Thing is, gripping the handle without my thumb on the spine just feels perfect to me.
Well.... whatever works best for you.
Personally, I almost always have my thumb on the spine of my smaller chore/task type knives for control. So, thumb placement, feel, comfort, ergos, etc. on spines for such knives is important to me. But, that is me. Heck, I am so picky, I modified the ramp on my Yard Guard and many other larger knives. Actually, if a knife is a PURE chopper like the DFLE, the ramp doesn't mean much to me. But, if the knife starts falling into some all-round functions like a Yard Guard and smaller, even if I don't always have my thumb on the ramp, I want it to fit my preferences for when I do use it.
Lots of folks talk about it being blade heavy, which it is to a small degree. But then again this is such a light knife that I find the balance really doesn't come into play. Its not like the SOD where you have to excert energy to counterbalance the weight forward tendency of the knife during non-chopping chores. You are still doing that with the S5, but it is so little energy the only way you realize it is by releasing you grip and watching where the blade swings.
I am not sure I understand the relevant comparison between the SOD and S5 considering how differently I use them... especially in the part where you mention: "watching where the blade swings". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I don't see much "swinging" of the S5's blade. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> The S5 isn't a chopper. I can swing it. But, not enough size or weight to chop much of anything worth swinging it at. Smaller knives like the S5 will baton better if needed to cut certain thicknesses and even then, the S5 has limits - IMO.
But, I want to clarify that when I agreed about the blade being a "tad" heavy and blade forward balance, I was being pretty picky. The balance is NOT a big issue or problem on this S5. The improvement by gripping forward about 1/4" is noticable to me, but I believe the change in balance would not be considered significant to many people. Just a minor obvservation and "minor" preference on my part. As you stated: "the balance really doesn't come into play", I generally agree. For the most part, the slight change in balance by holding forward about 1/4" is mostly a preference in feel and not much a factor in function. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> But, I am that picky sometimes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />
I agree that the S5 is a fine knife and truly worthy of belt carry....
NO QUESTION!!!! I think most people have been VERY excited about this blade from original pics. No doubt there are MANY loving this knife even more once in hand.
For my part, I find the S5 nearing nirvana. With some minor tweaks, I might be there. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
And yet, oddly, I am sure the quest will continue - even if no further need exists. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
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