The Spyderco Smock Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

Today, we're going to do a review of a knife that is very weird and very good: the Spyderco Smock.

[Nevets]

102. You flipped it open and closed 102 times! That has to be a record ...record for how little life I have.

[NickShabazz]

To be fair, and to prevent this from being an epic pile-on, I don't think Smock meant to 'rip people off' nor that he's unethical. I think he took too many paid pre-orders without thinking, and buried himself, and he's had some medical issues in trying to dig out. It's one of those things that doesn't make it practically better, but serves as a meaningful distinction between outright scam artists and people who are trying, but have made serious mistakes. He continues to tell me (and others) that our knives are coming. And perhaps they are. You'll hear about it when it arrives.

So, I'm not happy about the situation, and it would be unethical of me to pretend that's not a thing and just not mention it, because this knife will probably spur some interest in the custom. But I also don't put him in the same light as somebody who makes bad knives knowingly, who re-sells production knives from overseas as hand-made customs, or just takes the money and runs. I do believe he's trying. But I also have to tell it like it is, and this was a real balancing act for me. I hope I managed. But at worst, I know I've tried.

[guitarrocker]

Between knives and AR 15 assembling I've launched my fair share of detent springs into orbit around Venus.

[mudrucker]

The compression lock is one of my favorites I hope they start doing the button compression on more knives

[paulx]

The scales are almost like camouflage for your table.

[dmdcykey]

I agree that flipper tab configuration is REALLY fantastic, I hope that gets incorporated in more knives. It's one of those designs that is so simple and obvious you wonder why it has not been in use for years.

_"Blink twice if the lanyard people have you at gunpoint."_ That one cracked me up.

[madgurkha]

I'm pretty sure that spyderco has said at one point in time that the 2nd detent ball was there to make safer while in the pocket so when the button is pushed it wouldn't open in your pocket

[nalykazule]

"I mean it's not like it's a sackful of hedghogs." Best. Sentence. Ever.

[mr.elliott]

Incredible review with deep personal conflictions, yet 👏 being the professional and giving this knife it's justified review, way to go Nick, you inspired me, one of your best reviews

[chazfromtheburg]

Great review. This is one of my favorite knives in the last few years, at any price! But at less than $200?! It is freaking amazing! I'm already excited for the sprint runs down the road!

[greatestcait]

Really disappointed about the ergos, to be honest, I love how the locking mechanism looks, I'd love to have a PM2 successor using the button compression lock.

[alexanderbertallo]

This is a master piece...hopefully they make a XL version of this without the jimping... this could improve the ergos alot...

[masalpert]

As you guessed, the second detent is to keep the knife from falling open when the button is pressed. Kevin actually explains it in a video on his channel, though I forget which one! Cool that it actually also helps with the action.

[LimeLimpidGreen]

"I am not a Spyderco." - Nick Shabazz

I'd get that on a shirt

[morbidminister]

Absolutely love my Smock. Only change I’d make is swap the pocket clip out for a blackened wire clip. It would make the knife much more sleek and clean looking!

[jtoth]

Hey Nick, about the lanyard hole on this model specifically, Kevin said in a recent video about the Smock that when he initially designed this knife almost 3 years ago for Spyderco, lanyards were in vogue and everyone was bugging him to put them on his customs etc, so he included it on his Spyderco design. Fast forward through the development process and 3 years later now that the knife is released, suddenly everyone hates lanyard holes and wants it gone. It just happened to be a crappy case of changing trends on a product that was a long time in development. That doesn’t excuse many of other Spyderco’s horrible offenders, but it makes sense in this case.

[abcf]

Writing this in April of 2020. When this knife came out, I didn't feel that compelled to get one. But I relented when knifejoy released the smooth g10, 20cv version. It doesn't happen very often to me, but it has exceeded my expectations. I didn't think the forward choil would be very usable, but it is. Didn't think the blade length would be enough for me, but it is. Was concerned if the flipper tab would be fidget friendly, but it is. Came extremely sharp out of the box. Granted the button lock isn't as drop smooth as my Protech mordax, but a quick little wrist flick and it drops easily. I ended up falling in love with it!

[sinisterdeer]

I personally love the way the smock looks, i hope they make more sometime. Id drop the money for it just because it looks awesome and has some neat design choices, the blade shape is cool and the steel is also pretty nice

[hurst]

I have a love hate feelings about your videos. I love all the knives and your bluntness, but hate them because I'm broke and can't get a cool 🔪.

[survinenathan]

I agree about the flipper tab, when I first saw it I was skeptical until one flick 😂 works so good.