Handled a Spyderco today....

dylan_d

dylan_d

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
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1,242
...and I'm not impressed. Don't get me wrong, the lock up was fine, no play in the blade, and the action was smooth, but the knife just didn't do anything for me. The Zytel, excuse me, FRN handles don't feel to well, the action was smooth but not easy (it would take Hercules to flip open the knife I handled), and as you all know, it's not much of a looker. I honestly thought that I would pick one up, but since the place I went to wanted $51 for it, I said "no thanks." The knife is like a Toyota Camry: no frills, nothin' fancy, it just does it's job. Sarah plain and tall all the way....



Ahh, the search for the perfect knife continues....
 
spyderco knives take a simple treatment to loosen up... lube and knifesturbate. few thousand openings while watching TV will make it smooth. Just turn a movie on and play during the whole thing.

Spyderco is known for FUGLY knives, but they do the job without having fancy stuff on them.
 
Yes, some people may think that Spyderco makes some FUGLY knives....but, they are high performance matter separators, not contestants in a beauty pageant. :rolleyes:
 
Being a Spydie devotee I'm curious as to which knife you are referring. How about giving us a few more details?
 
I love my Spydies. They arent an Emerson, and they arent a custom, but they are excellent knives as far as I am concerned.
They take a bit to break in, like was said, but once that happens, they are solid and smooth.
I carry either an Endura or Delica (sometimes both) daily, to back up my Emersons. Excellent workers, and with the right modifications and customizing they are excellent defensive blades as well.

Oh well - each to his own I guess.
 
Spyderco is purely based on functionality, looks are put last. They aren't perfect but they get the job done. Like all lockbacks, they have to be worked in, when you mass-produce you can't make sure every knives tolerances are perfect otherwise there would be a shiit load of the knives made would have blade play out of the box. Besides if you live where it snows about 4 months of the year (that is an average winter around here, spring has just started a few weeks ago) the Spydies can be easily opened with thick gloves and don't break the wallet.

The Delica is a perfect Utilty knife, I personally prefer the BM 556 over a Delica because of the liners but Spyderco makes very good knives none the less.
 
Hy Dylan_D. I normally don't poke in this type of thread but I thought to share some thoughts.

That $51 Delica is probably sharper than most knives and certainly sharper than any other $51 knife. The VG-10 in the blade will stay sharper longer than 95% of the knives on the market and certainly longer than any other $51 knife. The lock up is reliable and probably stronger than any comparable FRN knife you'll find.

But the real value in a Spyderco is that after years of use and often abuse, they are still delivering that reliable high performance. That's what we design, test and strive for.

Did you cut anything? Shave hair, split paper? A test drive often reveals much in a tool. It's pretty hard to assess the type of value we offer in a 10 minute aquaintance. I suggest that you try carrying the FRN Delica for several weeks, give it up and see if you miss it.

sal
 
Yeah, I thought it was maybe the intangibles that made this knife so great to a bunch of people. I guess I could give it a legitimate shot. It's just that alot of people recommend these over a BM, so I expected it to feel like a BM. That, of course, wasn't the case. I will agree with you about sharpness though, Spyderco knows how to sharpen a knife, I love the sharpmaker.
 
As I sit here playing with my newest aquisition, and my first Spyderco (& first VG-10), a Navigator, I can't help but notice my growing fondness for it :). What a satisfying "click" when I open it! The quality is no less than I expected after reading all the good things you fellows have had to say. IMO the design is phenomenal, I think they employ some true and innovative artists in their design department. And boy can it cut!

It made me go check out a Calypso Jr. that I had mt eye on for a while but had never handled. I know how dylan_d feels, I was a bit let down. I know the blade is all it's cut out to be, but the handle felt so insubstantial, almost hollow. I don't really know the tolerances of FRN but it feels like I could just crack it by squeezing it. I don't know, maybe if it was heavier I'd feel differently. I picked up a BM Ascent to compare and it felt more solid.

Someone needs to set me straight!
 
I'm not personally crazy about the Spydie plastic-handled (FRN) knives, but the SS-handled models,like the Endura, Delica, Police, etc. fill the bill just fine for moderate-priced, high quality cutting instruments. I just prefer the additional heft and solidity of the SS models.:)
 
Removing esthetics as anything meaningful.., the Delica with VG-10 is probably the best EDC made anywhere near the price. Really lots of "bang-for-the-buck"...

I have given them as gifts to several folks that cut all day during their jobs, and although I don't own one, and have never carried one.., I always go by accurately reported performance, and I have sharpened about 4-6 of them regulary for those I mentioned above....

The closest thing I can think of near the cost (at street prices) is the BM "Griptilian".., and although I like 440C.., VG-10 kicks it's butt (big time) the way Spyderco heat treats it for sure.

One of the truly great knife values in my opinion. I just don't like looking at 'em... :( which is certainly not a good reason at all. If I had to open boxes and do lots of basic utilitarian cutting all day.., it would be on a very short list of "The Best for the Least".
 
