Thanks, jhillas, for the loan of this Persian!
First Impressions:
- This is a pass-around knife, so no judgement of factory-edge is possible.
- Great piercing point, with generous forefinger accomodation for fine-cutting control.
- Good apparent grip-security.
- Rigid construction with dual bolsters + dual full-length steel liners + strong lock-back spring + steel back spacer.
- Faithful to 'Persian' style in both blade-shape and bolsters. Hollow-grind dramatizes the 'Persian' sweep of the blade.
Rigidity and Build Quality:
- Dual bolsters + dual steel liners + strong back-spring + steel back spacer for rigid frame structure.
- Secure blade-lockup - no blade 'play' or 'wobble' in any dimension.
- When the blade is closed, strong spring pressure resists inertial/accidental opening.
- Excellent fit and finish, including polished liners.
- Very comfortable chamfered frame/handle edges.
Persian dual steel liners are not nested. Liner-thickness is dificult to measure, about .040". Bolster-thickness is about .163".
Pocket-Carry Considerations:
Numerous posts refer to the Persian as a 'heavy' folder, yet it 'felt' about equal to my 806D2. I took some handle-width and weight comparison measurements:
- Spyderco Persian: Width = .445 inches; Weight = 5.435 ounces.
- Benchmade 806D2: Width = .496 inches; Weight = 5.075 ounces. (Benchmade site states only 4.38 ounces.)
- Spyderco Military: Width = .420 inches; Weight = 3.975 ounces. (Nested liners.)
So it is a bit heavy. If you're used to carrying an AFCK, you probably won't notice these differences. If you're used to carrying a Military, the differences will be dramatic. The Persian bolsters, strong back-spring and steel back spacer add weight. Non-nested liners impose a handle-width penalty. You definitely WILL notice the nicely chamfered edges and smooth micarta scales on the Persian frame/handle. All things considered, Persian carry-comfort is quite good:
- Very comfortably-chamfered frame/handle edges.
- Smooth micarta handle scales.
- Acceptable hande-width.
- Acceptable weight.
Due to the Persian bolsters, tip-down carry is lost. Carry is tip-up for right-handers only. Clip options are 'leave-it-on' or 'take-it-off.'
When clipped in the pocket, about 1" of the Persian is exposed. Lanyard hole diameter is a generous 5/32".
The Grip:
The Persian grip forms a 'saddle' for fingers between the bolsters and butt. There is little likelihood of any portion of the hand slipping forward onto the blade edge - or slipping rearward off the handle in draw-cuts or slashes. The smooth linen micarta slabs are NOT a 'slippery-grip' problem in this handle design. Even when wet, grip security was better than expected.
The 'Boye-dent' on the lock lever reduces the likelihood of accidentally unlocking the blade due to grip-squeezing.
Under strong cutting effort, comfort in the web of my hand was quite good for a folder.
The Blade:
The hollow-grind of the Persian blade accentuates the graceful 'Persian' lines of the blade - but tip-strength is compromised by this grind. The number-sets below are comparison measurements of blade-width at widest point (w) and height (h), measurements taken 1/4" behind the point - a crude 'inference' of relative tip-strength:
Spyderco Persian: w = .050"; h = .210"
Benchmade 806D2: w = .055"; h = .220"
Spyderco Military 440V: w = .050"; h = .255"
Persian blade piercing efficiency is obviously excellent.
Excellent point-cutting properties with control enhanced by the very generous room for forefinger-placement in front of the bolsters - even with gloves on. I expected thumb serrations on the spine/hood - but they're missing. What does work for fine point-cutting control with the Persian is to place your forefinger forward on the concave blade spine.
I guess I forgot how poorly hollow-ground blades perform for serious slicing. The Persian was fine for slicing thin-gauge cardboard boxes used by Yuengling Brewery, but the Persian really choked on the dense heavy-gauge cardboard packing box from my new lawnmower. The 'shoulders' of the hollow-ground blade really hinder tough slicing chores - performing more like a 'wedge' than a slicing blade. I put the Persian away and alternated use of the 806D2 and Military blades to finish this tough slicing task quickly and easily with minimal effort. I consider this a critical failure of the Persian to accomplish a routine EDC task with reasonable effort.
The deep belly of the blade implies suitability for skinning - but watch out for hide-piercing with the Persian point. The belly-curve ends about 1/2" before the tip - running straight-edge to the tip-point. That's a very poor attribute for a skinner.
I sharpened and stropped the VG-10 Persian blade and reduced a linear foot of a 2" X 2" pine piece to a pile of chips. The Persian blade kept slicing with no perceptible increase in resistance to slicing due to edge-dulling. After, newsprint-draw-cuts indicated very little edge-dulling, with no newsprint-tearing. Persian VG-10 blade edge-retention is excellent.
