Hard Use Spyderco Folders

[symphonyincminor]

Here is an old school hard-user:

A reply from Sal to a post inquiring about the lock strength of both the Chinnok I and Gunting (circa 2000, Spyderco.com forums):

Hi Dale. We can tell you that the Chinook is running in the 800 inch/lbs range exceeding our Spyderco MBC lock strength rating of 200 inch/lbs per inch of blade.

The Gunting is also exceeding our MBC lock stgrength rating.

We'd rather not begin listing lock strengths yet until our clasification system is more developed.

hope this helps.

sal

 

[DWood]

Thanks SICMinor. That original Chinook looks like a handful. Interesting to see Sal's comments about it's strength, especially since it uses a back lock. From Spyderco about the Chinook II . "Inserted between G-10 scales, dual steel liners make a thicker than customary back lock constructing one of the strongest locking systems found on any Spyderco model."

I spent an hour or so researching the Spyderco ATR; at the ready. Seems like photos is all you will ever find on this discontiued knife. It is unusual in that it uses a compression lock that utilizes the frame rather than an interior liner. Looks like a tough use knife.

I also found a page that lists Spydercos by designer. I think Sal is credted with 117 designs. Amazing.

 

[The-Stig]

Depends on what you mean by hard use, but if I needed a beefy knife I'd go for the Gayle Bradley, Military, Paramilitary 2, Manix 2, or even an Endura or Delica. They will all take quite a beating.

 

[Blades]

Here is my twenty year old Endura with my new Endura:

I consider it "hard-use". It has cut sandbags, cans, tires, a motor mount, boxes, steak, and who knows what else. It has been around the world with me and never complained. "Hard-use" knife is a knife you'll use to cut anything and have no qualms whipping it out. If you think twice before pulling out your $300+ knife to cut open sandbags then you have a gentleman's blade, not a hard-use knife.

 

[JudasD]

I have seen a few pretty crazy "knife test" videos on youtube. I would love to see someone put a Tuff through some of those tests. I already own a Tuff and i think it is a beautiful knife. I would just like to see someone abuse it and see how it lasts.

JD

 

[simplespeed]

Clearly the term hard use is relative. Some people think cutting stuff makes it a hard use knife. Some think cutting stuff just makes it a knife.

 

[goodeyesniper]

I can't think of a spyderco that can't handle very hard use.

the problem is todays generation of city dwellers have somehow convinced themselves that it can only be "hard use" if it is a stupidly thick knife with crappy blade geometry that can barely cut.... a nice, thin spyderco with frn scales can handle all amounts of smart hard use. you might want something a bit more stout if it might see some stupid use, but it doesn't have to have the cutting power of an old brick...

I'll go grab my grandpa and have him put his thin little slipjoints through more hard use in an afternoon than your average zt sees in a lifetime.

 

[bld522]

One can only wonder how well a Spyderco (or anyone else's folder for that matter) would have held up in this situation:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/289315-Hello-everyone

Call me a member of today's generation of city dwellers addicted to stupidly thick knives with crappy blade geometries if you want to, but that's my idea of what constitutes hard use. And when I think of a "hard use" knife, that's the kind of circumstance I envision having to use it in. If you want to dial that back under your definition of "hard use", that's perfectly fine with me. But I don't. And I won't.

 

[simplespeed]

I can't think of a spyderco that can't handle very hard use.

the problem is todays generation of city dwellers have somehow convinced themselves that it can only be "hard use" if it is a stupidly thick knife with crappy blade geometry that can barely cut.... a nice, thin spyderco with frn scales can handle all amounts of smart hard use. you might want something a bit more stout if it might see some stupid use, but it doesn't have to have the cutting power of an old brick...

I'll go grab my grandpa and have him put his thin little slipjoints through more hard use in an afternoon than your average zt sees in a lifetime.

Im having a problem underdtanding what your saying.

A knife that cuts real good is smart hard use?

 

[macknife12]

I've had my Vallotton Sub Hilt for around 6 months now and I'm thinking she will stand the test of time and wear.
Cheers

 

[goodeyesniper]

I would not consider that story as hard use. that is emergency/survival use. Hard use is what I would consider to be very demanding and realistic cutting tasks.

Im having a problem underdtanding what your saying.

A knife that cuts real good is smart hard use?

I'm saying most knives from reputable companies can handle much harder use than today's average forum goer can imagine. I have seen countless people say ridiculous things like "I was scared to carve a tent stake with my military because I feared damaging the tip". people who either have no idea how to use a knife, out for some reason they think it's made of glass. The difference is you have to sometimes keep your wits about you if cutting in a material where the blade might bind up and see lateral stress.Where a "stupid thick" knife can handle a little less care.

not knocking anyone that prefers stupid thick, I just think the new generation of knife users might sometimes benefit to see that they don't need a pocket brick just because they need to trim some hard wood or do any other rather mundane task that send hard use to them.

 

[macknife12]

I would not consider that story as hard use. that is emergency/survival use. Hard use is what I would consider to be very demanding and realistic cutting tasks.




I'm saying most knives from reputable companies can handle much harder use than today's average forum goer can imagine. I have seen countless people say ridiculous things like "I was scared to carve a tent stake with my military because I feared damaging the tip". people who either have no idea how to use a knife, out for some reason they think it's made of glass. The difference is you have to sometimes keep your wits about you if cutting in a material where the blade might bind up and see lateral stress.Where a "stupid thick" knife can handle a little less care.

not knocking anyone that prefers stupid thick, I just think the new generation of knife users might sometimes benefit to see that they don't need a pocket brick just because they need to trim some hard wood or do any other rather mundane task that send hard use to them.

I watched a youtube vid. of a (German I think) guy who did a cutting comparison with a very thin blade vs. a very thick blade. These were some pretty hard cutting tasks if I remember correctly, the thin guy outperformed on most tasks.
Cheers.

 

[johnnytoxin]

The ppt seems pretty robust yet still a good little slicer

 

[GuinnessSynd]

my waved endura has been abused and kept going.

 

[bld522]

I would not consider that story as hard use. that is emergency/survival use. Hard use is what I would consider to be very demanding and realistic cutting tasks.

I guess I don't make that much of a distinction between a "hard use" knife and an "emergency/survival" knife. To me, any knife I can't depend on to perform in an "emergency/survival" situation doesn't belong in the "hard use" category.

 

[simplespeed]

I guess I don't make that much of a distinction between a "hard use" knife and an "emergency/survival" knife. To me, any knife I can't depend on to perform in an "emergency/survival" situation doesn't belong in the "hard use" category.

I feel the same way. A knife designed with some possible abuse or emergency situation in mind wouod be "hard use". Everythng else that cuts is just a knife. Very few knives will fall apart from long term use. I could sharpen a butter knife and use it forever. I would never consider it hard use though. And thats a fixed blade lol. I dont consider making tent stakes hard use. Pretty much any knife with a decent edge will do that. Some will hold the edge longer but then we are talking about blade steel and edge geometry.

 

[nuckingfuts]

The reason people think of the Gayle Bradley as being a hard user is because the thing is built like a tank not just the steel. Its got some beefy liners.

I don't even consider the Gayle Bradley as hard use. Never understood why some would mention them. Maybe because it's M4 steel?

 

[HWF]

This one is with me daily. No care at all and can be/is sharpened on anything hard.

 

[pizmugen86]

^ that guy looks like its seen some use

 

[HWF]

^ that guy looks like its seen some use

Daily use. :thumbup:

I am now considering ordering a fully serrated version of this knife because of the softness of the steel. Sometimes it sharpens itself on the material being cut, and sometimes it dulls with a single cut. I'm interested to compare the differences....