- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Messages
- 3,330
Kudos to Sal and Co.! My new BRG Endura 4 PE with ZDP-189 is apparently the best Spyderco I have ever had the pleasure to handle, or own, and quite possibly the best production folder I have ever purchased. Only the test of time in my hands and pockets stands in the way of an unequivocal declaration on that point.
This piece is an impressive synthesis of the benefits of the FRN Spydercos (lightness and high durability at reasonable cost) while mitigating the drawbacks of them (flexing under hard use, inferior clip mounting).
The nested liners barely add any width or weight to the Endura, but they make this knife a world better than the FRN only Spydercos of my past experience. This one has just a little "heft" to it that makes it feel like a serious knife rather than a toy. About the only remaining possible negative on the construction of this knife is that the spacer is FRN and it still holds the pressure of the locking bar, now aided by three torx screws.
Nevertheless, that is a theoretical "strength issue" and none of my past Spydercos has ever popped a locking bar, so I won't worry.
The new bidirectional texturing actually manages to make FRN, especially in BRG, somehow look high end. It looks classier than black and won't show dirt and finger oils like lighter colors do. The bright torx screws in the scales, which screw through the steel liners, and the adustable pivot torx, and the torx screwed clip all lend themselves to a classier look. Even the clip is stylishly designed and looks like anything but a pocket ripper, as there is nothing on it approaching a 90 degree angle. Especially thoughtful is the circular pass through in the clip for the lanyard hole on the tail end, or the pivot screw on the fore end.
Since I prefer tip down carry, the hole in the clip is a great benefit to allow the adjustment of the pivot screw without removing the clip. Benchmade ain't ever figured that one out on any of my models yet.
Also, thanks for putting the clip screws as close as could be managed to the edge of each end and for putting the mounting holes on both sides of the knife. Whatever else might be said about it, the Spyderhole is the ultimate ambidextrous opening device. It is a shame when certain knives with the hole only come with a carry clip with one-sided or limited orientation options. This one has every carry clip option in the book and they are all deep carry ones.
The blade itself is remarkable. I am not known to be a fan of stainless steels in general, but ZDP-189 just might be the steel that changes my mind. This knife came wicked sharp out of the box. The blade is saber ground and cuts like it is fully flat ground. It has zipped through both paper and cardboard for me and has yet to show any signs of slowing down. Time will tell, but I think I am in love with the ZDP-189.
And the blade lends itself to the overall class that this Spyderco tries, and succeeds, to project. The blade is almost mirror polished and the lettering on the ricasso is tastefully done and perfectly legible. Instead of declaring itself the "Endura 4" on the blade like my "Pacific Salt" declares itself there is a muted black bug on the left side of the blade. Tasteful. The "Endura 4" is emblazoned in the middle of each scale and is also tastefully done. If this was a concerted effort to make a great looking Spyderco, please keep the effort level this high across the board. No excuses for looks have to be made for the Endura 4.
The jimping on the blade is the best yet I have seen on a Spyderco, just enough without going overboard, but more than a few larger cuts like on the more midmarket models. The jimping on the top of the scales is also a nice touch.The lock back has a particualrly satisfying "snick" as it locks, and there is not even a hint of up and down or side to side blade play.
When opened, the blade reach is just about as long as those of my beloved AFCKs, with the BMs having a little more blade length due to their having no ricasso. The Endura 4's tip looks like an improvement over past models and other Spydies like the Military. The handle overall is generous enough that the end of the handle could be useable as an impact weapon in a pinch.
So, IMO this Endura is the best overall Spyderco ever. It is better than the Manix I briefly owned because its clip mounting and carry is much better executed. It's better than my past Enduras, and better than my current Pacific Salt. It is apparently, save for speed of opening and possible lateral strength issues between ZDP and D2, the equivalent of my AFCKs for just about 3/5ths of the price. The only niggling criticism that I have of it is that when handling it, I sorely miss the finger cut out of the AFCK. The Endura does offer some resistance to the fingers sliding up the knife via its aggressive texturing on the sides and a flaring of the FRN near the ricasso, but it does feel as if it could be too little in a hard use situation. Of course this concern is also amply mitigated by the humpback for the hole and the previously mentioned jimping. So the "feel" of the Endura in this regard is only "different" not "worse" than an AFCK.
As I am so impressed with this piece, I have put it number one as my EDC. It is a lighter and slimmer carry than the AFCK. It is definitely sharper. It is more sheeple friendly in that it cries out "quality folder" more than "tactical death machine." I think I have a new constant companion.
