Handled a bunch of new Spydercos today and I was underwhelmed

BJE

BJE

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
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:eek:
Yep you read right UNDERWHELMED,
Went to a local brick and motor store near my home, River's Edge Cutlery to be exact, the people are very knowledgeable and helpful, chatted for a spell with one of the employees about some new Spydies and he opened up the display case so I could lay hands on a few.

First model that caught my eye was the Native V (it's the main reason I went there), I guess maybe I was expecting too much from it, to me it felt small in blade but thick in handle, much lighter than I expected, I would like carbon fiber better, the G-10 is too aggressive for my taste. Really nice knife, just not something I feel I have own. I like the Native 4 much better.

Next up is the Para 2 I am always reading so much about, again, nice knife, still not as much as of "grail" that I expected. Got to compare it side-by-side to a Para 1 and the improvements while subtle are very good. Still not a must have for me.

Then the biggest let down of them all, a Gayle Bradley, I hear so much about this knife here on the forums, but I hated the way it felt in my hand, the ergos are off for me, the blade was nice, but the handle killed it for me. I didn't like how the carbon fiber doesn't go all the way to outside edges of the handle and it felt upside down in my hand.

Next was the Bob T (while not new, its new for me as I have never handled one), I like this one, again not a must have, but a very classy knife that I would like to carry and use.

After that I had to see the FFG Orange handled Endura, man I love this knife, very impressed with this one, definitely on the short list. Felt good in the hand, the weight was just right, tip is a little thin, but doesn't feel fragile. Orange looks good. I will be buying one of these soon.

Then I put my paws on a UKPN for the first time, this was the carbon fiber variety, WoW!! love this knife as well, ergos are great, size is small but not too small, very useful size for me, love the smooth carbon fiber, and the opening closing action is addictive. Another one for the short list.

Handled another newer model, but cant remember the name, it has a very pronounced handle shape with a very deep recess for the index and middle fingers. It was pretty neat, and I liked it, but the handle was just too thin where the recess was.

I still cant believe I didn't go crazy over the Native V, I figured that would be my grail knife of the year.

I fondled the new CS Recon 1 and it was very blade heavy and just felt unrefined, handle ergos were good, just not balanced well.

I actually left without buying anything more than some new double edge razor blades for my Gillette. Will probably pick up a FFG Endura in the near future though. Still obsessed with my Skyline at the moment, this knife has impressed me so much more than I thought it would, it is a joy to carry and even more fun to use.

Just wanted to share my visit to the cutlery shop today.
 
I also went to the local B&M to check out the Native 5 and was disappointed too...they were sold out!
 
They didnt really have anything that struck my fancy other than the endura and ukpk. I checked out all there benchmade folders, only a few of them were new to me, didnt like the models with the nitrous assist, wanted to look at a triage, but they are sold out.
The blind horse display was great, I really like those knives, but I knew that already, lol.

I did have fun handling all that steel, it is well worth the drive if you have the time, they dont have a lot of inventory, but what they do have is quality. Plus the staff is nice and I bet at least one of the guys has to be a bladefourms member, lol.
 
I like River's Edge quite a lot. Bit of a drive for me, so I don't make it very often, but it is a very nice store. Also, I suspect the model you couldn't think of the name to is the Dialex Junior.
 
I haven't handled many spyderco's other than the ones I own, and I love all of those. I did go to an EMS a couple weeks ago and played around with an FRN UKPK and a SS Kiwi, and I was very unimpressed with the Slipit joint. It was much too easy to close the knife, maybe less than half as strong as my Vic Pioneer. I had a number of the Slipit knives on my want list, and those are all gone now.
 
I dunno. Usually Spyderco's designs and associated ergos work for me. Sometimes they don't. I got the chance to handle a Gayle Bradley extensively and didn't care for it all that much. On the other hand, the Manix2 is perfect for me and has become my go-to knife.
 
BJE said:
First model that caught my eye was the Native V ... felt small in blade but thick in handle, much lighter than I expected, I would like carbon fiber better, the G-10 is too aggressive for my taste. Really nice knife, just not something I feel I have own. I like the Native 4 much better.
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I agree. I don't see the need for a new blade grind in either the Native IV or V. The original blade is still the best IMHO. I like that the Native 5 is screw construction, but have more than enough black G10 knives.

I disagree on some of your other comments, but I'm too lazy to argue the finer points now. Good thing Spyderco makes so many choices -- something for all of us.
 
I think with the Gayle Bradley, you must enjoy a 'handle heavy' knife. I rather like it, myself.
 
An orange endura, a carbon fiber UK, and a skyline all sound good to me. :thumbup:
 
BJE, doesn't sound as though you were completely underwhelmed. I gotta have one of those orange Enduras too:D
 
No, not completely, just a little let down that the models I really wanted didn't tickle my fancy as much as I thought they would, good news is that at least I get to try before I buy, saves me some money and the trouble of selling or trading.

Nothing wrong with any of them, like I said all were great knives, its just a personal preference thing that I didn't care for some of them.
 
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