I think a spear-point Chinook would be a good idea. I would find it to be a more usefull blade shape for general utility than the present Chinook, and it would be a good Spyderco response to other heavy-duty folders, such as the Buck Strider, SERE 2000, etc.
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Spear-point Chinook
- Thread starter marty123
- Start date
Then it would not be a chinook. I agree they might try using the superstrong lock back they have and putting another style blade on it. Makes sense. Spearpoint or drop point come to mind. I think there would be a market for it. But then I dont market knives for a living. That said I love my Chinook but would buy another blade style for utility. And yes I know hunters are already using it, but its still not the best blade style for utility.
The Chinook was designed by James Keating with the clipped point and false edge as a Martial Blade. The point of the design is, in part, the "back cut", a technique that requires a clipped point and a false edge, preferrably sharpened. After a standard forward cut with the knife, you whip your arm back and snap your wrist as you bring the point into contact with your opponent. This has a devastating effect if done right, but it cannot be done with a drop point or a spear point. So, such a knife, while it might be a wonderful knife, would not be the knife that Keating designed and would not be a "Chinook".
Gee, doesn't this sound familiar?
Gee, doesn't this sound familiar?
I've thought about a spear point Chinook as essentially a Lum Chinese on steroids. It probably wouldn't be a Chinook but a salmon or a barong. I would be tempted to chop and pry with such a blade but I wonder if the heavier blade would be harder on the lock.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2001
- Messages
- 491
The spear point is a great idea! Who gives a damn if it won't be a "Chinook"? 
Just rename it!
Just rename it!
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
Hmm... A folding barong-type knife would be really cool. That's a neat idea, Smoke. Take a flat or convex ground leaf shaped blade, only make it big and thick. Also, have the pommel end of the handle curve way down, even more so than on the Chinook.
I can't really quite picture a spearpoint Chinook though if it's double hollow ground. Do you want to make the blade slimmer, like on the Native, or do you want to keep the blade's big belly and make it like a smatchet?
I do agree that the whole point (pun alert) of the Chinook is its concave clip point: that's its raison d'être. The lock and handle are nice, but not terribly unique. Asking for a Chinook with a different blade shape is sort of like asking for a Civilian with a different blade shape. "I really like the Civilian, but could you just get rid of that big, hooked blade? How about putting a little drop point on it so it's better for general utility?"
I can't really quite picture a spearpoint Chinook though if it's double hollow ground. Do you want to make the blade slimmer, like on the Native, or do you want to keep the blade's big belly and make it like a smatchet?
I do agree that the whole point (pun alert) of the Chinook is its concave clip point: that's its raison d'être. The lock and handle are nice, but not terribly unique. Asking for a Chinook with a different blade shape is sort of like asking for a Civilian with a different blade shape. "I really like the Civilian, but could you just get rid of that big, hooked blade? How about putting a little drop point on it so it's better for general utility?"
Cerulean, I'd be satisfied with another Chinook. lol
I'm thinking flat ground more smatchet, I won't need the extended cocktua pommel. Basically just don't cut the top portion out of the blank. It would be interesting to a spearpoint Chinook in some photoshop program or something.
Re: Civilian, well it's basically the same handle as the Military. With a drop point, perhaps with a Starmate, Wegner, Impala it would look uh different. The names would be interesting, the Galaxy, Ferret, Rodent, Zebra.
I'm thinking flat ground more smatchet, I won't need the extended cocktua pommel. Basically just don't cut the top portion out of the blank. It would be interesting to a spearpoint Chinook in some photoshop program or something.
Re: Civilian, well it's basically the same handle as the Military. With a drop point, perhaps with a Starmate, Wegner, Impala it would look uh different. The names would be interesting, the Galaxy, Ferret, Rodent, Zebra.
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
Ahh... Ok, I'm looking at a picture of Boker's interpretation of the Applegate/Fairbairn smatchet and trying to imagine a smaller version of its blade on the Chinook handle. You know, I have to admit that could be pretty cool! Here's a pic from Knifecenter:
Here's a pic from Knifecenter:
Hmmm, I like the idea. A lot! It's a sort of folding Smatchet. But I have one problem. I assume that you would want to sharpen both edges, and that would present a real difficulty when you go to carry something with that kind of sharpened belly in your pocket or even in a holster. It would appear to be a sliced hand, or other portion of your anatomy, just waiting to happen. And I doubt that any company would want to make it due to legal liability matters. But I am not a lawyer, etc., etc., etc.
Now, if we can come up with some way to guard the sharpened back of the blade while you carry the knife, we might well have a winner here.
BTW, my only problem with a spear point "Chinook" is using the name, "Chinook". That is the name of a very specific device, just as "Gunting" is the name of a very specific device, or "Sifu" is. Somebody once asked about a 3 1/2" Sifu, and I said that REKAT already made them, they were called Carnivour and Carnivour Cub.
Now, if we can come up with some way to guard the sharpened back of the blade while you carry the knife, we might well have a winner here.
BTW, my only problem with a spear point "Chinook" is using the name, "Chinook". That is the name of a very specific device, just as "Gunting" is the name of a very specific device, or "Sifu" is. Somebody once asked about a 3 1/2" Sifu, and I said that REKAT already made them, they were called Carnivour and Carnivour Cub.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2001
- Messages
- 37
Excellent Idea PPL... I perfer the Barong concept more so than the attempt at the double edged smachete... I believe the term "Lum Chinese on steroids" was used ...would make a wonderful heavy camp folder, as well as an excellent defensive tool.
Here is a pic of the barong by Laci Szabo (SZABOINC.com) if you disect the blade from the handle just above the guard, so that you have a bit of a "choil" per say .. and attach to the chinook handel (although I think a handel with the geometry of the Cold Steel El Hombre would be better suited, but the solid, Spyderco design with G-10 scales and steel liners to add balance.) NOW THATS A KNIFE *my best Paul Hogan A.K.A Crocodile Dundee impression** With that design you would want a slight blade forward angel as opposed to the straight, inline nature of the Chinook (inline works well with the bowie blade but a slight angle would give the leaf blade more leverage the same way Lum designed the Chineese for example).
Soo... in short we have a Barong bladed Chinese with G-10 scales and Steel Liners, with the Chinook charictoristics such as blade omposition, thickness and lock up system. WOW.... Im DROOLING!!!
Here is a pic of the barong by Laci Szabo (SZABOINC.com) if you disect the blade from the handle just above the guard, so that you have a bit of a "choil" per say .. and attach to the chinook handel (although I think a handel with the geometry of the Cold Steel El Hombre would be better suited, but the solid, Spyderco design with G-10 scales and steel liners to add balance.) NOW THATS A KNIFE *my best Paul Hogan A.K.A Crocodile Dundee impression** With that design you would want a slight blade forward angel as opposed to the straight, inline nature of the Chinook (inline works well with the bowie blade but a slight angle would give the leaf blade more leverage the same way Lum designed the Chineese for example).
Soo... in short we have a Barong bladed Chinese with G-10 scales and Steel Liners, with the Chinook charictoristics such as blade omposition, thickness and lock up system. WOW.... Im DROOLING!!!
