UPS delivered IT yesterday.
Goodness gracious, words fail me.
My fingers get all jumbled up on the keyboard trying to put words to my impression of the Chinook II.
How did Spyderco manage to compress an eight inch blade into less than three and three quarters of an inch?
I don't know how, but I know they did it.
I also understand why the so-called back cut, as described by James Keating, does not require a sharpened swedge.
I think anyone holding a Chinook II in the Fencer's Grip immediately understands this.
The very presence of the knife itself, in the hand, teaches the holder what it took me years of Aikido and Judo to learn.
One cannot help but do the right thing.
Simply hold the knife in the Fencer's Grip, palm-up with the hand and arm extended to the front on the body's centerline, and then straighten the elbow a little more than initially felt comfortable.
Lightbulb.
Impressions?
Massive and compact, machine and feather at the same time, it has many of the qualities of the finest helicopters I've flown.
How can 5/32's of an inch seem so thick and so light?
A masterpiece of ergonmics, the knife literally dances in the hand, from grip to grip, with complete stability and control.
I defy anyone to inadvertently (even on purpose) unlock this blade; and yet, it disengages effortlessly when so commanded by the user.
And the textured G-10 scales?
Warm and wonderful.
The blade has a tight and wiggle-free lockup.
The clip, in the tip-up position, does not interfere with any choice of grip (it disappears to the hand).
I consider this a flawless design and execution of a brilliant concept.
What don't I like about it?
When delivered, it had the clip installed in the tip-down right-handed position, and upon removal I noticed a slight impression in the G-10 from the clip in that position.
I would like for Spyderco to deliver this knife with the clip not installed but in a little plastic bag along with the screws.
That said, if anyone seeks the ultimate self-defense knife, he will find it defined by the Chinook II.
This knife teaches the user; it brings out inherent understandings the user didn't know he had.
I have watched this knife evolve from the original Ken Onion version made for James Keating, to the first Chinook and now the Chinook II.
Has perfection arrived?
I never thought I'd see it in this lifetime, and so time will probably reveal the flaws in the Chinook II and lead to the Chinook III; in which case, I would like to place my order now.
Goodness gracious, words fail me.
My fingers get all jumbled up on the keyboard trying to put words to my impression of the Chinook II.
How did Spyderco manage to compress an eight inch blade into less than three and three quarters of an inch?
I don't know how, but I know they did it.
I also understand why the so-called back cut, as described by James Keating, does not require a sharpened swedge.
I think anyone holding a Chinook II in the Fencer's Grip immediately understands this.
The very presence of the knife itself, in the hand, teaches the holder what it took me years of Aikido and Judo to learn.
One cannot help but do the right thing.
Simply hold the knife in the Fencer's Grip, palm-up with the hand and arm extended to the front on the body's centerline, and then straighten the elbow a little more than initially felt comfortable.
Lightbulb.
Impressions?
Massive and compact, machine and feather at the same time, it has many of the qualities of the finest helicopters I've flown.
How can 5/32's of an inch seem so thick and so light?
A masterpiece of ergonmics, the knife literally dances in the hand, from grip to grip, with complete stability and control.
I defy anyone to inadvertently (even on purpose) unlock this blade; and yet, it disengages effortlessly when so commanded by the user.
And the textured G-10 scales?
Warm and wonderful.
The blade has a tight and wiggle-free lockup.
The clip, in the tip-up position, does not interfere with any choice of grip (it disappears to the hand).
I consider this a flawless design and execution of a brilliant concept.
What don't I like about it?
When delivered, it had the clip installed in the tip-down right-handed position, and upon removal I noticed a slight impression in the G-10 from the clip in that position.
I would like for Spyderco to deliver this knife with the clip not installed but in a little plastic bag along with the screws.
That said, if anyone seeks the ultimate self-defense knife, he will find it defined by the Chinook II.
This knife teaches the user; it brings out inherent understandings the user didn't know he had.
I have watched this knife evolve from the original Ken Onion version made for James Keating, to the first Chinook and now the Chinook II.
Has perfection arrived?
I never thought I'd see it in this lifetime, and so time will probably reveal the flaws in the Chinook II and lead to the Chinook III; in which case, I would like to place my order now.
