Spyderco UK Pen Knife

C

Cliff Stamp

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The UK Pen knife was designed to allow carry in the UK which meant a few specific criteria, among them a blade under 3" and no lock. It has a S30V blade a G10 handle with the same blade and handle shape as the Calypso Jr. with a few differences:

-thumb ramp has grooves and isn't as pointed
-has an adjustable pivot pin
-no blade choil notch
-blade rides *deep* in pocket, basically no handle visible

The edge was 0.020"-0.023" thick and ground at 14.3 (8) degrees per side. NIB the edge could shave and push cut newsprint but was a little scratchy on both and tended to want a hint of a draw for smooth cutting.

On thread it took 138 (9) grams to make a cut and took 0.38 (8) cm of edge to cut light cutton under a 200 g load. Very sharp in general as expected from the shaving, but a little lower than average for Spyderco.

The knife cuts well, slices through 3/8" hemp taking just 8 (1) lbs to make a cut on a two inch draw, and can push straight through with just 26 (1) lbs. I didn't do any heavy point thrusting due to no lock.

I did some light cutting and it does very well which is no surprise given the slim stock (just under 1/8") ful flat grind, thin and acute edge and decent NIB sharpness.

The action is fairly heavy compared to a lockback, it however is easier to close one handed (less manipulation) though requires more force, specifically 6 lbs applied to the apex of the hump.

It will be interesting to work this against the Calypro Jr. and see how the lack of the lock reduces it's scope of work.

Ref :

http://hellzteeth.com/reviews/Spyderco_penknife/spyderco_penknife.htm

Note this one has no blade play.

-Cliff
 
The UK Penknife is my current EDC, even though I live in a country where I can carry locking folders. At the moment I prefer using it over my other folders because it's in many ways a very well designed knife.

One of the reasons I like the UKPK so much is its clip. The knifes rides so deep in the pocket that it's almost invisible. That's IMO a distinct advantage in many situations, especially at work. The clip also doesn't look like a typical knife clip, a colleague at work for instance thought it belonged to a pen.

The main reason, however, why I like the UKPK so much is he handle. The UKPK just "feels" right in the hand with its deep choil, more so than the Calypso Jr. It gives a very secure feeling, especially as the index finger helps to ensure the knife doesn't close when doing some heavy cutting. The G10 just feels good in the hand, too.

The knife is also very easy and quick to close with one hand because there's no lock. Once I got used to the action that is somewhat different from the technique I normally use to close folders with backlocks I found I can close the knife faster than any of my other folders. I was actually quite surprised the lack of a lock didn't turn out to be a real problem in use. I had used only locking folders for close on twenty years before I got the UKPK, and I thought I'd find getting used to a slipjoint pretty difficult. Alright, I did have to change my habits somewhat, as you definitely have to be more careful when using a slipjoint, but thus far I only had two situations where I would have preferred a locking knife, both involving some pretty heavy cutting in the garden.

The edge geometry is pretty similar to that of the Calypso Jr., even though the blade is a bit thicker. My UKPK was only just up to the usual Spyderco standard when I got it, but after touching it up on a fine ceramic stone it would push cut newsprint easily.

Hans
 
This was the result of all the input from the chaps on British Blades. IIRC the thread went for even longer than a 'Whats in your pocket' thread here on BF :D
 
Habeas Corpus said:
The knifes rides so deep in the pocket that it's almost invisible. That's IMO a distinct advantage in many situations, especially at work. The clip also doesn't look like a typical knife clip, a colleague at work for instance thought it belonged to a pen.
Click to expand...

Yes they are fairly rare, SOG has a similar design. I like the feel of the clip on the UK Pen knife, the rounded rod is more ergonomic in general than the flat steel.

The knife is also very easy and quick to close with one hand because there's no lock.
Click to expand...

Yes, the opening action is a bit stiff, but you tend to get used to this very quickly. The first time I used it, the feel was very heavy as I was comparing it to the Calypso Jr., but after carrying it for a week I was opening it with no considerations.

I have been EDC'ing it for awhile now, I have done a lot of food prep and various utility work, I have done so fairly heavy cutting, for example I was at a friends house where their daughter was attempting to cut the toe out of show for a craft project (it was decorated) with a pair of sissors and the Pen knife easily accomplished the task.

I then cut up the shoe (it was being thrown out), including cutting through the sole, to examine the knife in heavier cuts, there was no problem working it through the rubber sole but I forgot about the slim narrow metal plate that shoes have which chipped the edge in a few places.

Sharpening was no problem, I spent 1-2 minutes with a SiC hone then with a 1000 grit AO hone then a natural waterstone then some stropping on CrO, I didn't remove all the chips, it would be a waste of steel.