Opening, Closing and Locking:
Strong spring-pressure resists opening for about 30 degrees of inital blade rotation. After that point the blade is easily flicked to full lock. Thumb-hole diameter is 7/16". I would have preferred the larger 9/16" thumb-hole diameter of the Military and other Spyderco models, for easier blade-opening.
Blade lock-up is solid. No blade 'play' in any dimension. In fact, there is no blade 'play' or 'wobble' at all - whether closed, open or in between. This is a precision mechanism.
Releasing the lock required intentional pressure on the the lock-lever. I was unable to release the lock by simply squeezing the grip. Accidental lock-release is unlikely.
When closing the blade, spring-pressure begins to 'push' the blade closed at about 30 degrees before the closed position. Spring pressure is strong when the blade is closed - keeping it closed - a very desireable feature for a tip-up-carry folder.
When closed, the blade is perfectly centered between the liners.
Summary:
The Persian combines:
- Handsome appearance, nicely executing the classic 'Persian' style in both blade-shape and bolsters.
- Comfortable in the hand under strong cutting effort.
- Excellent Spyderco VG-10 edge-retension.
- Excellent blade lock-up security.
- Excellent piercing efficiency.
- Excellent rigid construction.
- Excellent grip-security.
- Excellent fit and finish.
Weight, handle-width, smooth edges and smooth scales of the Persian handle are comfortable for pocket-carry and use.
Persian blade tip-strength is moderate, apparently a bit less than the AFCK and Military folders.
Clip carry is tip-up only, for right-handers only.
The Persian is not for me. Everything behind the blade-pivot is excellent - but the blade seems all about sharp point and 'Persian-style' cosmetic appeal. The persian didn't even make it through simple cardboard-slicing, choking badly and requiring major effort and sawing to complete slicing of dense cardboard material.
These are the specific properties that bother me about the Persian (all blade-related):
- The hollow-ground blade is a poor choice for tough slicing tasks. Too much 'wedging', not enough slicing.
- Rugged frame and lock design combined with a less-than-rugged blade-tip.
- The strong back-lock spring forcefully resists initial opening, but the smaller-diameter 7/16" thumb-hole is used.
- Very generous forefinger accomodation for good point-cutting control, but no thumb-serrations on the spine.
The Persian is a handsome knife, rigidly-built with fine fit and finish, affordably-priced at about $85 from on-line vendors.
First Impressions:
- This is a pass-around knife, so no judgement of factory-edge is possible.
- Great piercing point, with generous forefinger accomodation for fine-cutting control.
- Good apparent grip-security.
- Rigid construction with dual bolsters + dual full-length steel liners + strong lock-back spring + steel back spacer.
- Faithful to 'Persian' style in both blade-shape and bolsters. Hollow-grind dramatizes the 'Persian' sweep of the blade.
Rigidity and Build Quality:
- Dual bolsters + dual steel liners + strong back-spring + steel back spacer for rigid frame structure.
- Secure blade-lockup - no blade 'play' or 'wobble' in any dimension.
- When the blade is closed, strong spring pressure resists inertial/accidental opening.
- Excellent fit and finish, including polished liners.
- Very comfortable chamfered frame/handle edges.
Persian dual steel liners are not nested. Liner-thickness is dificult to measure, about .040". Bolster-thickness is about .163".
Pocket-Carry Considerations:
Numerous posts refer to the Persian as a 'heavy' folder, yet it 'felt' about equal to my 806D2. I took some handle-width and weight comparison measurements:
- Spyderco Persian: Width = .445 inches; Weight = 5.435 ounces.
- Benchmade 806D2: Width = .496 inches; Weight = 5.075 ounces. (Benchmade site states only 4.38 ounces.)
- Spyderco Military: Width = .420 inches; Weight = 3.975 ounces. (Nested liners.)
So it is a bit heavy. If you're used to carrying an AFCK, you probably won't notice these differences. If you're used to carrying a Military, the differences will be dramatic. The Persian bolsters, strong back-spring and steel back spacer add weight. Non-nested liners impose a handle-width penalty. You definitely WILL notice the nicely chamfered edges and smooth micarta scales on the Persian frame/handle. All things considered, Persian carry-comfort is quite good:
- Very comfortably-chamfered frame/handle edges.
- Smooth micarta handle scales.
- Acceptable hande-width.
- Acceptable weight.
Due to the Persian bolsters, tip-down carry is lost. Carry is tip-up for right-handers only. Clip options are 'leave-it-on' or 'take-it-off.'
When clipped in the pocket, about 1" of the Persian is exposed. Lanyard hole diameter is a generous 5/32".
