Spydie Kopa versus Viele-II for edc

J

justbob

Joined
May 8, 2005
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28
I've narrowed the "my-new-edc-knife" field to Spyderco's Kopa (micarta) and the Viele-II. I am a sucker for the aesthetics of black and stainless. Besides, either knife will go exceedingly well with my 1911--a must--which I am sure you understand. (No brown belts and black wingtips for me! :eek: )

Seriously, both knives appear solid and substantial without being too cumbersome for just about everywhere daily carry "social" use. Furthermore, both have a certain "this is my personal knife" aura--the kind of knife that you hang on to long enough for it to collect "you-should-have-been-there-when . . ." stories.

Any thoughts?
 
True, Walking Man. Yours are excellent points.

Additionally, I find the length/shape of the Kopa's blade may prove the better choice for carry/use in environments in which use of a titanium spork would be met with gasps of "OMG! He is brandishing a post-Soviet era multi-tined culinary assault weapon!"

So why even consider the Viele-II?

I have carried a pre-production Benchmite in the watchpocket of my Levi's and khakiis (mine have a pocket within a pocket for small change) for the past year. It is the cutest, most discrete "real" knife I own, much more so than even my venerable SAK Tinker. The problem I have encountered is that the 'Mite is on occasion a little too little. I'd like something with just a little more heft and length, without compromising ease of carry and "sheeple-friendliness." The Viele-II would be at the extreme end of viable contenders.

Hmmm . . . the choice just became clear.
 
I know nothing of the Viele 2, but I have a Viele 1, and it is awesome. It may be one of the finest production liner locks ever made.
No one will fault you if you choose the Viele. :cool:
Good Luck
 
Many thanks, Walking Man. Obviously, this is not the "either/or" conundrum I thought it was. This is a "both/and" situation. :D

Just when I thought that I had chosen the Kopa, I find that I have no choice; I must buy both. :D x 2

Seriously, have you ever found the Viele to be "out of place" at the office, while wearing a suit and tie, at the grocery store, etc.? You know, like the cammo-clad newbie who misunderstood the invitation and brought his 3" magnum 10-gauge to the weekly turkey shoot behind the firehall?

I like the looks of the knife--all business. Which is the only reason I question edc-ing it.

Given the Viele-II's (just a little smaller than your "original" Viele) ergonomics, it looks as though getting it in/out of a pocket would prove one slick little procedure. Does your knife, like the Viele-II, have differing scales on the opposing faces? If so, do you find that distracting or otherwise, well, weird in the hand?

Thanks
 
The Veile 2 I had I never should have let go. It was a sweet heart of a knife and probably the smoothest opening folder I've had come around in a long time. I can' t say anything about the Kopa as far as first hand info because I've never had one or even handled one but the only real negative for me about the Viele 2 was the smaller opening hole. I like the Kopa hole better as it does look bigger in the picture.

The other thing to consider is that typically the collaboration models hold their value a little better and have a higher % chance of being discontinued making them more collectible so in that respect the Viele 2 may be the better buy. The only other thing to look at is probably the weight.
 
I've had both, a Coco. Kopa and a Viele II. I didn't care for the Viele II; sabre grind, small hole, and just too much going on for me with G10 on one side and Micarta on the other with part of the Micarta-side liner showing and the three small holes in the blade. I prefer the flat grind and leaf-shape blade of the Kopa, and the fact that it's a lock-back. I'm a fan of double-bolstered knives too. Even though the Viele II has a longer blade, the Kopa is a much better slicer IMO. So, no contest for me, I'd go Kopa.
 
Ritt said:
I've had both, a Coco. Kopa and a Viele II. I didn't care for the Viele II; sabre grind, small hole, and just too much going on for me with G10 on one side and Micarta on the other with part of the Micarta-side liner showing and the three small holes in the blade. I prefer the flat grind and leaf-shape blade of the Kopa, and the fact that it's a lock-back. I'm a fan of double-bolstered knives too. Even though the Viele II has a longer blade, the Kopa is a much better slicer IMO. So, no contest for me, I'd go Kopa.
Click to expand...
So, Ritt, how does the Kopa carry? If the ultimate in discretion were not de rigeur in my line of work, we would not be having this conversation: I would simply edc my Small Sebenza--all the time and everywhere. However, such is not the case and I have thus carried a Benchmite at work for the past year.

Other points:

While some do not care for the Kopa's pocket clip, I find the style tends to draw minimal attention. That is a big plus.

Is the Kopa at all difficult to get into / out of a front trouser pocket? Some knives leave little if any room for a hand to slide by in search of keys, change, etc.

What about weight? I have forgotten--on two occasions--that I had the Benchmite in my khakis'/Levi's change pocket. Yes, it went through the wash--cold water and Tide appear to have caused no harm, "DOH!") It may be a little too easy to carry. I am inclined to think my edc knife should be no different from my chp pistol: "comforting, not comfortable." Thus, in this case a little more heft--a la Kopa--may actually be a very good thing.

Basically, I am looking for a "minimally threatening [sic]," easily carried, easily concealed, "civilized" yet serious edc knife. The Kopa appears to be just that.

Thanks,

Bob
 
Hi Bob,

Here's a link to a review with some pics I posted on the Kopa back in February:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335314

The clip is mounted out toward the end of the bolster, so it carries fairly discreetly, though there is that shiny clip and some stainless bolster in view. The Kopa, especially in Coco. but also in Micarta, looks more like a traditional pocket-knife than like a tactical folder. I mean its still got the spyder-hole, but my experience was that even non-knife people found it was a "pretty" knife. A sebbie is definitely not going to remind anyone of Grand-dad's Barlow. The Viele II is not much better in that department; it's mostly black and has a fairly agressive blade shape, IMO.

One thing to be aware of with the Kopa is that there is a sharp point where the spine of the blade meets the back-side of the thumb-hole. I noticed when I was wearing jeans that the edge of my hand would sometimes catch that sharp point. Once I became aware of it I could avoid it. It wasn't an issue with slacks that more angled pockets. The Viele II definitely takes up more room in your pocket than the Kopa.

I know what you mean about the weight of the Benchmite. I have one that I carry on days when I lecture. I really like it, cuts like a demon for such a small, light knife. Not to worry, the Kopa's got a lot of steel in it, you'll definitely know it's there. It's very stout, solid for a small knife, and the ergos let you get a really good grip on it. Again, given your requirements I think it's a good choice for you.
 
The V2 is actually heavier than the Kopa.
 
STR said:
The V2 is actually heavier than the Kopa.
Click to expand...

Agreed. My point was that the Kopa is heavier than a Benchmite (at least heavier than the Ti version).
 
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