- Joined
- Dec 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,500
Intro
I have a pretty long history with Spyderco's products. Waaaay back in 1992, a shooting buddy of mine in California showed me this cool new knife he'd just bought: an original Endura. To a guy who grew up with Old Timers and Swiss Army Knives, it looked ugly and awkward, but on second glance, there was no denying the sheer utility of the design: the handy pocket clip, the one-hand-opening hole, the way the fully-serrated edge shredded through anything you threw at it... I ended up buying one just like it (which I still have!), and later added a Delica (which I lost, but later replaced) for easier EDC in office attire.
But that's where it ended, for many years. Those two knives were all I needed. So, until recently, the name "Spyderco" to me meant that classic, utilitarian Clip-It design, ugly but supremely functional.
So, why the backstory? Because I'm not alone. When you mention Spyderco knives to most people outside the "knife knut" community, they too think of the classic FRN-handled, serrated-blade, butt-ugly-yet-practical Clip-It line, if they recognize the name at all.
And that's unfortunate, because over the years Spyderco has also produced a number of knives that are anything but ugly, with superb aesthetics that appeal to a much wider audience than those ugly Clip-Its. Some were developed by Spyderco's own designers, others in collaboration with noted custom makers outside the company.
One of those collaborations was with custom maker Ed Schempp, who created an interpretation of the classic Persian dagger in a folder, with a deeply swept blade and matching curved grip. I've been intrigued by this model since I saw a picture of it about a year ago, so when I saw a passaround of the Spyderco Schempp Persian (along with a Spyderco Spyderhawk; see my other review), I jumped at the chance to give one a test-drive.
First Impressions
Out of the box, I was immediately taken with the sexy curves of the grip and blade; it's a radical departure from the old Clip-It knives, without a doubt! The grip is curved to match the swept blade, with a pronounced finger choil in the bolster and a pinky hook at the rear, and there's even an "S" curve where the bolsters and scales meet. In fact, it's hard to find a straight line anywhere on this knife: even the pocket clip is curved. The balance is perfect: right at the finger choil.
The next thing I noticed was the heft of the knife. Most Spydercos fall into two categories: lightweight models with hand-filling FRN handles, and sturdy all-steel models with thin steel slabs for a grip. The Persian is different: the grip is thick by Spyderco standards, with thick slabs of black micarta mated to stainless liners and solid stainless bolsters. The result is a solid, hefty feel in the hand, but since the weight is concentrated near the balance point, it still handles nimbly.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that this knife had some miles on it. There were numerous fine scratches on the bolsters, and a stain above the Spyder Hole; the pocket clip was noticeably worn; and it was numbered, signifying that it was from the initial production run. It had been sharpened, but well, with a highly polished edge bevel. Despite the obvious use, the blade had no play in any direction, and the back lock locked up like a bank vault.
Vital Statistics:
A Closer Look
(From top: Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Spyderhawk, Spyderco Schempp Persian, Spyderco Endura.)
The blade of the Persian is highly swept, with a deeply curved belly and sharp point. Interestingly, there is a straight section of edge near the tip, which proved handy in use; not everything you need to cut is curved! The primary grind is a hollow saber grind, from rather thick stock; it might not make as good a slicer as a Calypso Jr., but it's a whole lot stronger. The hollow grind is unusual: the angle is more obtuse near the pivot, and gets thinner out towards the belly and tip, which means there's a more sturdy edge at the rear, and a thinner edge at the front, well suited to slicing -- similar to Swiss Army knife blades. As for material, Spyderco's VG-10 steel never disappoints; even with the polished edge, the natural "toothiness" of the steel cut like the dickens.
The curve of the edge is complemented by an arched thumb ramp, rounded at the top with just enough of a "peak" to provide a positive index point for the thumb; the trademark Spyder Hole is positioned forward of the peak, which is unusual for Spyderco, but in this case gives the Persian an unusual exotic look.
