- Joined
- Dec 27, 2004
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- 1,500
Introduction
As I pointed out in my review of the Schempp Persian, Spyderco has been trying in the last few years to expand their product line into areas outside their traditional design space: the lightweight, inexpensive, ugly-but-functional FRN-handled Clip-It knives. They've branched out into balisongs, fixed blades, slipjoints, "dress knives", and even a bone-scaled gentleman's knife, the Kiwi.
The Kiwi is by all accounts a good knife, but it looks pretty... weird. All angular lines and odd circular cut-outs; elegant in use, but awkward in appearance. Spyderco's second gentleman's model, the Kopa, looks to be a much more effective blend of Spyderco functionality and ergonomics, graceful lines, and traditional materials.
I've come close to picking up a Kiwi a couple of times, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. When I saw pictures of the Kopa, though, I was intrigued. No big surprise, then, that I signed up for a Kopa passaround when I had the chance.
First Impressions
At first glance, the Kopa was a bit bigger than I was expecting, closer in size to the Spyderco Walker or Spur than to the diminutive Kiwi, but still plenty svelte enough for dress slacks. And while I appreciate Spyderco's use of high-tech materials, the rich, red cocobola wood on the Kopa looked sweet!
A Closer Look
(Top to bottom: Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Kopa, Spyderco Endura.)
(Top to bottom: Schrade 897UH, Spyderco Jester, Spyderco Kopa, Spyderco Cricket Stainless, Spyderco Delica, Benchmade 705 Mini McHenry & Williams.)
The handle is mostly steel, with thick liners and substantial bolsters, so the Kopa feels very solid in the hand. It's also somewhat rounded in section, unlike other steel-handled Spyderco models; it's subtle, but enough to prevent that flat, slab-sided feel. And of course, the cocobolo wood inserts give it a warmer, more natural feel than plain steel, as well as a more secure grip. The fitting of the wood inserts to the bolsters could be better, though. Fitting along a curved joint like this is tricky, even with modern CNC equipment, but I expect better in a gent's knife like this.
The blade's edge is a bit short for it's size, but that's to leave room for a generously sized finger choil and thumb ramp, which provides a full four-finger grip, which you might not expect on a knife this small. The relatively thick grip makes it very comfortable in the hand, even when bearing down. And if you need to bear down, the blade's equally sturdy: it's made from the same 3mm stock as the Calypso Jr. and Native III. It's also full-flat-ground like the Calypso Jr., but lacks the Caly's bevelled spine.
The pocket clip is unique to this model, skeletonized and curved to match the curve of the handle, and adding to the elegant look of the knife. It's removable, but not moveable; right-hand tip-down is the only carry option. There's also a lanyard hole; this one came with a small Reeve-style "hangmans noose" lanyard, no doubt added by a previous reviewer.
In Use
Despite weighing as much as the much larger Vesuvius, it's rounded edges and compact size made it disappear in jean or khaki pockets, and never threatened to weigh down my summer shorts, either.
I carried this most of the week, and put it through the usual daily drudgery one would expect of an EDC: opening mail, slicing open blister packs, cleaning nails, cutting string and cardboard and zip-ties, even a little food prep. (Yes, I washed it between the nail cleaning and food prep!) The Kopa handled it all with aplomb.
Unlike most of my reviews, I didn't section up large quantities of corrugated cardboard; this is a gent's knife, not a rough-use utility knife. But I did try a little cardboard, and it sliced about as well as my Calypso Jr. The thickness of the blade made it bind a little in the thicker stuff, of course: heavy cardboard seem to be the bane of flat-ground blades.
It's slim dimensions make it handle much like a good slipjoint, but the modern ergonomic design makes it far more comfortable in more vigorous use. There were times I wish the blade was a tad longer (halving an apple, for instance), but considering the size of the knife overall, it always performed "bigger than life."
Conclusion
One thing to keep in mind: Spyderco is offering this knife with different handle inserts: first was cocobolo, then black micarta; the current one is a man-made ivory called "ervina," with tiger coral slated for later this year. Once a run of an insert option is done, though, it's done, so if you want cocobolo or black micarta, get one now while they're still in stock. You might not get the chance later!
Pros: Compact and slim; elegant lines; excellent handling and cutting performance for a small knife.
Cons: A bit heavy for it's size; no tip-up or left-hand carry options.
All in all, this was an impressive little knife. I've given up any ideas of getting a Kiwi; this is the small Spydie I'll be getting someday!
