-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Some new Balance pictures - two compared to Sage 2 in size
- Thread starter Reeek
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2008
- Messages
- 5,911
I hear you but believe it or not, if one has a need for such a compact knife, the Kuhkri style lends itself very useful for a small package. Using the choil, the heel is between my ring and pinky finger. And the best way to grasp it is to lay the knife sideways in your hand, put your middle finger in the choil and pinch the blade somewhere near the Spyder Hole between your thumb and index finger. This is certainly the most useful small knife I've handled so far - it's better than just a scaled down traditonal knife shape which tends to just be too small to operate sometimes.
It works pretty well.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2008
- Messages
- 1,133
Wonderful pictures, lots of detail. I really can't wait to get my hands on a Balance
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,861
Wow thanks for the great pics!
Would love to here a review/thoughts from you on the knife!
Would love to here a review/thoughts from you on the knife!
- Joined
- May 14, 2010
- Messages
- 461
:thumbup:
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2007
- Messages
- 3,285
It really does grow on me actually. I can't afford the CF version, but I will wait and check out the upcoming SS R.I.L. version.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2008
- Messages
- 5,911
I'll report more after more use but right now I can say the fit and finish on the knife I received is remarkable (Thanks, Tom Berry!). When I try to examine it with the naked eye for any flaws not associated to a production knife classification I can't find any. Unlike the Michael Walker ZDP I had although the MW ZDP felt lighter due to a single liner. All in all, this knife appears to have similar build quality as a top of the line large Spyderco but scaled down in size. That isn't easy on a such a small knife. The screw construction makes this knife appear to be built like a mini brick *hit house. The pivot uses the same screw as the scale screws. I can't tell for sure if there are washers but there is a very thin gap between the liners and the tang so it appears there may be a very thin washer on each side. I can't confirm that without disassembly. There is a gap though so I'm inclined to believe there may be thin washers. The lockup is early and solid. It came in a mini Spyderco box with an Edgeucation sheet and the knife came in a small bubble wrap sleeve. Because of the "Balance" element of the closed design, I sometimes try to open it from the wrong end until you get used to which end the blade opens. The blade tip is toward the Spyder Bug etching so I orient the opening side by that. Oddly enough, this knife can be opened quite easily one handed and I have large hands because I'm a large man. The clip helps with this by giving your finger tips something to brace against while the thumb is opening the knife. You can't close it one handed very easily though. I can't at all because of the large hands. Your hand is just scrunching down too much to disengage the locking liner and manipulate the blade closed with one hand. The "hump" of the blade when the knife is opened really makes this little knife easy to grasp with large hands though. Your thumb naturally gravitates to that hump. No need for jimping in such a small knife as it isn't conducive to hard use when extra grip is needed because of its purpose and intended use. All edges on scales, liners, spine, etc are polished to an almost satin sheen. There is no remaining "punch out" roughness anywhere on this knife. It's not dehorned and really doesn't need to be because it's a small knife for casual carry and use. Well suited to removing "Irish Pennants" or opening boxes and mail. When gripped properly the control is almost surgical and there are more than one good way to grasp and use this knife because of the Kuhkri style design.
As stated in my earlier post, the Kuhkri style lends itself perfectly for a small knife. There is no doubt this knife is WAY overbuilt for it's size. With the superb build quality, the steel liners, etc, this knife could last a lifetime. The open construction is well suited to cleaning with lots of pocket time. Although it looks good and is fitted superbly, I'm not sure what the purpose of the lanyard tube is. It's not a super deep carry clip mount so grasping it from a pocket doesn't seem difficult although maybe a small loop for the pinky finger might help someone. The lanyard tube is not much more than an 1/8" in diameter. For me though, with the size of this knife, I don't see a need for a lanyard. Conversely, I really like the short lanyard that comes on the PPT because it makes extraction from the pocket so much easier because of the deep carry clip. The edge grinds are fantastic. Very thin edge grinds and even on both sides. Just lay the knife in your hand sideways, place your index finger in the choil and pinch the blade with your thumb somewhere near the Spyder Hole and you feel like you can do surgery with this knife. Like a scalpel. I believe sharpness is even more important with small knives than large (although all knives should be sharp!) because you want the edge to do all the work when you are cutting something. So make and keep this knife as sharp as you can. The knife came shaving sharp.
All in all, this is the best small knife I have ever held and operated. I really may keep it and historically I don't keep the small knives I buy. I buy them in my "search" for a good small knife but seldom keep them. Again, I belive this may be a keeper because of the Kuhkri style working very well in a small knife.