The grip is unusual; it's narrow but thick, with many of the features that made the Manix so comfortable in the hand -- the pronounced finger choil, the finger swell, the pinky hook, the arched back -- only slimmer and more rounded. It's particularly narrow just behind the bolster, in the deep choil; unlike the Paramilitary I reviewed, there's room for all four fingers. Also like the Manix, there is a secondary choil at the front of the bolster, which allows you to choke up for more delicate work. The handle is extremely comfortable in forward hammer or saber grips, or reverse edge-down; again, like the Manix, it's not well suited for reverse edge-up use.
The locking mechanism is Spyderco's tried-and-true "back lock" or lockback, with a generous amount of metal-to-metal engagement; while it's not MBC (Martial BladeCraft) rated like the Manix, the lock is plenty strong. Unlike the Manix, but like every other back lock model Spyderco has released in the last few years, the lock bar has a Boye dent to preclude accidental release.
In Use
The Persian sits fairly deep in the pocket, with just the narrow end of the grip showing -- just enough for an easy draw. In a nice stylistic touch, the pocket clip is curved to match the curve of the grip, and is painted black with the Spyderco "spyder" logo in gold. Despite the relatively heavy build, it carries easily even in dress pants, and the rounded contours are free of corners or edges that might prove uncomfortable.
The sample Persian was well broken-in; opening was very smooth and easy. The thumbhole is set well away from the handle, for easy access by the thumb. The deep choil makes it easy to acquire a good grip upon opening. While the smooth-finished micarta scales don't provide as secure a grip as, say, G10, the handle fits the hand so well that it always felt under control in my testing, even with sweaty hands. (And with this heat wave, sweaty hands were the only hands I had!)
I used the Persian to cut a variety of materials, from meats and vegetables to cardboard boxes to blister packages to some light whittling. Through it all, I found the Persian extremely comfortable to use, thanks to the wide handle, excellent ergonomic grip shape and well-rounded edges. The only edges to deal with were on the thumb ramp (which could use some serrations, and perhaps a little rounding), but even that wasn't a problem, since the bolster provides most of the support to the thumb. It was just about the most comfortable-in-extended-use folder I've tested, much better than the Spyderco Stretch, and at least as comfy as the Sebenza, Manix and Paramilitary. I was very impressed!
The saber-ground blade isn't as well-suited to fruit and vegetable slicing as a flat-ground knife like the Paramilitary, so it wasn't a real stand-out in the kitchen; but I have a couple of Wustof's for that sort of work. The grind is pretty thin out front, though, and the narrowness of the blade helps reduce friction in sticky materials like corrugated cardboard. Believe it or not, the Persian carved through double-thickness corrugated better than the Manix! On harder materials like wood, the comfortable handle was a godsend, and the narrow grip provided surprisingly good control; choking up, with forefinger in the forward choil and thumb on the spine, made it handle almost as nicely as a slipjoint whittler.
The weakness of the blade is the tip; the hollow grind is quite thin out there, and the severe sweep doesn't help any. In other words, this sure ain't no "sharpened crowbar"; don't even think of trying to pry with the Persian! Stick to slicing, though, and it just might surprise you.
Conclusion
Let me sum up my thoughts on the Persian with a little story...
My girlfriend has been following my reviews, and as my birthday approached, made me an offer I couldn't refuse: my birthday present would be one of any of the knives I've reviewed (Sebenza excepted).
Which one did I choose? Well, there's a Persian clipped to my pocket as I write this.
Ya ya ya, I know, I keep talking about my search for a heavy-use outdoors knife; the Manix had me oh-so-sorely tempted. But the Persian really struck a chord with me. It's sturdy, but stylish, fits my hand to a "T", and unlike the Manix, sheeple-friendly enough for the office. I'll probably score a Manix sometime, when I find the right deal, but for now, the Persian will be racking up a lot of EDC time!!
