Unlike many, I was actually drawn to Spyderco for their looks.
In 1994, at the age of 14, I cut myself badly enough to need stitches when my SAK closed on my finger. I was already a knife-knut at that time, although I didn't own many. My dad, knowing that my cut wouldn't ebb my interest in knives, decided I needed a locking knife. My dad has EDC'd a SAK for as long as I can remember and owns a Buck 110 he bought in 1976 when he went into the USAF, but that's it for him as far as knives go. Anyway, since he wasn't super savvy on knives, he took me to the base with him. In 94, he was the commander of the security police unit at his base. One of enlisted men in his unit owned quite a few knives, and my dad had him sit down with me and show me some different models. He had several for me to look at. I don't remember all of them. But I found myself most drawn to his primary EDC, a Spyderco Endura. I found the "Spyderco triangle" blade shape most appealing of all of the items on the table, and also really liked the handle shape and checkering of the Endura. A couple of weeks later, my dad and I went to a sporting goods store this man recommended and we bought me a Spyderco Gen1 Delica in plain edge. I prefered the size of the Delica for EDC, still do. I didn't get serious about collecting for another 7-8 years after that, but when I did, Spyderco was at the top of my list. They'll always be a staple of my collection. I still have that Delica tucked away at home along with my SS Delica in AUS-6 and the Delica 3 that eventually replaced it as EDC. I currently rotate through a variety of knives for daily carry, but there is always a D4 tucked in my back pocket as well. I doubt I'll ever be without a Delica unless Spyderco stops making them.
