I've been away from the production folding knife world for a while and am again being bitten by the (Spyderco) bug, especially with all the great new models recently released. I just got a couple of Delica 4's to give as gifts as well as a UK Pen Knife. I love the use of high end steels and materials by Spyderco, and am quickly losing interest in expensive custom folding knives. Now, I know that a Spyderco production knife will not entirely match the glass-smooth action and attention to detail that a fully custom folder will offer, besides it would raise the reasonable prices if it did. I'm just curious as to what your experiences are with Spyderco knives as far as High Quality goes. Which models in particular have had the least ammount of blade play and the best fit and finish?
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Highest Quality Spyderco Model?
- Thread starter verpus77
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
- Messages
- 549
Man you've opened Pandora's box there!
In general, the quality is very high. Very few if any have complaints of blade play. The models without rivits and using torx construction have great adjustability.
The higher end Military CF in S30V and BG-42 easily rival any of the customs for fit, finish and overall quality.
There are many "mid-range" models in G-10, and FRN with nested liners.
Steel selection is tremendous with a broad range of premium steels ranging from VG10, S30V, BG-42 and ZDP189 (in various sprint runs).
Amazingly, all at affordable prices!
Get a few in your hands and you'll see why many of us can't have just one ...
In general, the quality is very high. Very few if any have complaints of blade play. The models without rivits and using torx construction have great adjustability.
The higher end Military CF in S30V and BG-42 easily rival any of the customs for fit, finish and overall quality.
There are many "mid-range" models in G-10, and FRN with nested liners.
Steel selection is tremendous with a broad range of premium steels ranging from VG10, S30V, BG-42 and ZDP189 (in various sprint runs).
Amazingly, all at affordable prices!
Get a few in your hands and you'll see why many of us can't have just one ...
i think the spyderco Ti ATR has (or had) excellent F&F and was made of top notch materials, also a great design imho, i carry my Ti ATR quite often still and other than the ATR i carry customs (ie strider SmF & emerson specwar CQC8) it matches up well with the customs imho.
really a lot of spydercos have good F&F most all of them do, but to me the ATR was something special, i have 3 of them now, 2 PE and 1 SE, great knives.
really a lot of spydercos have good F&F most all of them do, but to me the ATR was something special, i have 3 of them now, 2 PE and 1 SE, great knives.
They are all winners here; and that makes a whole lot of choice for anyone seeking quality in a production knife.
Well, maybe except the early production Spydertools (a discontinued model).
-http://www.paddlingsnyaadress.com/verktyg/images/sptool4.jpg-
They were meant to come apart at the slightest touch
Well, maybe except the early production Spydertools (a discontinued model).
-http://www.paddlingsnyaadress.com/verktyg/images/sptool4.jpg-
They were meant to come apart at the slightest touch
- Joined
- May 21, 2000
- Messages
- 6,250
My Chinook II and Manix had the best fit and finish.
There are a few winners in that category. I do indeed agree with the one brother on the new PEEL PLY Carbon Fiber Military models. S-30V or BG-42 either one makes a great knife of it's size.
In the new category I have to go with the Manix. A true big blade with muscle.
In the "Oldies but Goodies" slot I will stay with the Massad Ayoob and C-46 Bob Lum Tanto folder.
But don't overlook the fixed blade Temperance>> perhaps the most functional knife in the entire Spyder line up :thumbup:
In the new category I have to go with the Manix. A true big blade with muscle.
In the "Oldies but Goodies" slot I will stay with the Massad Ayoob and C-46 Bob Lum Tanto folder.
But don't overlook the fixed blade Temperance>> perhaps the most functional knife in the entire Spyder line up :thumbup:
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
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- 5,738
In my opinion, of the current Spyderco production models, the Volpe offers the most exceptional fit and finish, if you can live with the design. The Navigator II exhibits the best fit and finish of the Seki made models, and is, IMHO, more visually appealing as well. If you're as much of a fusspot as me, you may want to do a bit of work on the corners of the clip. They show traces of the rough stamping there.
The Veille II would be, perhaps, one notch below it, an interesting design, but the odd asymetrical choice of scale shapes and materials is not everyone's cup of tea. The issue with it (and about every other lined or all stainless Seki knife except the Nav II and Cricket) is slight roughness/sharpness on the inner edges of the liners / handles.
