Need Help deciding on a Spyderco

Macchina

Macchina

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
5,215
Hi everyone,
I am a Benchmade nut, about to venture into the web of Spyderco (ha, ha... okay, not that funny). I am looking at all the designs, and can't decide. I want something with nice steel (s30v, vg-10, d2, etc.), not to wierd looking (I know, they're Spydercos), and around $70. Tell me what's your favorite, and why.

Oh yeah, I was looking at the military, and the website I was on said that it did not have anykind of liner at all to save on weight. Does this affect strength or duribility?
 
In that price range I would go with the Native good because it's an all around folder. I also like the waved Delica and Endura, those are some other good choices. In regard to liner's I cant tell you for certain one way or another. However, I have a Spyderco Salt (which has no liners) an it is extremely strong with no blade play and has no liners, with that being said I have only heard that over time it makes the knife more subceptible to blade play. Maybe someone could confirm or debunk this.
 
Get a Endura 4. If you are worried about liners, than get it in stainless handles vs the FRN with liners.
 
I traded some horseshoeing for a Native (CPMS30V) ,with one of the Gals that works for Spyderco, here near Golden.

Love the knife, there good people also!
 
I was looking at the military, and the website I was on said that it did not have anykind of liner at all to save on weight.
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lol. It has one liner, on the right side, as it's a linerlock knife.

For aesthetic reasons, I prefer less humped knives. The Native is one of those.

As for the lower-end Spyderco lockbacks, my experience has been that they have just enough play in the locks to be annoying, but not enough to call it quality issue.

Your mini-Grip sets a pretty high standard that I think will be hard to surpass for $70 (excluding the ZDP knives, if you are a steel snob).
 
Caly Jr (if you can find one), Delica, Endura.

In that order. All are great knives with a lot of options, good "starter" Spydercos.
 
michaelmcgo said:
Oh yeah, I was looking at the military, and the website I was on said that it did not have anykind of liner at all to save on weight. Does this affect strength or duribility?
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I have the military and Para, with partial liners. I find that they're tough enough. If you want something a little more ridgid, try the Manix. For something less expensive, I have the Endura 4, too - a fine knife for the money and has both liners.
 
I've carried various Spydercos for six years (I'm 24) in Infantry, Farming, Underground Mining and now Land Surveying. Mostly bush work. I've used various other folders but IMO Spyderco steel and real-world cutting ability (note: I nomally carry serrated) is up there with the best.

If you buy a Military you won't be disappointed. It is one very tough folder with awesome cutting ability. I also have a half serrated Manix and I like that even better. Some people shun 1/2 serrated blades but I find them to be ideal for my purposes.

I used to carry Enduras but I had a problem with the FRN scales. After many months of EDC in a hard use environment the base of the clip would wear and enlarge the FRN the recess that it sat in. The clip would slowly develop some lateral play, with would worsen over time. To be fair, I contacted Spyderco and they indicated this could be recified (I assume with a replacement) if I sent them the knife. Unfortunately I lost that particular Endura and replaced it with a Military. Anyway, the cost of postage from Western Australia to Colorado put me off, not to mention the downtime. No fault of Spyderco's of course.

From now on I only buy Spydies with G10 scales. Stainless looks nice but I'm not keen on the weight penalty.

I carry a G10 Impala for a kangaroo skinning backup (fixed blade rules for skinning). I bought a SpyderSaw but it was too small for my purposes so I carry an 9 inch Fiskars folding saw instead. My favourite would have to be the Manix, closely followed by the Military. Note that I prefer larger folders for my big hands, as well as hard use.
When I'm not in the outback I carry something a little less threatening like a Swiss Tool (yes, unfortunately Australia is one of THOSE countries).
 
michaelmcgo, I'm also a Benchmade nut. Since they don't have much new stuff this year, I to thought about Spyderco. I bought the Caly jr and like quite a bit, still can't get used to the lockback over the axis lock but it's a good knife. Then I got a Native a Wal-Mart for $40 and it is more comfortable then the Caly jr. I put the Caly jr away and switch between the Native and my 705.
 
