Help me pick an Endura

[Winch]

I recently bought my first Endura. I got the green with VG10. I love it, now my EDC.

 

[uxo2]

Nothing wrong with VG10

 

[sharp_edge]

Maybe a little off topic, but: do you dislike the laminates for functional or for cosmetic reasons only? My guess is that laminates save $15-20 off the final price of the knife, but apart from the reasons you mentioned don’t seem to detract from the performance of the knife. I haven’t owned one for long enough to see how well they hold up long term

Am I correct that the outer layer of the soft steel is more prone to scratches? At least thats what I learned from my Shun classic and Tojiro DP chefs knives. Between scratches and patinas, I choose the latter.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Am I correct that the outer layer of the soft steel is more prone to scratches? At least thats what I learned from my Shun classic and Tojiro DP chefs knives. Between scratches and patinas, I choose the latter.

You are correct. That's why I don't like them. There's no practical issue with it, I just prefer the look of the solid versions like ZDP-189.

 

[Lapedog]

I had an Endura when I was a kid and loved it right up until I tried to used it as a pry bar. I am finally going to buy a new Endura after 15 years and can't seem to choose between the available steels. I am fine with VG10, but V-Toku2, ZDP-189, SG2, HAP40 all have me wondering what is the best option. This will be an EDC knife, but subject to occasional abuse/misuse (just no more prying). My priorities are toughness>edge retention>price>rust resistance>ease of sharpening. Chipping is a huge pet peeve of mine lately if that matters.

So far I have found the following options readily available online. Price is not really an issue. The gold lock on the SG2 and the orange scales on the HAP40 bother me enough that I would consider buying two and swapping parts.

VG10 - $78
V-Toku2 - $88
ZDP-189 - $115
HAP40 - $130
SG2 - $130 (and a wait)

Thanks in advance.

If you are going to use it for tougher tasks then I suggest you get an Endura that comes with a sabre grind rather than the full flat ground versions. The sabre ground enduras still cut very well but have a way more robust tip. The tip on the full flat ground versions is decently thick but no where near as tough as the sabre ground versions.

And if you are going to get a vg10 sabre version you might as well get a waved Endura.

 

[sharp_edge]

If you are going to pry, look somewhere else, like ZT 0200 or Benchmade 810. It doesnt matter which Endura, they will all end up with a broken tip.

 

[Yonose]

OP did mention he wouldn’t be prying with his knife. There is a China made spyderco with a screwdriver/pry tool on one side, blade on the other. I forgot the name, but it’s made of 8cr13.

 

[Yonose]

Am I correct that the outer layer of the soft steel is more prone to scratches? At least thats what I learned from my Shun classic and Tojiro DP chefs knives. Between scratches and patinas, I choose the latter.

With some of the laminate bladed knives you can have both! I would probably prefer a full hap40 blade or a full vtoku-2 blade, but since spyderco doesn’t offer these, I don’t have one. I do have a zdp stretch and a zdp/420 caly 3.5. I do prefer laminates to the combo/welded steels that kershaw uses. Fallkniven claims that their laminated blades are 20% stronger than a single steel blade, but I haven’t heard Spyderco say the same about theirs.

 

[JBoone]

I like higher end steels but am plenty happy with the VG - 10
Endura. Just gave my last one to my father in law and plan on picking up another soon. Will be VG 10 FFG

 

[Yonose]

Several of my new vg-10 blades were not sharp at all when I first got them. Never seen it happen with hap40 or zdp-189. Could be that I just have a lot more vg-10 blades.

 

[Durham68]

Like the OP, I wasn't a fan of the burnt orange either. A $2 RIT dye fix:

I didn't find disassembly/reassembly of the frn Endura/Delica difficult at all. I don't believe Vtoku-2 Endura's are out yet. And yes, the Stretch is a great knife.

Oooh, that's nice! And you are right about the V-toku2 Endura. I completely missed that is was a pre-order : (

 

[Officer's Match]

Several of my new vg-10 blades were not sharp at all when I first got them. Never seen it happen with hap40 or zdp-189. Could be that I just have a lot more vg-10 blades.

