Largest compression lock - both blade length and cutting edge?

[Hashishiin]

So, I was thinking about my favorite EDC lock - the comp lock. I have developed a great appreciation for the backlock in my time using Spyderco knives, but my love for the comp lock is unshakable. My largest compression locks include the Yojumbo, and my M4 Shaman. I love the knives. I have found that the cutting/blade length is 3.62/3.14 for Shaman and for the Yojumbo, it is 4"/3.98", just 0.02" difference, WOW! I get they are two diferent knives and I am happy with the Shaman for what it is, that thick cutter, I love it.

The Military's normal specs are 4" just like the Yojumbo but with a cutting edge of only 3.69", just above the Shaman, but with no choil to speak of, just dead space. No shade on the Millie, I am nitpicking about length here, I carry many smaller knives. But, has there been specs on the Millie yet, blade length, whether the cutting edge is increased, lessened by the choil, same length,,,? I can't wait to get it.

But, I am no expert, so, correct me if I am wrong, what is the largest comp locked knife, edge and blade length?

Thanks for keeping it zuzzy zazz guys

 

[yablanowitz]

Laci Szabo folder, C146. 4.6" blade, 4.09" cutting edge.

 

[sgt1372]

Had a Yojumbo but sold it because I found its size impractical for use as an EDC/SD knife. IMO the Yojimbo is the ideal size for that purpose.

I also have 2 Szabo Folders (satin & black) but, like the Yojumbo, I think that they are just too big for practical use as an EDC/SD knife.

For some reason the blades my Szabo Folders are ridiculously tight which make them extremely difficult to open w/o using both hands. I've tried loosening the pivot screws to no avail. Since I bought them as collector items, it doesn't matter but, if they were to be actually carried/used, that would have to be "fixed."

IMO, the best larger sized comp lock knife in terms of balance of size/blade length for EDC/SD use made by Spyderco is the Tropen

Blade length is 4.02" and the cutting edge is 3.95." You can also open the Tropen 3 ways: 1) Wave, 2) Flipper and 3) Comp Lock wrist flick. The hole in the Tropen's blade is too small for a Spydie hole flick. The polished G10 scales make it extremely easy to slide in/out of my pocket when carried.

 

[tiguy7]

Here is a pic of the Millie next to the Szabo.View attachment 1841552

 

[Hashishiin]

Wow, 4.6, that is impressive! I wonder what the largest feasible size for a comp locked blade is, I suppose it'd depend on the blade profile, like a stiletto would be easier than a comp-locked Espada-style blade.

Had a Yojumbo but sold it because I found its size impractical for use as an EDC/SD knife. IMO the Yojimbo is the ideal size for that purpose.

I also have 2 Szabo Folders (satin & black) but, like the Yojumbo, I think that they are just too big for practical use as an EDC/SD knife.

For some reason the blades my Szabo Folders are ridiculously tight which make them extremely difficult to open w/o using both hands. I've tried loosening the pivot screws to no avail. Since I bought them as collector items, it doesn't matter but, if they were to be actually carried/used, that would have to be "fixed."

IMO, the best larger sized comp lock knife in terms of balance of size/blade length for EDC/SD use made by Spyderco is the Tropen

Blade length is 4.02" and the cutting edge is 3.95." You can also open the Tropen 3 ways: 1) Wave, 2) Flipper and 3) Comp Lock wrist flick. The hole in the Tropen's blade is too small for a Spydie hole flick. The polished G10 scales make it extremely easy to slide in/out of my pocket when carried.

I am slowly and halfway coming to this conclusion too, I mean, I do like my large knives, and I love the Yojumbo, the Millie, will get the Mil2, even my Civilian, but I actually carry and modify my Matriarch 2 for daily carry. Sometimes I carry my waved/ringed Lil Matriarch, or waved Yojimbo 2 and feel just fine about it. By the way, the Yo2 makes a great EDC knife, too, I think.

I love the Tropen, haha, such a weird blade with that... double-angled blade. Is the Szabo long gone or what?

 

[sgt1372]

Wow, 4.6, that is impressive! I wonder what the largest feasible size for a comp locked blade is, I suppose it'd depend on the blade profile, like a stiletto would be easier than a comp-locked Espada-style blade.

[snip]

I love the Tropen, haha, such a weird blade with that... double-angled blade. Is the Szabo long gone or what?

The blade on the Tropen, like the one on the Szabo Folder, is designed to slice in a continuous arc in order to make use of the entire blade edge. Something you couldn't do as well w/a 4" straight bladed Millie, Police, Reslience, Manix XL or Amalgram (which BTW also has a comp lock).

And, while the Szabo Folder's blade is much longer than the Tropen (4.60 vs 4.02) it's "useable" blade edge is not (4.09 vs 3.95) and, if you place one blade on top of another, their shape and blade length looks almost identical.

The major advantage of the Szabo Folder over the Tropen for SD purposes is actually it's size because the deeper indentation along the spine makes it more effective for arm hooking and the extended butt makes it a more effective for striking but, then again, it's size is also a disadvantage because it canot be easily concealed or carried in a pocket.

If you want to buy one, Szabo Folders still come up for sale on EB and there are 6 for sale there right now in both satin and black for not that much $ IMO.

As far as how large a blade you can use w/a comp lock, you can see from a comparison between the comp lock on the Szabo Folder vs the Tropen that it's just a matter of beefing up the lock mechanism to make it work w/bigger blades.

However, since the Szabo Folder already has a Tantanka sized blade approaching 5 inches, it's unlikely that anyone would consider making a folder with a larger blade. That's where fixed blades usually come into play.

And, lastly, assuming Spyderco does produce a comp lock Millie, it will fall between the Szabo Folder and Tropen in terms of its overall size.

