Hard work Spyders?

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Messages
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Well this is a question I have been wanting to ask you all for some time. I have so many knives with so many uses and I really depend on Spyderco to have the super hardware I need for my jobs.

I have found the C-44 big Dyad almost indipensible for my daily hard work chores of all varieties. I have stockpiled some extras just so I can have a dependable "double bladed" knife for work for some time in the Future.

I also use a HAWKBILL ( yellow TAsman PE) and a ZDP Caly jr. for knives with other work requirements.

My question is this::: Which Spyders do you depend on for hard work, occupational and/or which Spyder do you deem totally necessary the same as another tool in your toolbox. Spyderco is one of the very few production knife companies that I would depend on their knives to be great hard work knives. SO WHICH ONES DO YOU ALL USE AT WORK> and I don't care what line of work you're in either. I would also love to hear from the Law Enforcement and First Responder community on this one. I got a feeling we can all learn from each other on this one. :)
 
I'm generally not a really hard user, but when I was doing some renovation work, I used an Endura 3/CE and Byrd Crow about has hard as I've probably ever used a knife. Endura 3 was given to me (co-worker blew out a serration when he tagged a live wire, and I bought the Bryd just so I wouldn't hurt my "good" stuff:) ) - everything from opening packages, to cutting wire/drywall, scraping paint, glue, digging out wall anchors, etc. It was really nice to find that they stood up and will easily take more punishment:D

- gord
 
*all* my blades are working blades, no safe queens, yes some get used harder and more often than others, but i'm not going to deny myself the enjoyment of a fine blade just because it's "rare"

that said, my workhorses are;

SS PE Cricket, this LBK is *always* on me, my constant knife companion, and gets used for 90% of the cutting chores

SS SE Harpy, for when I need a blade with a little more substance and power

Pacific Salt PE; for any down-and-dirty cutting chores, H-1 is a real workhorse steel
Salt 1 SE; for those times i want the maintenance-free aspects of H-1 in a smaller package

when i eventually pick up my yellow Tasman Salt, the Harpy will see less use, but will still be used, the Tasman will also allow me to leave the Pacific at home as well, the Salt 1 is compact enough to tote with me everywhere

as far as non-spydie workhorses, during the week it's my Victorinox CyberTool 34, it gets used *constantly* to take apart and reassemble computers, it has almost all the work tools i need in one package, the only other tool i need that the CT34 doesn't have is a good, beefy set of pliers for removing the processor stand-offs from PowerMac G5 towers, that's what my Vic SwissTool is for, that usually lives on my desk during business hours, and in the car's center console the rest of the time

Y'know, i just thought of something, my *perfect* EDC arrangement, Spydiewise, would be *perfect* if the Cricket was available with a H-1 blade and G-10 or CF scales, a Tasman and an H-1 Cricket would cover all my bases, slip my Pacific in my back pocket in case i need a longer blade....
 
My old FRN Delica in AUS8 has been used and sharpened and used some more until the blade is almost a quarter inch shorter than the new ones. Does that count? Seriously, my E4 and D3 catch a lot of abuse, with a Paramilitary for the really heavy stuff and a Dodo for finer work (and clampacks)
 
Tasman Salt. It's like Marv from "Sin City". I could shoot the damn thing in the face and it would just look up at me and say, "Is that the best you got?" It is a surprisingly tough knife, and H-1 is a particularly delicious frosting on the cake. The Tasman is my only knife I consider a beater.
 
My Dragonfly is carried always and used constantly and I have now started carrying the Assist II for my work as and EMT. Haven't had to use it much yet but I have little doubt as too how effective it is.

KR
 
Spyderco Military SE.
I work in a power plant. It does everything from cutting gaskets, rope, wire ties, etc. to scraping paint, and cutting and stripping wire. It also serves me in the kitchen there too cutting up vegtables and meat. You couldn't ask for a better blade. I own over a hundred knives, but I always grab the Spyderco Military before I leave for work. I can't imagine a shift without it! I even have a spare in case I ever break my EDC.
Scott
 
If I were to use my Spyderco as an abused beater, I'd go with the d`allara drop point. It's super tough, but cheap enough to be replaceable (55 bucks).

