Spyderco's Chinook testing and review

Interesting review. Thanks!!
Yet I expected more emphasise on fighting abilities of this knife. Your site is named "Tactical fighting folders", after all...
 
Pyton357ru,

I understand your concerns and would have liked to have seen a review like what you were expecting. Everything Brownie's contractor did seems tougher than a life-or-death situation (as far as the knife's concerned) with the exception of how fast the blade can be retrieved and opened from a pocket or waistband.
 
Deployment speed of a certain folders blade will be subjective in nature and irrelevant to the testing and review process.

I can deploy the knife if I touch it in a blink of an eye [ literally ], others may find that it takes longer based on their experience levels and the time they may or may not have "under" them in deployment practice of various folders. There's no way to be objective nor would it do the reader much good to explain it does xyz for me as everyone will have different results in this area of discussion.

Knives do not have fighting ability, people have fighting abilities. What I can do with a knife is not going to be of much relevance to the reader who doesn't have the same background and history.

This particular knife was designed by one of the all time best practictioners of defensive knife. Anyone want to take a guess as to how it would perform in Jims hands? Your own? Again, too subjective in nature to be relevant to anyone.

This knife is obviously tough enough to get you through the night if you are attacked and have the knowledge neccessary to survive.

Appreciate the comments on the articles and glad to see you enjoyed it.

Brownie
 
Though I have not held one I believe the reduced weight and modified tip may be an advantage relative carrying ease.

They should still be as strong [ lock anyway ]as the originals. I'll reserve judgement about tip strength until I can handle one.

Brownie
 
I thought the review was excellent. 10/10

The fact that a complete 'stranger' was given the knife and had carte blanche to do what he normally does with a knife in his daily environment was both simple and very appealing to me. No BS. Great!

The review was also, IMHO, well written, with no bias that I can remember. I'd like to see more reviews that take this approach.

I'd also like to see a follow up to this article that (if possible), switches the original chinook with the new one .. to see how it shapes up ... in the same hands! (Not sure if Sal will go with this though ... but you can always ask ;))

Great article. Interesting read ... let's have some more, please :D
 
joe90:

Thanks for the comments on the review. Glad you enjoyed the subject matter and findings.

Brownie
 
The lock on the Chinook tested was as secure with no play as when new.

My opinion before the testing and after was that the lockback Chinook lock was about as robust as they get on folders. Very strong, just looking at and operating the lock gives one a sense of great confidence this isn't about to shear or release unless you want it to.

Thanks for the comments.

Brownie
 
Interesting comment regarding back cuts by Keating, so this folder is not meant to take full back cuts, or in general take heavy baton hits to the spine? Any comment on the general cutting ability and utility compared to something like the Military.

-Cliff
 
Cliff:

Jim has stated that the knife was designed to be used to "harrass" the aggressor, to "pick" at them with the backcutting motion of the big clip point Bowies, to get them to desist their aggression.

He is a big believer in the enlightened part of bladecraft, and does not agree and actually detests the "dark" side of the knife where one uses it as a means to kill.

It will take full bckcuts structurally but as the clip is not sharpened, the backcutting is not going to be as effective as a bigger blade whose clip had been sharpened and consequently the point is like a needle which really penetrates easily.

Compared to the Millie: It slices very very well. I think the Millie may be a tad better for slicing [ subjective ] based on it's flatr ground blade geometry ]. The Millie is known to be a great slice and dicer to begin with, one of thebest all around commercially available probably.

The Chinook is certainly very good as well at slicing, but probably not as much as the Millie in the final analysis. Then of course there is the question of the ultimate strength of the locking systems as well where the Chinook obviously shines.

Brownie
 
Very nice Brownie, thanx much. I gues we're going to have to see a comparitive with the Chinook II.

sal
 
Thanks Sal,

I call em the way I see em.

You and Jim did a great job of servicing the knife community getting this knife into the pockets of others.

If it can survive George, it can survive.

Brownie
 
I'd been toying with the idea of a double-edged folder -- in my case, not for backcuts, but for reverse-grip. I decided I'm not really comfortable purposely doing full-power strikes against the lock in a life-or-death situation. Maybe it's for the best not to advertise a folder for doing backcuts, even if the lock will usually handle it just fine.
 
Loved the review Brownie. Many thanks.

Sal - is there any chance of Spyderco doing a Chinook with a different style blade for us non-MBC types?

A flat-ground leaf style would be just the ticket :)
 
Jsun,

For a similar-strength lock, there's the Li'l Temperance. For a still very strong lock, the Salsa series is available.
 
Good review, Brownie. It's particulary useful for users like me, who carry knives more for utility purposes than for self defense.

I have a Chinook, but never used it because I was concerned that the tip might prove to be too fragile for hard use. It looks like your friend George has proved me wrong.
 
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