EDC Spyderco help

Centermass said:
Ah, the old what knife is going to be best for me question. First, you have to be honest with yourself about just how much you’re going to be using that particular knife and for what tasks, how much you’re willing to spend in the cool vs. practical debate.... and quite honestly, that you’re not going to fall into the trap of wanting to own, or at least try, every knife there is out there like the rest of us. The quest truly is never ending. That said, I think we can all agree there’s never been one knife to rule them all, as evidenced by this very forum.

That said, if you’re looking for a “first”, Spyderco, having carried a folding knife of some ilk for over 30 years, I gotta say Spyderco’s VG10, while not the newest bestest super steel, is still pretty darn good for EDC, and a great value. It takes a keen edge, has been very rust resistant in my experience over several models, and is really easy to bring back when (notice I did not say “if”) you dull it with use. All blades are going to require maintenance and sharpening with use. If you’re not experienced or willing to get real patient with sharpening, it’s very easy to manage VG10 with basic stones, where many of the harder steels certainly are not.

It’s certainly not in the “upper echelon” in the steel game anymore, but I’ve personally never felt VG10 inadequate for my everyday needs. Heck, I remember as a younger lad when It came out and it was the shizz. Have technologies and formulations improved since then? Sure. Yet, general everyday cutting tasks really haven’t, at least in my estimation, but you could be needing to fillet cinder blocks for all I know.

I have many knives of many brands and steels, but still carry my über basic VG10 Endura FFG quite a bit, especially if I’m outdoorsing it. It’s light, thin, with a large blade for its slim package, and it’s pretty versatile. Due to its reasonable cost, I don’t worry too much about beating it up, wet environments, or losing it.

I think VG10 will serve you perfectly well in whatever model you choose, if you’re just looking to feel out the Spyderco game, without frustrating you at the sharpening bench or the bank. If you like the brand ergos and manufacture and end up needing something more robust, move on up. They’ve got plenty of great models with all kinds of options to choose from.
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I have a work sharp Ken Onion model and a few atoma plates. Plus a few shaptons, pros and a couple of glass stones...
 
Awesome. Then really the sharpening aspect probably isn’t even a consideration or worry for you.

Again without knowing your level or needs of use, it’s really hard to say what’ll work best for you. Personally, I love m390 for all of the qualities it possesses, but there’s little a Spyderco in VG10 or S30v hasn’t been able to do for me any better or worse on a regular day to day basis, and they’re a lot easier for me to sharpen than M390 when I gotta.
 
As has likely been mentioned, blade shape is more important than blade steel. Full flat grinds allow for excellent slicing, and blades with flats will offer more lateral strength.

I would say you’re unlikely to make a poor choice in the blade steel department, outside of potentially getting a knife that is insufficiently stainless for your climate. S35VN, CTS-XHP, VG-10, and S30V are pretty common in their current lineup. None should prove disappointing.

Their other steels are often chosen with steel nerds in mind (ZDP189, M4) or are for specific applications/conditions (H1, LC200N) and are the kinds of steels that you’ll likely already know to be looking for if you’re in the market for a blade with those properties.

Basically, pick one that looks like it has the best shape and size for you. The blade steel isn’t that much of a consideration, given that Spyderco uses premium materials already and knows how to heat treat them to bring out the best qualities.
 
Razor_Ramone said:
Hi, I'm interested in a Spyderco folder for EDC. I was searching knifeworks and they use 31 different types of steel, is there one in particular I should look for or stay away from? I was thinking ZDP 189 because it's very hard, but does it chip easily? Their H1 won't corrode but is it good as far as edge holding? Basically, what in your opinion is Spyderco's best steel for a EDC folder if the criteria is taking and holding a very sharp edge without being prone to chipping or corrosion?
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As you can tell, Spyderco has way too many options to just ask “What’s a good EDC?” Like @Colorodo said, help us narrow it down a bit. What size are you looking for? Do you have a preference or distaste for certain lock types? What’s your budget?
 
blades&wrenches said:
As you can tell, Spyderco has way too many options to just ask “What’s a good EDC?” Like @Colorodo said, help us narrow it down a bit. What size are you looking for? Do you have a preference or distaste for certain lock types? What’s your budget?
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I would prefer a G10 handle but it's not a necessity, also being able to open and close it with one hand is a huge plus. As for price I'd like to stay under $200, or at least not go much over.
 
Im a big fan of the Native 5, especially the linerless G10 variants. To echo what others have said, I’ve never been disappointed with Spyderco’s S30V. The LW versions are also very nice and less expensive.
Para 3s and PM2s are also a very popular choice and have a greater fidget factor. I’m personally not a fan of the compression lock though.
 