As stated in my earlier post, the Kuhkri style lends itself perfectly for a small knife. There is no doubt this knife is WAY overbuilt for it's size. With the superb build quality, the steel liners, etc, this knife could last a lifetime. The open construction is well suited to cleaning with lots of pocket time. Although it looks good and is fitted superbly, I'm not sure what the purpose of the lanyard tube is. It's not a super deep carry clip mount so grasping it from a pocket doesn't seem difficult although maybe a small loop for the pinky finger might help someone. The lanyard tube is not much more than an 1/8" in diameter. For me though, with the size of this knife, I don't see a need for a lanyard. Conversely, I really like the short lanyard that comes on the PPT because it makes extraction from the pocket so much easier because of the deep carry clip. The edge grinds are fantastic. Very thin edge grinds and even on both sides. Just lay the knife in your hand sideways, place your index finger in the choil and pinch the blade with your thumb somewhere near the Spyder Hole and you feel like you can do surgery with this knife. Like a scalpel. I believe sharpness is even more important with small knives than large (although all knives should be sharp!) because you want the edge to do all the work when you are cutting something. So make and keep this knife as sharp as you can. The knife came shaving sharp.
All in all, this is the best small knife I have ever held and operated. I really may keep it and historically I don't keep the small knives I buy. I buy them in my "search" for a good small knife but seldom keep them. Again, I belive this may be a keeper because of the Kuhkri style working very well in a small knife.
Last edited:
Its nice to see your using the Sage, a few scuffs on the handle is nice to see. Your review of the Balance is just what I've been looking for.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Messages
- 5,738
Comparison shots with a few other smaller Spydercos (including a Spyderco Wegner Mouse)....
It's an exceptionally well made little knife. Ball detent does seem a bit deep. I chalk that up to the changing legal climate worldwide where the definition of a "flick knife" seems to get broader daily.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
It's an exceptionally well made little knife. Ball detent does seem a bit deep. I chalk that up to the changing legal climate worldwide where the definition of a "flick knife" seems to get broader daily.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,861
Thanks so much for the run down!
and Deacon thanks so much for the comparison pictures.
[side note ah! you have a PE CF Cricket?! mouse too...very cool]
Hope the price of this knife goes down with time. I thought $80 for my CF SE Cricket was pricey!
and Deacon thanks so much for the comparison pictures.
[side note ah! you have a PE CF Cricket?! mouse too...very cool]
Hope the price of this knife goes down with time. I thought $80 for my CF SE Cricket was pricey!
Ritt
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2004
- Messages
- 1,841
The small knife makes for a relatively strong detent, so it's not so much a spider drop as a spider fling, which take things at least to the edge of dangerous (risk of flying knife).
I've been carrying one all week. I took the clip off and just carry it in the bottom of my pocket. Hardly any print to it at all, rides very nicely. The angled blade makes for a nice angle out of your hand when cutting. However I find for cutting cardboard an index finder in the choil is too close to the blade. Ended up with paper cuts on the back of my index finger. I adjusted back away from the edge with my grip and it worked fine. For finer cuts the choil works well.
The knife feels incredibly solid, the sort of no-blade-play that you most often see in small knives, which must be due at least in part to the small moment arms at work.
The carbon fiber was finished very well, not peel-ply but not shiny smooth as on some of the older carbon fiber models.
I like mine, definite keeper.
I've been carrying one all week. I took the clip off and just carry it in the bottom of my pocket. Hardly any print to it at all, rides very nicely. The angled blade makes for a nice angle out of your hand when cutting. However I find for cutting cardboard an index finder in the choil is too close to the blade. Ended up with paper cuts on the back of my index finger. I adjusted back away from the edge with my grip and it worked fine. For finer cuts the choil works well.
The knife feels incredibly solid, the sort of no-blade-play that you most often see in small knives, which must be due at least in part to the small moment arms at work.
The carbon fiber was finished very well, not peel-ply but not shiny smooth as on some of the older carbon fiber models.
I like mine, definite keeper.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Messages
- 5,738
Short simple answer, it doesn't, or at least mine doesn't. Short, light weight handle and strong ball detent add up to very little energy. Someone told me that loosening the pivot a bit lightens the action, but I like mine the way it is. Assuming it will have more weight in the handle, the upcoming SS version might be better for the Spydie drop. Just not sure whether that will be the case, or whether it will just re-task the CF version's liners as handle slabs.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2006
- Messages
- 103
Mine came to the house yesterday. I was still supprised at the small size of this knife, and I read all the threads on it and watched the few videos. It is so small that unless you have seen one in person you will likely be supprised. That being said for such a small knife the quality and attention to detail is second to none. I have large hands and I can close the balance one handed. The spidie drop however is not happening. This may just be the perfect knife to carry in your watch pocket of your jeans.