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First Spyderco knife - Gayle Bradley?

C

colemanje09

Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
624
Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to the forum and just wanted to get a little bit of input. I'm looking to buy my first Spyderco and have almost certainly decided on the Gayle Bradley. I have handled a PM2 and, while there is no doubt that it is an amazing knife, it just doesn't fit my hand. I was hoping to get a some advice from those who have owned or handled the GB. How do you like it? Any feedback is appreciated.

Just for reference, this is going to be an EDC knife for me. I have and regularly use a Kershaw Skyline and I like it, but want to upgrade. Thanks.

And if anyone has a GB up for sale. Let me know.
 
The GB is my favorite knife out of any I've ever owned. It's my edc and is just an all around amazing knife. I could go on for days about how great it is but I'm at work and on my phone so I wont. I gave away my BM810 contego in M390 after I got my GB because it wasn't seeing any use. I don't regret that decision at all. The gayle bradley is all the folder I need and then some. It's extremely hard use with what is in my opinion the best cutlery steel there is done perfectly. It's a slicing machine and it looks and feels good doing it. I cannot believe it only costs the amount it does. About as much as the PM2, which I owned for a bit before selling after I got my bradley also. The GB outperforms every other folding knife I've ever used and though I've never used a sebenza, given a choice to only own the GB or the seb I'd take the GB without blinking. It's that good. Get it you will not regret it I promise you that
 
Great! Thank you for all of the input. Keep it coming. Any downside to the GB that anyone has experienced?
 
The GB is relatively heavy for its size, makes it feel more solid. The lock bar is hard to disengage because it is hidden between the scales. This makes it harder to disengage under hard use but not so easy to use for EDC. To me the spyder hole could be larger. I have a GB and I carry it in my EDC rotation, but I prefer the Para2. You have to be willing to let the blade slowly patina or you have to take care of it a little more (mine still looks perfectly clean though.)
 
Its a solid knife with my favorite steel. When I got mine it quickly became a favorite. A few people think the liner lock is hard to get to but its designed that way. Shape fits my hand well. Mine will stay sharp with use for long time. Can't go wrong with the Gayle bradley its a bad dude.:)
 
colemanje09 said:
Great! Thank you for all of the input. Keep it coming. Any downside to the GB that anyone has experienced?
Click to expand...

GB is one of the nicest knives for the money that Spyderco makes. Since you asked if there were any downsides i will nitpick a little...

-The knife is relatively heavy. That didn't bother me but some will mind.
-it lacks a very fine tip like the pm2 or military. This did bother me but some won't mind.
- it is not very comfortable to carry iwb due to its handles' somewhat sharp corners.
-obviously m4 is not stainless. It's got decent corrosion resistance but it can show rust without some basic maintenance. I have multiple knives in m4 and live in front of the ocean and work on fish with them. Never had any problem but they need a wipe down from time to time.

Overall it is a wonderful knife. The lack of a fine tip was the only thing that really bothered me about it. I'm usually quick to modify a blade but I couldn't see any way of modding the gb blade without messing up the aesthetics so I let it go. I often think of replacing it.
 
This may be quite subjective, but for those than have something with the m4 steel and another knife with, say the s30v as on most PM2s, how does the M4 compare in reference to edge retention? It there any noticeable difference?

The more feedback I'm getting the more I'm leaning towards getting the GB. The liner lock hopefully will not be too bothersome and as for weight I would prefer something that feels a bit more sturdy, even if it is a couple of ounces heavier.

Thanks for the replies and I hope to hear even more. Positive and negative (if there is actually anything else bad that can be said)
 
And because I'm torn between the GB and PM2, for those of you that have owned both, if you could only have one which would you prefer?
 
GB is a knife that will last a lifetime, or two. I have big hands and the fit is great. The PM2 is a good knife, just not for me. I also like the Stretch with the Zdp-189 steel for an easy, lighter weight, but excellent cutting in my experience.

Tough call!
 
I've made up my mind. Going with the GB. Now here's the question. Before I go to Amazon to buy one, anyone have one they are willing to part with? Or know someone that is willing to part with theirs? Would rather buy from an individual.

And to everyone that provided input. Thank you. I really appreciate it.
 
they come up on the exchange every so often if you can wait to find one. I really wish I didnt get rid of mine, I will probly pick another one up soon. they can be a little tricky to disengage, but its not nearly as bad as some people say, it just takes a little to get used to.
 
colemanje09 said:
This may be quite subjective, but for those than have something with the m4 steel and another knife with, say the s30v as on most PM2s, how does the M4 compare in reference to edge retention? It there any noticeable difference?

The more feedback I'm getting the more I'm leaning towards getting the GB. The liner lock hopefully will not be too bothersome and as for weight I would prefer something that feels a bit more sturdy, even if it is a couple of ounces heavier.

Thanks for the replies and I hope to hear even more. Positive and negative (if there is actually anything else bad that can be said)
Click to expand...

The M4 will have better edge retention.
 
colemanje09 said:
This may be quite subjective, but for those than have something with the m4 steel and another knife with, say the s30v as on most PM2s, how does the M4 compare in reference to edge retention? It there any noticeable difference?

The more feedback I'm getting the more I'm leaning towards getting the GB. The liner lock hopefully will not be too bothersome and as for weight I would prefer something that feels a bit more sturdy, even if it is a couple of ounces heavier.

Thanks for the replies and I hope to hear even more. Positive and negative (if there is actually anything else bad that can be said)
Click to expand...
Like sg said, the M4 has better edge retention (and toughness, and basically everything besides corrosion resistance) than S30V. Imo it's not even in the same ballpark as s30v it's a step or 5 above lol. I don't mind the weight I actually like the feel of it as as far as sturdiness it's as sturdy as they come
 
M4 is also more stable at the edge, so if you want to experiment with lower bevel angles it will hold up better than S30V will (You can go lower (More acute) before seeing rolling or chipping).
 
Great. Thank you all for the help. Especially the info concerning the steel. I'll keep an eye open on the forum for one but I'm afraid I don't have the patience to wait for too long and will likely order one in the coming days. If anyone has one they're willing to part with just let me know. A new knife is a great way to start the new year. Happy near year to you all. And thank you again.
 
It's a great blade!! One of my favorites. Great steel, great ergo's, tough as nails!! I edc'd mine and loved it. I will have another one eventually
 
Surfingringo said:
GB is one of the nicest knives for the money that Spyderco makes. Since you asked if there were any downsides i will nitpick a little...

-The knife is relatively heavy. That didn't bother me but some will mind.
-it lacks a very fine tip like the pm2 or military. This did bother me but some won't mind.
- it is not very comfortable to carry iwb due to its handles' somewhat sharp corners.
-obviously m4 is not stainless. It's got decent corrosion resistance but it can show rust without some basic maintenance. I have multiple knives in m4 and live in front of the ocean and work on fish with them. Never had any problem but they need a wipe down from time to time.

Overall it is a wonderful knife. The lack of a fine tip was the only thing that really bothered me about it. I'm usually quick to modify a blade but I couldn't see any way of modding the gb blade without messing up the aesthetics so I let it go. I often think of replacing it.
Click to expand...

This was nearly my exact impression. I sold mine and changed it out for the Southard - which I really love and I know that Surfingringo did not. Funny how that goes...
 
If the PM2 doesn't fit your hand because it is too beefy then don't mess with the Gayle. I have a PM2 and it does fit my hand but the Manix and Gayle are just too beefy for me personally.
 
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