The Ulize

MyLegsAreOk · May 5, 2019

Man I love this knife. It's probably my favorite despite missing 3 key features that make a good knife for me: swedge, forward choil, and compression lock. Anyone else have opinions about this baby and or carry one? Stories?

My story is thus: I bought mine at a local knife superstore in a guy's basement. I wore it a bit but found it wasn't going to cut it as a work or self defense knife. Then after showing it off I shelved it. Now after my thread about the dodo/cricket sharpening I wanted to try it out on the Ulize too. So before I do that I'm breaking in the action and I worked it so hard it got HOT!!! I was actually shocked how hot it got.

Will edit this post with my ulize when I'm done with it. But I also made this thread to ask for tips on sprucing up the action. Should I clip some of the springbar? Should I agressively sand the sides of the blade or the washers?

gadgetgeek · May 5, 2019

Have you tried to get some lube back into it? The old lube may be dried out and gone, so it might just need a little help there, before going into anything more drastic.

ferider · May 5, 2019

MyLegsAreOk said:
Man I love this knife. It's probably my favorite despite missing 3 key features that make a good knife for me: swedge, forward choil, and compression lock. Anyone else have opinions about this baby and or carry one? Stories?

My story is thus: I bought mine at a local knife superstore in a guy's basement. I wore it a bit but found it wasn't going to cut it as a work or self defense knife. Then after showing it off I shelved it. Now after my thread about the dodo/cricket sharpening I wanted to try it out on the Ulize too. So before I do that I'm breaking in the action and I worked it so hard it got HOT!!! I was actually shocked how hot it got.

Will edit this post with my ulize when I'm done with it. But I also made this thread to ask for tips on sprucing up the action. Should I clip some of the springbar? Should I agressively sand the sides of the blade or the washers?

I love it too, EDC one as part of my rotation, and have another one as backup. As a German living in the US, liking longer folders, this often feels like the perfect knife for me

One thing I like - since I don't use clips - is how it disappears in the pocket due to its peculiar shape. On the other hand, the thing that makes it a little less practical - since I hand-sharpen - is the concave edge. Then again, VG10 makes sharpening easier, then - say - K390 on the P4. I have other VG10 knives, but the Ulize is the only one I EDC, if that matters.

Both of my Ulizes easily flip, with a centered blade. Just open it up and clean it out, maybe sand the washers with 800+ paper, and oil the pivot/washers and where the tang touches the lock. Don't change the springbar, would be a pity.

BTW, once the blade is able to drop, don't cut yourself, keep your fingers out of the way - and don't ask me why I say this

Roland.

sgt1372 · May 5, 2019

The Ulize was one of my "must buy" Spydercos. I have it and the Opus, both Hennicke design collaborations. I especially like its LEO origin and the story behind it. One of my favorite knives.

MyLegsAreOk · May 5, 2019

sgt1372 said:
The Ulize was one of my "must buy" Spydercos. I have it and the Opus, both Hennicke design collaborations. I especially like its LEO origin and the story behind it. One of my favorite knives.

Yeah the Ulize has an interesting story as it was designed by a cop but showed to a knife designer who then showed it to sal.

ferider said:
Both of my Ulizes easily flip, with a centered blade. Just open it up and clean it out, maybe sand the washers with 800+ paper, and oil the pivot/washers and where the tang touches the lock. Don't change the springbar, would be a petty.
Roland.

So after I made my post I did about two hours of putting heavy gloves on and working the pivot. Then wd40, then wash and dry, and nother 40 some minutes working it. Turned out to be an easy flipper after I pit it back together with nano-oil. Ya ya I said I'd do pics but my camera is over there and the cable yada yada.

EDIT:
pics

and the match up

JD Spydo · May 6, 2019

There are a few Spyderco models that I very much wanted to be offered in Spyderedge but for some unbeknownst reason they elected not to do many models in anything but PE. And that really baffles me with the ULIZE model because it was said to be a design to favor Police and First Responders. Take the original Spyderco POLICE model for instance>> I would be willing to bet that at least 65% to 75% of all the POLICE models ever sold were SE.

Also I just know in my gut that a Spyderedged version of the ULIZE would be one mean, rippin blade to be sure. And for the record I don't believe Spyderco has ever offered one of their great recurve models in Spyderedge>> with the great sawing/ripping power that the Spyderco Reverse S and Hawkbill blades have in SE wouldn't it make sense to at least try one recurve model in Spyderedge just to see how the fans like it. And the ULIZE is thee one I would love to try out in SE. I know already I would love a ULIZE model in SE.

MyLegsAreOk · May 7, 2019

JD Spydo said:
There are a few Spyderco models that I very much wanted to be offered in Spyderedge but for some unbeknownst reason they elected not to do many models in anything but PE. And that really baffles me with the ULIZE model because it was said to be a design to favor Police and First Responders. Take the original Spyderco POLICE model for instance>> I would be willing to bet that at least 65% to 75% of all the POLICE models ever sold were SE.

Also I just know in my gut that a Spyderedged version of the ULIZE would be one mean, rippin blade to be sure. And for the record I don't believe Spyderco has ever offered one of their great recurve models in Spyderedge>> with the great sawing/ripping power that the Spyderco Reverse S and Hawkbill blades have in SE wouldn't it make sense to at least try one recurve model in Spyderedge just to see how the fans like it. And the ULIZE is thee one I would love to try out in SE. I know already I would love a ULIZE model in SE.

But vg10 sucks in serrated. One of the benefits of the Ulize is the vg10 because it's great with recurves, can be sharpened to sub 10 a side, and folds not chips.

JD Spydo · May 7, 2019

MyLegsAreOk said:
But vg10 sucks in serrated. One of the benefits of the Ulize is the vg10 because it's great with recurves, can be sharpened to sub 10 a side, and folds not chips.

Really!! I kind of surprised to hear you say that. I've actually had fairly decent luck with some of my Spyderedged VG-10 units. One I use almost every week ever since I got it back around 2005 is my serrated version of the old TEMPERANCE 1 model. I've put that knife through culinary hell and back and I've only re-sharpened it about 2 times in the past 30 months or so. And most of those Spyderedged VG-10 blades have that traditional "Spikey" type of serration pattern which is great for cutting up wild game especially. I'm really curious as to what type of bad luck you've had with VG-10 Spyderedges????

I just know deep in my gut that a recurve blade with a good serration pattern would do well>> especially with the good luck I've had using two of my Reverse S Spyderco blades that a recurve would have some advantages IMO. >> and the two Spyderco models I would love to see it in would be the ULIZE and the older collaboration SPYKER model.