The Kiwi would be equal to the Vielle, and is, IMHO extremely handsome and as "socially acceptable" as a knife will ever be. The Kopas are another notch or two below that for F&F but the "issues" are still the very minor cosmetic ones mentioned above which can be resolved with a bit of patience and a small stone. Its looks are close to those of the Kiwi, but like the Nav II the broader blade may raise a few more eyebrows in some circles.
The all stainless Cricket is almost surprisingly well made considering it's price tag. Inner edge of the handles is smooth but there are some slight, but noticeable, imperfections in the outer bevel on the handle. This might prove more difficult to correct than the issues noted on the other models.
All three of the Ed Schempp designs also show very good fit and finish, coupled with extremely good looks and excellent ergonomics. The actions on them tend to be a bit stiff out of the box, but they smooth out nicely with some break in.
In my experience, the Golden made knives, although tough as nails, and having excellent fit, do not offer the same level of finish as those made in Seki. In fairness, the Golden designs are all "hard use" knives, while most of the one's I've mentioned are "gent's knives". Most people would not expect (and probably would not want to pay for) forty coats of hand rubbed lacquer on a backhoe. Considering that the "street price" of a BG-42 CF Military is a fair bit less than that of a Gold Pearl Kopa half its size, you probably should cut it a bit of slack in the finish department.
The Veille II would be, perhaps, one notch below it, an interesting design, but the odd asymetrical choice of scale shapes and materials is not everyone's cup of tea. The issue with it (and about every other lined or all stainless Seki knife except the Nav II and Cricket) is slight roughness/sharpness on the inner edges of the liners / handles.
The Kiwi would be equal to the Vielle, and is, IMHO extremely handsome and as "socially acceptable" as a knife will ever be. The Kopas are another notch or two below that for F&F but the "issues" are still the very minor cosmetic ones mentioned above which can be resolved with a bit of patience and a small stone. Its looks are close to those of the Kiwi, but like the Nav II the broader blade may raise a few more eyebrows in some circles.
The all stainless Cricket is almost surprisingly well made considering it's price tag. Inner edge of the handles is smooth but there are some slight, but noticeable, imperfections in the outer bevel on the handle. This might prove more difficult to correct than the issues noted on the other models.
All three of the Ed Schempp designs also show very good fit and finish, coupled with extremely good looks and excellent ergonomics. The actions on them tend to be a bit stiff out of the box, but they smooth out nicely with some break in.
In my experience, the Golden made knives, although tough as nails, and having excellent fit, do not offer the same level of finish as those made in Seki. In fairness, the Golden designs are all "hard use" knives, while most of the one's I've mentioned are "gent's knives". Most people would not expect (and probably would not want to pay for) forty coats of hand rubbed lacquer on a backhoe. Considering that the "street price" of a BG-42 CF Military is a fair bit less than that of a Gold Pearl Kopa half its size, you probably should cut it a bit of slack in the finish department.
My CF BG42 Mili is as good as any knife could be. Except for the cheap looking plastic spacer in the back which is part of the design and which I don't like at all this one is perfect, but that is hardly a fit&finish issue. However, as much as I am fussy about some things, I am forgiving about others. The Mili has, like all Spydercos that I have seen, an unfinished inside of the hole, and it shows like all premium steels from Spyderco a slight discoloration in the jimping of the ramps from the laser cutting. I couldn't care less about those things, but you might see that differently.
I would have to conquer. I just oput my hand on one of these and they are very well put together. And they are soooo smoooth...
But I still prefer my Leaf S30V Lil'T. !!!
Simon
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2005
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- 2,027
Hard to say. I think the Ti ATR is top quality as well. But the fit and finish is no better than, let's say, my Delica. Spyderco is consistent with their quality irregardless of price.
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- Aug 27, 2004
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- 12,955
Three have stood out to me as beautiful to use and to behold from Spyderco over the years and that is the Black Micarta Jess Horn which is probably my all time favorite Spyderco and now discontinued, the R2 that unfortunately flew below my radar until one came to me for work but really impressed me in every way, and the Kiwi which is perhaps one of the top end gents folders ever made IMO.
STR
STR
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
My S30V G10 Military and Viele 2 are my favorites. Of course, the Military is king. No problems whatsoever.