Best Spyderco 3" or Less, Plain Edge, Liner Lock?

CCMI

CCMI

Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
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Hello all. I glance in here occassionally, but don't normally post.

Forgive me if this type of thread comes up all the time, but I did a quick search and came up dry. I'm new to Spyderco's so I'm hoping you guys can help me find the perfect one (for me). It's not that I don't like any of 'em, just that all the ones I like are over 3" - too many cities around me (including where I work) limit blade length to 3" :( If it wasn't for that I'd just get a Para 2 and call it a day

Title pretty much says it all. I'm looking for:
- Must be 3" or less
- Must be plain edge
- Prefer liner lock
- Prefer ~$100 or less
- Prefer an upgraded steel (VG10, S30V, etc...)

Does such a thing exist???

Models I like that don't quite fit would be Paramilitary 2 (blade length), Native Lightweight (lock), Native5 (cost), Paramilitary 1 (discontinued/ current cost from what I've seen).

Thanks for any help.
 
Although you could probably find this cheaper than $115 the Sage 1 is well worth the extra coin. S30V and carbon-fiber handle scales.
 
Check out the Spy Fox Spyderco collaboration. The Sage 1 may be the only readily available knife that meets your criteria. The Chicago might but not always easy to find. I have seen the Sage 1 below $100 a few times.
 
If you allow backlocks the Delica would fit the bill perfectly. And spyderco does the backlock right, really easy to use one handed, especially on the smaller knives.

Then there's the Persistence, but it doesn't have the "upgraded steel" that you mentioned, though the steel is just fine.
 
I'd say ditch the liner lock and get either a Delica or a Native. Both are backlocks, but Spyderco really does do the backlock right. Solid lockup, boye dent, easy to operate one handed. That's my recommendation. If you don't mind me asking, why don't you like backlocks?
 
Thanks for all the responses guys.

No real reason for prefering liner/ frame lock, I guess I've just had some back locks that didn't impress me. Glad to hear Spyderco does them well. I think I might try one since the price seems to be quite a bit less than the liner lock models.

As for steel I'm really not a snob, my edc now is either AUS 8 or a SAK and I've got no complaints. I'm just wanting to try a "premium steel".

Question about the carbon fiber on the Sage 1, is it smooth or textured?
 
Sage 1 is slightly textured. It is a fine knife, I just didn't dig the blade shape and I'm not a fan of carbon fiber.

Though Spyderco does a good backlock, I still don't like them. The Native 5 is the only one I really can stand. It's an impressive knife. I tried going to backlock, but I've returned every one (except the Native).

"Premium" steel IMO is overhyped. I've tried S30V, S35VN, and VG10. All are good. I was just as satisfied with 8Cr13Mov and 440C. I have a sharpening fetish too so my blade is always getting touched up.

I have a S30V Cat in route that I plan on Frankensteining with my G10 Cat. G10 scales with the S30V blade. And before I sound like a hypocrite, it's for the jimping. Had the 440C come with jimping I would have been completely satisfied. Superficial and expensive, but I like what I like. This combo will likely remove the Native 5 from my main EDC. With the exception of Taiwan, it is my perfect EDC. Small blade, liner lock, choil, G10. I'm also very fond of the wire clip. I'll likely polish the Taiwan off so I have a mirror polish on at least one side. It's really nice to have a mirror with you.
 
As others have said, Sage 1 fits your criteria and is an awesome knife, especially for the price. I happen to be selling one NIB. Check out my signature.
 
regarding back locks, it's not hard to imagine its weaknesses and limitations. it prevents closing by having a flexible sliver of metal hook its end to a notch on the tang. so you have a rather small bearing area for both parts that can fail when sufficient transverse force is applied. the metal lock can be flexed with force and cause it to release its hook on the tang. also, dirt can fill the tang notch and cause an incomplete engagement. more than 10 years ago, lyn thompson already demonstrated how nearly all (no, make that ALL) back locks in the market will fail when struck with sufficient force on the blade spine with a hammer or steel bar. but for that matter, even their own tri-ad locks eventually failed.

notwithstanding inherent weaknesses, all one needs from a good lock back is reliable locking and sufficient resistance to (modest) pressure against the spine. just keep it clean and don't abuse it. even framelocks and liners will yield to abuse.

lastly, i've seen flimsier liner locks (on expensive knives) that could slip or fail much faster than a lockback. why oh why do many liners and frames butt only against a small part of the tang's thickness instead of fully butting the entire thickness? looks like a slip waiting to happen.
 
Any lock will fail given the right (or wrong as the case may be) misuse. Hammering on the spine of a folder is pretty dumb. That having been said, I trust Spyderco's backlocks to perform in the way I need them to without failing, and they're much easier to operate for me as they're ambidextrous, as am I. Most other lock types are either difficult to operate (ie, the compression lock...love the design but it's awkward to use with my left hand...no problems with my right) or more dangerous to operate with my left hand. With backlocks, I don't have this problem. I guess I'm partial to them because my first decent knife was a 1st Gen Native though, so take that for what it's worth.

Anyhow, I'm a huge fan of the Native, and as far as 3" blades are concerned, they rank very highly on my list of top choices. The Ergo's are outstanding (they almost feel like they were made for my hand)...the only complaint I have about them is the grind on the lightweight ones, but even then it's a pretty minor complaint.
 
i'm a huge fan of the delica and it's the most delica-looking knife i've ever seen. that's what i like about it. call me 10% gay but i like thin, delicate things and relative lock strength is a bit far from my considerations.

when i'm looking for a tank disguised as a folding knfe, that's when the testosterone starts pumping.
 
You Can Call Me 150% Gay.

Anyways.

Spyderco Sage 1 - Textured CF - s30v - Liner Lock - $95 On Amazon
Spyderco Chaparral - CF - s30v - Back Lock - Around $100?
Spyderco Delica 4 - Great Knife - Back Lock - Around $50 - $60
Spyderco Native - EXCELLENT - s30v - But It's A Back Lock - $50
Spyderco Cat - Good Knife - 440C - Liner Lock - $45
Spyderco Chicago - Good Knife - 440C - Liner Lock - $40
Spyderco Persistence - Beast Of A Little Knife - 8cr13mov - Great User - $27ish

Or Look At A Native 5? You Can Pick One Up On The Exchange For Around $100.
 
For EDC, the Sage 1 is a great choice as are most of the Spyderco knives (Delica, Centofante, Tenacious, etc) around or under $100.
I have several Lum Chinese and would not recommend it as an EDC (although it will work) because the ergos are somewhat sacrificed to aesthetics.

If you prefer smaller knives, the Dragonfly is hard to beat. A little larger and the Caly 3.5 VG-10 would be my choice for lightweight carry, or for a little tougher knife, the Para 2.
 
willydigger said:
I have a S30V Cat in route that I plan on Frankensteining with my G10 Cat. G10 scales with the S30V blade. And before I sound like a hypocrite, it's for the jimping. Had the 440C come with jimping I would have been completely satisfied. Superficial and expensive, but I like what I like.
Click to expand...

Amen, brother. I'm one of the fans of the original who was delighted to get the Cat back.
I just don't get the lack of jimping -- a major disappointment in one of my favorite designs.
 
I finally found a Carbon Fiber S30V Cat to disassemble and mod with the G10 scales of the newer 440C Cat. I went ahead and polished the liners, clip, hardware, and to a lesser extent the blade itself. It turned out pretty sweet.

IMAG0715.jpg
 
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