How tough are Spyderco's fixed blades?

I concur with Razorsharp 1986. I've found that a nice complement to the Temperance2 in the woods is my old Cold Steel Bushman. The Temp rides on my pants belt, and the Bushman is in an On-Scene Tactical sheath on my fanny-pack belt. My LH PE SS Police model rides in my pocket, enhanced by STR with a textured handle and by Tom Krein with a sharpened swedge. She makes a nice splinter picker, and does any other precision work.
 
I Personally carry 1 small fixed blade, which usually is one of the following: Spyderco Street Beat, RAT Izula or the Becker Necker with Olivewood handle.
Also, I will either carry my RAT 6, BK9, BK Magnum Camp, KABAR Heavy Bowie or the Ontario Marine Combat Bowie. I'll also carry an Opinel #9, a Spyderco Military or my Spyderco Pacific Salt.
I find that carrying 3 different sized blades, actually saves time and is indeed comfortable. Note that the folders weighs almost nothing, the small fixed blade barely weighs anything, and the bigger survival blade's weight is worth carrying.

I've tried taking only one survival blade to camping trips before. But even though I always used good, reliable knives, they always came short. It was either lacking the chopping ability, Slicing ability, or the ease of carrying.
 
I have experience with the swick, spot, forester, 51200 mule and aqua salt

the swick and spot don't really apply here, butthey make comfortable edc's or would be suitable as a neck knife for the outdoors. My reprofiled swick carves wood with significcant ease.

The mules would make a great small utility blade, but are no prybars or choppers.

The aqua salt is an exceptional survival knife IMO. Completely impervious to rust, secure handle, cutting edge goes right up to the handle which gives excellent leverage for whittling, the steel takes a keen edge and grinds more easily than most any other high class stainless, it's extremely tough and can be batoned with or lashed to a stick and used to hack away brush and ships with a good sheath. This is a great knife for everything outside of serious chopping and trail clearing, though it can do a little bit of both.

The forester is a fun knife. The edge comes pretty thick so reprofiling is essential if you want strong chopping performance. The knife has a somewhat thin blade compared to other knives of it's size, meaning it will chop wood slightly worse due to less weight but will be more useful as a trail clearing machete sort of tool. Capable of batoning and some prying, though too much leverage will start flexing the blade. If you run a search I think I posted some photos of my old one in use (spyderco forester testing was the name of the thread). Unfortunately I'm not rich enough to test one to destruction, though I'm curious how the steel holds up sun accidently chopping into a rock or doing some over the top prying. I liked this knife a lot but liked the scrapyard dogfather a little bit better.

If you want max toughness go with H1. Aqua salt if you want a utility knife, rock salt if youwant something bigger and more robust.
 
Thx for your thoughts Vivi.
Vivi said:
rock salt if youwant something bigger and more robust.
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This one is on its way to me as we speak. ;) Bought it on its looks alone, ok that, and the fact that my Dayhiker is a great knife too. I have no doubt it will be a very good knife.
 
I've narrowed it down to Aqua Salt, and either Rock Salt or Hossom. Thanks for the input everyone!
 
When you think about it objectively you have to give Spyderco a great deal of credit for all the great fixed blades that they've come out with so far. Especially for no longer than they have been a player in that segment of the market.

Because in all fairness Spyderco is really still in the "infant stage" of their fixed blade production. It's not a market that they've been in for a very long period of time considering all the time they have been making their superb folders and their superior sharpening equipment. And in the short time that they have went from strictly making folders and sharpening tools to adding fixed blades and some other products to their line up really hasn't even been that long at all by any corporate standards.

I truly think that the intro of the Temperance 2 is going to be the gateway for some fixed blades coming down their pipeline that is going to make the marketplace really take notice here in the next few years.

I think that the Temp 2 and the Bushcraft especially are both truly the benchmark of some super fixed blades to come. They are raising their own bar pretty high in a very short time period when you think about it.

If they make even half the mark in the fixed blade market that they have made with their superior quality folders >> well let's put it this way>> I think we might be seeing it get much harder for custom knife makers to sell their goods if Spyderco's fixed blade quality continues to improve in the direction they are going now. They are indeed heading upward in that sector of the market.
 
JD Spydo said:
think we might be seeing it get much harder for custom knife makers to sell their goods if Spyderco's fixed blade quality continues to improve in the direction they are going now. They are indeed heading upward in that sector of the market.
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I don't think any manufacturer makes a dent in the sales of true custom knives. They simply do not fish in the same pond.
I have 2 custom blades, and no manufacturer offered or offered such blades.

Spyderco's fixed blades are very good, you have no dispute from me there. But I don't see how their products would threaten custom makers where Benchmade, Cold Steel and lots of other manufacturers don't.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
I don't know about that. Fallkniven use VG10 as well and they're around the same price.
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I agree with you Dr. Heelhook>> because most of the brothers/sisters don't realize just how much some of this exotic bar stock costs. Some of these newer super steels are very costly and thus the manufacturer has to charge high prices just to cover their expenses.

