Considering 1st Spydie, Have a Question or 2..

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all,

I have been thinking about buying my first Spyderco because of all the great things I hear from users. I have a Benchmade Mel Pardue right now that I am going to pass on to my nephew so I need a new daily carry knife.
I have been looking at the Police, Military, Endura and Delica. All are very nice from what it seems. There are so many options on the knives that it leaves one kinda wondering what way to go.

1. I have heard that the plain edge is the way to go from a few people. They cite the ease of re-sharpening and overall more practicality. I like the looks of the spydie edge and want to know if one edge does have an advantage over another? Does the spydie edge lose its edge quicker or is it less sharp than the plain?
2. Most of the knives I have listed have different handle options. I have seen the stainless handle, the carbon handle(police) and the other handle material that is black. Aside from the added weight of the steel handle, is there a benefit of one handle over the other? For instance, will the black plastic type handle(whatever it is) be less durable or weaker than the steel handle? Would you be better off buying a steel handle if you want your knife to remain tight and solid? Which handle choice makes the most sense?
3. Is there an advantage that the Military has over the Police?

I know that I asked a lot in those 2 statements but those are the things that are keeping me from buying one right now. I just cannot make a decision as to which one would make the best choice. In the end I will prolly buy 2 of them just to have different options. Unfortunately there are no places where I live that have any Spydies that I can even look at or handle.
So what advice would you all give a prospective new Spydie buyer/owner? I would appreciate hearing any advice or opinions on the questions posed above.
Thanks for the help and advice.
Sorry so long.

Nala
 
The spyderedge is pretty much like any decent serrated pattern-good for those who like them. Your choice between spyderedge and plain should be the same as your choice between serrated and plain for any other brand knife.

The endura, police, and millie are fairly large sized knives. If you aren't looking for SD application, I would go with a zytel handled delica, or the endura if you want something bigger. I personally am waiting for the paramilitary-smaller military with a compression lock. Oh yeah, I'm also waiting for the yojimbo, spyderfly, and passing the time by playing with my new PE spyderhawk and scorpius :D
 
I heartily recommend the Spyderedge blade. Its like entering a whole new world of cutting performance. The one drawback? You have to drop a couple of twentys on a Sharpmaker. Worth every single penny however. I just touched up my Native before I got online. Took less than five minutes and feels like it could split an atom.

The black plastic handle material you're talking about is FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon). It looks a little on the cheap side but its tough as nails. By using this material Spyderco is able to use premium blade steel while keeping the overall cost of the knife down. Don't overlook this material when selecting an EDC knife.

You can't go wrong with Spyderco, no matter what knife you end up choosing. Let us know what you decide.
 
First off, welcome to the Bladeforums/Spyderco forum. I'm sure that you will not find a place that is more informative on Spydies than this forum, except for the Spyderco "home" forum that is.

It is true that the PlainEdge blade is easier to sharpen than the SpyderEdge, however, (as has been suggested) the Spyderco Sharpmaker 204 can sharpen this edge type with ease. You can find the reasons why the SpyderEdge keeps its' edge longer at this link HERE. I figure that it would be easier for you to see the info on that link, than it would be for me to explain it for you. The choices in edge type basically come down to your requirements/preferences;
PlainEdge--great for everyday utility
SpyderEdge--excellent for tougher cutting chores.

As for handle materials, you have;

Stainless
Carbon Fiber
G10(usually black)
Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN)(black)

The material also depends on your own personal preference. If you prefer some weight to your knives, then Stainless is the way to go, although rather slippery when wet. Carbon Fiber is a tough material also(used in aircraft), that is much lighter than the Stainless.

G10 is "An epoxy filled woven "E" glass composite reinforced with glass fiber that gives exceptional strength and resistance to fractures in extreme temperatures." This is my personal favorite for handle material on my knives. Along with it being very strong and chemical resistant, it is also very lightweight and has an excellent grip even when wet(ala the Military).

Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon, or FRN, is "a nylon polymer mixed with glass fiber which can be injection molded into a handle." Very lightweight, but not weak by any means. Usually seen in lower end Spydies, FRN is used with higher end steels. Examples of this are the FRN Endura and Delica with VG10 steel.