All my VG-10's have arrived screaming sharp.

 

[Retired45]

I edc the zome version in vg10, liked it so well I bought a second for a backup just in case. All my other knives stay in the drawer now

 

[DPC]

I recommend starting with the classic VG10, the one you can get for the absolute cheapest regardless of color. Then if you like it aim for the more special and more rare models, and you can always change the scales and screws of the humble VG10 one for something shinier.

 

[Phixt]

Dont buy two just to swap parts. Buy the one you want based off the blade steel and customize customize customize.

 

[91bravo]

zdp-189

Factory HAP40

Hap40 blade with @BOOMER52 scales

Zome vg10

 

[chambelona59]

Massdrop x Spyderco Endura Super Gold Steel.
Limited edition.

• Made by Spyderco
• Produced by Massdrop
• Limited Edition of 1,000 pieces, with only 400 units available during drop
  
• Blade: Super Gold powdered steel (SG2) core with SUS410 cladding
• Grind: Full flat
• Handle: FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon)
• Back lock
• Thumb hole
• Jimping
• 4-way pocket clip
• Lanyard hole
• Blade thickness: 0.125 mm (3 mm)
• Blade length: 3.75 in (9.6 cm)
• Closed length: 5 in (12.7 cm)
• Overall length: 8.75 in (22.2 cm)
• Weight: 3.6 oz (103 g)

 

[Yonose]

All my VG-10's have arrived screaming sharp.

Not complaining, they’re easy enough to sharpen. They weren’t plain. Enduras though, one dwas a ladybug with steel handles. The other was a steel handled endura. The first was quite dull though, from KW I believe; I gifted it to a family member without opening the box, and when I later asked how she liked it, she said that she hadn’t used it because “it wouldn’t cut”—maybe it was a customer return, but I was surprised as every other spydie I’ve bought was at least shaving sharp.

I would have been interested in the supergold endura if it was solid sg2. I do enjoy laminated blades in superblue, hap40, and will order a stretch in vtoku-2.

 

[Bill_Brasky]

VG-10 is fine, I think it is most enthusiast's first Endura. It was my first and I beat the shit out of that knife and still own it.

My personal Endura progression was VG-10 -> Wave VG-10 -> HAP40 -> Superblue. I still own all four, and the only one I have in my regular rotation is the Superblue. Never chips, a breeze to resharpen on my sharpmaker, and doesn't have a "loud" color handle.

I've found the HAP40 a pain in the ass to resharpen, and I'd prefer it not to get severely discolored. I also don't understand the love for "Pakkawood". It looks cheap and feels cheap, and I think people mistake the full liners and the added weight for improved quality.

 

[Yonose]

VG-10 is fine, I think it is most enthusiast's first Endura. It was my first and I beat the shit out of that knife and still own it.

My personal Endura progression was VG-10 -> Wave VG-10 -> HAP40 -> Superblue. I still own all four, and the only one I have in my regular rotation is the Superblue. Never chips, a breeze to resharpen on my sharpmaker, and doesn't have a "loud" color handle.

I've found the HAP40 a pain in the ass to resharpen, and I'd prefer it not to get severely discolored. I also don't understand the love for "Pakkawood". It looks cheap and feels cheap, and I think people mistake the full liners and the added weight for improved quality.

How are you sharpening hap40? My green dmt diafold gets it back to sharp in about a minute, and it stays sharp for a long time. As for the pakkawood, while I don’t own it, somebody called it “resin impregnated birch” which if anything like buck’s version is a lot classier looking than frn, while not not being as anywhere near as tough as Ti, or even g-10.
Vtoku-2 is supposed to be pretty similar to superblue, and a lot cheaper than superblue on the secondary market. It will discolor a lot faster than hap40 though.
My first endura was aus8, then vg10, vg-10 with stainless handle. Since I “discovered” the stretch, I’m not really collecting new enduras. Zdp-189 was my first stretch, next one will be vtoku-2.