Endura 4

HowAmI

HowAmI

Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
296
So I'm looking into the Endura 4 platform (ZDP and HAP 40/SUS 410) and was wondering if you Spyderco fanboys could tell me how you like it.

How well does it fit in a small sized hand with long slender fingers?
How well does it fit in a 'medium' sized hand?
How are the ergos?
How's the action?

Also post pics if you can.
 
I have medium hands with fairly slender fingers. I'm a mechanic so strong hands that use tools everyday.
I have the Endura 4 , green handle with ZDP-189.
Don't cut wire ties the edge will chip a little bit.
Other than that I totally LOVE the handle shape, I like slender handles like this, the blade shape is perfection, the length is extremely useful for me.

Your long fingers may not care for a slender handle. I don't know. Best to go to a brick and morter store and feel the handle for yourself.
 
HowAmI said:
How's the action?
Click to expand...

For a lock back it could not be better ! ! !
Meaning the lock release is easy enough to release one handed and then the blade easily drops and I can then close the knife with the same hand. GOOD STUFF.
 
Wowbagger said:
For a lock back it could not be better ! ! !
Meaning the lock release is easy enough to release one handed and then the blade easily drops and I can then close the knife with the same hand. GOOD STUFF.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Does it break in quickly for a lockback?
 
HowAmI said:
Does it break in quickly for a lockback?
Click to expand...
Well put it this way. I don't flip for hundreds of reps to "break in " any of my knives. In the old days they said you needed to break in an auto engine before driving it hard or running long distance at constant engine speed. Now due to BETTER MORE PRECISE MACHINING AND MANUFACTURING and better materials this is unnecessary you just drive it.
I personally feel a machine if made and adjusted well can just be used. That it shouldn't work like crap when you first get it in the hopes that one day it might perform as advertised.
I have heard there are air guns where that is the exception.
I don't know anything about air guns.

Good (well made) knives should just work. I know it can happen. My Spyderco Endura 4 was one of them. My Ritter Grip from Benchmade was another, my Spyderco Gayle Bradley One.
there are others.

Let me give you a comparison though. This is a knife that I have a lot of respect for and really enjoy. The Cold Steel Voyager; the little one.
The lock back was so difficult to use when I got it. I finally took one of those handy trigger clamps, I don't know what you call them . . . looks like this
https://www.zoro.com/irwin-industrial-tool-co-bar-clamp-12-cap-3-14-throat-depth-1964718/i/G5478490/

I took one of those clamps and a round rubber coated thing and clamped the lock release down past where one could possibly squeeze it using ones thumb. I did this repeatedly over a few days and finally got the lock release to work with less force required.

Is that break in ? ? ? I think I just bent the spring down to lessen the spring rate.

I didn't have to do that on the Endura 4, it just worked right out of the box.

If I have a knife that doesn't drop, I don't flip it hundreds of times I loosen the pivot a skosh and or lube it and or other wise adjust the knife. If the pivot gets too lose I tighten the pivot.
 
IMO It takes a little use for it to fall shut when you depress the bar. Other than that its great out of the box.
 
My experience with a zdp endura is, don't try to abuse zdp 189. it's very chippy. but as a slicing steel it's probably the best there is. among my bad experiences:

1. i tried to cut plastic coated ties and it chipped the edge (sharpened at around 10 degrees per side).
2. fully ruined the upper quarter of the edge during a road trip when i had to open a bunch of canned foods. no one brought a can opener and i was the only fool with a knife.
3. cut plastic coated corrugated board. this thing dulls a blade faster than anything i know. the plastic will coat the edge to full dullness

with regard to ergos, it's ok for someone with small hands like me, good space to maneuver. big hands also like it.
 
The Endura is one of my favorite knives (sort of the answer to the 110). However, I have catcher's mitt hands. I prefer the VG-10 over the ZDP-189 because it is more corrosion resistant and it is far easier to sharpen. It also is not as chip prone. (This is not to say that I don't like ZDP-189, because I do) If you can find one I think the HAP-40 version would be nice. But, I would get one in your favorite color and try it out. Mine worked fine as I got it, but it is far smoother now that I have used it a lot. The tolerances are pretty tight.
 
Wowbagger said:
Well put it this way. I don't flip for hundreds of reps to "break in " any of my knives. In the old days they said you needed to break in an auto engine before driving it hard or running long distance at constant engine speed. Now due to BETTER MORE PRECISE MACHINING AND MANUFACTURING and better materials this is unnecessary you just drive it.
I personally feel a machine if made and adjusted well can just be used. That it shouldn't work like crap when you first get it in the hopes that one day it might perform as advertised.
I have heard there are air guns where that is the exception.
I don't know anything about air guns.

Good (well made) knives should just work. I know it can happen. My Spyderco Endura 4 was one of them. My Ritter Grip from Benchmade was another, my Spyderco Gayle Bradley One.
there are others.

Let me give you a comparison though. This is a knife that I have a lot of respect for and really enjoy. The Cold Steel Voyager; the little one.
The lock back was so difficult to use when I got it. I finally took one of those handy trigger clamps, I don't know what you call them . . . looks like this
https://www.zoro.com/irwin-industrial-tool-co-bar-clamp-12-cap-3-14-throat-depth-1964718/i/G5478490/

I took one of those clamps and a round rubber coated thing and clamped the lock release down past where one could possibly squeeze it using ones thumb. I did this repeatedly over a few days and finally got the lock release to work with less force required.

Is that break in ? ? ? I think I just bent the spring down to lessen the spring rate.

I didn't have to do that on the Endura 4, it just worked right out of the box.

If I have a knife that doesn't drop, I don't flip it hundreds of times I loosen the pivot a skosh and or lube it and or other wise adjust the knife. If the pivot gets too lose I tighten the pivot.
Click to expand...
Cold Steel is known for having an extra stiff spring. I even bought a user Broken Skull here on BF and even then it was hard to use. The knife was definitely a user as it was filthy along with having plenty of dead skill cells.
 
hank_rearden said:
My experience with a zdp endura is, don't try to abuse zdp 189. it's very chippy. but as a slicing steel it's probably the best there is. among my bad experiences:

1. i tried to cut plastic coated ties and it chipped the edge (sharpened at around 10 degrees per side).
2. fully ruined the upper quarter of the edge during a road trip when i had to open a bunch of canned foods. no one brought a can opener and i was the only fool with a knife.
3. cut plastic coated corrugated board. this thing dulls a blade faster than anything i know. the plastic will coat the edge to full dullness

with regard to ergos, it's ok for someone with small hands like me, good space to maneuver. big hands also like it.
Click to expand...
1. 20 Inclusive is fairly thin... Most people are at 30 - 40 inclusive so that's why it's so chippy.
2. I would never open a tin can with a knife. But then again I don't camp, or hike.

Thanks. I'm sure since it's FRN I could just sand the groove to make it like a banana grip.
 
Wowbagger said:
I have medium hands with fairly slender fingers. I'm a mechanic so strong hands that use tools everyday.
I have the Endura 4 , green handle with ZDP-189.
Don't cut wire ties the edge will chip a little bit.
Other than that I totally LOVE the handle shape, I like slender handles like this, the blade shape is perfection, the length is extremely useful for me.

Your long fingers may not care for a slender handle. I don't know. Best to go to a brick and morter store and feel the handle for yourself.
Click to expand...
Sadly the only 'brick and motar' stores here are gun stores and they only carry Kerhsaw CRKT type of knives. The same knives found in Wal-Mart.
 
Best knife for its price.
14524500_1111604498931199_9037611199739306229_o.jpg
 
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