Embassy concerns?

N

NHbeau

Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
19
Let me preface this thread by saying I live in NH. We, as has been posted in the forum, have total knife liberty just clearing this up so nothing untoward is being discussed.

I have been looking at the Embassy for quite some time. Always wanted an auto and in my line of work a quick to open one handed knife could be a real life saver ( I work in the granite industry, a quarry to be more specific). I've read the pros and cons about various flipper/AO knives and have considered a fixed blade and am still looking for a workman grade auto. The Embassy has naturally fallen into the top running right now due to price, blade size and steel, and Spyderco's reputation. My only concern is long term reliability of the mechanism, and any maintenance concerns people have run into.

My plan is to build an open top Kydex sheath for it with a wide clip to attach to my waistband/belt on my strong side much like a cell phone case. I think this will limit the amount of dirt/lint getting into the knife while it still being accessible with only one hand and allow me to keep the knife off safe for faster access. My job entails a considerable amount of time in a very wet environment with considerable amounts of dust so anything I can do to protect and maintain my tools at maximum performance is something I am very willing to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as far as what to do and not do to keep the knife in tip top running shape.

The blade itself I am leaning towards the partially serrated version. Most tasks would involve opening boxes, packing tape etc. Emergency uses would entail machine belts (typical car type pulley belts), load lifting straps, and safety harness belts. Am I off base with this blade edge.

Thanks ahead of time for any insight and suggestions
 
With grit and water, an auto would be my last choice.

Personally, I'd get a fixed blade, a quarry does not sound friendly to any folder.

If you must get a folder, I'd get a Delica or Endura in serrated edge OR a Salt Series knife

If it's super dusty, the most important trait of the Delica is the fact you can take it apart without voiding the warranty! You'll want to probably crack it open fairly often and get all the gritty crap out of the handle.

However, if the water is of foremost concern, a Salt Series knife will NEVER rust, and cleaning it simply involves holding it under the tap and putting it back in your pocket.

You can't take it apart, so if for some reason the action gets trashed, you're out of luck. My Salt Saver has spent tons of time in sand, and it's still buttery smooth, so it may be a non-issue.

I love the simplicity and light weight and utter lack of maintenance in a salt folder, so I'd be inclined to go that way.

Another thing to consider on the Auto side of things is, even though it's legal for you to own one, it may not be legal to send you one. Spyderco still requires, to the best of my knowledge, the same LEO/Military documentation regardless of state.
 
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Quite frankly, in your place I'd be carrying either a serrated Aqua Salt or a Jumpmaster, probably the latter. No worries about rust, grit in the works jamming the action, parts wearing out or springs breaking. Autos are cool, but even the best have weaknesses.

And as Itch Blade pointed out, just because you can legally buy an auto doesn't mean Spyderco (or their dealers) can legally sell you one.
 
given your working environment, i agree an auto is the last thing you should consider.

the more complicated the mechanism, the more likely that something will go wrong. especially when you introduce magnified environmental problems like water, dust, corrosion, etc.

nothing wrong with the citadel, or autos in general, and i dont mean to discourage you from purchasing one. just dont get one for work.

get something simple, reliable, and easy to clean. a liner or frame lock would be my recommendation.
 
Agreed with all above. An auto is a poor choice given the environment. If I were you, I'd select either a Military, Perrin PPT, or Gayle Bradley.
 
With the current quality in folders and the speed of deployment, autos are pretty much just toys nowadays. Great and fun knives but they're not really all that necessary.
For speed, Endura or Delica Wave or a fixed blade, for rust resistance and low maintenance a Salt, fixed or folding.
 
I agree with the recommendation of a SALT knife.

If size/carry/visibility is a problem (which I don't think, it is clearly a needed tool where you work), I would go with a Pacific Salt in SE (Spyderco only shows it in plain ;)):
C91BK_L.jpg

Endura-sized, proven E3 design, robust tip. Maintenance-free, easy to clean, won't rust, stays sharp for a long time, is light and pretty indestructable if not horribly abused. Plus, it won't cost an arm and a leg to replace when lost/worn out/broken.

That said, for a little heavier use the recently disco'd Aqua Salt:
FB23YL_L.jpg

This one won't break or let you down anytime. That model is a workhorse used in harsh conditions (I remember that pic from a fisherboat, with the yellow knife covered with 2 in of ice all around... maybe someone will dig it up). And you will get a cool sheath along with it :) Given your dirty workplace, you might want to go with a black handle though...

Autos are cool, but you need something reliable and worry-free. I'm afraid an Auto WILL fail sooner or later in such messy working conditions.

Just my $0,02, as always :)

Dennis
 
I too think the fully serrated aqua salt would be your best choice, I have one and it is amazing, the cutting power of those serrations, wow...

No opinion on autos, sorry.
 
I thought an auto would be fantastic, but after carrying an Embassy for a few days I was left wondering why. No gripes about the knife at all...I just do not benefit from an auto...

YMMV, but for me it was always a hassle to remember to engage the safety, and if I failed to, it would deploy in my pocket and make removal anything but fast. So, assuming I engaged the safety my "rapid" deployment involved pulling the knife, disengaging the safety, and pushing the button...seemed a lot slower than thumbing open a regular Spyderco (even with a slow controlled opening).