And, for futher comparison, here's a pic of a CF M390 Millie, a CF S30V Amalgam and a G10 S30V PM2 together. Even if the handle of the Millie 2 is reshaped there's no way you could consider it just a modified Para Military 2.

If/when they do make a Millie 2, my preference would be for one using CF to make it as light as possible w/a MagnaCut blade that reportedly has the best combo of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance of all of the "modern" steels currently available.

 

[Hashishiin]

The blade on the Tropen, like the one on the Szabo Folder, is designed to slice in a continuous arc in order to make use of the entire blade edge. Something you couldn't do w/a 4" straight balded Millie, Police, Reslience, Manix XL or Amalgram (which BTW also has a comp lock).

And, while the Szabo Folders blade is much longer than the Tropen (4.60 vs 4.02) it's "useable" blade edge is not (4.09 vs 3.95) and, if you place one blade on top of another, their shape and blade length looks almost identical.

The major advantage of the Szabo Folder over the Tropen for SD purposes is actually it's size because the deeper indentation along the spine makes it more effective for arm hooking and the extended butt makes it a more effective for striking but, then again, it's size is also a disadvantage because it canot be easily concealed or carried in a pocket.

If you want to buy one, Szabo Folders still come up for sale on EB and there are 6 for sale there right now in both satin and black for not that much $ IMO.

As far as how large a blade you can use w/a comp lock, you can see from a comparison between the comp lock on the Szabo Folder vs the Tropen that it's just a matter of beefing up the lock mechanism to make it work w/bigger blades.

However, since the Szabo Folder already has a Tantanka sized blade approaching 5 inches, it's unlikely that anyone would consider making a folder with a larger blade. That's where fixed blades usually come into play.

And, lastly, assuming Spyderco does produce a comp lock Millie, it will fall between the Szabo Folder and Tropen in terms of its overall size.

Wooo, lovely pics first off! Oh, and also I wanted to ask you, earlier you were alluding to prefering a smaller blade for SD, why is that, just wondering?


In terms of concealment, I could conceal either one without effort, but yes, it is apparant that the Szabo would make a far better SD knife, as opposed to the Tropen. The Tropen seems like it would be really good in the kitchen, honestly, with that shape? It looks like it would make chopping onions a joy! It just seems like a FUN knife, but tbh when I buy a big knife like that for EDC (think Millie/Millie2, waved/Janicliffe Endura, Yojumbo) I want it to be good for EDC cutting and defense, the two often share traits in my experience. My exception to that rule is a Shaman, but I always have a ring'd Lil/Ma2 & spray with it. The other's positive (hope I am using that right) angle and handle shape seems like it'd deliver much better strikes and slahses.

I was shocked how easy things are to conceal big knives - for example, I am a big fan of the Espada XL, and I can easily fit it into any pants I own, and I wear tighter jeans, not quite skinny jeans, but not boot-cut or whatever. They fit in those, in sweatpants... perhaps the very tip may peek out of my pocket, but no more than, say, a PM2 on a normal clip would. I can sit, stand, walk, and have. I even have a sheath that goes vertically and horizontally for my fancy XL Espada, and it carries very easily. I have always found it hard to consider "concealing" a folder of less than the size of an XL Voyager. I suppose that'll be a blessing to me when I get to a place where I'm allowed to pack a pistol, huh? I don't mind a little weight

https://imgur.com/a/sd4wrO3

As for the why of a huge comp-lock blade existing? There would be no practical reason, just fun, haha. Just as a sheer expression of love for the comp lock. That's why I think the Tropen is cool. Just crazy, flipper, wave, chef knife. The only way I could see a 6" comp lock is if Spyderco did a nod to the traditional Italian stiletto.

 

[sgt1372]

Wooo, lovely pics first off!

Thanks!

Oh, and also I wanted to ask you, earlier you were alluding to prefering a smaller blade for SD, why is that, just wondering?

The use of knives in SD involves close hand-to-hand contact fighting techniques and the larger the knife, the harder it is to manuver w/in the "box" using quick stabbing/slicing motions.

The bigger the blade the wider/longer the arc has to be, which takes more time and distance. Even the Tropen is "too long" in this sense to be the best choice for SD. That's what makes shorter blades more effective for SD.

For example, see:

 

[Odie808]

Had a Yojumbo but sold it because I found its size impractical for use as an EDC/SD knife. IMO the Yojimbo is the ideal size for that purpose.

I also have 2 Szabo Folders (satin & black) but, like the Yojumbo, I think that they are just too big for practical use as an EDC/SD knife.

For some reason the blades my Szabo Folders are ridiculously tight which make them extremely difficult to open w/o using both hands. I've tried loosening the pivot screws to no avail. Since I bought them as collector items, it doesn't matter but, if they were to be actually carried/used, that would have to be "fixed."

IMO, the best larger sized comp lock knife in terms of balance of size/blade length for EDC/SD use made by Spyderco is the Tropen

Blade length is 4.02" and the cutting edge is 3.95." You can also open the Tropen 3 ways: 1) Wave, 2) Flipper and 3) Comp Lock wrist flick. The hole in the Tropen's blade is too small for a Spydie hole flick. The polished G10 scales make it extremely easy to slide in/out of my pocket when carried.

The reason it's so tight to open , there is a self close mechanism under one of the scales.
Like you if I were going to carry mine , I would try to remove it.

 

[Hashishiin]

With me, I notice my Shaman slides open/closed a lot easier than the Yojumbo. I don't know if this is purposeful, but I wave my Yojumbo for emergency use, my Shaman is for tough work.

Cannot wait for the Military 2. I also have a Police on my list, it's a shame I don't yet have that, or the "backlock PM2" aka, Stretch!

sgt1372 thanks for the Janich vids, needed to find those!