Help with with Spyderco

I've tried a lot of different Spydercos. For EDC, bonding with any particular one has not been natural for me. Mantra 1 fixed it for me. It earned a regular spot in my EDC rotation. Ti, framelock flipper, interesting steel. It's worth a serious look.
 
I was never a fan of them myself but I don't care for and won't own any with the FRN handles ... I do like the PM2 but mostly because it fits my hand and I put aftermarket scales on it ... then found its a very nice slicer.

But if its too large for you which it is for alot of people I know ... my first reccomendation and my favorite Spydrco is the Native 5 G10 ... it feels great and it preforms like a bigger blade then it is. Out of all I've tried I only use the PM2 around home and carry the Native 5 G10 version when I want a smaller but sturdy knife.
 
Wanna feel the love? Go back to the beginning, look for and buy vintage early Spydercos. Start with the first Spydeco, the C01 Worker, pick up an old Goddard or Baby Goddard, or an original Terzuola/Spyderco. By the time you've researched them, found them and played with them you'll know what you'll like. You will have held the Genesis and the End results in your hand, the beginning and the current state. See what a lot of younger/newer collectors missed out on was the history.

I got to live it and a lot of older collector/users have too. We remember when Sal was hawhin' sharpeners and fly-tying jig. I remember the excitement of discovering something new and spreading the word about it to the uninformed. I got to grow with Sal, Eric and company. I remember anxiously awaiting the next release and having a new model to convince non believers.

Today everyone knows who Spyderco is, everyone knows about the clip and hole, everyone knows the best knife maker s in the industry collaborate with the designers to make stunning blades of collector quality and still affordable as an EDC. I bet if you took the same journey I did 30 some years ago not only would you become knowledgeable about the origins of Spyderco, not only would you have a classic collection but you would understand, you'd get it, you would finally see what everyone else does and be able to answer the same question for the next disenchanted fan.
 
I have the same preference in terms of the size of EDC I typically look for. I would suggest the Spyderco Techno for sure. It is the toughest and sturdiest feeling "little knife" that I have handled and I enjoy that knife a bunch.
 
I'd say if you like the dragonfly blade to handle one/Native/manix/etc with a g10 handle will feel heftier and less toy-like
 
Some classics with some more current users.

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Great looking and high quality knives for you to try would be the Domino, Dice, Chaparral, Sages's 1,3,& 5 depending on the lock type that you like. The reason I don't like the Native 5 is that it does not flick well.
I have all these and I can vouch for them.
 
Another vote to try out a Native, especially the G10 version. Very solid and comfortable when holding using the finger choil, and that 3" blade feels more than adequate for most cutting tasks. Was my top choice due to the hole not adding extra height to the blade. Although, having just received a PM2 I have to say that the hump around the hole does add a nice place to rest the thumb.
 
RipD said:
I don't doubt this is true for most people. Just doesn't work for me - can't say why other than what I've written.
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I've bought the Dragonfly 2 more than a few times, keep trying to like it, but it is just too small for me and I wear medium (7 - 7.5 surgical) gloves. However i should note that "too small" means that I find it uncomfortable or dangerous to deploy and restore with only one hand - I am fine with it as a two-handed dinky folder but that just doesn't suit me no matter how many times I try to get used to it. Thus I have passed along each D-fly2 to friends colleagues who find them wonderful, and I am glad they like them. For me, the Caly3 (CF ZDP) is the only Spyderco I've taken to. Like you, I find the PM2 a bit large and I briefly owned the Delica 4 which was also too large and WAY too wide. The Caly 3 doesn't take up much pocket space, nice wire-clip, easy to deploy and restore one-handed, and the CF/ZDP version just looks elegant doing everything :)

I would also consider the Native 5, though I've not yet owned it as I think I'd find the Caly3 more to my liking and already own it ;) But the Native 5 LW seems to be of similar size.

Also, one of the first things I consider as a reason NOT to own a knife is when professional knife-reviewers and celebrities recommend it. That may just be me being contrary ;)
 
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Just go for the best of the bunch I say. The Marcin Slysz collaborations are some of the best Spyderco knives you can get. Right now I'm in a renewed love affair with the Techno and the Bowie.

