Recommendation? My first spyderco

Lord_Balkan

Lord_Balkan

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Aug 25, 2016
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Surprisingly, I have not bought a Spyderco yet. The Spydiehole looked way too wonky for me. Though there are two that I am really warming up to.

The Spyderco Slyzs Bowie and the Gayle Bradley 2 are looking really awesome or even the discontinued Gayle Bradley Air. I live in the midwest and it is pretty humid out here, though I do have a supply of frog lube to help with rust.

I am not really interested in the paramilitary series and I am not too interested in lock-backs.

I already have a CRKs, some CKF knives, a benchmade balisong, and an Olamic 247. What would you guys recommend as a first spyderco knife to buy for me?
 
I think the Slyzs Bowie is the better choice between the two you mentioned. It just appeals to me more aesthetically :)
 
I wouldn't really worry too much about rust on the cpm m4. I've had two spyderco's in that steel and I've never had more than a patina show up, except for the time I went kayaking with one in my pocket and ended up in the water a few times. Even with sitting in wet clothes for a few hours, it was only surface rust and it came off by rubbing it. And I rarely oil my blades, usually I just wipe them off.
 
If you can get a GB 1 you should consider that. Though you would be very pleased with any of the knives you mentioned.
 
I think both are good. I've only handled the 2 at my local knife store. The 1 I own. I believe the reason many prefer the 1 to the 2 is that the liners, and thus the liner lockbar is quite thick for a linerlock.

In all honesty though I doubt that the GB2 would be weaker in real world use.
 
Both are superb knives. Hard to pass up the value of the GB2. With that said, both knives are worth every penny.

Go with your gut.
 
Had The GB2 for a day.. Hated digging in the liner to release the lock.. Back it went.. John
 
Yes many do not like that there isn't a relief cut to release the lock. Never been an issue for me.
 
The GB 1 is strictly a workhorse. If I was hard cutting all day it would be great. I don't find it comfortable to close one handed, and yes my hands are plenty tough. I recently returned mine.
 
You get used to the lock. I love my GB1. It's what I would choose.
 
I own the original solid-liner 1; and I have the 2 in for the fundraiser giveaway. I specified some functional mods to the 2: a cutout for the lock release, cerakote the blade and all hardware (in addition to some largely aesthetic mods to make the knife more conforming to the colors of MPN cancers).

The 1 is clearly heavier. I can feel the difference just picking the knives up. I would say, in fact, that the 1 is substantially heavier; does that make it a better knife? Oddly enough - because I am a big fan of a bit of weight in my knives - I'm going to say "No." The 2 might be lighter, but something about it (the way it locks up? the action?) makes it feel just as solid as the 1.

The 2 actually has better ergos now that it's been modded. The release cutout is actually better on the 2; I had Josh from Razor Edge cut and grind down a nice section of knife for this, and Josh either knows his stuff or got extremely lucky. This knife is a dream to operate right-handed. Both the 1 and 2 can be operated left-handed, using my index finger to release the lock, but I think the 2 is just the slightest bit easier.

The liners on the 2 now project proudly from under the scales. It honestly feels like the 2 is just a little bit thicker when you sum up liners and scales, and this does fit my hand just a bit better. That's all I think is fair to comment on with the scales; Steve Ketchen did great work for me, but the rest of the work are more "additions" than "fixes".

The 2's blade is a bit longer. This is in keeping with the overall ethos of the 2. When you take the lighter weight, longer blade, bit of a narrower blade, and the handle shape - which I have not mentioned yet - the 2 is more of a dynamic, svelte, gentleman's folder. The 1 is considerably blockier; especially in the shape of the handle and blade; this blockiness gives me the feeling that both knives are home on a Texas ranch. The 1 is geared for the hands of and the needs of the working ranch hand; the 2 is geared towards the hands and needs of the ranch foreman - somebody who will do hard work with the knife, but will also use it to open packages, mail, etc.

