I'm going to buy my first Spyderco. Your advice?

Delica (Small 2 -7/8" blade ) Endella (medium 3.4" blade) or Endura (large 3.75" blade, all made in Japan) in K390 if a non stainless steel is ok with you JAPANESE TREATED K390 steel is suppose to be one very good cutting steel. If stainless is a must then the Japanese VG10 steel blade models are not bad but have nowhere near the same edge retention as Japanese treated K390. The Endura and Delica are among the oldest Spyderco designs. The Endela is almost the same size as the really old out of production early Endura version 1 ( all ergo shaped lockbacks.) These designs are so good they still remain in production and sell well too. These known classics truly embody the spyderco function over form experience. The K390 models are over your budget but not by much.

I personally would make sure I get a K390 steel model that is Japanese made. I will let you figure out the rest.

Oh Oh something that is not mentioned nearly enough with the standard VG10 Endura and flat.jpgsaber.png Delica also you have a choice of blade grind. Either full flat or saber. I like the saber grind because it has more steel left on the blade for durability. The full flat which is the most common by the way is more slicey and the blade slightly lighter.
 
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I did recently score a Manix2 XL for only $110 , but they normally go for more like $175 .

Fantastic substantial folder with great ergos and blade shape /geometry .

Premium steel and ball bearing lock .
 
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The Native is my favorite knife in the 3" range. I have two lightweights in different steel flavors, and when I want to carry a smaller, yet capable knife, that's what I go for. I don't have a Delica, but they're very popular, under $100, and will probably handle any of your everyday cutting needs for years to come.
 
Chalk up another vote for looking for a gently used pm2 or para 3 depending on your size preference. Manix 2 is another great choice. Those plus the Shaman are the only models I currently own, having owned probably 50+ Spydercos in the past.

Edit: Speak of the devil, lots of pm2/para 3 options listed now. Prices may be a bit higher than you're after but it can't hurt to try to negotiate!
 
I like the Endura with the wave feature on the blade for quick open on presentation from pocket…it is very handy at my job where I need a free hand and sometimes a very quick blade. The zytle plastic-like grips have metal inserts inside which gives this a little more heft vs the plain liner-less Delica/zytle that I have. The steel is VG 10 on the Endura and really, I can get the VG 10 very sharp and same for the Aus8 on my old original Delica/stainless handle model…. the Dragonfly and another Zytle Delica that I own, both are VG10 also, and I experience the same ease of sharpening and I beat the shit out of my knives at work, mind you, I do not abuse them, but I ”use” them in a heavy equipment maintenance role. I mainly carry the Endura Wave and a Benchmade 580 and a ZT 350TS on a daily basis and rotate them off and on…I don’t let myself get caught up in the super-steel what’s the best according to anyone thing as I know how to sharpen and maintain an edge although I do have some more expensive knives with higher alleged steels, I buy them because I like them, not because I seek out the latest new steel by the knife forge gurus’….but I will purchase it if it otherwise interests me on other points. These Delicas‘ and Enduras’ at a middle of the road cost of $80-ish-$100-ish will do everything you ever need to do with a pocket knife, and there are tools to do things with that a pocket knife wasn’t meant for. My suggestion is the Endura, it leaves my Delicas’ seemingly a little light for my tasks during my work week….cheers
 
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