Hi all,
I just recently purchased a Native as my first knife and am very happy with it. I now want to purchase another, and I think it is going to be the last for a while :-)
So, with that in mind, I have decided that I would like to get one of the custom collaborations, and would like the opinion of other forumites on the following 3:
1) StarMate - I like the visual appearance of this one (combo edge), but when I picked one up in the store the other day, it seemed kind of hard to open it one-handed. Perhaps it just needed a little lube?
2) Wegner - I have not been able to get my hands on this one, but I hear a lot of positive things about this knife.
3) Chinook - Haven't been able to try one of these out either, but it does look interesting. Only thing I'm concerned about this one is scaring all the "sheeple" when I open it in public.
Any and all opinions appreciated!
Thanks,
Matt
Which one?
Matt,
You might want to look at the Military also. It isn't a custom collaboration, but it is quite similar to what you are looking at, and IMHO it is one of the finest Spydies available.
OTOH, I don't think you can go wrong with the Starmate or the Wegner, both of them are great knives. I don't know much about the Chinook though, never had a chance to handle one.
You might want to look at the Military also. It isn't a custom collaboration, but it is quite similar to what you are looking at, and IMHO it is one of the finest Spydies available.
OTOH, I don't think you can go wrong with the Starmate or the Wegner, both of them are great knives. I don't know much about the Chinook though, never had a chance to handle one.
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DEREK VINYARD
- Member
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
matt,
i own both a wegner and starmate. both are great knives. my starmate was a little tough to open but i adjusted the pivot and it flies open now. no problem. you can't go wrong with either choice but i prefer the wegner as a everyday carry. the liner on this knife makes it very smooth. **** do what i did, buy both !!!
i own both a wegner and starmate. both are great knives. my starmate was a little tough to open but i adjusted the pivot and it flies open now. no problem. you can't go wrong with either choice but i prefer the wegner as a everyday carry. the liner on this knife makes it very smooth. **** do what i did, buy both !!!
Derek,
Buying them both seems to be something I am leaning toward, unfortunately for my wallet and even more unfortunately when I have to explain to my wife that I'm not really a knife nut.... :-)
If I go that route, I guess I probably ought to get the Wegner, since as far as I can tell, it has not sold as well as the others....
Do ya'll prefer the combo edge or the plain edge on the wegner and starmate?
Matt
Buying them both seems to be something I am leaning toward, unfortunately for my wallet and even more unfortunately when I have to explain to my wife that I'm not really a knife nut.... :-)
If I go that route, I guess I probably ought to get the Wegner, since as far as I can tell, it has not sold as well as the others....
Do ya'll prefer the combo edge or the plain edge on the wegner and starmate?
Matt
If you are worried about sheeple, all of the knives you mentioned are a bit big. Generally speaking, if you don't want to scare folks, stick close to 3" or less. Have you considered the Calypso lightweight jr. or Delica? The new Lum Chinese is my personal new favorite. The new Vesuvius will probably be great when it comes out. If you want a slightly larger knife, you could get the new Viele. If you want something different, check out the closeout prices on Solos at the factory store section of this website.
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sam the man..
- Member
- Posts: 2936
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Dac,
I'm not so sure that it is the size of the blade that turns otherwise perfectly reasonable people into nutty sheeple, but rather the shape of the blade. And the Chinook appears, in my admittedly inexperienced view, to have a much more aggressive blade shape than either the starmate or the wegner.
That being said, what has your experience been?
I'm not so sure that it is the size of the blade that turns otherwise perfectly reasonable people into nutty sheeple, but rather the shape of the blade. And the Chinook appears, in my admittedly inexperienced view, to have a much more aggressive blade shape than either the starmate or the wegner.
That being said, what has your experience been?
Mpclb, I have had people make stupid remarks about my Co-Pilot and it is less than 2". Some people just have knife phobia and are leery of people who carry knives. My response is to carry medium or small knives at work (I am a university professor), and I only take them out when I need to use them. Also it never hurts to carry a Ladybug or some other really tiny knife for little odds and ends.
I recommend that you get the Starmate. The "non-smooth" opening you experienced is not true of all models produced, since mine came with silky-smooth opening. The blade shape is beautiful, and is perfect for tactical/utility purposes. The handle is a more iffy subject, since it's either a love/hate relationship for most people. Personally, I find the handle very comfortable...although it lacks a comfortable finger-groove, I rather like the fact that I can hold it in hammer grip or in horizontal position with my thumb over the opening hole. It opens with a satisfying "clack!" which assures you when inspecting the recessed liner that it is very safe. It has a nice decoration on the blade and handle, which is Bob Terzuola's signature design. This knife just SCREAMS quality, and is IMHO one of the most carefully produced Spyderco knives around, along with its high quality.
