Spyderco Persistence: A review,a comparison and an on the job test

[SAK Guy]

How can you be a scout and not have a knife   

That is extremely sad   

[raistlin65]

I also wonder what's scary to people.. I guess whatever knife I take out of my pocket and open with one hand will look ... at least weird I do it when I'm shopping in these huge stores and some of the goods haven't been unpacked yet from the huge retail cardboard boxes they come in - so I use my knife to open a box, take whatever I wanna buy... and when I do hte CLICK OHO with the Ambi, I have the feeling people might be like O_o

I am of the mind that I could care less if anyone is "uncomfortable" with me using a knife in public. I'f I am using it in a proper manner and not doing something like waving it around yelling or just weirdly standing with a knife in my hand then why should anyone be scared of anything. If they are uncomfortable than its not my issue. Just my personal opinion.

And while I in principle agree with the Captain on this, cultural norms vary from country to country. Also,one does need to be circumspect when one works in a toy shop

+1

I love my Kershaw Knockout. I would carry it everywhere, and it's legal where I live (if carried for non-defensive purposes). I would have no problem using it in many public places. But in my white collar workplace? It's not just the blade shape and size. When the spring assisted blade flips out? I'm sure I would see some reactions. The impressions of me it would create with some work colleagues are not what I want for my workplace. So I don't carry it that much. 

And yes. I know I could open it manually without using the spring assist. It's a habit to flick it open as I pull it from the pocket. I know I'd forget

The good news is that a Leatherman Rebar knife is OK in this regard 

[kirk13]

Controversy aside,Perci went to work in earnest today.

One pallet of assorted scale model jet liners. I have to say Perci behaved flawlessly! He was pleasantly controllable,nice and easy to open and unlock repeatedly. Even the biggest boxes fell to his sharp edge!

Until later,where he embaressed himself I'd to open one of my high end 18 scale cars for a customer to give the once over before buying. The stylafoam packing was selotaped together. Perci literally couldn't cut it.  Whether it was the crap from earlier that stopped the blade slicing,or it was trying to drag stylafoam beads with it I don't know,but my Wenger had to come to the rescue

Perci has been cleaned and is raring to go for tomorrow and two pallets of smurf knows what! Roll on 7am...NOT!

[hiraethus]

I live in a country where Scouts no longer have knives

Not strictly true, Kirky - they're encouraged to use them, and can receive awards for safe and responsible use. See here for more: http://scouts.org.uk/media/552410/Victorinox-Knife-Safety-Factsheet.pdf 

Good review so far, BTW - was tempted by the Persistence to see if I looked Spydercos or not. Not really a fan of the blade shapes but they seem to get good press.

[kirk13]

I live in a country where Scouts no longer have knives

Not strictly true, Kirky - they're encouraged to use them, and can receive awards for safe and responsible use. See here for more: http://scouts.org.uk/media/552410/Victorinox-Knife-Safety-Factsheet.pdf 

Good review so far, BTW - was tempted by the Persistence to see if I looked Spydercos or not. Not really a fan of the blade shapes but they seem to get good press.

Thanks for the correction,that's pleasing to know Now,if they'd do something about their appearance  Scout troops that appear at work are just...untidy? They make me think that if I were an old person,needing to cross the road,I'd rather take my chances with the traffic,because the Scouts look so dodgy....

Sorry,rant about modern Scouts over

[hiraethus]

Whaddayamean, if? 

[kirk13]

....and to continue with our regular programming

Today was a good news/bad news day as far as Perci went.

The good news is that he performed flawlessly. The bad news is that only one pallet of stock appeared(cars and motorbikes in 18 and 24 scales. There were some cartons on miniature Harleys too ),so Perci had to be content with only one heap of boxes to destroy

I am actually genuinely surprised how good a work knife Perci is!

[AimlessWanderer]

A good show so far Kirky Boy

Like you I tend to have a preference for the non-locking blades for various reasons, and I don't often find Spydies particularly attractive looking, not to mention how non-knife people respond to them 

One thing Spyderco are very good at though, is getting a good cross sectional geometry on their blades. I don't own any locking Spydies, but the FFG of the Byrd Tern is excellently done, just as it was on the original UKPKs. Just the right spine thickness, just the right amount of primary taper, leaving just the right amount of grind for the cutting edge. Properly sharpened they do perform excellently. They also tend to be very good with their ergonomics, and don't give as much hand fatigue on repetetive tasks as other maker's knives can do

The high ride height of the pocket clip and the liner lock are both deal breakers for me personally, so I can't see me ever buying one of these or any of it's similar siblings. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this job test pans out though, and it's good to see it's earning it's keep with you, John

[Gareth]

I live in a country where Scouts no longer have knives

Not strictly true, Kirky - they're encouraged to use them, and can receive awards for safe and responsible use. See here for more: http://scouts.org.uk/media/552410/Victorinox-Knife-Safety-Factsheet.pdf 

Good review so far, BTW - was tempted by the Persistence to see if I looked Spydercos or not. Not really a fan of the blade shapes but they seem to get good press.

I just had a read through of that guide.  Pretty good actually.

