- Joined
- May 5, 2000
- Messages
- 1,478
Behold the D'Allara!
Features
Blade: 3.5 Fully serrated rescue style
Thick spine runs the length of the blade. Flat grind from edge to middle of the blade, then full thickness from middle to spine.
Contoured, aggressively textured FRN scales over full steel liners; full steel backspacer.
New-style wire pocket clip--ambi tip-up.
Spyderco Ball Bearing lock
Weight: A lot
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[/font] Notes
This knife is much bigger than you'd expect, in every way. Forget what you know about Spyderco Rescue models. It doesn't apply here. Perhaps the most noticeable dimension when carrying is the width of the closed knife. From blade spine to handle back, the knife is wider than my bar-style cellphone. It fills a pocket.
Most heavy (full-steel-liner) Spydercos are lockback models. The D'Allara is a rarity with its Ball Bearing lock. I am an Axis Lock fan, and this lock clearly takes much of its inspiration from that Benchmade innovation. It is easily the smoothest-opening Spyderco I've ever held; it absolutely outclasses the Millie and Paramillie. In fact, the only knife I have that opens more smoothly is my broken-in BM 710, and even that is a close call. This D'Allara is not broken in yet.
Although the Ball Bearing lock is obviously Spyderco's attempt to play in the Axis field, there are meaningful differences. First, it is not as easy to disengage as an Axis lock. I don't find it difficult, as some do, but it takes more precision to pinch in front of the ball and pull it back. You can't close it easily by pinching the sides of the ball, and you definitely can't close it by grabbing just one side of the ball, as it spins.
For folks like me who value a lock's resistance to accidental closing, this is a benefit.
I do have two concerns with the BB Lock though: (1) It keeps the blade closed over a larger radius than does a liner lock, but not with the radius you get from a lockback or Axis lock. I think a small geometry change on the tang could improve this. It's also not as snappy when staying closed. (2) Whereas an Axis bar sits on the blade tang and contacts a straight line across the tang, the BB Lock ball sits on the tang in one focused spot (since it's a sphere). I have to wonder about the implications for wear, considering the focused pressure.
Overall Impressions
For knife people who value efficiency in size and handle:blade ratio, the D'Allara might not be the perfect choice. The blade is slightly bigger than that of the Paramillie, but the knife itself is noticeably bigger in every respect, and much heavier. (And the Paramillie is already not known as very handle-to-blade efficient.) Here is a comparison with my beater Delica.
For folks who like a big honking knife that's still legal to carry in 3.5" states, this is a winner. The handle is very grippable and ergonomically sound. (It will eat pockets, thanks to the grippiness, but newer D'Allara models have a smooth section under the clip.) For folks who like a fun, slick knife to play with, this is a fantastic Spyderco. I've wanted a knife with a round hole and Axis lock for a long time, and this just about fits that description.
The price is amazingly low for what you get. Spyderco could charge $20 more and it would still be a deal. Or they could add $10 worth of G10 and finishing time and charge twice as much. But this is a rescue knife, and utility and economy are important features. Plus, with the full steel liners, the knife feels anything but cheap, even with FRN scales. Considering the build quality and round Spydie hole, I have to consider the D'Allara a Griptilian-beater.[font="][/font][font="]
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Features
Blade: 3.5 Fully serrated rescue style
Thick spine runs the length of the blade. Flat grind from edge to middle of the blade, then full thickness from middle to spine.
Contoured, aggressively textured FRN scales over full steel liners; full steel backspacer.
New-style wire pocket clip--ambi tip-up.
Spyderco Ball Bearing lock
Weight: A lot
[font="]
[/font] Notes
This knife is much bigger than you'd expect, in every way. Forget what you know about Spyderco Rescue models. It doesn't apply here. Perhaps the most noticeable dimension when carrying is the width of the closed knife. From blade spine to handle back, the knife is wider than my bar-style cellphone. It fills a pocket.
Most heavy (full-steel-liner) Spydercos are lockback models. The D'Allara is a rarity with its Ball Bearing lock. I am an Axis Lock fan, and this lock clearly takes much of its inspiration from that Benchmade innovation. It is easily the smoothest-opening Spyderco I've ever held; it absolutely outclasses the Millie and Paramillie. In fact, the only knife I have that opens more smoothly is my broken-in BM 710, and even that is a close call. This D'Allara is not broken in yet.
Although the Ball Bearing lock is obviously Spyderco's attempt to play in the Axis field, there are meaningful differences. First, it is not as easy to disengage as an Axis lock. I don't find it difficult, as some do, but it takes more precision to pinch in front of the ball and pull it back. You can't close it easily by pinching the sides of the ball, and you definitely can't close it by grabbing just one side of the ball, as it spins.
For folks like me who value a lock's resistance to accidental closing, this is a benefit.
I do have two concerns with the BB Lock though: (1) It keeps the blade closed over a larger radius than does a liner lock, but not with the radius you get from a lockback or Axis lock. I think a small geometry change on the tang could improve this. It's also not as snappy when staying closed. (2) Whereas an Axis bar sits on the blade tang and contacts a straight line across the tang, the BB Lock ball sits on the tang in one focused spot (since it's a sphere). I have to wonder about the implications for wear, considering the focused pressure.
Overall Impressions
For knife people who value efficiency in size and handle:blade ratio, the D'Allara might not be the perfect choice. The blade is slightly bigger than that of the Paramillie, but the knife itself is noticeably bigger in every respect, and much heavier. (And the Paramillie is already not known as very handle-to-blade efficient.) Here is a comparison with my beater Delica.
For folks who like a big honking knife that's still legal to carry in 3.5" states, this is a winner. The handle is very grippable and ergonomically sound. (It will eat pockets, thanks to the grippiness, but newer D'Allara models have a smooth section under the clip.) For folks who like a fun, slick knife to play with, this is a fantastic Spyderco. I've wanted a knife with a round hole and Axis lock for a long time, and this just about fits that description.
The price is amazingly low for what you get. Spyderco could charge $20 more and it would still be a deal. Or they could add $10 worth of G10 and finishing time and charge twice as much. But this is a rescue knife, and utility and economy are important features. Plus, with the full steel liners, the knife feels anything but cheap, even with FRN scales. Considering the build quality and round Spydie hole, I have to consider the D'Allara a Griptilian-beater.[font="][/font][font="]
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