I have a pretty long history with Spyderco's products. Waaaay back in 1992, a shooting buddy of mine in California showed me this cool new knife he'd just bought: an original Endura. To a guy who grew up with Old Timers and Swiss Army Knives, it looked ugly and awkward, but on second glance, there was no denying the sheer utility of the design: the handy pocket clip, the one-hand-opening hole, the way the fully-serrated edge shredded through anything you threw at it... I ended up buying one just like it (which I still have!), and later added a Delica (which I lost, but later replaced) for easier EDC in office attire.
But that's where it ended, for many years. Those two knives were all I needed. So, until recently, the name "Spyderco" to me meant that classic, utilitarian Clip-It design, ugly but supremely functional.
So, why the backstory? Because I'm not alone. When you mention Spyderco knives to most people outside the "knife knut" community, they too think of the classic FRN-handled, serrated-blade, butt-ugly-yet-practical Clip-It line, if they recognize the name at all.
And that's unfortunate, because over the years Spyderco has also produced a number of knives that are anything but ugly, with superb aesthetics that appeal to a much wider audience than those ugly Clip-Its. Some were developed by Spyderco's own designers, others in collaboration with noted custom makers outside the company.
One of those collaborations was with custom maker Ed Schempp, who created an interpretation of the classic Persian dagger in a folder, with a deeply swept blade and matching curved grip. I've been intrigued by this model since I saw a picture of it about a year ago, so when I saw a passaround of the Spyderco Schempp Persian (along with a Spyderco Spyderhawk; see my other review), I jumped at the chance to give one a test-drive.
First Impressions
Out of the box, I was immediately taken with the sexy curves of the grip and blade; it's a radical departure from the old Clip-It knives, without a doubt! The grip is curved to match the swept blade, with a pronounced finger choil in the bolster and a pinky hook at the rear, and there's even an "S" curve where the bolsters and scales meet. In fact, it's hard to find a straight line anywhere on this knife: even the pocket clip is curved. The balance is perfect: right at the finger choil.
The next thing I noticed was the heft of the knife. Most Spydercos fall into two categories: lightweight models with hand-filling FRN handles, and sturdy all-steel models with thin steel slabs for a grip. The Persian is different: the grip is thick by Spyderco standards, with thick slabs of black micarta mated to stainless liners and solid stainless bolsters. The result is a solid, hefty feel in the hand, but since the weight is concentrated near the balance point, it still handles nimbly.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that this knife had some miles on it. There were numerous fine scratches on the bolsters, and a stain above the Spyder Hole; the pocket clip was noticeably worn; and it was numbered, signifying that it was from the initial production run. It had been sharpened, but well, with a highly polished edge bevel. Despite the obvious use, the blade had no play in any direction, and the back lock locked up like a bank vault.
Vital Statistics:
- Open Length: 8-1/4"
- Closed Length: 4-3/4"
- Blade Length: 3-1/2"
- Cutting Edge: 3"
- Blade Thickness: 1/8" (3mm)
- Blade Steel: VG-10
- Weight: 5.38 oz.
A Closer Look
(From top: Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Spyderhawk, Spyderco Schempp Persian, Spyderco Endura.)
The blade of the Persian is highly swept, with a deeply curved belly and sharp point. Interestingly, there is a straight section of edge near the tip, which proved handy in use; not everything you need to cut is curved! The primary grind is a hollow saber grind, from rather thick stock; it might not make as good a slicer as a Calypso Jr., but it's a whole lot stronger. The hollow grind is unusual: the angle is more obtuse near the pivot, and gets thinner out towards the belly and tip, which means there's a more sturdy edge at the rear, and a thinner edge at the front, well suited to slicing -- similar to Swiss Army knife blades. As for material, Spyderco's VG-10 steel never disappoints; even with the polished edge, the natural "toothiness" of the steel cut like the dickens.
The curve of the edge is complemented by an arched thumb ramp, rounded at the top with just enough of a "peak" to provide a positive index point for the thumb; the trademark Spyder Hole is positioned forward of the peak, which is unusual for Spyderco, but in this case gives the Persian an unusual exotic look.
