Love the Pac Salt, Hate the Yojimbo

J

jag-engr

Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
341
I recently acquired both a SE Pac Salt with the yellow handle and a PE Yojimbo with the blue handle. I'm sorry if you were hoping for pictures - this is a review only.

I instantly liked the Pac Salt. It's very ergonomic (basically an Endura), very smooth, and I love the titanium clip. The clip is a little stiffer than my other Spydercos, but it may be clipped to thin, wet material, so I consider that a bonus. I like the deep serrations and the short segment of plain edge along the end of the blade. The yellow handle could mean the diffference betwen recovering a knife dropped in the water I consider this a higly practical knife. The Pac Salt is my new river knife. I am seriously considering acquiring a Salt I in the same configuration for flyfishing.

I instantly disliked the Yojimbo. It has the best fit & finish, materials, and design....of any box cutter I have ever seen. Granted, I know it's designed as a weapon, but I still thought it might have some utilitarian capabilities. I'm not bashing the Yojimbo by any means. For what it is I'm sure it's the best on the market. I ultimately intended to trade it, anyway. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.:confused:

The Yojimbo also gave me my first taste of a compression lock knife. The compression lock does seem to be decidedly biased toward righties. I think I am going to opt away from compression locks on future trades and more towards the tried and true spine lock that Spyderco does so well.
 
Sorry to here you dislike the Yo. The Pac Salt will serve you quite well as a pocket chainsaw. Even better than my Dodo. I'm green with envy. Great choice!
 
I'm suprised that you don't like the Yojimbo. I have one and it's one of my favorite models. It did take me a couple days to really warm to it, though. What really opened my eyes to its merits was when I put it to work. It looks weird, but it cuts like a lightsaber when you're using it. It's one of the best performing knives I've ever tried fast slashes on cardboard with. Much better than some knives with bigger blades (the Endura for example). The only problem I have with it is that the clip is so big and shiny- it really stands out when clipped in your pocket. I met Michael Janich (who designed the Yojimbo)at Blade and he was really cool, very friendly and chatty. I have to admit that I'm kind of terrified of him, nice as he is though. Based on videos I've seen of him in action, that man can FIGHT! I think he had about 4 knives on him, and brother does he know how to use them.

You're probably right about the compression lock not being the best for lefties. I happen to be a lefty but I use all my knives righty, probably because so many locks are biased to the right handed. I shoot right-handed, too. Good luck finding a lefty revolver!
 
moonwilson said:
The only problem I have with it is that the clip is so big and shiny- it really stands out when clipped in your pocket.
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The Yojimbo didn't appeal to me out of the box either, but it really grows on you after a while.

That shiney clip bothered me too, so it got "blackened" with some bake-on GunKote from Brownells. Very easy to apply, and has held up well with very little chipping for the past three months.
 
I took the salt 1 out fishing yesterday along with my mini manix. Caught a few small trouts. I then decided to have my light supper outside by the river. The SE in manix worked very well cutting up the French Bread loaf for sandwiches, while the manix took care of firewood duty for heating up my can soup.
 
Why worry about a shiny clip?

If it is legal (to carry) it makes no difference, if it is illegal (to carry) then having it dulled or black makes no difference either as any LEO worth his/her salt will see it anyhow.

If you are worried about sheeple, well haven't you noticed they are too oblivious to their surroundings to even notice you or your tools anyways as they are too busy messing with their iPods and Blackberries.

Worrying about shiny clips is a waste of mental "disk space". ;)
 
Then you have NYC where shiny clip gets you arrested or summonsed while a more subdued one might blend in
 
There was someone here who beadblasted their clip and added a wave to the blade. Made it look very inconspicuous until the time you needed. One sweet looking piece.
 
zenheretic said:
Why worry about a shiny clip?

If you are worried about sheeple, well haven't you noticed they are too oblivious to their surroundings to even notice you or your tools anyways as they are too busy messing with their iPods and Blackberries.
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I don't know, shiny flashy things attract attention. Even fish, birds, ferrets and Paris Hilton's attentions are attracted by things that sparkle and flash.
There's no sense attracting someone's vision to something you would rather they not notice. I suppose that's why most pocket clips are black and/or subdued, rather than flourescent green with blinking LED's on them. I have heard that the Yojimbo as it was produced is not exactly as it was originally designed and intended. I believe that the blue G10 was supposed to be denim-blue colored, to blend in with a pair of jeans, and that the clip was supposed to be painted blue to match. Getting custom-colored G10 is prohibitively expensive for such a (relatively) small run item such as the Yojimbo, so the blue you see appears to be standard IBM aerospace G10. Because the blue they ended up using is so bright anyway, I guess Spyderco decided to leave the clip shiny.

As for not worrying about LEO's not seeing your clip if the knife is legal- there are some places where not even the little Yojimbo can be carried legally. For those who choose to balance the risk of carrying an illegal knife against going forth defenseless, it's a good idea not to attract attention to oneself.
 
moonwilson said:
As for not worrying about LEO's not seeing your clip if the knife is legal- there are some places where not even the little Yojimbo can be carried legally. For those who choose to balance the risk of carrying an illegal knife against going forth defenseless, it's a good idea not to attract attention to oneself.
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Hey if you want to break some local law then please feel free to do so. You live in a fantasy land if you believe a black clip will magically make your clip melt away from the searching eyes of LEOs in places where sharp pointy tools are not allowed. There is also this new invention known as the pocket. One could simple put the tool in the pocket so that the entire tool is enclosed with fabric, foregoing the convenience of the clipit experience.