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GotSteel said:
I'd say if you like the dragonfly blade to handle one/Native/manix/etc with a g10 handle will feel heftier and less toy-like
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This is a great idea. I was thinking the same thing myself. I know Spyderco has their FRN fans, I myself, do not like it. It's weird because, I actually love the Valox handle on my Ritter mini grip unlike most people and just can't get behind the FRN.

Their G10 models will add some heft, especially with the Dragonfly, which should help alleviate the "toy" feeling you get from it.

I actually prefer the weight of my Manix to the lightness of my PM2. Not really even 100% sure why haha, I just do. It's one of those things that you'll learn about yourself after some more experience.

I'm thinking you'd be a G10 Native 5 guy just by your preferred size and such. If you can find one to handle before buying, that'd be a great idea.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Some classics with some more current users.

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*gasp* What is that yellow knife at the top!?

Also to the OP don't buy knives with FRN handles yet in your Spyderco journey. Many new to Spyderco feel them toylike. With some experience you might come to appreciate how untoylike Spydercos FRN knives.

I definitely recommend a Sage or if you want to really impress yourself (and like framelocks) the Spyderco Techno.
 
Have you tried the pm2 it is the only spyderco I actually like,(and even then I don't miss it when it's gone because it's on loan to a friend and I haven't seen it for a month) but other than that I'm on your side I just can't find a spyderco I like. Its a shame really because you get a lot knife for the money but I've tried out about 20 and for one reason or another I just don't like them.
 
C42, Spyderco/Viele



One of my favorite Spyderco collaborations Howard Viele, made special by the fact that my daughter bought it for me for my birthday when she was still a teen, that Veile's a Jersey boy like I am/was. It's a beautiful knife but mine like many of the gen 1s were 0% on the lockbar. On mine the lockbar slid all the way to the right touching the opposite liner. As a tactical knife pretty useless, as a gentleman's knife near perfect albeit a tad heavy and on the larger side of big.

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Start at the beginning, this is ground zero, the first Spyderco. Model Co1, the Worker. Met Sal at the first ECCKS or NYCKS I forget which one. I stopped to get a Sharpmaker and wound up buyin' this ughly knife with a hump with a hole in it and a pocket clip. Here's the first one I bought and I still have it.

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Here's a few good sites for info on the older Spydercos people don't remember or talk about much anymore.

Spyderco early models

Spydiewiki

Of course there's always the source, Spyderco themselves

Spyderco

Hopefully this'll help.

BTW, check out the C15 Spyderco/Terzuola a favorite EDC of mine back when it was new. I loves the modern sheepsfoot blade, it made it a superior work knife.

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I'm going with some others and say stick with the basics. Get a Delica with Stainless handles ($75-80) to add weight since you indicated that the PM would be too large. To me, a good majority of Spydies were built to be slicers, so they are not particularly substantial in the hand. The Delica is a definite slicer, shaving sharp out of the box, and though I have the FRN handle, I probably will change that soon enough. You can wrap your hands around the handle very comfortably for leverage in cutting rope, cardboard, plastic straps, and perhaps light feathering in a pinch. I like the VG10 on this knife a lot. It sharpens to an insanely sharp finish, while still maintaining good edge retention when used appropriately. Just my humble opinion, and I have a Dragonfly and PM2.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
But if its too large for you which it is for alot of people I know ... my first reccomendation and my favorite Spydrco is the Native 5 G10 ... it feels great and it preforms like a bigger blade then it is. Out of all I've tried I only use the PM2 around home and carry the Native 5 G10 version when I want a smaller but sturdy knife.
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BTGuy said:
Another vote to try out a Native, especially the G10 version. Very solid and comfortable when holding using the finger choil, and that 3" blade feels more than adequate for most cutting tasks. Was my top choice due to the hole not adding extra height to the blade. Although, having just received a PM2 I have to say that the hump around the hole does add a nice place to rest the thumb.
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As said above, the Native 5 in G10.
 
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