How many Spyderco P'kal versions are there?

N

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I have posted this elsewhere so apologies in advance if that angers anyone!

I have noticed that there is a difference between the locking mechanisms on the p'kal knives on the Internet. Some have a transparent plastic/resin lock others have a black lock and others still seem to have a slightly smaller looking possibly metal?? Lock. Also those with the metal looking lock have a different handle rivit layout compared to the knives with te plastic locks. The blade choil on the metal lock version is different to the other two as well. I am planning on making a purchase so Could you please explain the difference to me between these models? I would really appreciate the info.
 
It depends on how you define a version. For Spyderco, each version has a distinct SKU#, so by their logic there are only two versions of the P'kal, the live blade with the black G-10 handle and the trainer with the red G-10 handle. The cage color may have changed at some point, from clear resin to black resin, but minor changes like that are not considered versions by Spyderco and, AFAIK, that's the only change they've made, or at least the only visible one. As for the one with the odd choil and screw pattern, based on the photo you posted on the Spyderco Factory Forum, I'm guessing that it's a fake.
 
Deacon, thanks a lot for the reply. I was just wondering because I read somewhere about counterfeit p'kals and also seconds on the market. As for the picture of the extended choil, there's a whole bunch of those if you look on google images and even ebay.com.
 
The Deacon knows more than a little about spydercos. I don't think you'll get a better answer unless it comes from Sal himself.
Buy from a trusted dealer and you'll be sure not to get a fake.

Welcome to bladeforums!
-Steve
 
I Meant no offence :)
I don't know The deacon so the logical thing was to seek out another opinion.
Thank you Steve :)
 
Well, I did a bit more research. Seems the photo with the two line tang stamp and other oddities was the illustration Spyderco used in the 2007 catalog, when the P'kal was first introduced. Like many Spyderco catalog illustrations that are marked "Production Prototype Pictured", it bore only a passing resemblance to the actual production knife. Based on that, I'd say chances are that all the dealers using that picture are selling genuine Spyderco P'kals but that the knife you receive from any of them would look like the one in the current Spyderco online and paper catalogs, and not like the one in the photo.
 
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