinook II or Benchmade Mini-Skirmish.

Well, I would have to say the Chinook II. I personally find trouble with framelocks, however the reason I say the Chinook over the MINI-Skirmish is because of the chamfering on the opening hole of the Skirmish. A LOT of people have had trouble with this. The Chinook II would give you better purchase on the opening hole, I would dare say. Had an original Chinook that was just plain TOUGH! Carried nice, and was VERY easy to get open if needed. Just my .02, and worth what you paid.

Sincerely,
Anthony

Oh, and I agree that these are two completely different knives, and you may just have to find a place with both of them and try them out. Personally, between a Chinook II and a regular Skirmish, I'd get the regular Skirmish, but the mini is not the same as the full size.
 
Django606 said:
That's a really..biased statement.

Whatever.
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Don't let it bother you. The chinook/manix cousins are the toughest folders in spyderco's linup. You'll love your chinook. It's a little big but damn useful, fits nicely in the back pocket of a pair of jeans. Great knife.
 
ROBB said:
I really like the Benchmade Mini Skirmich.Seems like a very well made folder.Smooth opening,locks solid,good looking.However I do'nt know why Benckmade chamfers or bevels the opening.When you already have a realtively small opening hole like the 635 beveling it makes it hard at times to open it.It may not be a problem on the regular Skirmish but it causes my thumb to slip off on the mini.This is the same reason I traded the older mini Afck-and I really liked that design.I wonder if I could un-bevel the hole with smooth diamond sharping rods or will it take to long?Also I have the black blade model.Will it look bad if its possible to do it?I think I read somewere back that someone took care of the problem with a dremal.
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In case anybody is interested I have a solution for the beveled hole problem on the mini-skirmish: all you need to do is apply some stair-tread tape to the
hole. You can check out my Collecting Stuff page on my website for more
details.
 
I frankly can't get enough of my chinook II, and when I read here on how well-liked it is, it makes me feel real good w/ my purchase.

I tried destroying it once by chopping it (yes, full power chops) into FROZEN branches.

It didn't chop the branches, but it didn't come anywhere near destroying the edge, the lock, nothing.

I sharpened her in 5 minutes on the sharpmaker, and she was shaving again. Unbelievable.
 
4 Ranges said:
I frankly can't get enough of my chinook II, and when I read here on how well-liked it is, it makes me feel real good w/ my purchase.
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I know what you mean. It makes me feel good too.
 
I'm actually getting a couple more of these that I will keep pristine.

The one I have now is the beater, but I don't see it looking like or let alone behaving like a beater anytime soon.

The other thing I love about it is that, although it was originally designed as a tactical, it doubles really well as a utility knife (as it survived Cliff Stamp's tests). It's really rare to find that perfect combination of tactitle sleekness and utilitarian toughness into one knife for under $200.

I remember seeing the prototype in the 2003 East Coast Custom Knife show, and I knew it would become a standard in the industry.
 
Django606 said:
How easily does the blade scratch?
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Not very easy but its satin finished and sooner or later some scratches will be visible... but it don't bothers me nor should you ;) If knife is used and it shows its quite natural and good for me. Personally I don't like virgin looking blades.

4 Ranges mentioned strenght of the lock - I read on Spyderco Forums that Chinook I was the only knife which maxed Spyderco lock testing gear without damage, Chinook II should not be far away from this.

here's mine - any scratches hardly visible
czinook22ps.jpg

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting
 
I'm not sure how easily it does, but my nook II has no scratches, but I've been using it only for light chores (except for the branch chopping bit, which left no scratches).

My 806D2, on the other hand, has seen less action, and it has scratches on the finish.
 
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