Starmate or Chinook?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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Hi. Well, I've narrowed down the choices to either the Starmate or the Chinook. Eventually I will probably buy both, but need to decide which one to get first. I really like both of them, they both look great. However, I can only afford to get 1 right now. Which one should I get first and why?
 
What do plan to use the knife for most of the time?

I love my Chinook, but the Starmate may be better for certain tasks.

Steve
 
Just EDC...possible defensive weapon...will rarely encounter a lot of hard use.
 
For EDC, either design would work. I'd go for the Chinook myself, but thats b/c of personal preference.

I just don't like the starmate. It's one of those that doesn't fit my hand.:p
 
The Starmate is thinner and lighter than the Chinook. I have both and the Starmate is more comfortable in the pocket.
Dale
 
I prefer the look and feel of the Starmate. The chinook is a good knife, but not my 'style'?:confused:
 
My Starmate is great for EDC, although I usually carry something shorter, like the Native. Still, one of the reasons I bought the Starmate was it's compact size when closed. It has a thick blade in a thin, strong handle. Nothing beats it in that regard. Especially good for IWB carry.
The Chinook, which I've only seen in pictures, seems rather big and heavy in comparison. And the blade is rather specialized in appearance, not as good for all-round utility.
 
Well, I had a Starmate and traded it off, didn't seem up to the standard other Spydercos I have, like the Chinook, Military, Calypso, Gunting, Dyad. I likes the blade, but the handle didn't quite work for me. I like the heavy duty feel of the Chinook, when I want a lighter knife, I switch to my Military or Calypso.
But then, that's why there are so many different models, one of em is bound to please you/
 
Chinook , every time
chatter.gif
 
I own both knives - and what can I say they are both great!
For EDC I'll chose Starmate (lighter, slimer) but if it's possibility of defensive use then Chinook - no doubt (super strong lock and blade shape more suitable).
 
Originally posted by Dalerich
The Starmate is thinner and lighter than the Chinook. I have both and the Starmate is more comfortable in the pocket.
Dale
Click to expand...

Pretty serious understatements there! The Chinook is a BIG knife. It's heavy and it's powerful, in both design and construction. The Starmate is a much leaner knife, while remaining very strong and powerful itself. I tend to carry the Starmate pretty regularly, and carry the Chinook when I'm in the mood for something considerably larger.

The Starmate is a little easier to draw and use in public without horrifying the straights.

The lock on the Chinook is tremendously strong - compared to other lockbacks, let alone liner locks. Although it can surprise you at first, the wrestling it takes to release the lock becomes a real comfort.

If you don't mind (or if it's what you desire!) the heft of the Chinook, then I would consider them both to be great EDC knives.
 
Just recently, I handled a chinook and was shocked by its weight. It is really so big and strong that I feel it is going towards the unnecessary, esp for EDC were size, comfort and convenience is a factor.

However, these things are all very personal, so different people will be comfortable with different things.

I feel that Spyderco has made an effort to create light, strong knives, this is their strong point, so if I get a spydie, I'm looking mainly for these qualities. If I do anything else, it'll be like going into a chinese restaurant and ordering a hamburger.

I feel the starmate handle is a bit like the CQC-7 handle shape(straight, not curved)except that spyderco has tried to make it much lighter, but still strong. And to me, the starmate blade is more useful than the CQC-7B chisel-ground blade. So one could say that the starmate is the spyderco CQC-7A....but lighter with a more practical and better cutting blade.

As to the lock, light doesn't always mean weaker. It would be so easy for spyderco to make handles with lots of steel in them, so that they feel strong. But spyderco has elected to go the other way....light but strong.

I would go for the starmate, cause the blade would be more useful to me and it wouldn't make much difference EDC against the chinook.
 
Originally posted by Dmitry
I own both knives - and what can I say they are both great!
For EDC I'll chose Starmate (lighter, slimer) but if it's possibility of defensive use then Chinook - no doubt (super strong lock and blade shape more suitable).
Click to expand...

Dmitry got it right. I agree.
 
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. How does the weight of the Chinook compare to say the large CRKT Kasper? Thanks
 
That's not too heavy...my Kasper seems light enough to me.
 
For me, I like my everyday carry knife to be very light and carryable. On the other hand, I don't carry liner locks for anything other than light use. So for me, the Chinook would be my using knife, but is bigger than I like to carry. The Starmate is very carryable, but I wouldn't use it for anything but light use.

Since you're specifically going for lighter use, the Starmate would be my first recommendation. Why carry a much bigger, heavier knife, if you're not going to take advantage of the added strength?

BTW, have you handled both knvies? I see a few people whose hands don't fit the Starmate well. For my hand, it fits very well. For that matter, the Chinook feels good in my hand, too.

Joe
 
Count me as one of the people whose hands don't work with the Starmate. And I think the Chinook is just much more interesting. When you see a Chinook, you know what it is from a mile away.
 
members,

i had the opportunity to handle my first chinook yesterday at knifecenter in MD. Great Googlymoogly! that thing is a beast! it looks like one of those knives you see in japanimation and such, and it's cheaper than my starmate or heck, some of the other large folders. dunno what i would do with one, i couldn't see that as a EDC. have to admit, whatever you do with it, it'll do it. i thought my sogwinder II was tough...

however, my starmate's still in my back pocket...:D

toast
 
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