I mentioned that the handles of the knives give us an idea of purpose, of ethos. An example of what I have in mind by that: the butt of the handles. On the 1, the butt comes out to form a point, and moving forward, the top of the the handle adopts a series of smaller radius curves. Not unattractive, at all; but a little too busy, perhaps. The butt is large; not quite big enough to be labelled Internet-Stopping, it's still a pretty big booty. The 2's butt ends quickly, leaving no room for an impression of Sir Mix-A-Lot. Moving forward, there is a gentleness to the curves required to make it to the front of the knife. Quite reminiscent of open spaces in Texas, these gentle, large curves give me the impression of a knife that is longer, lighter - in short, this sylistic change seems to support the purpose of the knife.

I don't know; by some token, I really like the 1. It has a solid, maneuverable, tank-like quality that the 2 is lacking. I'm not sure that, from the perspective of purpose, you could go wrong with either knife. You might want to contact somebody who does regrinds and who has worked on the GB2. Get quotes on what it would take to fix the issues brought up for you: everything is, after all, fixable with enough cash. Cerakote the blade to eliminate the corrosion issue; cutout a lock release groove - those are the two biggest issues I know of, and easily fixed if they really are that big of a PITA.
 
The GB1 was one of my favorite Spydercos. When the GB2 came out I bought one of the first ones I could find. After using it for a few days, I bought another GB1 while I could still find one. I hope that illustrates my preference ;)

I also suggest the Slysz Bowie, the Techno or the Advocate if you can get one of the new ones that they're re-engineering the bearing races on.
 
A superb user thst doesn't make sense on paper is the Milli. Probably one of the best slim pocket able big knives on the market.
 
The slysz Bowie and gb2 are both exceptional knives. I think right now the gb2 is the best value money and material wise out of any knife on the market at the moment. You should also try a Military..
 
Yes many do not like that there isn't a relief cut to release the lock. Never been an issue for me.


The GB 1 is strictly a workhorse. If I was hard cutting all day it would be great.


You get used to the lock. I love my GB1.


(The lack of cutout for the liner is one reason I really prefer the GB. Nice clean handle shape without dips and gullies. I usually just two hand it but here is ApostleP one handing with either hand (he’s a lefty no less)).


A superb user thst doesn't make sense on paper is the Milli. Probably one of the best slim pocket able big knives on the market.


I’ve only had it less than a full day but I concur about the Military. Super easy to close and open multiple ways. I don’t usually go for a deep cut out for the liner lock but since one can even close it with gloves on this is one I make an enthusiastic exception for. COOOOOL KNIFE !
Doesn't mean I like the GB 1 any less; LOVE that knife !

HahaHa with the GB 1 I have tried to patina it and it has resisted; there is only fairly light darkening. Last night I used my brand new (hours old) Military to cut up avocado, roasted whole chilies and a little lemon slicing and this Military M4 has some major patina. I’m not complaining in the least nope not at all. Interesting the dif in the two M4 blades from Spyderco

Never ANY rust but it is very dry here.
(he said as the rain runs down the window and we have had some major sloppy wet snow the last few days.)



As far as the Slysz Bowie . . . I guess I don’t “get it”. As far as I can tell from reviews and vids it is all about how smooth it is opening and closing.

The blade shape near the tip doesn’t seem useful, at least for how I use a knife, and the handle seems too wide and kind of shortish for how wide it is. Never handled one so what do I know.

Oh and one fun / useful thing you can do with that big O’ spyder hole is the spyder drop to open the knife. Pretty handy especially with gloves on. I just did it with an Endura and my well insulated winter “snow gloves” on.

If you just want to get your feet wet and have a knife you will most likely want to carry with about any large knife as a second knife try the Spyderco Dragonfly. I like the ZDP-189 but others are great too.
 
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I just had a similar decision to make: my first Spyderco. After handling a bunch of them at the store, I ended up with a Sage 2 Ti. No regrets at all.
 
The bowie does look nice, however ive always liked the lines of the gb. I personally would get the gb first then the bowie.
 
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