Spyderco UK Pen Knife

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lava_lamp

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Oct 5, 2006
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Spyderco UK Pen Knife - Part One

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Introduction

I received two UK Pen Knives from Spyderco through the pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/839692-Spyderco-Double-UKPK-CF-LW-FRN-Drop-Point! Both SLIPIT knives are made in Golden, Colorado and feature a slip-joint, non-locking design made to comply with folder restrictions in the UK and other countries.

  • The MSRP on the carbon fiber model is $184.95 and it can be found at our favorite online retailers for about $120.
  • The MSRP on the lightweight Grivory (glass fiber reinforced co polyamide) model is $64.95 and its street price is about $42.
From a pricing perspective, the lightweight version of the UK Pen Knife is one of the best bargains in the Spyderco line, or any other line. The carbon fiber version seems overpriced.

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Size & Weight

The UK Pen Knife is about about the same size and weight as a Spyderco Delica -- 4 1/16th inches long when closed and 1.9 ounces (in the lightweight version.) Here is how it compares to some similarly-sized Spydercos:

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Pocket Clip

One of the most distinctive features of the UK Pen Knife is its low-riding wire clip. The clip holds securely and the knife nearly disappears in one's pocket. It can be configured for left/right carry, but is tip-up only. Here are the UK Pen Knives shown in-pocket with a Spyderco Military and Spyderco Native:

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Blade

The carbon fiber model features a flat-ground, leaf-shaped CPM S30V blade. The Grivory model features GIN-1 steel and your choice of drop-point or leaf-shaped hollow-ground blades in your choice of PlainEdge, SpyderEdge (serrated,) or ComboEdge. One side of the blade is etched with the Spyder logo, the other has knife designer (and company owner) Sal Glesser's sylized initials. The blades are 3/32nds of an inch thick and have non-slip jimping along the thumb ramp and choil. As I found in use, your finger in the choil can help prevent accidental closure of the blade.

Aesthetics

Spyderco has consistently been on record as favoring function over form. The knives are designed for optimal usefulness, not superficial good looks. Ironically, I think that competes with one of the implicit goals of the UK Pen Knife -- to provide a knife the general public may find less threatening. Unfortunately, the UK Pen Knives still have that unusual Spyderco look that can be intimidating to the uniniatiated, even if the blade doesn't lock. Where some folks might not notice or react to a Swiss Army Knife or traditional Barlow, I think these knives would still get a reaction.

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Spyderco UK Pen Knife - Part Two

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Handles

Both UK Pen Knives feature screw-together construction. The CF version has a full length steel backspacer. The Grivory has a two-thirds length steel backspacer with a cut out at the pommel end for easy clean up. The handle scales are curved and contoured with finger grooves to fit the hand. I have XL hands and the knives fit me well. I have to use the choil, though. The Grivory version has an embossed Spyder logo and grid-patterned surface for grip. Available Grivory colors are blue, gray, and maroon.

Spyderco makes several versions of carbon fiber:

  • The smooth and shiny carbon fiber on the UK Pen Knife is like that on the Native IV, Caly III or Balance. It looks great, but is too slick to provide an opitmal grip and shows scratches easily.
  • The rougher carbon fiber on the Stretch II and other knives looks more like modified G10. Is provides a better grip, but is the least aesthetically attractive of the three.
  • The twill carbon fiber used on the Gayle Bradley and Sage 1 is my favorite -- it looks better than the Stretch II version and provides more grip than the Native IV version.

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Fit & Finish

The fit and finish on both knives is typical Spyderco. Everything fits together well. The blades are centered. The edge bevels look good and the knives came shaving sharp. The ergonomics seem well thought-out. The Spyderhole allows for quick opening (and closing) with either hand. The "pull" on the Grivory model is noticeably weaker than that on the CF, though. The carbon fiber version has more of a distinct half-stop and feels more secure. On the other hand, the Grivory version can be flicked open. As shown in the photo below, the tang stamp on the CF version seems to be blurred (or maybe stamped twice.)

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In-Use/Conclusions

I had the knives for a week:
  • On day one, I noticed that both knives disappear in the pocket. They are easy to open or close with either hand. I cut a tomato with laser-like results using the CF model.
  • On day two, I cut open a blister pack and a shipping carton with ease. I felt like I had to be careful that the knife didn't close on my hand. Later, I went jogging with the lightweight version in the pocket of my nylon shorts and didn't notice it there. I am starting to conclude that these knives are basically a Delica or a Native without the lock. I haven't really done anything where I needed a locking blade, though.
  • On day three, I cut a banana. Easily. Got a fire going in our fire pit and when a small, partially burning stick fell out on to the patio bricks, I tried to spear it with the UK Pen Knife. Fail. It kept folding. This is where a locking blade would have been nice. I also cut a tomato and a pepper from the vine in our vegetable garden. The tomato was in an awkward place, and again, I wished I had a locking blade.
  • On day four, I carry the Grivory model on a hour long hike and barely noticed it was there. I used it later to spread mustard on a sub. Later, I cut up a pool float to deflate it and for a third time, wished I had a locking blade.
  • On day five, I sent them on to the next participant.
Who are these knives for? If you live in an area that restricts locking folders they may make sense for you. Maybe if you have arthritis or some other condition that makes it hard to close a locking folder, these knives could be for you. Perhaps if you want a value priced solid knife for light duty, the Grivory version could be for you. If none of these conditions apply, I'd say: "Get a Delica or a Caly 3." As with many things, I would rather have a locking blade on my knife and not need it, than not have a locking blade and need it.

My thanks to Spyderco for making these knives available, to Frank K. for putting the pass-around together, and for BladeForums for giving us a place to make it happen.

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Where did you get that nice waved endura with the green handles? I saw one on ebay just like it about a month ago.
 
Excellent and very in depth review, I don't know if there will be anything I can add to it, cheers.
 
Great review!
:thumbup:
A little off topic but so you are a member at Usual Suspects Network?
I've tried to join there a few times but they don't allow non-ISP email addresses in their registration process. And when you click "contact administrator" to contact the site the email address provided doesn't work.
The idea that ISP email addresses are more "real" than yahoo/hotmail addresses irks me a little. I've been using the same yahoo email address for almost 13 years and it is most certainly my real address,lol! I never use ISP addresses as i have moved around a bit and had to change servers probably close to 10 times in the past 13 years.
If you can let them know their listed email contact/address doesn't work maybe they might fix and i might get to join someday.
Anyway great review, good pics too!
 
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