New Persian

C

cds1

Joined
Jan 24, 2004
Messages
237
I just got my new Persian in the mail yesterday. It is truly a beautiful knife. The grip design fits my hand perfectly. Out of the box it is sharp as all hell, and the blade shape and grip angle looks like it would make for an incredible slicer.

I got it mainly as a more "presentable" alternative to the Chinook II, and it fits the bill perfectly. (I actually prefer the grip and blade shape to that of the Chinook). It looks more to me like a decorative piece than a "weapon".

It is true that there are certain aspects of the design that are not optimal for a defensive knife, such as the smooth Micarta, and the lack of traction grooves along the top of the bolster and on the thumb-notch at the back of the blade. On the other hand, that's exactly why I bought it - because it doesn't look like a knife that was designed for "tactical" purposes, but should nevertheless be able to fulfill that role quite well. (And besides, it's so pretty :) .)

The only imperfections I found on mine were two very small white-ish streaks under the Spyderhole. I tried to scrape them off with my fingernail but couldn't, so I don't know if something got stuck to the blade or if they are scratches in the metal. Has anyone else had this and maybe know what it is?

I'm quite impressed with this knife, and I think it is truly a bargain for the price, considering the design, workmanship, and materials.

Regards,
cds1
 
It seems to me that on this forum Brownie has led the pack of Chinook fans in getting and appreciating the Persian. The Persian has everything I'm looking for in an EDC.

I'm sorry to hear about the blems on your blade. Mine came perfect other than it was somewhat stiff opening and closing at the very beginning -- it is much easier to open/close now.

I totally agree about it not looking "tactical" -- I like it all the more for the same reason. I like my Chinook II a lot, but feel it screams weapon (even though I don't carry it as one). The Schempp design is a great combination of ergos and beauty. If you haven't done so look at some of his other work.

Persian = great function, top notch materials, durability and good looks in one knife. Truly unique!
 
cds1:

Good score, see you in about a month in NYC, I'll have mine [ it's edc ] there as well in the rfp.

No such spots on mine, I just looked as I read your post.

Brownie
 
I finally figured out what the white spots were. There are indeed two small blemishes (indentations) below the spyderhole. Last night I took a napkin and wiped away excess oil from around the spyderhole so my finger wouldn't slip when opening the knife. Lint from the napkin got stuck in the indentations, giving them a white appearance and making them alot more visible. After scraping it out the blemishes are much less visible. I feel better now :) .

Regarding Keith's comment about ease of opening - mine is very smooth, but it is not nearly as easy to open as the Chinook II. For me this is an big asset, because I carry it to work in NYC, where anything knife that can be flicked opened can be considered a "gravity knife". I'm actually bothered by the fact that the knife is getting easier to open. Now it fails the NYC "grab the blade and flick" test. I want to make it more difficult to open, but there is no exposed pivot screw. (The crazy things that NYC law enforcement makes us think about :rolleyes: .)

So far, this is the nicest looking production knife I have ever owned.

Regards,
cds1
 
The NYC test makes me see red. :mad: I don't live there but I do visit occassionaly. Ajustable pivot screws are a must in such situations.
 
That's not a NYC test. It's a standard test for any cop where knives that open, not by gravity, but by centrifugal force are prohibited. When you flick a knife, its centrifugal force that opens the blade not gravity. A gravity knife is one that opens using gravity, i.e. hold blade down, push button, blade drops out and locks open. Many states, towns, etc. have the centrifugal force law. It's what makes butterfly knives illegal. You can run into this law just by crossing a town line.
 
The difference is that in NYC you can get arrested even if the only way you can get the knife to open by centrifugal force is by grabbing the knife by the blade and swinging it so that the handle pops open (rather than vice versa). Also, supposedly cops in NYC use rather exaggerated motions when trying to get the blade to deploy.

I don't know of any folder that cannot be opened by grabbing it by either the handle or the blade and swinging it wildly.
 
Well, now that I've been carrying the Persian for a few days I appreciate it even more. It carries very well in the pocket for its weight. I've gotten used to the smooth Micarta, and the knife feels quite secure in the hand.

