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Well built knife. I really like this interpretation of the Pukko design. I wasn't expecting to really like this knife but everything about it screams quality. The pocket clip works better than expected to boot.
The knife is very well made. The point on this knife is scary!! But that comes with a price, it is very fragile. I made the mistake of dropping it and the tip broke. But Spyderco has wonderful customer service. Whether it is this knife or any other in their catalog, you can;t go wrong with a Spyderco.
I got this knife after Spyderco added the current microbevel to the edge, and I love it! I use it as my EDC, and it's served me wonderfully. The other reviews on this item are from before the microbevel was added. If you get this item, you won't regret it!
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Handle Feel
Terrifyingly sharp, but unacceptably fragile
This thing is one of the sharpest knives I have ever owned. The blade profile means it cuts like a laser. Unfortunately, it is so fragile (due to that same blade profile) as to be unusable for anything but the lightest of work (I'm talking office work, here.) I cut a cable tie with it, and the edge bent over. I also managed to chip it somehow. These are not issues I usually have with any knife, Scandi grind or otherwise. The handle is also unusually poorly designed for Spyderco, and is uncomfortably sharp in the lock area against the fingers.
The edge on this knife is way too thin to be useful for everyday tasks that extend beyond opening letter and cutting tape on packages. The zero edge grind is useless for much else. Spyderco includes a card in the box that states "The Nilakka is a high performance cutting tool and is not intended for hard use cutting chores, chopping, prying, or any other applications that apply significant stress to the edge or point." Read this as meaning 'for delicate use only', and then care should be exercised. I don't see how "high performance" can apply to this knife. A small whittling task on a pencil size twig caused the edge to deform and chip. Spyderco did not cover it under warranty. Although, they were very fast on the turn around and re-sharpened the blade, leaving some of the wavy deformation, but removing the edge chips. Could of done that myself and in fact have gone ahead and put an edge bevel on the blade. I'll see how it performs with a little thicker edge. I am not bashing Spyderco the company. I have a number of their knives and EDC a PM2. I will continue to use and purchase their products, but this knife is a looser. The nit picky stuff is that the diamond shaped handle is nice to hold, but thick for pocket carry. The edges of the recesses for the screws that hold the scales on, catch on your pocket and make it difficult to pull the knife from you pocket.
I call this review "perfection draft" because after few changes I have done to my Nilakka I just love it. To turn it into perfection I have slightly rounded all the corners of the handle including the central spines on both sides , loosened the pocket clip that was too strong (against the central spine + the screhead it would tear the pocket), and as almost every owner of the Nilakka did- reprofiled the edge to give more lateral force resistance. The knife as sold by spyderco is no good for more than opening a letter .I wish some day they produce a resembling knife with a STRONG blade.
The first time I have ever been notable displeased with the quality/construction of a Spyderco blade. While the steep zero-edge-grind blade profile makes this knife absolutely terrifyingly efficient at cutting, it also leaves the edge so fragile as to render the knife totally useless, except PERHAPS as a "gentlemens" knife, that will never be used on anything tougher than mailing tape or thin paper. I lost a chunk nearly a millimeter wide cutting one cable tie. Carefully. The handle area is also nearly paper-thin right near the lock.
First impression was that the handle is too thin around the liner lock, hurting the inside of the fingers. The handle material is just too thin. Second, it is a flat grind to almost a molecule. It is so thin that cutting a potato, it bent the blade. Now, I did a regrinding of the blade and did put a second bevel. Problem solved. And since I am a woodworker, I made myself violet wood handle identical to the original one but more beefy near the liners. Problem solved. Then with those modifications it is a good knife. But do we really have to do this on a new knife?
why does it have to be made in Taiwan ???? What is wrong with the shops in Finland producing this knife at the price advertised ??? Is Spyderco that greedy ??? Turns me off completely ... May as well be a
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Close-up of hand holding knife, opening or unsheathing knife, and then closing or sheathing knife.
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