Latest releases vs the classics

Harry Callahan

Harry Callahan

Fresh outta warranty
Platinum Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2002
Messages
1,756
In our feverish rush to track down and purchase the newest Spyderco do we sometimes forget the old standbys? I've been looking for a Spyderfly for so long I'm almost convinced they don't exsist. So in the meantime I've been carrying my stainless Harpy, a Spydie that's been in constant production for more than fifteen years. Before that I was carrying my Worker. One of my co-workers carries a combo-edge Endura every day and could care less about Spyderflys, ATRs, Paramilitarys or Yojimbos.

The lastest and greatest may get all the headlines but there's a lot to be said for these old classics. Spyderco discontinues a lot of knives each year. The fact that these knives remain in the catalog after so long means they're something special.

An example showdown between lastest production vs a classic might be the Assist vs the Rescue. The Assist has all the new gadgetry; wire clip, cobra hood, finger grooves, bi-directional grip surface, an inch of plainedge at the tip, built in whistle, glass breaker, etc. The humble old rescue lacks a fair number these high speed features. It's just flat, lightweight, well designed, slightly cheaper, and cuts like a chainsaw. It is available in hi-viz orange and two different sizes. Not trying to take anything away from the Assist, but as an owner of both knives I carry the Rescue 79 while the Assist remains new-in-box. The thin profile of the Rescue seems to make the difference for me. Both models, of course, provide reliable high performance (which is the name of the game in Golden).

Do you carry the classics?
 
My favorates are the Military and Native.Lately I have become more interested in the classics.The newer ones seem to be more directed at a small group of users.
Bring on the designs like the Manix,Kopa and G10 Native chief!
 
Hmm... good topic.

Sometimes I carry a Military or the Chinook I. The Para-Military and Chinook II just don't interest me much.

On the other hand, I carried a Hunter for awhile (which is really old-school). Now I carry a Scorpius in its place. The Scorpius fills a similar role, but it’s a more advanced design, IMO.

It's fun to follow the development of new knives, but I agree that some of them are meant to fill a niche. You can't go wrong with the classics though!
 
I have been carrying Spyderco Delicas and Enduras almost everyday since I got my first Endura for xmas in 90. Ok I admit, a BM crawford leopard snuck into my pocket for a few years but even then I generally had a delica or two on my person at the same time. My very favorite spyderco was a g10 harpy that may be lost but I am hoping I will find when I move out of my trashy apartment and a close second is my g10 worker which is currently tucked safely away. I love the new knives but my persian and CF [police rarely get carried. I want a szabofly and a mily and well shucks I want em all but the classics are classics for a reason and not just the folders, how bout that Moran swept point, another one of my absolute favs.

Yeah bring on the manix and the kerambit II (not so shiney please) but the originals still rock.
 
The newer knives do nothing for me.

The Salt and Pacific are the exception. I have just ordered a plain edged Pacific and Endura.
 
I have a Rescue in my truck and when I go out in the bush, I ususally take it with me in my day pack. I also carry a Military each and everyday, although, I have had a CRKT M16-01K show up once and while lately.

So yeah I still carry a Rescue as well, although not as an EDC.

Garrett
 
I also preffer older Spydies. The new ones are great, I can see a lot of improvements there, but there are some of the older ones which were close to perfection from the start. :) Delica, Police, Military, even the small Cricket have suffered only minor alterations in time. I guess it's called evolution.
 
I'm sure the newer models are very well thought-out and we know that Spyderco makes top-notch knives, but there is something missing from the newer crop.

I absolutely love the old SS, micarta and G-10 Spyderco models.
In fact, I have come to really dislike FRN.
My current favorites that I actually own are:

SS Mariner
Micarta Calypso Jr.
Micarta Wayne Goddard Jr.
G-10 Police
Micarta Dyad Jr.

Ones that I would love to see Sal revive:

Micarta Wayne Goddard
G-10 Standard
G-10 Harpy
Micarta Calypso
Micarta Calypso Jr.
G-10 Renegade
G-10 Blackhawk

The old classics were the best for there time, and with an upgrade to VG-10 and Boye dent, they would be the best today.

Allen.
 
Greetings you all:)

I found this old one in the archives:o and was curious about other opinions as well.

For myself I like the old school Spydies better as well.

Despite honestly giving the updated models an honest try, I keep lugging along my Delica /SE, Military or G10 Rookie.

How about you?
 
Out of all the Spydercos I've handled, from the Pikal to the Endura, the Military is by far my favorite. As far as general trends go, I haven't noticed a particular fondness of the newer designs to the old or vice versa. Some just fit me better than others do.
 
fellyjr said:
I know, and I didn't really expect or need the answer to this one. He must have been thinking of the Standard or ?? ;):)
Click to expand...

Who knows what another is thinking; I can barely vouch for myself sometimes; just look at the political thread over in the cove...:rolleyes:
 
It is a cool topic though. I just got bitten (rebitten really) by the spyder bug(how many legs would a Spyder bug have?) because I got a good deal on a Chinook3.
It has all the bells and whistles ,S30V blade ,big name designer and a quality handle material. Since I ordered the chinook(it should be here tomorow) I have been checking out the catalogs forums etc and the knives that really impress me are the Classics especially the Endura but also the Delicia, Police and the rescue knives. I am more into fixed blades than folders but there are times like when wearing shorts or at family gatherings even my Scrapyard SS4 is not appropriate. I have been getting by with a Byrd Crossbill but as a knife nut I want something a bit more impressive. Also the Byrd's clip moves and the stainless gets scratched.
 
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