Flat ground 4" options

A

AustinOX

Joined
Dec 21, 2005
Messages
51
The catalog is a little overwhelming... I'm considering replacing my first gen Endura wave with something other than FRN. I'd like to stay in the 4" range- the Police model being a little too big.

My basic requirements are about 4", flat grind, plain edge, no FRN or slick stainless handles, readily available (no old sprint runs that can only be had for a 300% premium). VG-10 has served me pretty well, so I'm open to most steels.

What are some of my options in new and easy to find used models?
 
The two that come to mind right now are the Military and the current sprint run of the Calypso.
 
Besides what the others have said, there is also the Navaja (3.875 in) Shabaria (3.875 in), Resilience (4.25 in), Schempp Tuff (3.79 in) Chokwe (3.75 in) Rock Lobster (3.75 in and discontinued but some are available in the Exchange and from Spyderco) Starmate (3.75 in) Large Chinese Lum (3.75 in) and LionSpy (3.625 in).
 
if you are asking for 4" of flat ground awesomeness, clad in quality g10, then the only word you need to hear is Military.
 
The Military is one of the better designs made IMO.
There is no other G-10 FFG knife that matches the blade to weight ratio.
4.25 oz in G10, and 4oz in CF.
 
I was sold on the Calypso until I realized it was pinned. I think the Military is the front runner, but after looking at side-by-side photos with the Police it's not much smaller. I carry in my right rear pocket, so the slimmer Police might be more comfortable sitting.

The other two that don't meet my criteria but caught my eye while searching are the Gayle Bradley M4 and the Damascus runs... If the Endura Damascus had a belt clip I'd already have some other knives listed for sale.
 
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AustinOX said:
I was sold on the Calypso until I realized it was pinned. I think the Military is the front runner, but after looking at side-by-side photos with the Police it's not much smaller. I carry in my right rear pocket, so the slimmer Police might be more comfortable sitting.

The other two that don't meet my criteria but caught my eye while searching are the Gayle Bradley M4 and the Damascus runs... If the Endura Damascus had a belt clip I'd already have some other knives listed for sale.
Click to expand...

While the scales are pinned on the Calypso, the pivot is adjustable.
 
Ok, finally noticed that the Military is tip-down only. I played around with my Endura today and decided that tip-up is now on my list of requirements. I'd do a G10 Endura in a heartbeat, but I think the Police might be the best overall, readily available option. I think most have been covered- am I missing anything?
 
Chokwe, not quite 4" but it is an awesome knife. They are being discontinued but can still be found. I am a huge fan of the Chokwe and always recommend it. Knife Center has the best price on them right now. I would grab that now, and also get a Military, but Military's will be around and readily available.
 
I'd say Military. I'd carry one every day if people weren't so terrified of a large pocket knife...Maybe I should just do it anyway?
 
AustinOX said:
I was sold on the Calypso until I realized it was pinned. I think the Military is the front runner, but after looking at side-by-side photos with the Police it's not much smaller. I carry in my right rear pocket, so the slimmer Police might be more comfortable sitting.

The other two that don't meet my criteria but caught my eye while searching are the Gayle Bradley M4 and the Damascus runs... If the Endura Damascus had a belt clip I'd already have some other knives listed for sale.
Click to expand...

I think you owe it to yourself to go with the military. While the blade lengths of the millie and endura are similar, the handle lengths are not. In other words, the feel of a tip-down endura is not the same as a tip-down military, but then again i'm in the camp that feels tip-down on a military is the most natural and logical carry option. YMMV.
 
Endura (Mine is sabre grind, but FFG is available), Manix 2XL (S30V), and current sprint run of Calypso. For I wide blade, I love the Manix. If the Military is as good as the PM2, add that as well. Heck, get all of them; most of us do eventually anyways! :p
 
nccole said:
Chokwe, not quite 4" but it is an awesome knife. They are being discontinued but can still be found. I am a huge fan of the Chokwe and always recommend it. Knife Center has the best price on them right now. I would grab that now, and also get a Military, but Military's will be around and readily available.
Click to expand...

I agree. The Chokwe is alarmingly similar to the Endura in performance and feel. Don't let the squared-off design scare you away. It's exceedingly comfortable and feels about as close to an Endura as any other Spyderco I've held. The thinness of the handle adds to the similarities. I love the Endura, but I prefer the spine of the Chokwe a bit more as the ramp above/behind the opening hole is less pronounced (with no jimping -- yay!). They've even got the same style of clip. I'm looking at them side by side right now and they really are brothers from different mothers.
 
The tip-up/tip-down thing might be somewhat dependent on the knife, but I think it's mostly personal preference. I carried tip-down for years in college, then picked up a tip-up knife and immediately preferred it.

As for the Chokwe I do wish I'd read the Endura comparison a day earlier. I'd dismissed it when I first saw it in the long list provided by one of the first responses because it looked like a perfectly straight edge in the Google Images thumbnail pic. It looked like a nice gentleman's folder but I was concerned about the versatility.

I love Spydercos, and generally believe them to be better knives for the money, but my search resulted in an order for a Benchmade Onslaught. The blade shape and Axis lock were the deciding factors. I appreciate all of the input here though, and will probably pick up a couple of the mentioned models eventually.
 
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