The Grip:
The Persian grip forms a 'saddle' for fingers between the bolsters and butt. There is little likelihood of any portion of the hand slipping forward onto the blade edge - or slipping rearward off the handle in draw-cuts or slashes. The smooth linen micarta slabs are NOT a 'slippery-grip' problem in this handle design. Even when wet, grip security was better than expected.
The 'Boye-dent' on the lock lever reduces the likelihood of accidentally unlocking the blade due to grip-squeezing.
Under strong cutting effort, comfort in the web of my hand was quite good for a folder.
The Blade:
The hollow-grind of the Persian blade accentuates the graceful 'Persian' lines of the blade - but tip-strength is compromised by this grind. The number-sets below are comparison measurements of blade-width at widest point (w) and height (h), measurements taken 1/4" behind the point - a crude 'inference' of relative tip-strength:
Spyderco Persian: w = .050"; h = .210"
Benchmade 806D2: w = .055"; h = .220"
Spyderco Military 440V: w = .050"; h = .255"
Persian blade piercing efficiency is obviously excellent.
Excellent point-cutting properties with control enhanced by the very generous room for forefinger-placement in front of the bolsters - even with gloves on. I expected thumb serrations on the spine/hood - but they're missing. What does work for fine point-cutting control with the Persian is to place your forefinger forward on the concave blade spine.
I guess I forgot how poorly hollow-ground blades perform for serious slicing. The Persian was fine for slicing thin-gauge cardboard boxes used by Yuengling Brewery, but the Persian really choked on the dense heavy-gauge cardboard packing box from my new lawnmower. The 'shoulders' of the hollow-ground blade really hinder tough slicing chores - performing more like a 'wedge' than a slicing blade. I put the Persian away and alternated use of the 806D2 and Military blades to finish this tough slicing task quickly and easily with minimal effort. I consider this a critical failure of the Persian to accomplish a routine EDC task with reasonable effort.
The deep belly of the blade implies suitability for skinning - but watch out for hide-piercing with the Persian point. The belly-curve ends about 1/2" before the tip - running straight-edge to the tip-point. That's a very poor attribute for a skinner.
I sharpened and stropped the VG-10 Persian blade and reduced a linear foot of a 2" X 2" pine piece to a pile of chips. The Persian blade kept slicing with no perceptible increase in resistance to slicing due to edge-dulling. After, newsprint-draw-cuts indicated very little edge-dulling, with no newsprint-tearing. Persian VG-10 blade edge-retention is excellent.
Opening, Closing and Locking:
Strong spring-pressure resists opening for about 30 degrees of inital blade rotation. After that point the blade is easily flicked to full lock. Thumb-hole diameter is 7/16". I would have preferred the larger 9/16" thumb-hole diameter of the Military and other Spyderco models, for easier blade-opening.
Blade lock-up is solid. No blade 'play' in any dimension. In fact, there is no blade 'play' or 'wobble' at all - whether closed, open or in between. This is a precision mechanism.
Releasing the lock required intentional pressure on the the lock-lever. I was unable to release the lock by simply squeezing the grip. Accidental lock-release is unlikely.
When closing the blade, spring-pressure begins to 'push' the blade closed at about 30 degrees before the closed position. Spring pressure is strong when the blade is closed - keeping it closed - a very desireable feature for a tip-up-carry folder.
When closed, the blade is perfectly centered between the liners.
Summary:
The Persian combines:
- Handsome appearance, nicely executing the classic 'Persian' style in both blade-shape and bolsters.
- Comfortable in the hand under strong cutting effort.
- Excellent Spyderco VG-10 edge-retension.
- Excellent blade lock-up security.
- Excellent piercing efficiency.
- Excellent rigid construction.
- Excellent grip-security.
- Excellent fit and finish.
Weight, handle-width, smooth edges and smooth scales of the Persian handle are comfortable for pocket-carry and use.
Persian blade tip-strength is moderate, apparently a bit less than the AFCK and Military folders.
Clip carry is tip-up only, for right-handers only.
The Persian is not for me. Everything behind the blade-pivot is excellent - but the blade seems all about sharp point and 'Persian-style' cosmetic appeal. The persian didn't even make it through simple cardboard-slicing, choking badly and requiring major effort and sawing to complete slicing of dense cardboard material.
These are the specific properties that bother me about the Persian (all blade-related):
- The hollow-ground blade is a poor choice for tough slicing tasks. Too much 'wedging', not enough slicing.
- Rugged frame and lock design combined with a less-than-rugged blade-tip.
- The strong back-lock spring forcefully resists initial opening, but the smaller-diameter 7/16" thumb-hole is used.
- Very generous forefinger accomodation for good point-cutting control, but no thumb-serrations on the spine.
The Persian is a handsome knife, rigidly-built with fine fit and finish, affordably-priced at about $85 from on-line vendors.
Now that's a review! Very well formatted and easy to read great job man.