Thank you Sal, the Endura 4 in ZDP-189 has been a revelation.
This piece is an impressive synthesis of the benefits of the FRN Spydercos (lightness and high durability at reasonable cost) while mitigating the drawbacks of them (flexing under hard use, inferior clip mounting).
The nested liners barely add any width or weight to the Endura, but they make this knife a world better than the FRN only Spydercos of my past experience. This one has just a little "heft" to it that makes it feel like a serious knife rather than a toy. About the only remaining possible negative on the construction of this knife is that the spacer is FRN and it still holds the pressure of the locking bar, now aided by three torx screws.
Nevertheless, that is a theoretical "strength issue" and none of my past Spydercos has ever popped a locking bar, so I won't worry.
The new bidirectional texturing actually manages to make FRN, especially in BRG, somehow look high end. It looks classier than black and won't show dirt and finger oils like lighter colors do. The bright torx screws in the scales, which screw through the steel liners, and the adustable pivot torx, and the torx screwed clip all lend themselves to a classier look. Even the clip is stylishly designed and looks like anything but a pocket ripper, as there is nothing on it approaching a 90 degree angle. Especially thoughtful is the circular pass through in the clip for the lanyard hole on the tail end, or the pivot screw on the fore end.
Since I prefer tip down carry, the hole in the clip is a great benefit to allow the adjustment of the pivot screw without removing the clip. Benchmade ain't ever figured that one out on any of my models yet.
Also, thanks for putting the clip screws as close as could be managed to the edge of each end and for putting the mounting holes on both sides of the knife. Whatever else might be said about it, the Spyderhole is the ultimate ambidextrous opening device. It is a shame when certain knives with the hole only come with a carry clip with one-sided or limited orientation options. This one has every carry clip option in the book and they are all deep carry ones.
The blade itself is remarkable. I am not known to be a fan of stainless steels in general, but ZDP-189 just might be the steel that changes my mind. This knife came wicked sharp out of the box. The blade is saber ground and cuts like it is fully flat ground. It has zipped through both paper and cardboard for me and has yet to show any signs of slowing down. Time will tell, but I think I am in love with the ZDP-189.
And the blade lends itself to the overall class that this Spyderco tries, and succeeds, to project. The blade is almost mirror polished and the lettering on the ricasso is tastefully done and perfectly legible. Instead of declaring itself the "Endura 4" on the blade like my "Pacific Salt" declares itself there is a muted black bug on the left side of the blade. Tasteful. The "Endura 4" is emblazoned in the middle of each scale and is also tastefully done. If this was a concerted effort to make a great looking Spyderco, please keep the effort level this high across the board. No excuses for looks have to be made for the Endura 4.
The jimping on the blade is the best yet I have seen on a Spyderco, just enough without going overboard, but more than a few larger cuts like on the more midmarket models. The jimping on the top of the scales is also a nice touch.The lock back has a particualrly satisfying "snick" as it locks, and there is not even a hint of up and down or side to side blade play.
When opened, the blade reach is just about as long as those of my beloved AFCKs, with the BMs having a little more blade length due to their having no ricasso. The Endura 4's tip looks like an improvement over past models and other Spydies like the Military. The handle overall is generous enough that the end of the handle could be useable as an impact weapon in a pinch.
So, IMO this Endura is the best overall Spyderco ever. It is better than the Manix I briefly owned because its clip mounting and carry is much better executed. It's better than my past Enduras, and better than my current Pacific Salt. It is apparently, save for speed of opening and possible lateral strength issues between ZDP and D2, the equivalent of my AFCKs for just about 3/5ths of the price. The only niggling criticism that I have of it is that when handling it, I sorely miss the finger cut out of the AFCK. The Endura does offer some resistance to the fingers sliding up the knife via its aggressive texturing on the sides and a flaring of the FRN near the ricasso, but it does feel as if it could be too little in a hard use situation. Of course this concern is also amply mitigated by the humpback for the hole and the previously mentioned jimping. So the "feel" of the Endura in this regard is only "different" not "worse" than an AFCK.
As I am so impressed with this piece, I have put it number one as my EDC. It is a lighter and slimmer carry than the AFCK. It is definitely sharper. It is more sheeple friendly in that it cries out "quality folder" more than "tactical death machine." I think I have a new constant companion.
Thank you Sal, the Endura 4 in ZDP-189 has been a revelation.
