Chinook II, toughest production folder?

shootist16

shootist16

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I am so excited about this one. I've got one on the way and the wait is killing me. Spyderco has increased the lock strength to over 1000 lbs/inch. :eek: :eek: Does that qualify as one of the strongest folders out there? How does that compare to others?
 
Let me know how you like it when it comes Dennis, after all we do have the same taste in knives:D. Out of several of the Chinook's I tried I finally found one with no vertical blade play. I think I read somewhere that this issue was resolved with the II and if so I would be interested in one. I know that a lot of knowledgable folks have said that the blade play is a non factor in the lockback, but.........................I'm just spoiled from tight lockup in my framelocks.
 
shootist16 so you are the one that snaged that one from Carlos?CONGRATS!!
BTW are you going to the gun show at the expo center this week end?
 
Originally posted by u812
shootist16 so you are the one that snaged that one from Carlos?CONGRATS!!
BTW are you going to the gun show at the expo center this week end?
Click to expand...

I actually located one from somewhere else.

I have to work all weekend and pull doubles due to the increased terror alert, so I doubt I'll be going. :(
 
While I think there are many differet tastes, I still find the overall design bizarre. A knife can be built as tough as a bank vault door, and still have no real use. Now, Brownie says that the knife is tough in actual use. That's a good thing, but I have six other knives in my rotation that are just as tough and not butt ugly. It's here where personal choice decides if the knife is to be purchased. Your mileage may vary. I'd still like to talk to the man who actually field dressed a deer with it.

Now that is my personal view, or at least it was until about a week ago, and pretty thin praise. I've been hearing fantastic things about the Extrema Ratio knives. Not just one model, but the entire line.

And I think it's a great idea that they tweaked the design to improve it. I like a company that has the guts to say "we can do it better, our clients are important." That said, I'm still not reaching for my wallet.

Finally, there is just simple practicality. If you truly need a knife that strong, perhaps what you really need is a fixed blade or a crow bar.
 
I own a Chinook I, and I gotta say that regardless of the blade play, it's one of the strongest folders I've owned. I love mine.
Would Spyderco fix the blade play issue ?


Extrema Ratio folders are also tough, in the sense that they practically convert into a fixed blade when opened. The best features of their folders are : the thick stock (almost 1/4") blade and the secondary lock that prevents the main lock from accidentally unlocked (only available on select models)
 
Hi Dennis. Appreciate the attention, please let us know what you think when you have one in your hands.

Hi Tourist, Understand and appreciate what you are saying. The new Chinook is not a "sharpened pry bar". Our "hunter" employee is quite avid in his sport. He just skinned his 7th deer with his Chinook (it was butchered in the factory). The knife still shaves hair.

Tough and strong do not necessarily denote weight or mass. Racing cars are much "tougher" than your family sedan. I cannot say that it is a "gent's" folder, as it does fill the hand, but EDC is not a problem.

Reliability and strength was created and tested in areas where it was perceived by R&D to be needed such as the lock. Cutting performance was tested on our CATRA, edge andle is thin. Everything that wasn't needed was sucked out.

If you are a hunter, or an MBC artist, you might take an opportunity to check out our "butt ugly" high performer. (that means more than just looking at a picture). If "looks" are your primary reason for knife purchases, then only your "eye" carries the weight and the Chinook II is probably not for you.

sal
 
The Chinooks design came by way of James Keating. He specifically designed the knife for the type of use he would employ in "sniping" and "harrassing" cuts to get one to desist from their aggression.

It requires knowledge of backcutting techniques.

Not everyone will like the blades design, understand how the knife was designed to be used, or even care to learn the techniques to employ it as it was intended and designed by Jim.

In testing the knife, it was discovered to be very durable and a knife that can stand the rigors of hard use continuously day in and day out.

It was also discovered the knife blades design makes short order of cutting chores with the large bellied blade.

The design will not be for everyone anymore than another design will be right for me or others. I like the Chinook for it's robust, no nonsense get the job done ability.

It most certainly could be a great field dressing knife, a good skinner with the large belly, as well as something to defend with.

Are there better knives to do those things? sure there are. Some knives are specifically designed for a certain task. Mission specific, they should excel at their designed tasks better than others that are not design specific.

Some like recurves, I don't. Some like tantos, I don't. Some like serrations, I don't. Others will be enamored with some other designs as well. It really is personal preference, hence, the choices we have available to us on the open market.

If the chinooks design and overall toughness appeals to you, go for it. The knife is robust and will stand you well.

If it doesn't appeal to you, at least you know, through the testing performed on the knife that it is something that will likely not fail you in times of need.

Brownie
 
Dennis,

If it's not the toughest folder (and it's certainly one of them), it's the best slicer of the toughest folders with its pronounced clip, large belly, and deep hollow grind. Which makes it replace the Spyderco ATR as the best slicer of the very tough knives. I think that overall strength goes to Extrema Ratio's folders, with all but one having the crossbolt safety and all being constructed as uber-tanks.

Sal,

You've done it again!
 
I don't believe that strong necessarily means sharpened prybar. Oftentimes it does, but it doesn't have to, and I dont think this is the case with the Chinook II.

What I want for a duty knife is one with efficient cutting geometry and a lock that is ultra reliable and, if necessary, will withstand abuse. The Chinook II looks to be an efficient cutter and with a lockback rated at more than 1000 lbs/inch I would say it is reliable and strong.

I'll know more when it gets here.

I also find the Chinook II to be much more aesthetically pleasing than the original.

sp63gpjb.jpg



*edited to add pic
 
Originally posted by shootist16
I don't believe that strong necessarily means sharpened prybar. Oftentimes it does, but it doesn't have to, and I dont think this is the case with the Chinook II.
Click to expand...

No, it's not the case at all. The Chinook II is not a sharpened prybar and many other strong folders aren't. I think my ER Nemesis is a sharpened prybar, but I'm a good sharpener.
 
Sal and Brownie,

Your comments make sense in some regards. First beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I happen to think Joannie 'Chyna' Lauer is attractive. She gives my younger brother bad dreams.

However, this thread was initiated over the strength issue. The shape of the blade then justified later because of a particular use. To me, one is not related to the other. It's not that I find clip points unusable to real world chores, I find my SOG Tomcat quite usable. It appears that this Chinook is so designed to the extreme, that there are better knives for the mundane.

If you need a tough camp knife, better ones exist. If you need a defensive knife (and my personal feeling is that knife-on-knife fights rarely happen), then a four-inch jackknife is a poor choice.

You could best understand my opinion by viewing tail-fins on 1950's cars. They look racy, they don't hurt performance that much, but then, they are never going to get that car airbourne. This is how I view the Chinook. No insult, I looked at it, and found it wanting.
 
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