UKPK fresh from Wales (w/pics)

RS2

RS2

Joined
Nov 25, 2002
Messages
217
On Friday (Dec 16), I received my new Spyderco UK Pen Knife that I had ordered from Heinnie Haynes (which is in Wales, not England... what kind of a ninnie would have thought it was in England, for crying out loud, when it's obviously in Wales <thanks Dave>). Anyways, shipping took about 11 days, not too bad for a joint operation between Royal Mail and the USPS. This is really a cool little knife. It can be opened and closed very easily with one hand, and the slip lock is sufficiently strong for almost anything one might need to use this knife. I don't think it would be adequate for puncturing a car door, but that need so rarely presents itself that I don't really care. This will be the knife I carry the next time I visit Canada or Chicago.

Sal - great job on this knife!

Ron

Here are a few photos I took of it last night. (Canon 20D, 60/2.8 Macro)

20051217a003.jpg

20051217a004.jpg

20051217a011.jpg
 
Nice pics! I love mine too. It seems to me that those who are asking for a lock on this knife are the ones who haven't handled one! The ergos work so well I still don't think it needs a lock.

Not to be pedantic or anything, but Heinnie Haynes is in Wales not England :D
 
daverave999 said:
Nice pics! I love mine too. It seems to me that those who are asking for a lock on this knife are the ones who haven't handled one! The ergos work so well I still don't think it needs a lock.

Not to be pedantic or anything, but Heinnie Haynes is in Wales not England :D
Click to expand...

Dave - sorry about that!:foot: I do appreciate the geography correction. You are quite right about the handling of this knife. It's a pen knife after all. I should think it more than strong enough to trim a goose quill, and then some. It's not a fixed blade Strider. With my index finger in the choil, it feels extremely comfortable, and there really does not feel like there is any risk of unintended closure of the blade. In fact, it takes some deliberate effort with the thumb to unseat the slip lock and close the knife.

Ron
 
Hey no worries-I just thought I'd nip in there before anybody Welsh notices :eek:

Considering the design constraints ie. that it must not lock, it feels a lot more secure than any other slipjoint I've ever handled. Of course we'd all love to be carrying locking folders in the UK (without a 'good reason' :rolleyes:), for the sake of our fingers, but unfortunately that's not the way the laws are over here.

I know it's nice to have a lock that can withstand stabbing a car, but for the majority of everyday usage it's just not needed. Envelopes, tape, string and boxes won't fight back in quite the same way :D
 
My Welsh ancenstors where howling for blood, but I fixed the thread title for you and now they've calmed down. ;)
 
redhawk44p said:
The American locking version of that little beauty will be out next year. I can't wait.
Click to expand...

Well ... I'm really in two minds whether a lock would really be an improvement on that knife. The UKPK is *very* easy to close one-handed, much easier than any locking folder I've handled so far, and yet it feels almost totally secure in use, so I'm not really sure a lock would be that much of an improvement.

With a lock it would become just another locking folder, with all its advantages and disadvantages.

Hans
 
I only have to imagine that razor sharp blade closing on my fingers to know I want a lock.:eek:
 
daverave999 said:
Nice pics! I love mine too. It seems to me that those who are asking for a lock on this knife are the ones who haven't handled one!
Click to expand...

I'm one of the people who couldn't get used to the 'feel' of the slipjoint on the UKPK. I LOVED the knife in every other respect.

I don't know if it bothered me that it didn't have a lock. I think it did a little. To me, folders are supposed to have locks. I have a few slip joints but I don't like them because they don't lock. Maybe something a little therapy could fix, but who knows?

My main problem with the UK PK is that 'bump' when opening it. I HATE it. I'm so used locking folders smoothing opening that the bump in the middle of opening it drove me crazy. It was like the anti-spyderco knife that didn't open in a buttery-smooth arc.

I ended up selling it on eBay for about $40 less than I had into it.

If it had a lock I'd probably have 2-3 of them by now.

To each his own...
 
Carlos said:
My Welsh ancenstors where howling for blood, but I fixed the thread title for you and now they've calmed down. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks Carlos. I have enough problems with my own Jewish ancestors, especially the living ones, I surely don't want any trouble with yours :o

Habeas Corpus said:
Well ... I'm really in two minds whether a lock would really be an improvement on that knife. The UKPK is *very* easy to close one-handed, much easier than any locking folder I've handled so far, and yet it feels almost totally secure in use, so I'm not really sure a lock would be that much of an improvement.

With a lock it would become just another locking folder, with all its advantages and disadvantages.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, Hans. There is something quaint and distinctive about the UKPK just the way it is. I really cannot see it slamming shut on my unsuspecting fingers in any kind of task for which I am likely to use it. With a lock, it would lose its unique character.

Ron
 
Just received one in the post myself. Before my wife whisked it away and wrapped it, I got to handle it a little bit.

Perfect little knife. Audible half stop. Solid snap into full open. Blade was centered up perfectly, and the S30V is good stuff all around. Some of the best ergos on any knife I've held. And it practically disappears in your pocket. I'm going to tour Britain in the spring, and this one is going with me.

In addition to my Spydercos or Benchmades, I'm just as apt to have a Queen, Case, or Schrade slipjoint in my pocket, so slipjoints don't scare me. Still, if this one comes out with a lock, I'll be among the first in line.
 
stieg said:
My main problem with the UK PK is that 'bump' when opening it. I HATE it. I'm so used locking folders smoothing opening that the bump in the middle of opening it drove me crazy. It was like the anti-spyderco knife that didn't open in a buttery-smooth arc.
Click to expand...
That bump is called a half stop, and a lot of slipjoint carriers/collectors give will give their eye teeth for that feature. Generally a sign of quality. Only my most expensive slipjoints have really distinctive half-stops.

I wish I'd caught your "clearance" Penknife on eBay. :D
 
Guyon said:
Perfect little knife. Audible half stop. Solid snap into full open. Blade was centered up perfectly, and the S30V is good stuff all around. Some of the best ergos on any knife I've held. And it practically disappears in your pocket.

Still, if this one comes out with a lock, I'll be among the first in line.
Click to expand...


Hi Guyon. I agree completely. I was a bit leery at first of getting a slip lock, but this knife is just a joy. It feels just right in my hand, opens very easily, and while it is easy enough to close with one hand, it absolutely does not close without pretty significant force applied. I really like it!

I too will order a locked version the instant it is available.

Ron
 
redhawk44p said:
The American locking version of that little beauty will be out next year. I can't wait.
Click to expand...
Wow! That will be great. I just ordered the new Spyderco catalog. Is it shown in the catalog?
 
Wunderbar said:
Wow! That will be great. I just ordered the new Spyderco catalog. Is it shown in the catalog?
Click to expand...
Doubt it. The only evidence of its possible existence I've seen was a thread here by Sal. Until it's in production, I don't think it would be in a catalog.
 
Habeas Corpus said:
With a lock it would become just another locking folder, with all its advantages and disadvantages.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I"d consider it "just another" folder -- the best EDC high-performance cutter ever made probably shouldn't have the "just another" appelation attached to it :) I'm partially kidding, who knows how it will ultimately turn out, but it's really promising. This is a cool knife as a slipjoint, but I think the design is too strong to leave solely as a slipjoint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top