This or That?

Lenny

Lenny

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
2,505
I'm planning my next knife purchase and am undecided on these 2.
Spyderco Smock
OR
Kizer Gemini
Which would you pick and why?
Thanks
 
I do know that the QC on Kizer knives have gone up appreciably in the last year,
This came from a gent who handles a ton of kizers.
I am finally going to try a gemini as they no longer have the rep of hit or miss worksmanship.
The smock looks nice also, Let me be the first to say..... "Gettem both!!!!!"

Russ
 
I have half a dozen Kizer knives , including a fixed blade, and they're all perfect.
But, the Smock and the Gemini are really different knives.
If you like the blade shape of the Smock, but want a titanium framelock, you should check out the Kizer Critical or Uprising.
I think the Uprising is closer in price of the Spyderco, the Critical is about $$40 - $50 more.
 
I'd go with the Smock. I like the lock mechanism better, the way the flipper operates interests me more, I like the blade shape a lot and it just seems like the more interesting, innovative knife of the two.
 
Kizer if you want a knife right now.
Smock if you want to wait an indeterminate length of time.
 
I'm curious about the button lock on the Smock. I wonder if there is any concerns with accidental disengagement when squeezing the handle?

Good looking knife though.
 
Eli Chaps said:
I'm curious about the button lock on the Smock. I wonder if there is any concerns with accidental disengagement when squeezing the handle?

Good looking knife though.
Click to expand...

I was too so I asked Kevin Smock the same thing in his YouTube video on this knife.
You can read his answer here:
I'm OneEyeMan
 
Seriously lenn, get a spyderco first.
Kizer may have its merits now, but
Brandwise a spyderco product will remain
a timeless respectable buy in the long run.
 
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The Smock is “let’s try something different”. The Gemini is, “let’s do simple, perfectly.”

The Gemini has turned out to be one of my favorite knives. Every piece of it, from the contoured handle scales, to the subtly chamfered backspacer, to the shape of the flipper tab, feels exactly right. I’ll refrain from gushing too much, and stop there.
 
GIRLYmann said:
Seriously lenn, get a spyderco first.
Kizer may have its merits now, but
Brandwise a spyderco product will remain
a timeless respectable buy in the long run.
Click to expand...

Serious question. What are the real world benefits of “timeless” and “respectable”? What does that *really* mean to a buyer or user?
 
Two very different knives, only similar in price. In that price range new also consider a Theta, 20CV grip, M390 Modus, Giantmouse Ace Nimbus, or ZT0770.

Between the two OP, the Smock is more compelling IMO if you like the design.

There's a Mantix 2 carbon fiber S90V on the exchange for $170. I'd buy that.
 
RBid said:
Serious question. What are the real world benefits of “timeless” and “respectable”? What does that *really* mean to a buyer or user?
Click to expand...

Serious answer... I recommend reading (or listening to on CD or Audiobooks) "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". The central question that Pirsig wrestles with is, "What is quality?"

The TL/DR is something like, quality is that which generates a state of peace of mind. But typing those few words grotesquely and completely inadequately summarized the book. Its a book that challenged how I think about collecting specifically and my relationship to products more broadly.
 
I own a Smock SK23 on which the Spyderco Smock is based. I really love this knife. For my light EDC use, this is a perfect knife with a nice size, a useful blade shape and wonderful, safe "action." I've never felt any danger of the lock opening up in my hand.

I love it so much that I'm equal parts excited and afraid for the Spyderco version that I preordered. Will they actually manage to improve on it? Or will they make it worse? Either way, it's my most anticipated knife this year.

I like the button-actuated compression lock so much that I was considering getting a lefty PM2 modded along those lines and actually started talking to Josh @REK about making one for me.
 
pinnah said:
Serious answer... I recommend reading (or listening to on CD or Audiobooks) "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". The central question that Pirsig wrestles with is, "What is quality?"

The TL/DR is something like, quality is that which generates a state of peace of mind. But typing those few words grotesquely and completely inadequately summarized the book. Its a book that challenged how I think about collecting specifically and my relationship to products more broadly.
Click to expand...

Great book. I endorse something like that working definition of quality on an individual basis. The problem here is that we have one person assigning subjective experience to another.
 
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