As I pointed out in my review of the Schempp Persian, Spyderco has been trying in the last few years to expand their product line into areas outside their traditional design space: the lightweight, inexpensive, ugly-but-functional FRN-handled Clip-It knives. They've branched out into balisongs, fixed blades, slipjoints, "dress knives", and even a bone-scaled gentleman's knife, the Kiwi.
The Kiwi is by all accounts a good knife, but it looks pretty... weird. All angular lines and odd circular cut-outs; elegant in use, but awkward in appearance. Spyderco's second gentleman's model, the Kopa, looks to be a much more effective blend of Spyderco functionality and ergonomics, graceful lines, and traditional materials.
I've come close to picking up a Kiwi a couple of times, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. When I saw pictures of the Kopa, though, I was intrigued. No big surprise, then, that I signed up for a Kopa passaround when I had the chance.
First Impressions
At first glance, the Kopa was a bit bigger than I was expecting, closer in size to the Spyderco Walker or Spur than to the diminutive Kiwi, but still plenty svelte enough for dress slacks. And while I appreciate Spyderco's use of high-tech materials, the rich, red cocobola wood on the Kopa looked sweet!
A Closer Look
- Overall Length: 5.8" (148mm)
- Length Closed: 3.4" (87mm)
- Blade Length: 2.4" (62mm)
- Edge Length: 1.9" (49mm)
- Blade Steel: VG-10
- Weight: 2.5 oz (70g)
(Top to bottom: Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Kopa, Spyderco Endura.)
(Top to bottom: Schrade 897UH, Spyderco Jester, Spyderco Kopa, Spyderco Cricket Stainless, Spyderco Delica, Benchmade 705 Mini McHenry & Williams.)
The handle is mostly steel, with thick liners and substantial bolsters, so the Kopa feels very solid in the hand. It's also somewhat rounded in section, unlike other steel-handled Spyderco models; it's subtle, but enough to prevent that flat, slab-sided feel. And of course, the cocobolo wood inserts give it a warmer, more natural feel than plain steel, as well as a more secure grip. The fitting of the wood inserts to the bolsters could be better, though. Fitting along a curved joint like this is tricky, even with modern CNC equipment, but I expect better in a gent's knife like this.
The blade's edge is a bit short for it's size, but that's to leave room for a generously sized finger choil and thumb ramp, which provides a full four-finger grip, which you might not expect on a knife this small. The relatively thick grip makes it very comfortable in the hand, even when bearing down. And if you need to bear down, the blade's equally sturdy: it's made from the same 3mm stock as the Calypso Jr. and Native III. It's also full-flat-ground like the Calypso Jr., but lacks the Caly's bevelled spine.
The pocket clip is unique to this model, skeletonized and curved to match the curve of the handle, and adding to the elegant look of the knife. It's removable, but not moveable; right-hand tip-down is the only carry option. There's also a lanyard hole; this one came with a small Reeve-style "hangmans noose" lanyard, no doubt added by a previous reviewer.
In Use
Despite weighing as much as the much larger Vesuvius, it's rounded edges and compact size made it disappear in jean or khaki pockets, and never threatened to weigh down my summer shorts, either.
I carried this most of the week, and put it through the usual daily drudgery one would expect of an EDC: opening mail, slicing open blister packs, cleaning nails, cutting string and cardboard and zip-ties, even a little food prep. (Yes, I washed it between the nail cleaning and food prep!) The Kopa handled it all with aplomb.
Unlike most of my reviews, I didn't section up large quantities of corrugated cardboard; this is a gent's knife, not a rough-use utility knife. But I did try a little cardboard, and it sliced about as well as my Calypso Jr. The thickness of the blade made it bind a little in the thicker stuff, of course: heavy cardboard seem to be the bane of flat-ground blades.
It's slim dimensions make it handle much like a good slipjoint, but the modern ergonomic design makes it far more comfortable in more vigorous use. There were times I wish the blade was a tad longer (halving an apple, for instance), but considering the size of the knife overall, it always performed "bigger than life."
Conclusion
One thing to keep in mind: Spyderco is offering this knife with different handle inserts: first was cocobolo, then black micarta; the current one is a man-made ivory called "ervina," with tiger coral slated for later this year. Once a run of an insert option is done, though, it's done, so if you want cocobolo or black micarta, get one now while they're still in stock. You might not get the chance later!
Pros: Compact and slim; elegant lines; excellent handling and cutting performance for a small knife.
Cons: A bit heavy for it's size; no tip-up or left-hand carry options.
All in all, this was an impressive little knife. I've given up any ideas of getting a Kiwi; this is the small Spydie I'll be getting someday!