Razor_Ramone said:
I would prefer a G10 handle but it's not a necessity, also being able to open and close it with one hand is a huge plus. As for price I'd like to stay under $200, or at least not go much over.
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With those parameters, I’d look at the Military, PM2, PM3. You can’t really go wrong with any Spyderco IMO. Happy hunting, and let us know what you decide on.
 
Razor_Ramone said:
I would prefer a G10 handle but it's not a necessity, also being able to open and close it with one hand is a huge plus. As for price I'd like to stay under $200, or at least not go much over.
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PM 2 or G10 Para 3 might fit the bill. Both are also easy to open and close one-handed. Then again, every Spyderco I've ever owned has been easy to open and close one-handed, except maybe my original Ladybug. Some people think that lockbacks are hard to one-hand close, which I've never understood. With Spyderco lockbacks, if you know how to do it safely, you can one-hand close it as easily as a liner lock, frame lock, or compression lock.

Jim
 
Get a Para 3 lightweight. The BD1N steel is good, the action is great and it’s $90 so you’ll use it.
 
Spyderco does S30V very well and I think it makes a great EDC.
My son’s S35VN Native 5 LW has been really good too, but I don’t think there’s much of it in Spyderco’s regular production right now.

Their VG10 is great also.

I’m not a huge S110V fan, as for me it’s been tough to sharpen (but I believe the hype about it holding a working edge for a long, long time).

I have a Spyderco in 204p and it’s been very, very good, so I assume the same is true of their M390 & 20CV.

I have a Spydiechef (LC200N) and love that the knife is essentially corrosion proof. I really haven’t used it hard enough to form a sound personal opinion about its other properties.

All that said, Spyderco’s XHP is probably my favorite. Edge maintenance has been easy and it seems to get crazy sharp. It holds an edge well, has been tough enough for my uses, and doesn’t seem particularly prone to corrosion. The fact that XHP isn’t ubiquitous in the knife world probably adds to its appeal. I would love to see more of it in their catalogue.
 
I really like spyderco’s m4 and hap 40 models. The hap40 ones come clad in stainless. Other than that, s30v is a pretty good steel too. When I was cutting a lot of cardboard for work I noticed that the least wear resistant steel I was happy with was s30v. It was a sharpen every couple of weeks steel where vg10 was weekly and saks were daily. Hap40 and m4 are monthly, to put it in perspective.
 
Spyderco makes superb knives. Many of the higher-end steels they offer -- S30V>S110V have very high carbide content and that means you need diamond hones (or else a LOT of free time) to sharpen. VG-10 is an excellent steel but is easier to sharpen. Check out Spyderco's catalogue (available on-line) as it contains a good deal of excellent information on steels in general. My current EDC is a Native 5 in S35Vn.
 
Spyderco Salt 2

Delica handle ergonomics, H1 rustproof / maintenance free steel, super lightweight, serrated blade stays sharp for an eternity, will cut anything!
 
I found a delica 4 limited edition, it has a laminated hap40 ffg blade and skeletonized stainless steel liners with carbon fiber scales for $140 that I like. Can any of the members here that carry shiny carbon fiber scales tell me how they hold up riding in your pocket all day, my concern is the finish will wear quickly on corners/ edges and take away from the appearance or even start to splinter?
 
Razor_Ramone said:
I found a delica 4 limited edition, it has a laminated hap40 ffg blade and skeletonized stainless steel liners with carbon fiber scales for $140 that I like. Can any of the members here that carry shiny carbon fiber scales tell me how they hold up riding in your pocket all day, my concern is the finish will wear quickly on corners/ edges and take away from the appearance or even start to splinter?
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I have a carbon fiber Spyderco Positron which has received regular clipped pocket carry for about three years now and it is still beautiful. It is a Taichung product instead of a Seki-City product like the Delica, but I bet that the carbon fiber Delica would hold up as well. If you use the pocket clip the Delica will not be in contact with the other contents of your pocket and you will barely noticed it on your inside back seam of a front pocket. I have a 10 - 11 year old FRN Delica that I took the clip off of and it spent eight years tumbling in my pocket with coins and keys. It still looks good, but a ordered a new clip for it just a couple of months back. If you intend to carry without the clip an FRN version may be a better option. Anyway, if the carbon fiber on the Delica were to start to splinter I'm sure you could send it to Spyderco in Golden and they would make it right. I love the Delica, I like HAP 40, and think that would make a very nice EDC knife.
 
Alright, I've been doing quite a bit of research this weekend and I'm really liking the paramilitary 3 in maxamet or possibly the paramilitary 2. Is there anything bad about them other than being prone to corrosion?
 
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