I am still working on the issue for the lack of a lock for EDC utility use, I have it to my brother to use for construction for a week so he can give me his perspective which should be informative.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I am still working on the issue for the lack of a lock for EDC utility use, I have it to my brother to use for construction for a week so he can give me his perspective which should be informative.
Click to expand...

I'm also not quite sure whether I can live without a lock in the long run. I really like the UKPK, but having using locking folders for something like 20 years now I find getting used to the idea of not having a lock a bit difficult to get used to. There can also be no doubt it requires a bit more care when doing some heavy cutting - you've always got to bear in mind that there is no lock.

On the other hand, the UKPK is such a well designed knife that I actually prefer the way it handles over my favourite locking folders at the moment. As much as I like the handlying of the Calypso Jr., I like the UKPK better.

Hans
 
Am going for a two-week tour of Great Britain next year. Plan to pick up a UK penknife before I go. Thanks for all the review info.
 
Plan to pick up a UK penknife before I go.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's why I'm going to order one from Heinnie Haynes well before we make the trip.
 
After carrying a Spyderco UKPK almost constantly for most of the last year I must admit that it has changed my attitude on locks quite a bit.

Despite growing up almost exclusively with slipjoints into my mid/late 20's I have found that in the last six years or so I have been becoming a bit of a lock junky. Even the smaller knives I bought had the strongest locks available.

Because of my work I'm able to carry a locking folder, but the UKPK is such a good knife that I carry it even there.
 
After living with the Penknife for awhile, then going back to locking folders for awhile, the only notable advantage locking folders have for me over the notch-joint is ease and smoothness of opening. I've proven to myself that I don't need a lock for my light duty uses, but I can open and close a linerlock faster and easier than I can the Penknife.

So I am probably the only person of Bladeforums who would like to see a linerlock version of this design... :D
 
In my use of the UK Pen Knife so far, I feel the handle shape is an improved evolution of the Calypso Jr's. The Calypso Jr is my fave knife from Spyderco ever, but I would not shed a tear if the Calypso Jr's handle were to become more like the Pen Knife's. Or, if a version of the Pen Knife would come out as a lockback or compression lock (basically, anything but a liner lock, sorry Carlos) it would become yet another must-have.

Joe
 
Carlos said:
So I am probably the only person of Bladeforums who would like to see a linerlock version of this design... :D
Click to expand...

I would like that too. A lockback would be fine with me also, but whatever lock it is I like the knife design. It would probably a good model to have available whenever we are discussing a new steel. How about a BG42 US pen knife (that locks)?
 
Joe Talmadge said:
In my use of the UK Pen Knife so far, I feel the handle shape is an improved evolution of the Calypso Jr's. The Calypso Jr is my fave knife from Spyderco ever, but I would not shed a tear if the Calypso Jr's handle were to become more like the Pen Knife's.
Click to expand...

I also think the handle is an improvement over the Calypso Jr. In fact, I like the handle so much the Calypso Jr. feels almost awkward by comparison.

Hans
 
Habeas Corpus said:
I also think the handle is an improvement over the Calypso Jr. In fact, I like the handle so much the Calypso Jr. feels almost awkward by comparison.

Hans
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100% agree. The Penknife isn't just an improvement in materials over the Caly Jr., it is an improvement to the pattern. I can't understand the lack of support on the forum for a locking version.
 
Carlos said:
100% agree. The Penknife isn't just an improvement in materials over the Caly Jr., it is an improvement to the pattern. I can't understand the lack of support on the forum for a locking version.
Click to expand...
There definitely are a bunch of us in hoping for a locking version of the UK Penknife who post in the Spyderco forum.
I would love to see this become a reality.

ljg
 
Carlos said:
100% agree. The Penknife isn't just an improvement in materials over the Caly Jr., it is an improvement to the pattern. I can't understand the lack of support on the forum for a locking version.
Click to expand...

I give my complete support. I'd definitely buy one! Let's keep the pocket clip the same, and add any lock but a liner....

We can call it the uspk....or maybe Spyderco Liberty...
 
I'll get onboard for a locking Pen Knife. I must admit to not minding a liner lock, but a compression lock would work! Any lock really. I love my UKPK and would never get rid of it, but would love to add a locking version. Sal? Sal? :D
 
wwells20 said:
I'll get onboard for a locking Pen Knife. I must admit to not minding a liner lock, but a compression lock would work! Any lock really. I love my UKPK and would never get rid of it, but would love to add a locking version. Sal? Sal? :D
Click to expand...

Well, we could start by asking in the Spyderco forum.
 
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