The Manix is probably tougher, but at twice the price, I'd probably be a little more cautious with it.

For a really good user, the dodo sees a ton of work in my life.

I suppose the dodo feels the most irreplaceable in my day to day life.
 
My Paramilitary does all the work. Hard work, light work, etc.

My Delica is what I take to work but when I'm not at work the Paramilitary is on me along with a Victorinox SAK of some kind. :)
 
I use a Endura 4 as a work knife, and so far it has done a great job. I was a great wire stripper when I was wiring a building.
 
USSR said:
Tasman Salt. It's like Marv from "Sin City". I could shoot the damn thing in the face and it would just look up at me and say, "Is that the best you got?" It is a surprisingly tough knife, and H-1 is a particularly delicious frosting on the cake. The Tasman is my only knife I consider a beater.
Click to expand...

Well USSR you discovered what I discovered. About 3 months ago I lost a plain edged Spyderco Merlin that I dearly loved and was having a terrible time trying to replace it. So I went ahead and got a plain edged, yellow handled Spyderco TASMAN and I couldn't be happier. I haven't even really noticed the edge being any harder to keep sharp as I had been told.

I hope that the TASMAN will be with us for a while. Again I have preached and preached about the viable, pragmatic functional use of Hawkbills. I could get by on my TASMAN and big Dyad easily. AGain the Hawkbill makes a super work knife. People just need to take the plunge and get one :thumbup:
 
Hey JD, great thread as usual:thumbup: I can't see how I would need anything more than one of my Enduras for hard use, though my definition of "hard" use involves mostly cardboard and poly rope:o
Cheers,
Rob
 
For hard work it's always been an Endura for me. It's toughness is what always surprised me, especially considering how light and thin it is. It's more knife than 99% of us will ever need. I still want to get a Manix although I'll probably never use it to it's full potential.

For $50 you will not find a better cutting tool than a waved endura (My current EDC). I have used one almost every day for about 6 years and love them. Every now and then I stray and buy a benchmade or kershaw, but the Endura always ends up back in my pocket.

I will say that I am impressed with my Salt 1. I bought it for hard use. The H1 steel is impressive. I've been using it the last few days. If I am going to be sweating alot, or near water, I will be carrying a Pacific Salt in the future.
 
I carry a lot of different knives, but when I'm really going to work with one, it is usally the lil Temperance with the upswept blade. That thing goes through old ivy like you wouldn't believe.:thumbup:
 
Endura III pe is my work knife for stripping wire, cuttin cardboard, filters etc. I don't have a Spyderedge at this time but my SS Police used to get the majority of the dirty jobs at work. Metalized film, plastic straps, tubing, hose etc. would quiver with fear when the Police showed up. Gave it to a co-worker. I have a Remote Release II but that stays clipped to my bag and doesn't get a lot of use. I need to get another Spyderedge.
 
Well JD, I'm a computer programmer by trade, and work in a government office, so my actual "work related" knife uses are as a substitute for the cheezy letter opener we are issued, sharpening pencils, and occasionally cutting a piece of string on a box of bakery goodies. Any one of my two dozen odd Kiwis can handle those tasks admirably. Aside that, my knife use in the workplace consists pretty much of food prep, opening the occasional clam pack, and trimming a loose thread. If it were not for the first of those, a Kiwi would very nicely suffice for everything. But, for food prep I find a longer blade essential, and some curve to it beneficial, so my other EDC is normally a Stretch, but occasionally a C83 Persian.
 
I generally don't use my knives that hard. I usually just use them for daily tasks that just randomly come up such as opening packages, cutting zip ties, string and rope, opening envelopes. I have cut wire with my knives before. For hard tasks I find it easier to get something that I care less about to cut with than to have to do major repair on my edge. I like my knives to be sharp and I'm not really good at sharpening although I am practicing some knives I seem to be able to sharpen better than others
 
Most of my knives are hard at work opening shipping boxes that contain more knives...any Spyderco can handle that.
 
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