Help for my first Spyderco buy!

I

iTz Schmiedy

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Mar 9, 2011
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119
I'm sorry i know this topic comes a lot, but i know i can find a lot of help from you guys to make a decision.

I am looking to buy my first Spyderco and i have been very undecided for a long time. I was thinking of getting either the Endura FFG, VG 10 (Blue) or the Stretch black FRN, VG 10. (price to me is pretty much the same)

Let me know what you guys think, and if you know any other good sites to buy Spydercos (needs to be w international shipping to Europe) I am currently looking at yourcornerstore.com

Thanks alot
(oh yeah and the blade is for EDC tactical, preferably more than 3 inches)
 
Para2, Millie, Gayle Bradley. All cost a lot more then the stretch and endura.
 
Stretch 2!! Many people, myself included, consider it perhaps the finest spyderco ever designed (and perhaps the most useful). Even though I have several knives costing more than twice what I paid for my VG-10 Stretch, somehow it keeps finding its way back into my pocket all the time.

I suggest you go with the Stretch--you won't regret it. The Endura is a great knife, but I think the Stretch blows it away in terms of ergonomics (MUCH more comfortable and natural grip IMO) and smoothness of deployment. Also I really dig the blade shape and thin grind. At the end of the day, I own both and love both, but the Stretch is just the more refined, useful design for my needs. Plus even though it's got almost as much blade as the Endura, it seems way more compact when it's being carried.
 
Stretch. Knives, especially for your use, can be categorised as such:

-The Stretch
|
|
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Everything else.
 
I literally got a Blue FFG Endura in the mail yesterday and I'm hooked on spyderco already.

I only have two other spydies, a mule team blade and a Pride, but the Endura pushed me over the edge with quality, value, and some of the early performance.

I now want to get a either a pink delica or manix2 for my wife and too many other models for myself. :)

I'm sure the stretch 2 is an amazing knife, so you probably can't go wrong either way. But the Endura, once in my hands, was practically love at first sight for me.
 
1) Para Military 2 if you can afford it. 3.5 inch blade (well, 3 & 7/16ths). Incredible EDC knife with amazing ergonomics and super strong (and fun) compression lock. Imo, one of the best regular production knives Spyderco has ever made and a bargain (at about $110-$120 or so depending on the version). This one has kicked all my other Spydies out of my pocket (for now at least). Up until recently, it was very hard to find one in stock for a reasonable price but now some are currently in stock at Howes for good prices.

2) Caly 3.5 another amazing 3.5 inch bladed Spyderco. Slim, compact handle size considering the length of the blade, and elegant with super thin grind on the blade that makes it one of the best slicing knives. Great ergos, but slightly less heavy duty than the PM2 (above), although it can "step up" and handle some pretty heavy duty tasks.

Those two would be my recommendations in the order listed.
 
You can't go wrong with either but IMO the stretch has a more practical blade profile.
 
Both are pretty similar. I have the VG10 Stretch 2, but can't say anything about the FFG Endura. I have a delica that's G10, and I absolutely love it! I like the stretch decently, but usually carry the paramilitary 2 more. Mine, (S90V + CF) tends to get more pocket time because I like it better, and it cost me more so I wan't to actually use it...

Either is probably a good choice. Many people like the blade shape of the stretch more. The tip is the biggest difference. The tip on the stretch is more "hidden" in the blade shape. So if you are prone to cutting a lot of stuff with the very tip of a blade, then I'd say go endura. If that is not that big of a deal, then the Stretch will be fine. I know that it is apparently one of Sal's FAVORITE knives.
 
Stretch! I have 2 myself and if I can get a PE blade I'll have one of each. Would like a ZDP blade, but those are not cheap.
 
I would suggest you the Caly3 CF, which you can find for pretty cheap on amazon.com right now, dont know if they would send it to europe though.
 
Depends on whether you prefer a knife with a handle that has a structured grip area and a 50/50 choil, or a knife with a relatively unstructured handle. I prefer the former, which is why the Stretch is my #1 favorite large Spyderco for EDC. However, as with most things in life, YMMV. Endura has a slightly longer blade (1/4"), but the Stretch is considerably more compact in the pocket.

Not the versions you're interested in, but will give you an idea of their relative sizes...

compare+endura_milie_stretch.jpg
 
Thanks a lot guys! I really appreciate the help. However i have to blame Spyderco for making me have to make such a hard decision, so many of their blades look really amazing!
 
That's a tough one. My 5c....

My first decent knife was an Endura, first generation. Have about 6 or 7 Enduras now, always have a soft spot for them. However, if you look at the Stretch 2 pics above, you will find better ergos. Couple that withe the good specials on the Stretch 2 at present. Struggling to give you a definitive answer, but i'm leaning towards the Stretch 2.
 
+1 for Endura.

I bought my first Spydie several months ago :eek: and had to make the same decision. I like so many of the designs I wasn't sure which to go with first.

I ended up getting the Endura first because it is one of Spyderco's most famous designs that has been around a long time. I got the Endura 4 FFG with gray FRN handles... I have been very satisfied. Now that I have the cornerstone of my Spyderco collection, I will build it out from there.

I carry for self defense also and think the Endura is great for that use. It has a long enough reach, good grip, deploys fast, and a solid lockup.

Hope this helps.
 
Honestly they are both awesome blades as well as pretty much any other Spyderco. Just get the one that you like the best. There isn't a wrong decision.
 
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