I have never handled the Wegner, but have read much about it. It is also a favorite among people, and although its primary design is for hunting/skinning, its designer Tim Wegner and many users tout the knife as an excellent tactical/utility folder. The handle also looks to be extremely comfortable and well made. Still, since you already have my favorite Spydie, which is the Native, I wouldn't go for this knife since its length is just slightly larger and would probably not be as different or unique as the Starmate.
As for the Chinook, forget it, unless you REALLY want to scare the sheeple off with that behemoth of a knife!
Thus, IMHO, you cannot go wrong with either knife, but my choice would be the Starmate. It is one **** of a knife.
-Flood
I have never handled the Wegner, but have read much about it. It is also a favorite among people, and although its primary design is for hunting/skinning, its designer Tim Wegner and many users tout the knife as an excellent tactical/utility folder. The handle also looks to be extremely comfortable and well made. Still, since you already have my favorite Spydie, which is the Native, I wouldn't go for this knife since its length is just slightly larger and would probably not be as different or unique as the Starmate.
As for the Chinook, forget it, unless you REALLY want to scare the sheeple off with that behemoth of a knife!
Thus, IMHO, you cannot go wrong with either knife, but my choice would be the Starmate. It is one **** of a knife.
-Flood
Oh yeah, by the way, go with the plain edge on either knife. Combo edges are useless, since they interrupt the cutting action and become a nuisance. Trust me, you won't regret it in the long run. If you want serrated edges, get the full serrations in a knife which is designed to cut efficiently with this blade style, like the Military (excellent in plain or full-serrated versions).
-Flood
-Flood
Hi all!
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
Hi all!
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
Hi all!
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
Hi all!
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
After all of the questions on this thread, my wife turned around and bought the other knife that I was really interested in...a Chris Reeve Sebenza (large plain). Boy was I thrilled by that.....for a few months. As far as construction goes and durability, the sebenza is the finest knife I have ever owned. But it lacks the Spydie-hole which I love, and, I don't know, it just doesn't have any style. Plus, it definitely did not come as sharp as my Native right out of the box, and I was always worried about scratching up a $345 knife so I never really put it to the same use! So I sold the sebenza on eBay last night, and now I have revived this long-dead thread :-)
So here's some more questions.
1) I know that CPM-440V seems to be the preferred steel around here nowadays, but how does the ATS-34 on the Wegner compare?
2) Does the extra 1.5 oz on the Wegner really make a difference?
3) Is the Wegner really a good utility knife? I don't hunt or fish - I am just looking for a larger knife than my native with good utility for everyday cutting needs. Plus a little style <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I'm leaning more toward the Wegner now based on the comments in this thread, but I would not mind if those who owned the Starmate want to step in and give their comments on the Starmate's cutting ability, ease of carry, etc.
Thanks all again! I'm looking forward to ordering my knife soon (within the next 24 hours!)
Matthew
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ftkinney
- Member
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Texan living in New Jersey USA
I had a simar delema I for my first spyderco purchase and thouse were the two knifes that I narrowed it down to. I'm in the minority in that I prefer a 60/40 blade and thouse seem to be the best that in that respect. Afer looking, feeling and asking on this forum I went with the Wenger do to ergonomics, weight, feel and apperance, I would HIGHLY recomend it. The handle and the wieght I think are great. I'm a gradute student and even in the university setting I've never had any "sheeple" problems exept in a joking nature. But if you are conserd about that I tend to think the Wenger is the most "sheeple" fendly of thouse three because the Starmate looks more tactical and the Chinook's sheer size is overwellming. However if you can afford it getting two makes the desion eazier One $300 knife = 2 $150 knives, carry one while the other getting sharpend. If you like the hammer carry and a light wieght the Starmate would be right, I think the Starmate might look a little more elagant. But as a designer you might what to consider the Peter Herbst Autumn Folder or Bob Lum's Chinese Folder both look amazing do to color and material and I think your friends/coworkers will look at them and well crafted tools and not "scary weapons". That just my opion any way. Good luck with your purchace(s)
FTK
FTK