That's why you don't see many of the companies that you see selling their goods at local hardware stores making knives of VG-10, ZDP-189, S30V, S90V, D-2 ect, ect,. But Spyderco is one of the rare companies that goes that extra mile.

Now Philwar I think you misunderstood the emphasis of the point I was trying to make on my most previous post. I agree with you to a certain degree that it's tough to compare production knives to that of your better custom knife makers. But I still maintain that Spyderco's quality on their fixed blades has really escalated ( and continues to get better) since they have gotten into that sector of the market. Most guys I know who buy customs rarely use them and usually make safe queens out of them.

Whereas a high percentage of people who buy a Spyderco fixed blade will indeed use a high percentage of the ones they buy. And as good as Spyderco heat treats their steel and puts great engineering into other aspects of their blades I do think you'll see many people buying fixed blade Spyders for hard use rather than going to the huge expense of a using a custom in the field. That's where I think they'll compete is with fixed blades they'll be inclined to use in the field. I think we're already seeing a lot of evidence of that already.

By the way I would love to see Bob Dozier and Spyderco do a fixed blade collaboration :cool:
 
+1 on the Dozier / Spyderco Colab.
I'd also love to see another Colab with Fred Perrin. Maybe a small H-1 EDC fixed blade.
I've got many folders by Spyderco, but their fixed blades are just amazing. And as JD said, in the past couple of years they've raised the benchmark by A LOT.
I really don't think that any other manufacturers make as high quality fixed blades like Spyderco does. Benchmades fixed blades are made with relatively cheaper, and lower grade steels, and I'm really skeptical about their HT, especially after seeing Nutnfancy's review update of the CSK, and using my nirvamus out-doors. Cold Steel make some big and tough blades, but their QC is highly questionable, since many products I've purchased have failed me miserably. Now there's still Fallkniven, but I think they're overpriced a little and generally are not nearly as creative in their designs as Spyderco.
 
Razorsharp1986 said:
+1 on the Dozier / Spyderco Colab.
I'd also love to see another Colab with Fred Perrin. Maybe a small H-1 EDC fixed blade.
I've got many folders by Spyderco, but their fixed blades are just amazing. And as JD said, in the past couple of years they've raised the benchmark by A LOT.
I really don't think that any other manufacturers make as high quality fixed blades like Spyderco does. Benchmades fixed blades are made with relatively cheaper, and lower grade steels, and I'm really skeptical about their HT, especially after seeing Nutnfancy's review update of the CSK, and using my nirvamus out-doors. Cold Steel make some big and tough blades, but their QC is highly questionable, since many products I've purchased have failed me miserably. Now there's still Fallkniven, but I think they're overpriced a little and generally are not nearly as creative in their designs as Spyderco.
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Hey a big HIGH FIVE on everything you just said Razorsharp :):thumbup:

But do keep in mind that Fallkniven is using a laminated VG-10 in many of their fixed blades. I don't know it for an absolute fact because I don't have paperwork to prove it but I've heard from a guy who knows a lot about steel that the laminated VG-10 is even more expensive than the bar stock that Spyderco uses. If that's truly the case I have to give Fallkniven the benefit of the doubt to a certain degree. Like I've said previously I have a great deal of respect for Fallkniven. The ones I've seen and held are top notch. Truly I think they are Spyderco's main competitor in the fixed blade market in the future. And let the best company win.

Yeah A Bob Dozier/Spyderco collaboration and offer that blade with or without a guthook :thumbup:
 
I agree, Fallkniven make amazing quality knives, and their knives are made of that laminated VG-10, with an outer layer of 420j, if I recall correctly. I really think that in the race of Spyderco and Fallkniven's fixed blades, the edge Spyderco has is the variety of steels and the unique designs.
I've used Fallkniven H1 and A2 on a couple of trips, and found them really useful. But I like a variety of designs, while Fallkniven's knives are very similar to one another. Furthermore, I really don't like craton handles, and their nicer handled models are even more expensive.
Also, I am a sucker for Spyderco's H-1 steel. This stuff is amazing from any angle you look at it. Or maybe I'm a sucker for Spyderco overall, that would explain why I've got so many of them :eek:
And again, different people are entitled to different opinions. We got to look for the best for US. So far I've never been disappointed with a Spyderco blade, ever.
 
JD Spydo said:
Now Philwar I think you misunderstood the emphasis of the point I was trying to make on my most previous post. I agree with you to a certain degree that it's tough to compare production knives to that of your better custom knife makers. But I still maintain that Spyderco's quality on their fixed blades has really escalated ( and continues to get better) since they have gotten into that sector of the market./QUOTE]

I didn't misunderstand anything:
JD Spydo said:
I think we might be seeing it get much harder for custom knife makers to sell their goods if Spyderco's fixed blade quality continues to improve in the direction they are going now. They are indeed heading upward in that sector of the market.
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And I say Spyderco will never be a competitor for custom makers. They don't aim to become one either.

