Another Kumo Review...

[ruxton]

Hi all,
Well my Kumo arrived while I was at university today, first impression, "wow", I would like to congratulate Spyderco on another beautiful knife, the kumo is the first spyderco fixed blade I have been compelled to buy (and I'm glad I did).

The handle fits my hand well and is pleasingly grippy, mine had a little bit of epoxy soaked lace sticking out around where it is tied at the bottom near the lanyard hole. I removed it (very carefully) with a harpy and it's now perfect. The wrap seems study and the silver bug looks good. As for the blade, I think it's just the right thickness and immensly sharp from the box. I know all spydercos are sharp from the box but some (like the lum chinese and calypso jr.) are so sharp you let out a little giggle the first time you feel the blade (maybe that's just me ;) ) this is that sharp. There is nothing about this knife I don't like.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the sheath. I was a little dissapointed with the sheath, it seems flimsy and I was immediately concerned that I might break it. This is the first run in I've had with the Tek-Lok system and I am decidedly unimpressed, I just can't help but worry it will fall off or break off. See the pics below, it is only held on to the belt at any one time by 2 screws. There is at least a 3mm gap between the belt loop and the actual sheath. In one of the pics below I put a Lum Chinese in to demonstrate this.
(apologies in advance for the rubbish picture quality, my camera dates back to the stone age)

Kumo with some other knives for size comparison.
http://img446.imageshack.us/img446/1770/kumo0143mh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Kumo in its sheath.
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3526/kumo0232jw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Tek-Lok in action.
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1438/kumo0254rz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Gap between belt loop and sheath.
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6308/kumo0263re.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lum Chinese in gap.
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5044/kumo0283kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Overall a beautifully made knife with excellent quality and workmanship, let down slightly by its sheath. A bit like keeping a Ferrari Enzo in a broken down little shack with a rusty padlock and broken windows.

[Mili-Man]

I was glad to read your review, I dont have any fixed blade spyderco's but since I saw the Kumo I have been thinking about getting one.

[ruxton]

It most certainly is worth buying, it's a really, really good knife. In fact its so nice I may well splash out and have a custom sheath made.

[greencobra]

Always enjoy hearing about how people view their new stuff. Nice comments and really, the first time someone spoke on the sheath. Enjoy your new Kumo.

[Mr Blonde]

Thanks for the review Ruxton. Apart from the Tek-lok, how was the fit in the sheath, any rattle perhaps?

Wouter

[ruxton]

No the actual sheath itself is as well made as the knife, the way I see it there is the sheath which is exceptionally well made, fits like a glove, holds it in place firmly but not too firmly as to scratch the blade on the draw or inhibit a smooth draw. Then there's the flimsy piece of plastic you screw onto the sheath to attach it to a belt.

However, I have been experimenting with different carry positions, it came from the box in a vertical position and I changed it to a horizontal (my personal preference horizontal across the small of the back), both of these felt dangerously flimsy, I have since configured it to a 45 degree position (see pics) as you can see this means it has a screw either side of the knife which makes it ALOT more secure and feels alot stronger. In fact I wouldn't trust it in any other configuration.

45 degree position (closed).
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9766/kumo0295gn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

45 degree position (open).
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1589/kumo0306rv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Front (note screw position).
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2078/kumo0325sq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Blades]

:spyder:


Blades

[chinook]

Jeez... I thought Beck's was a beer. :(
Hope they give you a cut rate. Kinda redundant!