Originally posted by dylan_d
Yeah, I thought it was maybe the intangibles that made this knife so great to a bunch of people. I guess I could give it a legitimate shot. It's just that alot of people recommend these over a BM, so I expected it to feel like a BM. That, of course, wasn't the case. I will agree with you about sharpness though, Spyderco knows how to sharpen a knife, I love the sharpmaker.
Click to expand...


It's just that alot of people recommend these over a BM, so I expected it to feel like a BM.

Hmmmm. Which BM are you talking about? If you are talking about a plastic handled Benchmade being compared to a plastic handled Spyderco, they will feel similar. If you are comparing a higher end Benchmade (G-10 handle, axis lock, etc.) to a plastic handled Delica, OF COURSE the Delica is going to feel a little different. If you compare apples to apples (IE: a high end Spyderco knife to a high end Benchmade) they are comparable in my opinion. If you get ahold of a higher end Spyderco, you will see that they can definitely hold their own with Benchmades.

If you carried a Delica for a while and evaluated it for what it is, I think you would be very surprized with it. It really is a good knife for the price.
 
IMO, the VG10 PE Delica is the best cutting blade in that price range. Although it doesn't have G10 scales (I hate FRN too), but its got an excellent blade-steel, it's super-sharp out of the box, keeps the edge a long time, has a nice pointy tip for fine work, has the wonderful spydie hole, is simple n reliable (doesn't have springs, liners etc etc) n highly corrosion resistant, is relatively flat and stores well, has an excellent lockback system. Sure it doesn't flip out, but who really needs to flip open a utility blade (mall ninjas excluded)?

Sal, how about a complimentary Delica to me after all that?;) :p

Now, if only Spyderco made the Delicas in S30V and with a hollow grind....it may just be a mite sharper.
 
dylan_d,

Spydies remind me of the old AMC Pacer, if you are old enough to remember it...so ugly that I wanted to buy one. Ugly but practical, the Ford Taurus was similar.

But I never bought a Spydie for a couple reasons not related to looks:

I don't like plastic scales or handles and usually the knives that I do like are not offered in anything else.

The models offered in steel usually have a lesser steel (AUS6,8,55 are not BAD steels, just not as good as I would like).

Between these two things most models are eliminated. I would think of buying the Police model, but I have other problems with Spydies...

I prefer slabs made of lightweight metals..Al or Ti...just a personal thing I guess, I like strong and light.

I distrust knives that can't be taken apart, i.e. knives that cant be cleaned completely, adjusted or have no possibility of being repaired in the field.

Also...I just plain don't like holes! :) And lately, it almost seems that the design people of Spyderco are driven more by "The Hole®" than other, more practical considerations.

Hey Sal! VG-10 is hellishly great stuff! Fine grain and pretty corrosion resistant, it's a winner. Put a few tiny Torx screws on the Police model and I'll buy one!

Sal is trying to make a good affordable knife...and he is succeeding, it's just not what 'everyone' wants.

dylan_d, My suggetion is to save a bit more, think about it, and get something that you like, something that feels good in your hand. It may be a Spydie, or maybe not.



Steve-O
 
If it doesn't feel good in your hand or carry comfortably, it will probably sit in a drawer. Look at as many different makes and models as possible. Buy what feels/works best in YOUR hand.
Don't sell Zytel (FRN) short. It might not look or feel the greatest, but it's hellishly (is that a word?) strong.

Paul
 
It´s like Sal said, use it a while and You don´t want to miss it. My FRN PE Endura (VG10) isn´t my most high-priced, most loved or best-materials-knife. But it´s simly the best EDC I can think of. Its so light yet big, works smooth, has outstanding ergonomics and rides deep in the pocket. And if You lose it-not like losing a Microtech.
This knife is what I would call a "perfect knife"
 
Thanks for the clarification. The FRN Delica is an outstanding knife. Great ergonomics (the best in it's price range by far), VG-10 blade 'nuff said and extremely light, but still stronger than you think. I echo what Sal said, you should get one and see for yourself. I have owned two Delicas and I never had a complaint. If you would like to try one you should look on eBay. You could probably score one in the $40.00 range. If you don't like it trade it here on BFC and get something else (but I bet you will keep it) ;) .
 
No way can you call this one ugly, it's an object of beauty and the VG-10 blade's superb.It's quickly become my EDC.
 
I think Spyderco makes the absolute BEST FRN knives in the world. And I would choose an FRN Spyderco over any unlined Zytel (or similar substance) knife from any other maker.

Knives like the FRN Delica and the Endura are great for keeping in the tool or tackle box, or keeping in the car.
They're also great if you need a very light-weight knife when wearing light clothing (like swimming or jogging shorts).

However, when it comes to higher end knives (using G-10, aluminum, titanium, ect), Spyderco has some really serious competition.

Benchmade knives are really great in that they use full or partial dual liners. Some folks think that it's overkill, but it does give the knives a really secure and solid feel and less flex.

And then there's the Axis-lock!
I was skeptical at first, but now I think it's the second best lock out there (the Bali-Song latch is the best IMHO).

Good luck,
Allen.
 
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