Ritt
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2004
- Messages
- 1,835
This was one of those I just had to have, and I havent seen much of a review of one (my apologies if I missed yours, please let me know), so I thought Id write up my first impressions. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a fan of Spyderco knives, though I dont consider myself a groupie (I can be fairly objective about them).
The wood/overall fit and finish: Im really pleased with the wood. I was ready for it to be lighter than I wanted it to be, but it looks just right to me. Im sure there will be variation in the color. The two sides of mine were matched extremely well in terms of color and grain. The wood is fit into the bolsters/liners nice and tight. Overall a very attractive set-up.
The pocket clip: Hmmm Ambivalence. On the positive side, I think the clip looks good when the knife is clipped on. That is, it looks good with most any of my pants. Somehow it doesnt quite seem to fit the style of the knife though. Somehow detracts from the gentlemans folder appeal of the knife. Maybe Im just too fond of the solid clips. I got to thinking that a solid clip with the bug etched in it would look good, so I took the clip off my SS Cricket, and took the clip off my Kopa, and did a transplant (pic below, Clipswitch). Spacing of the holes is a hair different, so I couldnt actually attach the clip. I think I like the solid clip better. Ill let you know if the skeleton clip grows on me.
Unfortunately, going clipless is not much of an option. Not only will you have 3 holes in the bolster, but there is a machined-out area on the bolster, which looks like it is meant for the clip to sit in (pic below, Clipscar). I say meant for the clip to sit in because on my knife that machined out area is not large enough for the clip to sit in. So in my particular case it serves no purpose but to insure that I will not carry this knife without a clip. It does fit in the watch pocket of my jeans and slacks, oh well.
Potential as a user: I love the blade shape, looks to me exactly like a scaled-down U.K. Pen Knife blade. Not as leafy as the Lum Chinese Folder, but more leafy than the Calypso Jr., damn near perfect. Ive always been happy with VG-10, dont expect that to change. Ergos are great, starting with the half-blade/half-bolster choil, and then into the swells and depressions of the handle, and finally to the thumb-rest on the back of the blade spine, for a small knife this one feels very secure in my hand. When you hold it youre really choked-up on the blade, should provide for excellent control and a good small general-purpose utility knife. There is a sharp point at the intersection of the blade spine and the thumb rest, and Ive heard/read some complaints about this on the Calypso Jr. Its never bothered me on the Calypso Jr., but I think if youre not aware of it when taking the Kopa out of your pocket it will eventually rub a hole in the upper edge of your pocket. It would have been nice if they had rounded it over (as they did with the U.K. Pen knife), but it could easily be done with the dremel.
Biggest turn-off for me is the Boye dent in the lockbar. Definitely takes away from the gentlemans folder feel, and it just doesnt seem necessary.
Overall Im very satisfied with it, its a very nice small general utility knife. Non-knife people will probably be comfortable with it. Somehow, though, it doesnt quite make it as a gents folder, it doesnt seem as nice as its slightly smaller brother, the Kiwi (pic below, Kopa/Kiwi). Theres the clip, and the Boye dent, and also the Kopa seems unnecessarily thick. While its just barely longer than the Kiwi, it is significantly thicker (pic below, Kopa/Kiwi thickness). The blades definitely thicker, not sure about the liners/bolsters. To my mind, a gents knife is a relatively thin knife, but the Kopa seems more short/stout/thick. Just not quite as nice as it could be. Of course the upside to the thickness is that, again, for a small knife it fills the hand really well, and it ought to stand up to fairly serious use for a knife of its size.
After Ive carried it for a while Ill update this initial review with some comments about how it works. Thanks for reading, and if youve got questions/comments fire away.
The wood/overall fit and finish: Im really pleased with the wood. I was ready for it to be lighter than I wanted it to be, but it looks just right to me. Im sure there will be variation in the color. The two sides of mine were matched extremely well in terms of color and grain. The wood is fit into the bolsters/liners nice and tight. Overall a very attractive set-up.
The pocket clip: Hmmm Ambivalence. On the positive side, I think the clip looks good when the knife is clipped on. That is, it looks good with most any of my pants. Somehow it doesnt quite seem to fit the style of the knife though. Somehow detracts from the gentlemans folder appeal of the knife. Maybe Im just too fond of the solid clips. I got to thinking that a solid clip with the bug etched in it would look good, so I took the clip off my SS Cricket, and took the clip off my Kopa, and did a transplant (pic below, Clipswitch). Spacing of the holes is a hair different, so I couldnt actually attach the clip. I think I like the solid clip better. Ill let you know if the skeleton clip grows on me.
Unfortunately, going clipless is not much of an option. Not only will you have 3 holes in the bolster, but there is a machined-out area on the bolster, which looks like it is meant for the clip to sit in (pic below, Clipscar). I say meant for the clip to sit in because on my knife that machined out area is not large enough for the clip to sit in. So in my particular case it serves no purpose but to insure that I will not carry this knife without a clip. It does fit in the watch pocket of my jeans and slacks, oh well.
Potential as a user: I love the blade shape, looks to me exactly like a scaled-down U.K. Pen Knife blade. Not as leafy as the Lum Chinese Folder, but more leafy than the Calypso Jr., damn near perfect. Ive always been happy with VG-10, dont expect that to change. Ergos are great, starting with the half-blade/half-bolster choil, and then into the swells and depressions of the handle, and finally to the thumb-rest on the back of the blade spine, for a small knife this one feels very secure in my hand. When you hold it youre really choked-up on the blade, should provide for excellent control and a good small general-purpose utility knife. There is a sharp point at the intersection of the blade spine and the thumb rest, and Ive heard/read some complaints about this on the Calypso Jr. Its never bothered me on the Calypso Jr., but I think if youre not aware of it when taking the Kopa out of your pocket it will eventually rub a hole in the upper edge of your pocket. It would have been nice if they had rounded it over (as they did with the U.K. Pen knife), but it could easily be done with the dremel.
Biggest turn-off for me is the Boye dent in the lockbar. Definitely takes away from the gentlemans folder feel, and it just doesnt seem necessary.
Overall Im very satisfied with it, its a very nice small general utility knife. Non-knife people will probably be comfortable with it. Somehow, though, it doesnt quite make it as a gents folder, it doesnt seem as nice as its slightly smaller brother, the Kiwi (pic below, Kopa/Kiwi). Theres the clip, and the Boye dent, and also the Kopa seems unnecessarily thick. While its just barely longer than the Kiwi, it is significantly thicker (pic below, Kopa/Kiwi thickness). The blades definitely thicker, not sure about the liners/bolsters. To my mind, a gents knife is a relatively thin knife, but the Kopa seems more short/stout/thick. Just not quite as nice as it could be. Of course the upside to the thickness is that, again, for a small knife it fills the hand really well, and it ought to stand up to fairly serious use for a knife of its size.
After Ive carried it for a while Ill update this initial review with some comments about how it works. Thanks for reading, and if youve got questions/comments fire away.
