One and only one Spyderco

I would go with a ZDP-189 Caly III, as it is beautifully made with CF scales and a laminate blade. The wire clip rides about as low in a pocket as you can get and the back-lock gives a great sense of security. If it is a 'slicer' you need, it doesn't come much better than a Caly III.
 
I'm a big Endura 4 fan. You wont go wrong with one of those.

Less than $100... I would recommend these:

-Manix2
-FRN Stretch
-Endura4
-Centofante 3
-Native
-Delica4

You wont go wrong with any of those either.

WARNING: buying just one spyderco can be eough to turn you into a spydieaholic. I was a strictly BM and Kershaw man before I bought an E4. Now I'm all about spydies and not much else.
 
Endura, Hands down for me. Next is the Delica. My favorite for hunting is the Pro-Grip.
 
D1omedes said:
The Spyderco UKPK. It is the same design as the Caly 3, with an even deeper choil. The steel is CPM-S30V and it has full G10 scales (either black, green or orange). The low-riding clip makes it very sheeple-friendly. Even though it is technically a slip-joint, it is very sturdy (I've been using it to open packages and break down boxes and it has yet to close on me). The deep finger choil is a built-in defense against injury as the blade will pinch your finger as it closes. It also has all-screw construction so you can clean it completely.

Oh, and the UKPK is less expensive than the Caly 3. :thumbup:
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I agree. And it's not just the steel but the HT of it is great. They've really managed to bring out the toughness of the S30V.I have done things with this knife that have chipped or rolled edges on all my other knives and the UKPK never once rolled or chipped while have a very accute angle.

Also the tang is notched so it's very hard to close all the way down with one push. I've heard it's the safest of all slipjoints.
 
The SageII is my favorite spyderco.... for the same reasons that Reek has already listed.


I have and like all these about the same. If I had to put my other favorites in order I guess it would be..
Military
Caly3
Mini Manix
PARA
Endura
 
A.P.F. said:
I would go with a ZDP-189 Caly III, as it is beautifully made with CF scales and a laminate blade. The wire clip rides about as low in a pocket as you can get and the back-lock gives a great sense of security. If it is a 'slicer' you need, it doesn't come much better than a Caly III.
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That's the one I chose for my first Spydie after a few visits to their Outlet Store. I haven't regreted it.

There is also a cult with the Military (too big for me) and the Paramilitary. The latter is a great compromise between size and functionality.
 
Boy Boy...just one Spyderco?? Well personally I don't think that's realistic. I believe any knifeperson will fall in love and then get another, and then another, and then another, because they are all superbly designed, made with excellent materials, and have world class Fit and Finish. They are not traditional looking but usually have simply crazy good ergonomics.

I've got more than just several Spydercos but I'm not collecting. Every one I purchased (some new and some 2nd hand) were meant to be used and carried. They all currently resided in my EDC box awaiting their turn in the pocket.

I personally love the G10 FFG VG10 Endura and it was the FIRST. I feel the mid-lock is a better design so my interests have leaned toward Spyderco's with this lockup system. I also feel that a FFG blade is the best slicer option and for me knives are for slicing (not hacking down tree limbs). I prefer full liners for strength. Finially, any of the premium steels are great. I really like both S30V and VG10 as they are both relatively easy to sharpen and hold an excellent edge. Sypderso G10 is my first choice in handle material just because I like it (FRN is a great choice with liners due to lightness and outstanding durability).

You gave a $100 limit but I sense that you'll go higher for the right knife. I'm going to give my four favorites in order of preference.

1. Foliage Green G10 Endura IV - wins in the only one question due to excellent ergo, materials, midlock, and longer slicing blade. It also has a strong tip.
OR, the Mini-Manix simply and awsome knife and a great hard use knife but not to big. It is a beast of a knife in FFG, S30V. I have a lot of confidence with this one when I really have to bear down to cut something.
OR, the ParaMilitary is very very light. I love everything about it except the locking system (not that there is anything wrong with it, I just can't used to it) and the fact I think the blade is too short. That said it is a cutting machine and the G10 handle's ergonomics are flipping incredible.

2. Native IV, call it the little guy and it has been in my pocket bobbing around with the change since the day I got it and sees the most daily cutting work. So this is my choice for pocket carry but the Caly III gets an honorable mention and is my Native's backup for pocket duty.