Unfortunately, my good experiences with Spyderco knives only encourage me to purchase more of them - now there's a Lil' Temperance on the way. I wonder what my wife is gonna say. (I'm kinda surprised she hasn't thrown me out yet...)

Regards,
cds1
 
I didn't want to start a new thread when one already existed that seems to at least partially address my question.

I just got a brand spankin' new Persian and like all my Spydercos it's a keeper :D

The best part is that I actually showed some pictures of it one day to some colleagues (the ones who are deathly afraid of knives) and the reactions were "What a beautiful knife", "Ooooh it's soooo pretty" and "That reminds me of something like my grandpa used to carry". So this means I may have a way of carrying a larger knife now while staying under the sheeple radar :)

I was just curious about something though.

I guestimate that when the blade is around 17/24th of the way closed it snaps shut with an authoritive snap. Don't get me wrong I rather like this feature. I've never had a lockback with that much "grab" in it before for lack of a better term and I like it.

How long does this last? Does it always stay that way or will it eventually get to the point you can wrist flick it? I'm not worried or concerned at all about the lock not catching; there's absolutely nothing wrong with my knife. I'm just curious what I can expect in terms of wear.
 
Keith: Glad you are enjoying your Persian. I carry mine everyday as my Chinook 2 is in Arizona at the moment waiting for me to arrive and then drive to Colorado for MBC camp with Mike Janich. I'll be leaving the Persian home and grabbing the C2 the minute I land out there.

DMW: Like yourself, my Persian closes the same way. I am not able to "pop" this folder open from the pocket, yet I carry it EDC, it is that nice. My Persian has broken in very nicely and is very smooth in operation opening and closing since carrying it. One day it may be able to inertial open, but if it doesn't I'm still content to carry it as a potential defensive folder.

brownshoe: The test and laws that are pertinent are for "inertial openings" not centrifugal force in most states by wording in the statute. NYC cops are taking them away if they can hold the spine of the closed folder and they can inertially open the knife swinging the handle down [ like the spydie drop ].

There is an excellent article on Canadian authorities being challenged for using this very method to test for inertial openings. As their law is written, an inertial opening is when the "blade" can be opened by inertia/centrifugal force. The challenge is that the laws state the "blade" be opened that way, not the "handle" by holding the blade. It's only a matter of time before this is probably challenged in NYC as well.

Gravity knives are a whole different subject. They, by defintion do not require inertia/centrifugal force be applied for the blade to "fall" open due to gravity alone.

Glad to see everyone is enjoying the new Persians. Sal and Spyderco have another winner on their hands with this model. As DMW mentions, many who see mine immediately recognioze it as something close to what their grandads used to carry for whittling and such in years past and it does not scream tactical immediately.

Brownie
 
brownie0486 said:
Keith: Glad you are enjoying your Persian. I carry mine everyday as my Chinook 2 is in Arizona at the moment waiting for me to arrive and then drive to Colorado for MBC camp with Mike Janich. I'll be leaving the Persian home and grabbing the C2 the minute I land out there.

DMW: Like yourself, my Persian closes the same way. I am not able to "pop" this folder open from the pocket, yet I carry it EDC, it is that nice. My Persian has broken in very nicely and is very smooth in operation opening and closing since carrying it. One day it may be able to inertial open, but if it doesn't I'm still content to carry it as a potential defensive folder.

brownshoe: The test and laws that are pertinent are for "inertial openings" not centrifugal force in most states by wording in the statute. NYC cops are taking them away if they can hold the spine of the closed folder and they can inertially open the knife swinging the handle down [ like the spydie drop ].

There is an excellent article on Canadian authorities being challenged for using this very method to test for inertial openings. As their law is written, an inertial opening is when the "blade" can be opened by inertia/centrifugal force. The challenge is that the laws state the "blade" be opened that way, not the "handle" by holding the blade. It's only a matter of time before this is probably challenged in NYC as well.

Gravity knives are a whole different subject. They, by defintion do not require inertia/centrifugal force be applied for the blade to "fall" open due to gravity alone.

Glad to see everyone is enjoying the new Persians. Sal and Spyderco have another winner on their hands with this model. As DMW mentions, many who see mine immediately recognioze it as something close to what their grandads used to carry for whittling and such in years past and it does not scream tactical immediately.

Brownie
Click to expand...

