CX06P M. Walker Almite

S

storyville

Joined
Aug 11, 1999
Messages
1,111
I just saw this on Spyderco's site -- noted that it's not currently available via manufacturer.

Is this still in r&d stage, or will this be available soon?

Looks promising. Presumably the new Al body will greatly strengthen its construction, and address its relative lack of sturdiness vis a vis other Spydies?

Also, others have noted that the Walker liner has been prone to loosening, giving the blade "play." Hopefully this is being addressed in the new model, too?

I've balked at getting the Walker bc of the reasons above, but it's really a great design. Fits in, size-wise, betw the smaller models (Dragonfly, CoPilot, etc) and the midsizes (Delica, Standard, etc). Also, it's 2.5" is (I believe?) the biggest legally for airplane carry-on inside the US, yes?

anyone else interested in this development?

glen

PS I also hope the Almite model reduces the size of the cut-out for disengaging the liner!

[This message has been edited by storyville (edited 28 October 1999).]
 
I bought an Almite Walker from SFO back in August. You might want to give them a call and check -- this knife used to be an Ironstone exclusive.

It's a good, solid, little knife. The blade actually measures out to a little over 2 1/2" with the sharpened portion about 2 3/8".

I'm not sure if the size of the cut-out is any different, but I've haven't had any problems with accidentally disengaging the lock.
 
this is just about the airline carry you mentioned. FAA regs last i knew (august) were 4" or less. could be serrated or plain. however, individual airlines can set tighter restrictions if they want. some airlines i've contacted said 3" or less and plain only. just as an example, i flew in august and carried my LW native. i put it in the tray at the metal detector, the guy looked at it and gave it back. no problem.
 
I have a plain blade one. I seem to like it despite what I see as design flaws. Its a very solid piece. Corduroy, has said it is massivley overbuilt. I would say its somewhat overbuilt and therefore a little heavy. I don't like that the locking liner is not contoured to the handle. That makes the grip a little uncomfortable and it probably makes it easier to defeat the lock though the lock easily passes the spine rap test. The aluminum scales are very smooth. They feel good in the hand but make good gripping a problem. I think the upperback of the blade should be notched like on the Native. Couple that change with contouring the linerlock leaf to the handle and this knife would be improved. It would have a better grip. The blade to handle ratio is on the low side. The handle is 3 5/8" long and the blade is just over 2 1/2" say 2 9/16" inch long. This means that it 1/16" too long to be OK on federal properties. At 3 5/8" long the handle is as nearly as big on some 3" blade knives.

Now that I have run this fine knife down let me say it one I carry more often than the others. I like opening and closing it. It has a kind of "bolt action feel" as the lock snaps in place. The blade has much bigger feel than the Dragonfly or Navigator. It feels more like a 3" blade knife. A couple of somewhat interesting features are that there are no washers between the leaf (yes its a single leaf) and the blade like on Benchmades. The linerlock part is cut square so that just its corner engages the tang. The scales are thin and beveled at their edges giving a smooth friendly feel to the knife. The hole size in the blade is ample for a knife this size. It has lanyard hole, which I appreciate. Clip is near the pivot for tip down carry but the location is somewhat low, which some may like. I don't use the clip so its a non issue. I am of the lanyard pursuasion.

Sum up. A small solid knife. Has pluses and minuses like nearly all knives do.
 
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