Best Spyderco from a collectors point of view and also a heavy users point of view. 2 knives (I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT!)

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ThisIsMrX

ThisIsMrX

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I own a buncha knives but not a single spyderco. I'll be honest, I never liked the way they look. But recently, I've seen enough to change my mind. Help me find 2 knives.

One knife that will be a collector.
Knife should be reasonably attainable and not a 1 of 10 made in 2007. Something I can preferably buy new today.
Something:
Unique
Interesting
Good looking
Premium materials
etc.

For the hard user knives.
A knife you can use on hard rubbers, plastics, wood, occasional oopsie of knife blade contacting a staple or nail in wood or cardboard and doesn't need immediate sharpening. I obviously won't be using it as a screwdriver or prybar or splitting logs apart so a thin (but not small) blade is ok.
Something:
Slicy (no thick blades)
Really high hrc
Long blade, prefer 4" but not a deal breaker
Ergonomic in big hands
Don't care about looks

PLEASE INDICATE WHICH TIER YOUR SUGGESTION IS FOR, COLLECTOR or HARD USE

Thanks in advance everyone!!!
 
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I think Spydercos look really cool (almost all), but they are really about function and not pocket jewelry.

My favorite patterns are the Military, the Paramilitary 2, the Siren, and the Shaman. Pick a steel you like and buy these for everyday users.

MILITARY™ 2 BROWN G-10 CPM® 15V® SPRINT RUN® - Spyderco, Inc.

This elite Sprint Run™ expression of the Military™ 2 proudly showcases a blade crafted from CPM® 15V®, an extraordinary material that offers the highest wear resistance of any cold-work tool steel available today. Containing almost 15 p...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Shaman® Brown Burlap Micarta CPM S90V Exclusive - Spyderco, Inc.

This Exclusive limited-edition Spyderco Shaman™ was specially produced for Knife Center (knifecenter.com) and is available only through their sales channels. The satin-finished blade of this elite knife is crafted from Crucible® CPM® S90V&re...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Some of the more uncommon steels do become collectible like the 15V series, but a 15V blade is for using to me.

For a collector selection, this is much harder as I don’t think Spydies are really collectible compared to Great Eastern Cutlery for example. The most collectible seem to be the sprint runs of rare and cutting edge steels, and also a lot of the artsy Taiwan made knives are nice collectibles.

Stovepipe™ - Spyderco, Inc.

Inspired by custom knifemaker David Rydbom’s “Bill the Butcher” design, the Stovepipe blends dramatic style with serious performance. Its stout cleaver-shaped blade is crafted from 4mm (.157-inch) thick CPM® 20CV stainless steel and h...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Subvert™ - Spyderco, Inc.

Designed by Israeli goldsmith and custom knifemaker Nati Amor, the Spyderco Subvert faithfully translates all the key qualities of his handcrafted “Sabotage” design into a premium-quality production folder. Its dramatically styled blade is craf...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com
 
Elgatodeacero said:
I think Spydercos look really cool (almost all), but they are really about function and not pocket jewelry.

My favorite patterns are the Military, the Paramilitary 2, the Siren, and the Shaman. Pick a steel you like and buy these for everyday users.

MILITARY™ 2 BROWN G-10 CPM® 15V® SPRINT RUN® - Spyderco, Inc.

This elite Sprint Run™ expression of the Military™ 2 proudly showcases a blade crafted from CPM® 15V®, an extraordinary material that offers the highest wear resistance of any cold-work tool steel available today. Containing almost 15 p...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Shaman® Brown Burlap Micarta CPM S90V Exclusive - Spyderco, Inc.

This Exclusive limited-edition Spyderco Shaman™ was specially produced for Knife Center (knifecenter.com) and is available only through their sales channels. The satin-finished blade of this elite knife is crafted from Crucible® CPM® S90V&re...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Some of the more uncommon steels do become collectible like the 15V series, but a 15V blade is for using to me.

For a collector selection, this is much harder as I don’t think Spydies are really collectible compared to Great Eastern Cutlery for example. The most collectible seem to be the sprint runs of rare and cutting edge steels, and also a lot of the artsy Taiwan made knives are nice collectibles.

Stovepipe™ - Spyderco, Inc.

Inspired by custom knifemaker David Rydbom’s “Bill the Butcher” design, the Stovepipe blends dramatic style with serious performance. Its stout cleaver-shaped blade is crafted from 4mm (.157-inch) thick CPM® 20CV stainless steel and h...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

Subvert™ - Spyderco, Inc.

Designed by Israeli goldsmith and custom knifemaker Nati Amor, the Spyderco Subvert faithfully translates all the key qualities of his handcrafted “Sabotage” design into a premium-quality production folder. Its dramatically styled blade is craf...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com
Click to expand...
The stovepipe def looks like a collector piece, thank you!

As for heavy use, I keep hearing paramilitary 2 and 3, but that 3 is much smaller than 2.
As for the steel, I hear maxamet and Rex 121 is the go to for hard use knives?
Does para come in maxamet or 121? I prefer a 4" blade
 
For #2, to you literally describe the Military. Maybe in Rex 45 (high HRC) ?

For #1, so many to choose from … you need to be a bit more specific. I’d probably go for a Chinook 1 or a D/A modified Vallotton. But again, lots of cool knives out there.
 
ThisIsVickx said:
As for the steel, I hear maxamet and Rex 121 is the go to for hard use knives?
Does para come in maxamet or 121?
Click to expand...
Those steels are excellent for doing lots and lots of cutting. You need to understand they are only for cutting as they are not tough steels. Many people today use the term “hard use” to mean a knife that can take some abuse.
 
Nirvana or Paysan for collecting. Not easy to come by, but not impossible. The Valotton Sub-hilt and either of the Subverts are also collectible.

Hard use: Amalgam, Amalgam*, Military 1 or 2, Manix 2 and the XL are good starts.

*the Amalgam is much overlooked so I mentioned it twice. 😉
 
ferider said:
For #2, to you literally describe the Military. Maybe in Rex 45 (high HRC) ?
Click to expand...
Is Military bigger than paramilitary? What's the difference between them?
ferider said:
For #1, so many to choose from … you need to be a bit more specific. I’d probably go for a Chinook 1 or a D/A modified Vallotton. But again, lots of cool knives out there.
Click to expand...
I kind of was vague of purpose, different people like different things and I was hoping to get as many different suggestions to look up
 
SharpBits said:
Those steels are excellent for doing lots and lots of cutting. You need to understand they are only for cutting as they are not tough steels. Many people today use the term “hard use” to mean a knife that can take some abuse.
Click to expand...
Yeah mainly for cutting hard materials with the exception of accidentally hitting a nail or staple once in a rare while
 
Can’t help with the collectible, all my knives are users, so it’s just not my thing (plus, anything considered ‘collectible’ is usually well a pure my pay grade)

Good user? I personally love the Manix. Seems to check all of your boxes. Great slicer, strong lock, comes in all sorts of steels based on your budget, and fills the hand nice. Also comes in an XL which also has about a 4” blade.

(Ignore the Kershaw)

sU7iz9I.jpeg
 
PM2 Cru-Wear Micarta (aka "Cru-Carta"), and the Magnacut Manix LW for the hard user.

You'll have a good sampling of what Spyderco is all about in two quintessential models. You'll experience a compression lock, a ball cage lock, a lightweight model, great steels; all in a pair of highly ergonomic purpose-built cutting tools.
 
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Any of them will stand up to hard use, or be put away as a collector.

As others have said, some of the more "active" models, come in various steels.
 
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