Swick 5 Wharnie in LC200N

[sal]

I prefer shorter blades when using a Perrin finger ring on my designs. I believe a longer blade will have too long of a leverage arm for the finger ring.

Also, while this design offers much in variety of use, it is more design specific.

sal

[vivi]

That makes sense to me.

Any word on the scale material? I'm thrilled this run is including scales from the factory.

Carrying my Swick 3 right now in celebration of the good news :D

[mb1]

Sweet!

[sal]

Hi Vivi,

Early scales will be G-10 like the Waterway. Then we'll move to FRN to lower cost.

sal

[Ez556]

If you are already planning on transitioning manufacturing material at some point to reduce costs, I’m hoping that implies a longer term production run than the first iterations.

[vivi]

Hi Vivi,

Early scales will be G-10 like the Waterway. Then we'll move to FRN to lower cost.

sal

I will be pre-ordering ASAP.

Thanks for bringing this back, Sal. If you gave me the ability to pick any discontinued model to bring back, the Swick would be among my first choices, and LC200N is the very steel I would choose.

[sal]

If you are already planning on transitioning manufacturing material at some point to reduce costs, I’m hoping that implies a longer term production run than the first iterations.

Hi Ez,

The plan is for regular production. I've been refining this concept for the past 20 years.

sal

[Doc Dan]

This is good news, indeed. LC200n + wharncliffe +Swick = win win.

[Dazen]

What is the size difference between this one and the ARK for a neck knife?

[vivi]

What is the size difference between this one and the ARK for a neck knife?

For pure neck carry the Ark would be a better choice IMO. I never use neck carry, but the Ark is a lot lighter than my Swick with G10 scales.

However, I find the Swick a much more useful design.

Four finger grip VS 3

Negative blade angle VS positive angle

Wharncliffe blade shape that grabs material like a hawkbill due to the negative angle, VS an upswept bowie shape where everything slides off the tip on a draw cut.

Comfortable for hard use VS not.

Here's some comparison photos. Obviously my Ark has been modded, but the overall length remains the same as a stock Ark.









I cannot put my thumb on the spine of a stock Ark in a way that is comfortable. I have to grind off the spyder hole. I think the Ark is a victim of its design philosophy. It sacrifices attributes that would let it excel as a utility knife for its self defense mission. I can't grade the Ark in that respect because I carry S&W rather than Spyderco for that role. I've attempted to employ the Ark as a pure utility knife, and my mods reflect that.

Comparing the two feels like comparing an FRN Dragonfly to a G10 Manix 2. The Swick feels so much more substantial and gives me that full sized knife feeling, while the Ark never has.

The only thing I prefer on the Ark VS the Swick, is the former is rust proof. Once the Swick 5 is out, that's a moot point.

Imagine doing a utility draw cut with each knife. The Ark wants to slip while the Swick wants to bite.

I'd try to make the Swick work for your needs and carry preferences if you could. I feel its a better design overall. The Ark is a more specialized knife. It does what it sets out to do very well, but the role it fills is more niche.

[Dazen]

What is the size difference between this one and the ARK for a neck knife?

For pure neck carry the Ark would be a better choice IMO. I never use neck carry, but the Ark is a lot lighter than my Swick with G10 scales.

However, I find the Swick a much more useful design.

Four finger grip VS 3

Negative blade angle VS positive angle

Wharncliffe blade shape that grabs material like a hawkbill due to the negative angle, VS an upswept bowie shape where everything slides off the tip on a draw cut.

Comfortable for hard use VS not.

Here's some comparison photos. Obviously my Ark has been modded, but the overall length remains the same as a stock Ark.

I cannot put my thumb on the spine of a stock Ark in a way that is comfortable. I have to grind off the spyder hole. I think the Ark is a victim of its design philosophy. It sacrifices attributes that would let it excel as a utility knife for its self defense mission. I can't grade the Ark in that respect because I carry S&W rather than Spyderco for that role. I've attempted to employ the Ark as a pure utility knife, and my mods reflect that.

Comparing the two feels like comparing an FRN Dragonfly to a G10 Manix 2. The Swick feels so much more substantial and gives me that full sized knife feeling, while the Ark never has.

The only thing I prefer on the Ark VS the Swick, is the former is rust proof. Once the Swick 5 is out, that's a moot point.

Imagine doing a utility draw cut with each knife. The Ark wants to slip while the Swick wants to bite.

I'd try to make the Swick work for your needs and carry preferences if you could. I feel its a better design overall. The Ark is a more specialized knife. It does what it sets out to do very well, but the role it fills is more niche.

Thanks, I do wonder what the two finger design does to the dimensions of the Swick. But overall the Swick does look compact enough for any purpose.

[vivi]

Yeah, the Swick is just a bit longer than a folded Pacific Salt, while being enough knife for anything I need outside of food prep. It is one of Sal's most under appreciated designs in my eyes. Hope this new run revitalizes interest.

[curlyhairedboy]

If you are already planning on transitioning manufacturing material at some point to reduce costs, I’m hoping that implies a longer term production run than the first iterations.

Hi Ez,

The plan is for regular production. I've been refining this concept for the past 20 years.

sal

Very excited for this!

[Ez556]

Hi Ez,

The plan is for regular production. I've been refining this concept for the past 20 years.

sal

Awesome, I’m very happy to hear that! This knife fulfills a lot of what I’ve been looking for in a compact daily carry defensive knife, I’m sure it does for a lot of others as well and I’m glad to know it’ll be more available to the masses. I’d love to see your mark on the side of something you’ve been working on for so long.

[sal]

Hi Ez,

Defense is the primary purpose of the design.

Vivi,

Try not to think small or light. Try to think optimal. Hunting grizzly with a 22 would be light and easy to carry, but you will be bear food.

sal

[vivi]

I have zero concerns over the size and weight of this design :)

[bearfacedkiller]

I won’t go ice fishing without it. With the finger hole you can tie knots without setting the knife down. Also, the finger hole prevents you from dropping it on the ice where it could get damaged, lost in the snow or even worse dropped in a hole. I clip it to the shoulder strap of my Carhartt bibs and it is super convienient.

[Chris_P_Bacon]

This has been on my want list for roughly a year now, ever since I saw the post where Sal and Vivi were chatting it up.

With Twenty years of evolution, I know Sal will nail this one, no worries there. Plus, with LC200N's Stain proof qualities, no worries there either.

The area that does concern me slightly is the sheath. Sure I can go aftermarket, if the original is a miss. However, I'd rather not have to.

I realize there may be a few people that want rings (for lashing paracord) all the way around the sheath. I am not one of those people.

For this sheath, I'm hoping for and picutureing the smallest footprint possible with this design. A small taco, rings on one side only, with screw construction allowing for a detachable belt loop, resulting in a minimal bulk for neck carry. Rings as close to the blade as possible, with all excess material trimmed to a minimum.

Obviously rock solid retention, that can be shaken hard and it still holds the knife. With a nice thumb release area molded in. May not happen, but that's my vision.

[Wralle]

I will definitely buy the LC200N version!!! Always wanted to get a swick 3 so now that another model is possibly coming I will definitely purchase

[Ez556]

A taco style kydex sheath would be nice, similar to the Waterway.