Years ago I really wanted a Nilakka. I love the traditional Scandinavian styles, and the super thin grind must have had about the best performance imaginable.
As I looked into it, I realized people had trouble with how thin the grind was, to the point Spyderco added a microbevel, and I was too nervous to buy one. Had one in my hand once, but I felt like for the price it needed to be something I could confidently carry for anything that came up while it was with me.
Years later, I never got one. Since they stopped making them I've been occasionally sorry missed out.
In the past couple years or so I've learned a lot about edge geometry and cutting performance, edge stability, and steel, and my preference has moved from heavy "hard use" folders toward things that push the envelope a little for performance. Naturally I think of the Nilakka sometimes, wondering how great it could have been.
But also, it was s30v. Pretty standard stuff, really good stuff even, in normal uses. Maybe, in this extreme case, that wasn't a great choice, and caused people like me to be wary. But with some of the research out these days, the things even Spyderco themselves have been playing with and developing... What steel would make a design like the Nilakka really "work"? Even if it had to have a .005" bte microbevel, maybe something like rex 45 would have been a serious cutter.
As I looked into it, I realized people had trouble with how thin the grind was, to the point Spyderco added a microbevel, and I was too nervous to buy one. Had one in my hand once, but I felt like for the price it needed to be something I could confidently carry for anything that came up while it was with me.
Years later, I never got one. Since they stopped making them I've been occasionally sorry missed out.
In the past couple years or so I've learned a lot about edge geometry and cutting performance, edge stability, and steel, and my preference has moved from heavy "hard use" folders toward things that push the envelope a little for performance. Naturally I think of the Nilakka sometimes, wondering how great it could have been.
But also, it was s30v. Pretty standard stuff, really good stuff even, in normal uses. Maybe, in this extreme case, that wasn't a great choice, and caused people like me to be wary. But with some of the research out these days, the things even Spyderco themselves have been playing with and developing... What steel would make a design like the Nilakka really "work"? Even if it had to have a .005" bte microbevel, maybe something like rex 45 would have been a serious cutter.