We always seem to like the same stuff Brownie :) And we seem to share an aversion to linerlocks :rolleyes: When I saw you liked the Persian I figured I'd better get one too. :D

I would like to say though that anyone can "reverse flick" almost any knife and many common knives can be "New York dropped". I've been doing this since I was about nine I reckon. It's a very intuitive if somewhat dangerous way to open a knife.

But it's a really pointless criteria for legality. Outlawing knives that are DESIGNED to be open one handed is one thing but outlawing knives that CAN BE opened one handed is another entirely. Honestly if it exists I can generally find some way to open it one handed and I'm sure anyone else here can make that same claim. On top of that grabbing the blade and flicking the handle out is just asinine. Who would deploy a folder that way in a confrontation? Even if you did it could backfire. I wouldn't I'd wind up dropping the thing because there isn't time to shift grips in a real scuffle.

Sorry I'll get off my soapbox now and be grateful as always I don't live in NYC.
 
I posted a thread B.C. (before crash) that stated I felt the Persian might just be the "perfect" tactical knife. All things considered, the reason it fits the bill for me is that it does'nt "look" tactical. But considering blade shape, handle ergos, ability to smoothly change grips, balance and size (looking small while, in fact having over 4" cutting edge), along with incredible strength and build quality- it is one of the best out there. And a hell of a bargain at the current price point to boot. Just my .02 (again):)
 

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Any knife that doesn't look like a SAK is probably too "tactical" for UK EDC. That said, the Persian is probably a lot better than my Native (which I OBVIOUSLY don't EDC ;) )... Still waiting for the PC and legal UK Penknife!

Don't get me wrong. I love the Persian and I really want to own one but it'd break my heart not being able to use it openly.
 
My Persian arrived yesterday! :)

It fits my hand as a glove and I like its weight too. There's no blade play in any directions and as others mentioned it's sharp as hell.

It still closes a bit stiff and the blade is slightly off-centered in closed position, even so it's my new favourite folder! :)
 
I like my persian a bunch for many of the smae reasons ya'll have listed and I recognize the advantage of being able to carry a large functional knife without scaring people and in some cases it being believed to be an old knife.
However, I wonder if I am alone when I say I would really like to see a pure tactical version of this knife. I would really like a persian with some weight removed from the handle by adding rough g10 scales and some serrations on the bolsters/blade spine. Also I wonder if titanium bolsters wouldn't be very cool. I love the lockback and the blade shape but I would really like to see a tactical version. You could even use a brown or khaki g10 and polish the titanium to achieve the same sort of friendly lookwhile getting the grip bennifits and what I think would be a better balance.

I know I could by an Emerson but I really like Spyderco and think a version they produced would be superior IMO.

persians rock!

Sam
 
edgetrip said:
I like my persian a bunch for many of the smae reasons ya'll have listed and I recognize the advantage of being able to carry a large functional knife without scaring people and in some cases it being believed to be an old knife.
However, I wonder if I am alone when I say I would really like to see a pure tactical version of this knife. I would really like a persian with some weight removed from the handle by adding rough g10 scales and some serrations on the bolsters/blade spine. Also I wonder if titanium bolsters wouldn't be very cool. I love the lockback and the blade shape but I would really like to see a tactical version. You could even use a brown or khaki g10 and polish the titanium to achieve the same sort of friendly lookwhile getting the grip bennifits and what I think would be a better balance.

I know I could by an Emerson but I really like Spyderco and think a version they produced would be superior IMO.

persians rock!

Sam
Click to expand...


Sounds more like a custom Schempp than anything Spyderco could do realistically ($$$) do with a production folder.
 
I am curious as to why you say that Carlos. Is it that it wouldn't be practical cuz most people are so happy with the standard Persian that it wouldn't sell or is it impractical because of some design aspect I mentioned? I assume it is the latter as there are plenty of Spydies out there with g10 and titanium. Well I honestly didn't expect Spyderco to start protoing one based on my desiresbut this is a company that seems to be able and willing to update and make modifications to existing models. I was monstly curious to see if anyone else even liked the idea of a more tactical persian.

Guess I will have to look at some of Mr. Schemps stuff and long for the day when I can afford it.

Sam
 
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