Moki Thuja UK

[Stephen63]

I know that there are a few BB'esr who have these, but as I couldn't find a review thread I've started one.

My feelings about this knife have been somewhat up and down. When I first heard that Moki were going to do a slip-joint I was really looking forward to it Every Moki that I've owned or handled has been beautifully made so the prospect of a UK legal EDC Moki was mouth watering.

However I have to say that when I first saw the pictures I was really disappointed that it looked just like the lockback, even apparently having the lockback bar still in place.

Now whilst I admire the technical ability of the BB'rs who have modded various lock knives to make them slippies I don't really see the point - If I want a locker I'll buy one, if I want a slippy then I'll buy one of those. So to see a knife that from the photos looked just like a locker that had been modded by the manufacturer was a bit of a letdown.

So, time passed and I read some complimentary comments about the Thuja UK, and I finally got to see one in the flesh on the Heinnie Haynes stand at Knives-UK 2008. Actually handling one the notch in the scales for the locking version became less of an issue. The silky smooth opening and closing, the build quality and Heinnie's show discount all conspired to seduce me into buying it.



This is a beautifully elegant little knife the thuja wood scales are just beautiful- the pattern being both discrete and visible at the same time.

The stainless bolsters give the knife a bit of necessary weight without making it too heavy and add to the air of quality.



The blade is 2.5" long making it obviously legal for UK EDC. It may "only" be AUS-8, but came "shaving-sharp" and has continued to hold it's edge well after some light use. It is highly polished, meaning it does tend to reflect the camera(!) and does need cleaning after handling to remove the finger prints.



The opening mechanism is very light and smooth - there's no struggle to open it with the thumb-nick and certainly no "scraping" as with some slippies with very strong springs. Likewise it's easy to close, perhaps a little too easy, it's certainly not "notched" into place like a UKPK or held open by a strong spring, but is certainly strong enough.

So in summary, this is a delightful UK EDC knife that is viewed as a traditional "pen knife" rather than as a weapon by NKP. It is beautifully made and holds it's edge well, but I still wish that they'd make a version without that "lock bar" showing...

[Danzo]

Thanks for that write up Stephen, it does look good.

But why, oh why didn't they cover the non-existant 'lock bar' with the scales?



I guess to save money of course, by using extant scales, but it does make an otherwise legal UK EDC appear to be a lock knife!



The average copper who might handle it during a stop and search is going to assume it's a lock knife. If they had simply used scales which covered the spurious lock bar then it would be a winner. As it is it's almost self defeating.

A shame, as it does look to be a lovely legal EDC.

Danzo

[Noddy]

I have shared your concerns abou the lock, Stephen. However your photographs (and especially the context) have cast the knife in a completely different light. It is altogether a far more elegant looking thing than I had imagined - there is something gentrified about that kind of pistol grip handle shape and the long bolsters really allow that very nicely shaped blade to stand clear.

I like it a lot. Thanks very much for the review

[wanderingblade]

I did have to do a double take when seeing this described as a legal edc due to the lockback.

Hope it is nice though - just bought one from AndrewS

[Stephen63]

Thanks for that write up Stephen, it does look good.

But why, oh why didn't they cover the non-existant 'lock bar' with the scales?



I guess to save money of course, by using extant scales, but it does make an otherwise legal UK EDC appear to be a lock knife!




Danzo

All I can think of is that Moki thought that the UK market for slipjoints retailing for about £60 would either be too small or swamped by Spyderco to justify the cost of different shaped brass liners and scales.

It's even stranger when you consider that Mokis are semi-handmade.

A bit short-sighted in my humble opinion given the way that laws are going in other countries, I mean they wouldn't have had to do any changes to make it a Thuja DK whereas Spyderco had to do a whole different (non opening) hole...

[Stephen63]

I did have to do a double take when seeing this described as a legal edc due to the lockback.

Hope it is nice though - just bought one from AndrewS

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