Oh yeah, one more thing. Anyone that sees it being deployed will have a few questions in their heads...they may ask they may simply develop their own conclusions (and possibly prejudices). At work it was never a problem, but I use my knives everywhere.

So if there is some reason beyond speed for wanting an auto, I would still say that there are a lot more moving parts that will wear on an auto.

Sorry, they are neat, but I remain unconvinced that there is much reason for them other than novelty (in my life).
 
If you need fast deployment, consider a Waved E4.
I can present my E4 Wave blade faster than any auto.
G27
 
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Having owned several Microtech and Daltons in the past I have to say that once you get past the childish cool factor they are just an expensive knife, nothing more.
 
RickT57 said:
Having owned several Microtech and Daltons in the past I have to say that once you get past the childish cool factor they are just an expensive knife, nothing more.
Click to expand...

With longevity problems too!

It's too bad we can't get a screw construction H1 blade, that would be perfect for this situation. Maybe I'll get an H1 Ladybug and experiment with the FRN fasteners I have around..
 
Screw construction would include (nested) liners and lots of little parts that just make the knife more complicated.

One of the charming and attractive characteristics of the SALTs is that they are so simple - not much that can get loose, lost or broken. Dirty? No need to disassemble like the D/E4s with its drilled, nested liners to get it 100% clean & dry - just wash and rinse it out with some water, in extreme cases use a bit soap and a brush - and the knife is good as new. You don't even need to dry it out - it can not rust anyway.

Sure, the D/E4's are more robust & rigid because of the added metal in the handle (which is a nice, useful feature, and disassembling can be fun, too... not so the reassembling part though :D) - but time has shown that for almost any use, the gen 3 handles are stout enough.

Dennis
 
Thanks for the input all. Truly appreciate it.

I'd considered several fixed blades but the hassle of getting them off and on and the danger they present in a fall really pushes me towards a folder. So I will take a long look at the Salt series. Like I said fast would be great, but reliable is even better. I'll likely just break down and grab a Salt of some type to carry at work, and another Spyderco (Sage II I am leaning towards) for out of work.

Thanks again
 
I would stear clear of the any auto in the enviroment you work in. Any folder would also have to maintained daily. A fixed blade is the only logical choice. H1 is a great choice for the steel. The Agua salt has a pointed tip not good if you have to deploy it in an emergency stituation. Like cutting yourself or co-worker from a safety harness and it is either PE or SE. The jumpmaster is pretty big but only se I believe. So my choise would have to be the Caspian Salt. Not to big. It has a combo blade, not pointed and with the finger hole that you would be hard pressed to loose it if your hands are wet.
 
I assume the 'danger in a fall' issue has to do with the point? Maybe then you should take a look at the Jumpmaster; unfortunately, I don't own one of those, but the reviews seem good on it. I've chimed in already on SE, maybe SE Pacific Salt would work for you? I don't know about the suggestion about the Caspian Salt; seems like it may be smallish (I do have one of those). That said, it's a dedicated dive knife, good also for prying if you get the unpointed, secure in hand... Just seems small if you're going to be doing lots of cutting. Definitely worth your while to handle them all, though, the Salts are awesome. Have to believe that one of them would work for you. Or you could just get (almost) all of them, like me :-).
 
If safety is an issue, there's always this one with sheepfoot blade
C89BK_L.jpg


or one of my favourites (though the handle will scratch badly in your working environment)
CIMG7877.jpg


If fast deployment is really, really important, you can try to get one of the waved rescues. No H-1 and discontinued, though, but still availabe, i.e. here:
C14GYW_L.jpg


The Aqua Salt is a nice little knife, that might be something to look into, too.

You see, there's plenty of choices ;) have fun pickin one (or two)!

Dennis
 
Another thing to thing about with a folder--open spine--easy to clean out/fewer places for grit to build up.
 
If you want an auto, you could do a lot worse than a Citadel/Embassy. I say get one, they are great to carry and use. Razor sharp S30V is hard to beat and the all round quality is exceptional.

As for maintenance, I dont see its such a major issue as people make it out to be. A side opener is a pretty simple machine really.

Sure an Endura can do everything and is the safe, responsible choice :yawn: But then if that was the main criteria we'd all be carrying Enduras and the world would be a pretty dull place. ;)
 
Well, actually a choice containing an H1 blade is what lots of forumites (incl. me;)) suggest, because of the humid conditions and relatively poor maintenance that knife is going to get.

In this regard, an Endura would be almost as poor as an Auto, because we all know how the guts of an Endura/Stretch/Delica look like after a while when used in humid and/or dirty environment, plus maybe rinsed out on a regular basis without drying completely and immediately.... I've seen pics :eek:

Basically, he should get himself whatever floats his boat... after all, most of us aren't so lucky to be able to really make use of one of our Spydies on a daily basis. Isn't this what most of us dream of, regardless of which Spydie it would be? :rolleyes: After all, that's what they all are designed and made for.

Still, an SE Pacific SALT would be suited best... :p

Dennis
 
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