While the FRN isn't as stout as Stainless, you WILL have solid lockup on ANY Spydie that you decide on buying....or Spyderco will repair/replace the knife at no cost to you(except for the shipping).

Finally, IMHO, the the MILITARY does have its' advantages over the POLICE;

Full flat ground blade
modified clip point, with plenty of belly for slicing
Linerlock is nested in the tough G10 handle, providing a very thin, lightweight handle.
enlarged Spydie Hole for ease of use with gloved hands
textured spine behind the Hole

I've had a couple of Police models and I just couldn't get used to the lack of belly on the blade. I suggest that you consider what you would want/need on the Spydie that you decide on for being your first. Good Luck and sorry for the long post. :D
 
First I have to say that IMO the Military is the best production knife out there.If you go with it the blade is large enough that a CE gives you enough of both to be useful.
 
There are situations that even the lovely serrations on the Spyderco can't do, but I can't remember the example.
I personally prefer PE, even though Spyderco's serrated knives are super sharp. It's just easier to have PE blades so that not everyone is gawking at me when I use it.
Don't forget to look at the Native.
 
Welcome aboard. I have a few spydies (not too many, only 17), in PE, CE and SE. My very EDC, heavily used and abused is a FRN VG-10 Delica in SE. I can't find enough words to praise the Delica. It is small, lightweight yet tough and comfortable. I never heard anyone to complain about a Delica so far. This makes me think that you won't complain either it you'll get one :)
 
I hope this question isn't an insult to you guys, but what do the capitol letters mean? I am a rank newbie and I don't know much about Spyderco knives and I am not down with the Spydie lingo yet.
I would like to now though.

Thanks again.
Nala
 
PE, CE, SE-plain, combo, and serrated/spyder edge

EDC-everyday cary

FRN-fiberglass reinforced nylon

standard knife lingo. We really need a knife knut acronym database. Maybe I'll start on one after I have a look at some BM, MT, EKC, CRK, CRKT, and BK&T blades :D
 
First thing - if you want something similar to the Pardue, the Military is probably your best bet. (not 100% up on my benchmade catalogue, but I believe the Pardue is a largish 3+ inch knife w/G-10 or aluminum handles. Someone correct me here....)

Second: G-10 is probably the most "premium" handle material. Strong with excellent grip. Carbon fiber is also strong, but can be slippery. I find FRN on the Delica and Endura handles to be very secure - though a bit more flexible than G10 or Carbon Fiber (if I squeeze really hard, I can flex a FRN handle just a little bit). Of all the handle materials, stainless steel feels the most solid, substantial, and well-built. Drawbacks are weight and slipperyness.

Of the knives you listed, they will all get the job done. Spyderco has great fit and finish on all of their knives, even the "low-end" models. I've got a 3 or 4 year old Delica in my pocket that still snaps open with authority, and has zero blade play. The Military has a premium blade steel (S30V) that seems to get rave reviews for sharpness, edge holding, and ability to be sharpened easily. (I have no personal S30V stories, maybe soon). If you add the Native to your list, it also uses the same steel.

My personal recommendation:
For everyday, light to medium-heavy use, get a Native. The handle ergonomics are good, and even better on the Native 3D. The original Native has the S30V blade, the Native 3D has a different kind of steel, VG10, that is still good but less expensive.
Second choice would be a Delica. It's a workhorse.


For heavy work, or if you just want a bigger knife, get a Military. Sounds like you'd be interested in serrations, so get a combo edge -part serrated, part plain.
If you'd like something a little easier on the wallet, the Endura is a second choice.
If you want something that feels really substantial, get a stainless-steel handled Endura or Police.
If you're looking for a tough working knife, the Lil Temperance and Chinook might be worth a look.
I'd personally stay away from the Carbon Fiber Police, but this is just my preference. I'd rather have something a bit grippier for the handle. Also, the polished carbon fiber shows surface scratches easily. It just doesn't say "tough working blade" to me, even though it's perfectly functional in that capacity.

If you're looking for a good mail-order dealer, I've had good relations with New Graham Pharmacy, which is relatively close to you. The Spyderco factory store, and Spyderco in general, has really good service, too.

Good luck, welcome to the forum, and let us know what you pick.
 
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