The grip is unusual; it's narrow but thick, with many of the features that made the Manix so comfortable in the hand -- the pronounced finger choil, the finger swell, the pinky hook, the arched back -- only slimmer and more rounded. It's particularly narrow just behind the bolster, in the deep choil; unlike the Paramilitary I reviewed, there's room for all four fingers. Also like the Manix, there is a secondary choil at the front of the bolster, which allows you to choke up for more delicate work. The handle is extremely comfortable in forward hammer or saber grips, or reverse edge-down; again, like the Manix, it's not well suited for reverse edge-up use.
The locking mechanism is Spyderco's tried-and-true "back lock" or lockback, with a generous amount of metal-to-metal engagement; while it's not MBC (Martial BladeCraft) rated like the Manix, the lock is plenty strong. Unlike the Manix, but like every other back lock model Spyderco has released in the last few years, the lock bar has a Boye dent to preclude accidental release.
In Use
The Persian sits fairly deep in the pocket, with just the narrow end of the grip showing -- just enough for an easy draw. In a nice stylistic touch, the pocket clip is curved to match the curve of the grip, and is painted black with the Spyderco "spyder" logo in gold. Despite the relatively heavy build, it carries easily even in dress pants, and the rounded contours are free of corners or edges that might prove uncomfortable.
The sample Persian was well broken-in; opening was very smooth and easy. The thumbhole is set well away from the handle, for easy access by the thumb. The deep choil makes it easy to acquire a good grip upon opening. While the smooth-finished micarta scales don't provide as secure a grip as, say, G10, the handle fits the hand so well that it always felt under control in my testing, even with sweaty hands. (And with this heat wave, sweaty hands were the only hands I had!)
I used the Persian to cut a variety of materials, from meats and vegetables to cardboard boxes to blister packages to some light whittling. Through it all, I found the Persian extremely comfortable to use, thanks to the wide handle, excellent ergonomic grip shape and well-rounded edges. The only edges to deal with were on the thumb ramp (which could use some serrations, and perhaps a little rounding), but even that wasn't a problem, since the bolster provides most of the support to the thumb. It was just about the most comfortable-in-extended-use folder I've tested, much better than the Spyderco Stretch, and at least as comfy as the Sebenza, Manix and Paramilitary. I was very impressed!
The saber-ground blade isn't as well-suited to fruit and vegetable slicing as a flat-ground knife like the Paramilitary, so it wasn't a real stand-out in the kitchen; but I have a couple of Wustof's for that sort of work. The grind is pretty thin out front, though, and the narrowness of the blade helps reduce friction in sticky materials like corrugated cardboard. Believe it or not, the Persian carved through double-thickness corrugated better than the Manix! On harder materials like wood, the comfortable handle was a godsend, and the narrow grip provided surprisingly good control; choking up, with forefinger in the forward choil and thumb on the spine, made it handle almost as nicely as a slipjoint whittler.
The weakness of the blade is the tip; the hollow grind is quite thin out there, and the severe sweep doesn't help any. In other words, this sure ain't no "sharpened crowbar"; don't even think of trying to pry with the Persian! Stick to slicing, though, and it just might surprise you.
Conclusion
Let me sum up my thoughts on the Persian with a little story...
My girlfriend has been following my reviews, and as my birthday approached, made me an offer I couldn't refuse: my birthday present would be one of any of the knives I've reviewed (Sebenza excepted).
Which one did I choose? Well, there's a Persian clipped to my pocket as I write this.
Ya ya ya, I know, I keep talking about my search for a heavy-use outdoors knife; the Manix had me oh-so-sorely tempted. But the Persian really struck a chord with me. It's sturdy, but stylish, fits my hand to a "T", and unlike the Manix, sheeple-friendly enough for the office. I'll probably score a Manix sometime, when I find the right deal, but for now, the Persian will be racking up a lot of EDC time!!