JD Spydo said:
Most guys I know who buy customs rarely use them and usually make safe queens out of them.
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So again, I don't see how Spyderco would become a competitor, unless you are now saying Spyderco are (or will be) making blades to be used as safe queens, instead of the hard use knives you said they were making earlier.
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Razorsharp1986 said:
I agree, Fallkniven make amazing quality knives, and their knives are made of that laminated VG-10, with an outer layer of 420j, if I recall correctly. I really think that in the race of Spyderco and Fallkniven's fixed blades, the edge Spyderco has is the variety of steels and the unique designs.
I've used Fallkniven H1 and A2 on a couple of trips, and found them really useful. But I like a variety of designs, while Fallkniven's knives are very similar to one another. Furthermore, I really don't like craton handles, and their nicer handled models are even more expensive.
Also, I am a sucker for Spyderco's H-1 steel. This stuff is amazing from any angle you look at it. Or maybe I'm a sucker for Spyderco overall, that would explain why I've got so many of them :eek:
And again, different people are entitled to different opinions. We got to look for the best for US. So far I've never been disappointed with a Spyderco blade, ever.
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Another fine point you raise RAZORSHARP and it's one that really hasn't been expounded on in this thread. Spyderco's growing line up of H-1 bladed knives is truly amazing me more each passing day. With the recent re-introduction of that awesome hawkbill blade the C-77 Spyderhawk it just takes the SALT series to a higher level. Now I think it's time for them to discuss the possibility of making a serious outdoor or even a multi-purpose fixed blade with H-1 and have a nice tactical sheath to go with it.

Spyderco's SALT series of H-1 blades is not equaled by any other knife company that I'm knowledgable of. They've covered a lot of different types of knives in that series; a with a lot of success I might add. And those newer H-1 dive knives are just really awesome to say the least. But a serious outdoor hunting type knife with H-1 would have me working 2 jobs to say the least; if that's what it took to get one. The Spyders I have with H-1 have really grown on me. I was skeptical at first until I took a Tasman and carried it everyday and sharpened it every other day. It's true the more you sharpen it the harder the edge seems to get. I didn't fully believe it until I experienced it first hand.

This honestly makes me want to go start a new thread over at Spyderco.com Forum. An H-1, outdoor fixed blade. Hey dude you got your thinking cap on today for sure. I second that motion for sure!!
 
If they would do a version of that fixed blade Lum Tanto FB03 model with either CPM-M4, D-2 or laminated ZDP-189 I'm sure they would sell as fast as they could pass them out.

The only thing I ever had against that blade was that it was originally made with AUS-8. It didn't make it bad per se but I sure would have liked to seen it in VG-10 or even ATS-55 for that matter. I like AUS-8 for a kitchen knife or a fillet knife but for that type of a blade I would sure have preferred something else.

Bob Lum's tanto designs are the best I've ever encountered. I have a user C-46 Lum Tanto folder that I've turned down some very big trade offers for. Mainly because it's such a versatile blade.

If I had my pick of discontinued Spyderco fixed blades to bring back it would be the Lum tanto with another blade steel. I'm sure others will agree. It's already getting to be a nice collector piece as it is.
 
JD Spydo said:
The one brother sort of complained that the Temperance 2 is overpriced. I respectfully disagree with him from 2 different standpoints. First of all most people have no idea about the cost of bar stock for some of those premium cutlery steels. A piece of VG-10 bar stock that size would not be cheap I can assure you. VG-10 is a fantastic cutlery steel all the way around and most production knife companies would never use that great of a blade steel for a fixed blade. But Spyderco goes that extra mile and gives the user and/or collector something significant for their money.

Not to mention that the newer Temperance model has a full tang which is a vast improvement over the Temperance 1 model. Spyderco took a great blade and made it much better yet. I've been very, very pleased with both my Temperance 1 models and even without a full tang both of mine have been subjected to some mean usage and have held up well.

And VG-10 will hold an edge just as good as any competitive carbon steel or tool steel will. I think you could even make a good straight razor with VG-10.
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I really like the looks of the temperance II but it's way overpriced.
I do like spyderco fixed blades, I've got about 5 of them, but no way I would buy a Temperance II at the current price.
This is still a factory knife.
For this price a custom knifemaker made me a very similar knife to my design.
I had it made in 3V but I could also have asked for other high end steels or not well known European steels.
(I know VG10 is still limited to Japan only).
So I've got a similar knife, perfect fit and finish, adapted to my hands and scales I prefer for about the same price.

Although I really like the Temperance II (except the mocha coloured micarta) the price brings it into custom territory.
And if you really are into knives and do a bit a searching you will find very talented knifemakers that don't charge tons of money.
 
I want a M4 Lum tanto too :(

I guess right now the best knife for my needs would be an Aqua Salt.
 
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