My current EDC profile is the Native IV in my front pocket and I'm rotating a Mini Manix, Para, CF Stretch, G10 Endura for back pocket clipped carry. But, the mini-manix is seeing the most clip carry of late. Oh, and most of the time I belt carry a G10/BG42 Buck 110 Folder too.

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The EDC box...full isn't it?
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DallasSTB said:
If you have to recommend one, and only one, Spyderco knife that is representative of all that is good in Spydie-land, which one is it? Cost? Well, let's say $100 more or less.
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Here are some of the things about Spydercos I really like:
Compression Lock -- Reliable and super smooth. Easy one handed closing operation. They have never failed on me. They have never been disengaged by mistake either. One of my favorite locks of all time.

Wire Clip -- As a stock clip it is one of the best IMO. Low riding and perfectly camouflaged for the urban/office environment. A production clip on production knives that is simple yet highly effective. The clips on Caly 3s and UKPKs are shaped the best, the ones on Native IIIs are great but not as low riding.

FFG Leaf Blades -- Are just cutting machines IMO. I know they do not always look great to the non-Spyderholic, but that may be a plus. Sheeple seem to be OK with the smaller versions of this blade style (think UKPK).

These are the top things I love about Spyderco knives. There is only one problem... If you want all of these in 1 knife you are going to have to order the Spyderco "S" and that thing is just too damn ugly to own!:D.

If I had to only recommend 1 knife it would be a Caly 3. It meets you price point, and combines 2 of the 3 things I like most about Spydrco. While its lock is not a Compression Lock, Spyderco makes a great back lock also so it is not that much of a loss. (If you can score one in CF that is even better.)
 
Delica with VG-10 and FRN, easily.

To me, it represents the perfect balance of size, length, strength, cutting ability, edge retention, and durability. Perhaps I'm an odd duck, but its handle is my favorite of any knife I've ever held, and I've held a lot. It seems weird since there's no choil to lock in the finger, no extremely grippy material like G10 digging into the fingers... yet, it feels like it would not slip in a serious situation (except, perhaps, while wet).
The blade shape and grind are great. Saber grinds are pretty much the sturdiest grind outside of convex, and while it would probably be better off flat ground (like on the G10 version), I have no real issues with saber. The blade shape is versatile, with a good point for fine work, yet a minimum amount of belly for other chores.
VG-10 is a great steel. No qualms with it. As long as you aren't batonning with it, it will hold up.

It does look weird, I will admit that.
 
Endura 4

IMHO, this is the best knife from Spyderco and the best knife period for EDC because;

FRN handle that can be used eaily in very hot or very cold weather

VG-10 blade--can be sharpened to a keen edge with relative ease and can hold an edge well.

Jimping to improve grip and decrease slipping when using the blade

4-way clips--great for different positions you may need from time to time.

Improved blade shape to decrease tips breaking.

Improvments to the Endura since the Endura first came out sometime ago. Take a look at the Original Endura and generations after. If possible, try to handle them to see differences.
 
Tough call. You want to find the model that fits your hand and pocket best and has the features you like most. Spyderco does a pretty good job of making a variety of sizes and handle shapes. Some may look funny, but come alive in your hand. I'd suggest spending some time with their catalog and then find a store near you that carries a good spread of Spyderco knives. A lot of people are Spyderco collectors because just about all their knives are pretty good, not just one or two. If you really need a starting point, Spyderco's oldest best sellers are the Endura and Delica (smaller), though the earlier handle designs for those models are now called the Pacific Salt and the Salt as the Endura/Delica line has gone through a lot of redesign over the years.
 
My votes go to the following (not in any particular order):

Military
Paramilitary
Caly 3 (either version)
Sage II
 
I'll throw out a vote for the FRN Stretch w/ZDP-189. The design is from Sal himself, it serves a showcase for the constant quality and design improvements and features top grade steel. It's made to cut and it cuts very well.

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man, those sages really rock. They have been in my pocket for about 2 weeks, and they both seems like great knives. I sure do like them so far.
 
my personal favorite is the Endura 4 g10

its around 100 bucks, vg-10, just under 4"blade, great g10, sturdy lockup...

what more can you ask for?

oh and its thin and light!(around 4oz)
 
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