[kirk13]

A good show so far Kirky Boy

Like you I tend to have a preference for the non-locking blades for various reasons, and I don't often find Spydies particularly attractive looking, not to mention how non-knife people respond to them 

One thing Spyderco are very good at though, is getting a good cross sectional geometry on their blades. I don't own any locking Spydies, but the FFG of the Byrd Tern is excellently done, just as it was on the original UKPKs. Just the right spine thickness, just the right amount of primary taper, leaving just the right amount of grind for the cutting edge. Properly sharpened they do perform excellently. They also tend to be very good with their ergonomics, and don't give as much hand fatigue on repetetive tasks as other maker's knives can do

The high ride height of the pocket clip and the liner lock are both deal breakers for me personally, so I can't see me ever buying one of these or any of it's similar siblings. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this job test pans out though, and it's good to see it's earning it's keep with you, John

Cheers Al

Just thinking...a blunt nosed Tern... ...hmmmm!

[hiraethus]

I live in a country where Scouts no longer have knives

Not strictly true, Kirky - they're encouraged to use them, and can receive awards for safe and responsible use. See here for more: http://scouts.org.uk/media/552410/Victorinox-Knife-Safety-Factsheet.pdf 

Good review so far, BTW - was tempted by the Persistence to see if I looked Spydercos or not. Not really a fan of the blade shapes but they seem to get good press.

I just had a read through of that guide.  Pretty good actually.

Yep. Overall, very sensible.

[powernoodle]

I'm enjoying your take on the Persistance, and am thankful that locking blades are still lawful in most of The Colonies.  Here's a family photo from the Powernoodle Arsenal.

[kirk13]

Thank you,glad your enjoying it

What are the two bottom ones?

[kirk13]

Today's update: Quiet day for Perci,nothing other than slicing the odd bit of tape,or plastic,and posing for photos. It's the calm before the storm

[captain spaulding]

Thank you,glad your enjoying it

What are the two bottom ones?

Ambitious.

[Demel]

I'm enjoying your take on the Persistance, and am thankful that locking blades are still lawful in most of The Colonies.  Here's a family photo from the Powernoodle Arsenal.

(Image removed from quote.)

What is the third one from the top? Is the one below it the same style?

[captain spaulding]

I'm enjoying your take on the Persistance, and am thankful that locking blades are still lawful in most of The Colonies.  Here's a family photo from the Powernoodle Arsenal.

(Image removed from quote.)

What is the third one from the top? Is the one below it the same style?

From the top. Number 2,3, and 4 are all a Spyderco tenacious.

[Grathr]

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[kirk13]

Thank you,glad your enjoying it

What are the two bottom ones?

Ambitious.

I'm really liking the blue Ambi!

[kirk13]

Quick update.

Perci gobbled up another delivery on Thursday (Germa toy cars and trucks this time)without breaking a sweat. I'm impressed how well the blade has been keeping its edge.

He did however embaress himself this evening. I was unpacking a few leftover cartons tonight,and thought it was getting difficult to slice down through the side of one of them. Turns out I sliced through the end of boxes inside the carton as well. So if your shopping for toy Harley Davidsons tomorrow,don't ask questions about the one that looks like it's been savaged by a Spyderco

[Gareth]

Oops.

[kirk13]

Today was the last day of Perci's field trails. It finished with the last stock delivery of this cycle,and again,him performed flawlessly.

I thought it would be worth looking at my pre-test conclusions:

Just to round up the first leg of this tread:

Conclusion

Pending field trails,I'm quite impressed with Perci. While I tend to think it's a bit overkill for a UK EDC,I'm impressed with quality,fit'n'finish and value for money

Pros
-Solid build,good quality
-Value for money
-Grippy pocket clip
-G10 scales are very nice

Cons
-Not UK legal for EDC
-Easily perceived as threatening to non knife people
-Concerns about the ergonomics of the liner lock

Post trails,I can happily say that my concerns about the ergonomics of the liner lock were misplaced. The other thing,strangely enough,was that Perci failed to raise anyone's eyebrows or heckles...which I can't say for the 'friendly' Sqeak. I've no reasonable explaination for this,and would not judge this to mean that the Persistance is 'people friendly'

It wasn't something I'd initially thought of,but the edge retention of the blade is well worth mentioning. Perci was cutting as well on the last day of the test as the first

[kirk13]

The other issue that was being put to test was how I feel about Spydercos. Would Perci change how I feel about Spydercos?

Eh...um.

I have enjoyed using the Persistance,I really have. I think the extra weight of the steel liners gives Perci a sense of presence in the hand that the UKPK and the Ladybugs lacked. The wider profile of the handle made for a better interface that the narrow profile of the Ladybugs and Grasshoper.

I think I fancy an Ambitious...maybe a Dragonfly ,but I still don't know if Spydercos justify their price tag ( an Ambi is $65 at UK prices,verses an Amazon US price of below thirty bucks).

So from that point of view,this test/review gas been an utter fail! At best I've a great smurf hits the fan at work knife. At worst I'll end up spending more money on Spydercos I may well not like

And on that bomb shell....

[Grathr]

Great test!
Maybe the not so pointy blade shape make it more people friendly?

Or maybe they have become used to "bad boy" Kirk with his dangerous knives.




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