TFin04 said:
Caly Jr (if you can find one), Delica, Endura.

In that order. All are great knives with a lot of options, good "starter" Spydercos.
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Another vote for a Delica or Endura for a "first Spyderco." I'm pretty pleased with my Delica 4, so far. (Tho, I must admit, I'm not all that demanding of a knife.)
 
Stainless steel police. It's a classic spyderco design, good steel, and a pointy MF...a real slicer.
 
I would say the Delica 4. It is a great knife. You get a whole lot of knife for a little money.
 
I really like the Native III (the VG-10 one) since the handle is very comfortable and handfilling for a knife that size. Great blade shape and size for urban EDC.

Endura 4, I'm not too keen on its looks, but it is one of the best working folders I've ever used. And the price is impossible to beat.

The Centofante 3 is a great, thin, folder. One of the nicer looking FRN Spydies, IMHO, and a great value.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
I would say the Delica 4. It is a great knife. You get a whole lot of knife for a little money.
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I can't think of a better introduction to Spyderco knives than the Delica. It's their signature product, in which design, manufacture and business philosophy are summed up in that one item (same could be said of the Endura, but a bit large for some EDC). It's a good start, and you might just stop there (but don't count on it :D ).
 
If you are looking to venture into Spyderco land, you cannot do wrong with either the Delica, Native or Endura. These are super knives well within your $70 max. Are there better Spydercos? Sure there are and sooner or later you will discover this for yourself, but most everyone who appreciates Spyderco quality has at least one of the models I've mentioned. I have more than a dozen Spydies including the Military, but the Endura always makes me smile each time I use it.:)
 
Don't like lock-backs, but I like the Military liner-lock. A great slicer/cutter in comparison to most Benchmades (before reprofiling the BMs).

It's light for its size. Makes my 710s (etc.) feel small and heavy for comparible blade length.
 
Many folks more into 'conventional' style knives such as BenchMade like the Native due to its more conventional style and lack of a typical "Spyderhump" for the opening hole.

If you want the best of both worlds and the easiest Spyderco around to make the transition from the more conventional traditional style folders I'd suggest getting a Native in S30V blade steel..

You might also want to check out the Kiwi if your interest is in a smaller gents style folder or the Veile II if a liner lock strikes your fancy.

STR
 
michaelmcgo said:
I was looking at the military, and the website I was on said that it did not have anykind of liner at all to save on weight. Does this affect strength or duribility?
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Probably it does. Without the liner it's just a really really really strong and durable folder. With a liner it'd be a really really really really strong and durable folder.
 
IUKE12 said:
If you are looking to venture into Spyderco land, you cannot do wrong with either the Delica, Native or Endura. :)
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I absolutely agree with this statement. I like them all, but my love belongs to ADVENTURA. It has great design. This knife looks amazing, very good slicer, comfortable in my hand, it is bigger and lighter than SS Delica, has a choil for people with large hands and recurved blade. In addition, it is thin, so it will not take much room in your packet. Can be carried tip up or down, for right or left hand
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=200
 
sarubin3 said:
.....Underground Mining and now Land Surveying..................Western Australia............
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G'day Sarubin - always good to welcome another Sandgoper here. :) Wherabouts you been underground? We might have crossed paths.

Anyway, not to hijack Micahelmcgo's thread - I've got a fair collection of spydies and go bush fairly often. After trying lots of different combos I've settled on:

1) Native 3D for around home and urban carry/utility. Best ergos of any knife on the planet IMHO and VG-10 is a great steel for those who like to sharpen instead of knit when they've got time on their hands because you can get it to several crazy levels above merely 'sharp'.

2) Military for the bush - I'm about to walk the Larapinta trail which is 233k's in central Australia - in an effort to keep my pack weight below 25kg's I'm being particilarly hard in deciding what kit comes and what stays at home. The military is light, plenty tough enough and big enough to do a wide range of tasks including food prep.

3) Pacific Salt for the water - H1 is rust proof obviusly and this steel can be made very sharp too - edge holding is simillair to a SAK
 
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