Best spyderco slicer

D

D.C.Johnson

Joined
Nov 23, 2012
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Looking into adding another spydie to the collection and was wondering what you guys fee would be the better slicer out of the ones I'm looking at.

Currently the super blue stretch, elmax pm2, zdp caly 3.5, and ukpk have my attention.

I have had pm2, enduras, and a southard in the past. All were great, but I want a model that is scalpel sharp.

Any suggestions are welcome
 
Huummm. The shape of the Stretch seems like it wouldn't lend itself to delicate slicing, but I have not tried yet. I would vote Caly or PM2.
 
The SuperBlue Stretch is a great slicer. The Chaparral has 0.5mm thinner blade stock yet (2mm) and would probably be your best bet as a result (I also think the Centofante 3 and 4 also have 2mm stock). The Caly 3.5 and Domino also have 2.5 mm blade stock, though the taller blade of the Domino causes the angle of the grind to be slightly more acute so it's probably very slightly better. One other model to consider is the Chokwe...the distal blade taper causes it to become very narrow near the tip and it's a fantastic slicer. And you can never go wrong adding another PM2 to the collection...the blade geometry on the PM2 and Military is spot on and causes them to be better slicers than I'd have expected just looking at them. I guess the short winded version is this: You have options, and it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
 
Just about any Spyderco with a FFG slices good. I have a Centofante that I keep in the kitchen. I've used the Domino on occasion for slicing.
I find that Spyderco's VG10 steel gets scary sharp, and that's done on my Lansky. I haven't sharpened the Domino yet, it came sharp
 
My EDC is a UK Pen Knife. Probably the most used Spyder in my collection....


Typical EDC's for the summer...
 
image.jpgimage.jpgCheck out the Ulize. Sharpest knife I've ever purchased, hands down. From cheapies to a handful of mid techs, 60 or so overall.

Thin, long bladed, and has made more holes in my T-shirts wiping off the blade than any other knife, bar none.

Tap the photos to enlarge.
 
I can get a sharper edge on XHP than I can on S30V, but not as sharp as I can get VG10...it seems to be sort of in between the two, but closer to S30V (Take my observations with a grain of salt as I'm far from a sharpening guru). I can't get any of the above as scary sharp as I can get SuperBlue though...it has such a fine grain structure and being non stainless it takes a lot less effort to sharpen it.

Edit: Took too long writing this evidently...as mentioned in the above post, the Ulize is well worth a look if it's not too big for you to carry. It's not very tall, and carries a LOT nicer than most knives of similar size. I can't vouch for the UKPK as I don't like knives that don't lock, but it's going to be on par with a Caly 3 (And 3.5) because they're so similar.
 
Thanks for the responses.
The ulize is actually what got me in the mood for another spydie so its funny you mention it. I currently edc an emerson commander, and the ulize looks to be a nice replacement. Gotta love recurves

I may have to give super blue a try first though since it seems to be getting rockstar reviews all around.
 
You gotta have at least one SuperBlue in your collection. It won't hold an edge as long as a vanadium rich high wear steel if you're cutting abrasive materials like cardboard, but it will take a finer edge and hold it very well cutting through less abrasive mediums. It also has great apex stability at low angles, and that combined with the exceptionally fine grain structure makes it really give a new meaning to the term "Silly sharp". It also patinas well...I have it in a Ladybug, a Stretch, and most recently a Dragonfly...I then proceeded to swap the SuperBlue Dragonfly blade into a G10 Dragonfly in place of the VG10 blade to make the "Ultimate" Dragonfly. I'm hoping Spyderco will give us something in the Japanese White carbon steels to go with the Blue.

 
Caly 3.5, Military, Centofante 3, latest Goddard sprint. If you are really after optimum slicing, get a knife re-ground.
 
I love my Stretch, but Moki tends to grind their knives thinner behind the edge than any of Spyderco's other makers so, of the ones you mentioned in your first post, the Caly 3.5 would be hard to beat for sheer slicing ability.
 
I think the ultimate slicer/scalpel Spyderco makes is the Nilakka, but I don't have one.

I have variants of all the models in the original post though, and agree with the Deacon that the Caly is probably the best bet out of the box. My Caly 3.5 in Super Blue is ground pretty thin and came extremely sharp.
 
The Caly 3.5 in ZDP is an awesome slicer. The Super Blue version is amazing as well. I prefer these over the VG10 version, but that's great, too.
 
Apophis said:
I think the ultimate slicer/scalpel Spyderco makes is the Nilakka, but I don't have one.

I have variants of all the models in the original post though, and agree with the Deacon that the Caly is probably the best bet out of the box. My Caly 3.5 in Super Blue is ground pretty thin and came extremely sharp.
Click to expand...

This. The Nilakka is on the extreme end of performance, basically as high as it can get being full height zero ground. However you sacrifice edge stability and damage comes much easier. Again this is on the extreme end of the spectrum.

I like the Spy-DK, and all the Caly's I have had were nice and thin. Delica's are nice as well. If you can still snag a Super Blue one I would go that route personally.
 
Steel130 said:
This. The Nilakka is on the extreme end of performance, basically as high as it can get being full height zero ground. However you sacrifice edge stability and damage comes much easier. Again this is on the extreme end of the spectrum.

I like the Spy-DK, and all the Caly's I have had were nice and thin. Delica's are nice as well. If you can still snag a Super Blue one I would go that route personally.
Click to expand...


I actually was looking at one last night, but as I understand it they are no longer true zero grinds, spyderco now puts a micro bevel. Not that it would break the deal for me, guess I'm just not fully warmed up to puukko knives yet.

I appreciate all the input. I will be picking up a super blue stretch from a fellow forum member and am looking forward to this steel.

Now to decide what kinda wicked edge to put on it.
 
I reach for my chaparral if I want a fine slicer, so that's the best one from my experience even though it's not in your list.
 
A Military is a darn good slicer, and especially so if you have to slice something larger in size.
4" of FFG blade with much distal taper to go through things.
 
Out of all of my spydies, past and present the UKPK slipit is my most useful.

Its a Spyderco but you don't have to deal with a lock. Supremely useful for just regular edc chores. It weighs nothing too! Last week a domino came in amazing slicer. I would have to say any of the ffg's that I've had including the made in China ones with an ffg were solid slicers. There are times when a good sabre grind is also useful as it creates a wedge of space in what you are cutting so that the blade doesn't get stuck.

uploadfromtaptalk1404311939404.jpg
 
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