Best EDC Spydie?

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Billy12241

Joined
Apr 8, 2011
Messages
118
Hi all,
I have a few bucks laying around, and was looking to get a EDC Spydie. I already have a Para 2,but I've gotten a few weird looks if I pull it out, and was wanting a Spydie that doesn't make people think I'm going to stab someone when I pull it out. I also have a Manix 2, and it's just a little too much in the pocket for me.

Some considerations so far:
1.) Spyderco Sage 1-classy, love carbon fiber, good blade steel, but don't really like liner locks that much
2.) Spyderco Sage 2-Simple yet at the same time beautiful, good blade steel, but a little weary of the titanium frame lock having bladeplay.
3.) Spyderco Chapparral- Classy, lock back,good blade steel, but it might be a little to small for my large-ish hands.
4.) Spyderco Bob Lum Chinese carbon fiber- love the looks of handle, decent blade steel,weary of comfort in hand and pocket clip looka little stupid to me
5.) Spyderco Gayle Bradley- Love the look, supposedly awesome blade steel, interesting pocket clip, but wondering if the liner lock is easy to disengage(Doesn't look like it in pictures)
6.) Spyderco Caly 3 Cf and ZDP-189- Love the looks, seems to be pretty ergonomic, but that line from laminating bugs me when I watch videos of it.

What I like in an EDC blade:
1.) Pocket clip
2.) Decent steel
3.) easy-ish one handed opening
4.) Some type of lock
5.) Good slicer, but could also be used for self defense if no other option.

Things I don't particularly like:
1.) Fills the pocket too much where I can't grab something that's in that same pocket without hassle
2.) Aggressive looking
3.) Bad edge-retention steels
4.) Most frn type material(besides G-10) just feels cheap on most knives. But this dislike can be ignored if getting something i return for cheap handle feel.
5.) Knives with only tip down options, I prefer tip up but will sometime use tip down.





I have around 300$ to spend, so please any suggestions on some good EDC-able knives would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance everyone.
 
If you like blue, definitely throw the Sage 3 in the mix. Smaller than the PM2, buttery smooth, good steel, g10, and a solid bolt lock.

Another idea----pick up a g-10 dragonfly. Carry both your PM2 and dragonfly. That way you have a smaller but very capable knife for the sheeple and the PM2 for larger tasks and self defense.(I always carry my dragonfly for this exact reason with other spydies of course)
 
The sage 3 looks nice, but the lock seems alot like the Manix's lock, which I didn't care for. Also I'm not a big fan of carrying two knives at once.
 
How about the Sage 4? Avoid the locks you don't like and get a very handsome gentleman's knife. It seems like handsome, wood handles knives don't raise people's bloodpressure quite so much during use.
 
It is the Delica 4 FFG(it has the most EDC time out of my 3 spydies). I would also look at the Native 5.
 
Billy12241 said:
The sage 3 looks nice, but the lock seems alot like the Manix's lock, which I didn't care for. Also I'm not a big fan of carrying two knives at once.
Click to expand...

In that case, check out the Native 5 G10. If you didn't mind a liner lock, the Sage 1 would be a good solution, but it sounds like Liners aren't to your liking.

I love the Gayle Bradley, but it definitely is a larger folder and might intimidate sheeple even though it is way sexy.

Heck, for your price range you could even throw a CF Stretch zdp-189 in to the mix....
 
I suggest a Sage 1 or 2. They are both classy but at the same time strong and tough enough for any edc task. The liner lock on the Sage 1 is phenomenal and the best I've seen in a mass produced folder. It feels rock solid and smooth at the same time. There is absolutely zero play in my Sage 1 and the two Sage 2's I previously owned were also rock solid.
 
Sage 4 as stated above or even some of the other sages. thats seems to be the most handsome and wouldn't cause attention. I want one myself. Otherwise, can't beat the PM2 overall
 
Have you considered the Caly 3.5? Good size blade and enough handle for even the largest hands. Low rider wire clip for discreet tip up carry. Thin, light, and relatively narrow, so it doesn't clog up your pocket. Excellent edge geometry, one of Spyderco's best slicers. Relatively innocuous and unlikely to cause the faint hearted to suffer involuntary incontinence.
 
One of my very favorite all time EDC Spyders unfortunately is not available new anymore. It is the Caly Jr with the ZDP-189 blade. Now they do have a Delica model with a ZDP-189 blade which I also like. Now if your state or municipality allows you a longer blade then I would highly recommend the ZDP-189 Endura.

Currently I've personally gone the fantasy route by buying an extra Massad Ayoob model with the G-10 handle for my newest EDC. It has a VG-10 blade that is ergonomically styled for everyday work and is also truly a self defense dream. I need the extra self defense capability because I'm currently in a rough area of Kansas City, Missouri USA and the crime rate here is pretty high.

For practicality I don't think you can beat either the Delica or Endura with the ZDP-189 blades. But if you do indeed want something with great self defense potential then by all means take a look at the C-60 Massad Ayoob model. There are a few of them still on dealer's shelves and the Spyderco Factory Store still has 4 the last time I checked. Hey let us know what you ended up with and how it's working for you :)
 
I really like the Dragonfly 2 with ZDP-189 blade. I just picked up a Caly Jr. and it is REALLY nice too. Also, take a look at the Lum Chinese Folder. It is gorgeous.
 
one I think is great is the CF Caly 3. Very sharp slices great the lines don't bother me. also older model is Tim Wegner JR in ATS-34.
 
+1 for the delica 4 ffg, I have a bunch of expensive spydies but I seem to carry the delica most often. Just a perfect edc
 
i'd say carbon fiber stretch.

it's a pain this one is discontinued, it was really a great knife, superb F&F, very thin but feels soid in the hand, great slicer and great blade length/profile/geometry.

perhaps a hair too wide in the pocket if i had to find something negative to say.

i've customised mine, sanded the CF scales to show the CF, rounded them a bit and etched the blade in acid to give it an "antiqued" look. some day i'll get a new one to keep pristine.
 
+1 for the Delica ... it's just a perfect EDC design... and to be honest, if it came down to it, it would prolly make a bad guy run away.
 
Caly3.5.
3.5" FFG VG10 leaf shape blade. Ground thin behind the edge, which makes it an excellent slicer. Mine measures about .018". Fantastic ergos. Fairly thin and small handle, which makes it small in the pocket, but sufficient for my large hand. I also love low riding wire clip. I carry this knife for more than a year and I think that it will be difficult to find something better at this time.
 
I literally went through this exact same dilemma just last week and ended up with a sage 2 and absolutely love it. My prior edc being a pm2 and a g10 dfly combo,i wanted something a little more people friendly than the pm2 while maintaining much of the utility. So far the sage 2 (or any of the sage series for that matter) seems to fit the bill quite nicely.
 
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