Looking for a Spyderco that is similar to the Endura 4 but "nicer"

S

shorp_noof

Joined
Mar 28, 2023
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The PM2 blade is too short [3.44" with 3.0" cutting edge]. The Military2 is too long [4.0" with 3.7" cutting edge]. The Endura 4 has the perfect blade length for me [3.75" with 3.4" cutting edge].

The reason I think the Military2 is too long is because I'm shy about whipping it out in front of people at work because it's big and scary. My Endura4 is the biggest knife that I use in front of coworkers, even though it's only a tad shorter, because the blade is less heavy duty/aggressive, and also it has friendly looking blue scales. My Para2, which I've carried regularly for over a decade, now feels short. And the Military has such a long handle that I have to scoot my hand up to the spydie hole when I pull it out of my pocket.

I'm not sure if blade length or edge length contributes more to the perception of length. There's also the choil which has some interplay with received length, but my Endura has never felt lacking without a choil.

I've carried an Endura for a couple years now and it's great, but isn't as premium feeling as the other two. The back lock is bland and the materials are meh. It has a good form factor though and is nimble for it's size. It's just not quite what I want. Any suggestions?
 
shorp_noof said:
my Endura has never felt lacking without a choil
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

shorp_noof said:
I've carried an Endura for a couple years now and it's great
Click to expand...

Your needs sound adequately filled.

shorp_noof said:
The back lock is bland and the materials are meh. It has a good form factor though and is nimble for it's size. It's just not quite what I want.
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What do you want? Different lock? Different handle material? They make Enduras with stainless handles, but kiss the nimbleness, balance and good grip of the "less premium" FRN handles goodbye.
 
eefd0RM.jpeg
I recommend a Endela it’s the sweet spot for me 👍🏻 in size
 
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shorp_noof said:
The PM2 blade is too short [3.44" with 3.0" cutting edge]. The Military2 is too long [4.0" with 3.7" cutting edge]. The Endura 4 has the perfect blade length for me [3.75" with 3.4" cutting edge].

The reason I think the Military2 is too long is because I'm shy about whipping it out in front of people at work because it's big and scary. My Endura4 is the biggest knife that I use in front of coworkers, even though it's only a tad shorter, because the blade is less heavy duty/aggressive, and also it has friendly looking blue scales. My Para2, which I've carried regularly for over a decade, now feels short. And the Military has such a long handle that I have to scoot my hand up to the spydie hole when I pull it out of my pocket.

I'm not sure if blade length or edge length contributes more to the perception of length. There's also the choil which has some interplay with received length, but my Endura has never felt lacking without a choil.

I've carried an Endura for a couple years now and it's great, but isn't as premium feeling as the other two. The back lock is bland and the materials are meh. It has a good form factor though and is nimble for it's size. It's just not quite what I want. Any suggestions?
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IMG_3087.jpeg
 
David Mary said:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:



Your needs sound adequately filled.



What do you want? Different lock? Different handle material? They make Enduras with stainless handles, but kiss the nimbleness, balance and good grip of the "less premium" FRN handles goodbye.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering if there is an existing Spyderco model, past or present, with similar size to the Endura, but with a more fun lock, and in something other than FRN. I'm asking because the Spyderco website can't sort by blade length and there's a million different models. I don't mean this as a wishlist sort of thread, but if it was, I'd want a compression lock Endura or a PM2 with an Endura blade.
 
shorp_noof said:
I'm wondering if there is an existing Spyderco model, past or present, with similar size to the Endura, but with a more fun lock, and in something other than FRN. I'm asking because the Spyderco website can't sort by blade length and there's a million different models. I don't mean this as a wishlist sort of thread, but if it was, I'd want a compression lock Endura or a PM2 with an Endura blade.
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Yep, the Opus! Great knife. I had one and gifted it to a friend before I moved provinces.
 
The thing about Spyderco is that they've made a lot of different knife models over the years & none of them are exactly the same (which makes Spydies so collectable) but also makes deciding which model is most like the Endura but "nicer" is a highly arbitrary matter.

But, I just went thru my entire 140+ Spydie folder collection and I came up with the following list of knives that I think are most like the Endura in terms of blade shape & size but also "nicer."

Here's a picture of the knives (which are stacked below a Gen 1 Endura FRN which is the only version of the Endura that I own) that I think qualify for consideration:

sSAKrkO.png


They are (from top to bottom) with the scale material (which is what makes them look nicer than the Endura IMO) noted in parentheses, as follows:

1) Gayle Bradley 2 (CF/G10 Laminate)
2) Advocate (Titanium)
3) Hungarian (Polished G10)
4) Pattada (Buffed G10)
5) JD Smith (Micarta)
6) Calypso (Micarta)

I like them all but the one that I think best fits the requirements is the Gayle Bradley 2 but that's just my personal opinion. It is also the only knife in the list that is still in production & available to buy direct from Spyderco & its dealers.

The rest are now only available in the secondary market & most of them are very hard to find.

The Calypso & JD Smith are the original micarta versions & are not the later sprint G10 versions of those knives. The Calpyso with its 4" blade is probably "too big" for the OP but I included it just the same because I think it's pretty & not as scary as the Millie. 😉

I did NOT include any Spydie w/a FRN or unpolished/buffed G10 scales because none of them IMO would look "nicer" than an Endura w/similiar scales on it. This includes the Opus & Stretch. Nor did I include any knives with a blade with a shape significantly dissimilar to the drop point on the Endura, which includes knives like the Swayback & Kapara.

Nothing against those knives but they didn't seem to fit the OP's requirements for a knife that is like the Endura but "nicer." Arguably, this should also exclude the JD Smith too but I included them just the same because I think that it looks so "nice." :cool:
 
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