The first 20 or so years of Spyderco were dominated by SS knives and clips...with no problems in legal carry.

I too remember the history of the Blue Yojimbo, frankly the effort would have been wasted to attempt to "match" blue jeans color. Blue jeans fade and range from deep blue to near white. Unless the G-10 can do the same the handle may as well be purple.

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As far as NY City goes, one should consider the actual law in NY City before one uses it as an example. NY City disallows open carry...so SS shiny clip or black clip, or chameleon clip is irrelevant, if it is visible you get busted.

I'll say it again. LEOs will see your knife if it is visible, regardless of the clip color. Sheeple will not, regardless of the clip color. Even if you darken the clip, should you choose to open carry a knife in an area that is illegal to do so you really should get what you deserve...a one way ticket in the paddy wagon.
 
zenheretic said:
Hey if you want to break some local law then please feel free to do so. You live in a fantasy land if you believe a black clip will magically make your clip melt away from the searching eyes of LEOs in places where sharp pointy tools are not allowed. There is also this new invention known as the pocket. One could simple put the tool in the pocket so that the entire tool is enclosed with fabric, foregoing the convenience of the clipit experience.

I'll say it again. LEOs will see your knife if it is visible, regardless of the clip color. Sheeple will not, regardless of the clip color. Even if you darken the clip, should you choose to open carry a knife in an area that is illegal to do so you really should get what you deserve...a one way ticket in the paddy wagon.
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Let me see if I have this right. A person who chooses to carry a knife in an area where it is illegal to do so deserves a one way ticket in a paddy wagon? A trip to where? The gas chamber and subsequent incinerator I presume?

Let us say that a man has carried a 3.5" to 4" folder every single day of his adult life. He has never once used his knife inappropriately, to intimidate, harass or irritate anyone. He goes to work, pays his taxes, takes good care of his family, and never breaks any law, and is a cheerful, productive member of society. He moves to a state after checking if the laws will allow him to carry his knife as he always has. The law allows up to 4" blades, so he goes ahead and moves. One morning, this man wakes up to discover that his state law has been changed to criminalize any blade over 2". Should this man smile and clip a Spin into his pocket? Please note that 2" is even more of a restriction than the folks in England are forced to live under. This same person deserves life imprisonment if he chooses to carry more than a 2" blade ?

A man who blindly observes any and all laws foisted upon him is not a man, he is a subject. This country would not exist if it contained only men who did what they were told. Please tell me, Mr. Zenheretic, if your state law was suddenly changed to disallow anything more than 2", would you smile and start carrying a Ladybug? Or would you continue to live your life as you always have, trying to keep as low a profile as possible?
 
zenheretic said:
Why worry about a shiny clip?

Worrying about shiny clips is a waste of mental "disk space". ;)
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I just don't like the looks of shiney clips, but agree it is a waste of mental disc space to worry about it. However, I waste alot more disc space picking out ties in the AM so the "clip" thing isn't that big a deal in the big picture.
 
moonwilson said:
Let me see if I have this right. A person who chooses to carry a knife in an area where it is illegal to do so deserves a one way ticket in a paddy wagon? A trip to where? The gas chamber and subsequent incinerator I presume?

Let us say that a man has carried a 3.5" to 4" folder every single day of his adult life. He has never once used his knife inappropriately, to intimidate, harass or irritate anyone. He goes to work, pays his taxes, takes good care of his family, and never breaks any law, and is a cheerful, productive member of society. He moves to a state after checking if the laws will allow him to carry his knife as he always has. The law allows up to 4" blades, so he goes ahead and moves. One morning, this man wakes up to discover that his state law has been changed to criminalize any blade over 2". Should this man smile and clip a Spin into his pocket? Please note that 2" is even more of a restriction than the folks in England are forced to live under. This same person deserves life imprisonment if he chooses to carry more than a 2" blade ?

A man who blindly observes any and all laws foisted upon him is not a man, he is a subject. This country would not exist if it contained only men who did what they were told. Please tell me, Mr. Zenheretic, if your state law was suddenly changed to disallow anything more than 2", would you smile and start carrying a Ladybug? Or would you continue to live your life as you always have, trying to keep as low a profile as possible?
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It wouldn't matter because if I chose to break the law, I would have the sense to conceal what I carry not advertise it by showing it sticking out of my pocket...which I believe is what the conversation is about, showingclips not blade length. In fact if I was to operate outside the law, why would I hobble myself with a knife when I could carry a gun. However really your retort is full of strawman fallacy rife with a snappy red herring.

The discussion is about visible clips. If you legally carry, then having a SS clip makes no difference over a black clip. LEOs will see both, the chances of over-reactive sheeple seeing either, recognizing either for what they are, and raising unneccesary stink over the matter is highly unlikely IMO.

As far as paddy wagons are concerned, if you feel you are in the moral right or not, if you choose to break the law be prepared for the consequences. The Movie quote, "If you aren't prepared to go all the way, don't get off the boat." applies well in this instance. Scope out a good lawyer beforehand.
 
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