How strong is a Spyderco Endura 4 and Police?

J

Jay Hiewd

Joined
Jan 15, 2021
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34
I got a Cold Steel lawman and it is flat like a Spyderco. How strong is the lock on a Spyderco Endura or Police? The Spyderco feels flimsy compared to the Cold Steel. I'm tempted to sell my Spyderco Police for a Recon 1 and my Endura for more layman's.

I carry the Spyderco when I workout bc it doesn't bounce around much in my pocket. It also has never rusted from sweat. Will Cold Steel be as rust resistant?
 
Spyderco lockbacks(or midlocks) are as strong as any other lockback. Cold Steel's Triad lock is much stronger but the way I see it, if you need a folder to be that strong you should just carry a fixed blade. I'm not sure what steel the Lawman has so I can't comment on corrosion resistance.
 
both spydercos are strong enough to use as a folding knife.

the Tri-ad lock on the cold steel is the strongest lock there is, so far. far stronger than you need for a folding knife...but I like the tri-ad and prefer it to many other locks.

current production cold steel recon 1 and lawman is s35vn with a pvd coating. it will be rust resistant enough to sweat.

older models used different steel. xhp, aus8 and maybe another I've forgotten about.....all are stainless steels though.
 
You can't bash them like a CS folder, but these are cutting tools. They are nice and light. Very hot lately so I have had a P4LW or Endura in shorts a lot, too. I am glad that I can carry a longer folder like that in such a light package.

Also, what steel is your American Lawman? The AUS-10 is very rust resistant, never had a spot. However, I have spotted CS S35VN before, carrying my XL in a leather sheath all day, but it is still a pretty stainless steel.
 
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DangerZone98 said:
IMO, more than strong enough for any reasonable knife task. I just like the overengineered gimmick of the Cold Steel Triad lock.

A well maintained Spyderco (assuming no factory defects) is a buy it for life item.
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yep, but i don't think of the Demko locks as over engineered gimmicks...more just how he looks at something and says where's it flaws and weaknesses and how can I improve on them. the tri-ad was a pretty brilliant idear on how to improve a backlocks strength dramatically and reduce blade play with its self adjusting wear in design.
 
DocJD said:
🤯:mad:😒😏🤪

Absolute best lock for "hard use" folders ...that I know of .

I'll assume you are joking ?
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I now seeing as him saying and I'm paraphrasing into my own words here.......he
likes the design, but doesn't need that much lock strength for folding knife tasks...and that's true if using a folder as a folder.....

you and I see the tri-ad as a way to get as close as possible to fixed blade strength in a folder.....
 
Seems like it really depends on how you intend to use your knives. If you plan on very hard use, maybe the Cold Steel knives are better. But I think for most cutting tasks the Spydercos are plenty strong, depending to some extent on the steel used.
 
bowman47 said:
Seems like it really depends on how you intend to use your knives. If you plan on very hard use, maybe the Cold Steel knives are better. But I think for most cutting tasks the Spydercos are plenty strong, depending to some extent on the steel used.
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Unnecessary holes, in fixed blades especially , are a "gimmick " IMO ! ;)

Joking ! I've got nothing against Spyderco . Carried a Gen 1 all stainless serrated Police for many years .

Still carry a Manix 2 XL or light weight sometimes , when ultimate strength is not an issue . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Lock Backs are very strong but the Triad lock is a superior enhanced lock back design that is much stronger.

If the Spyderco Endura or Police have a good defect free lock I would not worry about it.

As to which is stronger over all between the Endura models and the police that would likely be the Endura with a saber grind blade. The flat ground blades have less metal, more fragile tips and would likely break much easier than the Saber ground blades. The police with a saber grind is good except the tip is more fragile.

The saber grind is not as good a slicer but for my uses the difference does not matter and I do not feel the difference is significant. I like the saber grind.

A lot of websites don't do a great job clearly identifying whether the spyderco they sell you is a flat or Saber grind. Most of the Spydercos sold these days have a flat grind though.
 
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I admit that I am a Spyderco fan, but I certainly would not carry one if I didn’t have full faith in them holding up. I have mistreated a very old Delica many times and it still locks up like new. I have used the Tenacious models for ‘chore knives’ at my remote property and have pretty much torture tested them with never a problem. My Endura’s are great. PM2 and M2 are my personal favorite folders and can do anything I would ever hope to accomplish with a folder.

I bought a Cold Steel 4Max Scout just to check out the lock and how stout the knife is. It is a truly impressive knife regardless of the insanely inexpensive price. If I were to judge a folder just on how stout the locking mechanism is, it would be way up there.

Imho a lock has no bearing on batoning, as I would not have a lock engaged if I ever actually needed to do so. I do think the 4MaxScout would hold up to being beaten pretty harshly.


*Full disclosure I am a fixed blade nut and always carry one in addition to folders.
 
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