Opinion of Spyderco fixed blades?

J

jlamb

Joined
Nov 25, 2009
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211
First off let me say that I am in fact a big fan of Spyderco, of my knives I own mostly spydies. I have never purchased a fixed blade spydie, I have mostly been drawn to the folders. I need some convincing that the fixed blades are as good as their folders. What do you think- are the fixed blades worth having and using outdoors i.e. hiking, camping. Just for some reason when I think of fixed blades- spyderco does not come to mind.
 
I love my smaller Fred Perrin Street Beat. With great ergos and a wickedly sharp blade, it is one of my favorite carry blades. It is best paired with something much larger like a saw, axe, hatchet or other large camp knife........and as I understand it, Spyderco makes some larger fixed blades. I haven't handled them but as I understand it, they are quite nicely made.

Message sent your way with a bit more info..... :)
 
mmmotorcycle said:
I love my smaller Fred Perrin Street Beat. With great ergos and a wickedly sharp blade, it is one of my favorite carry blades. It is best paired with something much larger like a saw, axe, hatchet or other large camp knife........and as I understand it, Spyderco makes some larger fixed blades. I haven't handled them but as I understand it, they are quite nicely made.

Message sent your way with a bit more info..... :)
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I wasn't really drawn to the street beat but after making sheaths for two of them I gotta say it's a nicely designed knife of good quality. :thumbup:
 
I've had several of Spyderco's fixed blades and still have a few. But the 2 I have that I won't ever get rid of are my two Temperance 1 models. I have the full PE and the full SE models. And let me tell you that Temperance 1 in full Spyderedge is a crocidile of a knife. The blade geometry and the handle configuration along with the Tek Lok sheath I find those two Temperance 1 models "permanent keepers". Not to mention that VG-10 makes an excellent/super blade steel for a fixed blade.

I'm really itching for a Temperance 2 model. I recommend you immediately get one of those. I'm hoping that Spyderco will cave it and make a Temperance 2 in full Spyderedge. I've also had both the Spyderco Moran models, The original Perrin, The Swick, The SPOT and I now have the Warrior as #1 on my want list.

I can assure you that Spyderco's fixed blades have super quality just like their folders. But do keep one thing in mind. Especially concerning the Temperance 1 model. It doesn't win a beauty contest at all but it does win many function contests and when it comes to a fixed blade that's the most important factor I look for. If you can land an SE and/or PE Temperance 1 I highly suggest you get them immediately. You won't regret it. You wouldn't even regret shelling out the bucks for a Temperance 2 either. That blade along with the Warrior makes me want to pawn my pick up truck to get those 2 gems.

Needless to say I love the Spyderco fixed blades as much as I do their folders.
 
Spyderco fixed blades are great. I have the Kumo(a safe queen) and an Aqua Salt PE that I picked up for a price that was too good to pass up, and I absolutely love them. The Aqua has great ergonomics and came razor sharp. I plan on picking up a Temperance II fairly soon.

Canis

Edit to add: I know of many people who have had great experiences with the Rock Salt, everything from chopping to taking apart King Salmon.
 
They're beautiful, but to be honest, I'd rather give my fixed-blade business to a custom maker for the price. I do love the SB though
 
Sal has been saying for years that the fixed blade market is tough to break into. I think partly it is because Spyderco is thought of as a folder company, having brought so many innovations to that market. I think another large part is simply because any fixed blade good enough for Sal to put his logo on is going to be measured against hand made customs rather than other production blades, which means he will lose out on the "uniqueness factor". Even if the Spyderco is every bit as good in fit and finish, even if it performs as well or better than the custom, there is no getting around the fact that there are hundreds or even thousands of knives exactly like it out there, so there is no guarantee that you'll be the only kid on the block with one just like that.

Personally, I'm not that big on unique. If I like the knife enough, I want to have another just like it if something happens to it. I want everyone else to have one just like it, so they can experience it too. At least some Spyderco fixed blades are that good for me. The Temperance II is as close to custom as I'll ever need. After all, Sal designed the Temperance for himself, and sold it to us to field test it. The Temp II is the result of Sal fixing all the nits we picked on the first one, and once again, he made it for himself. He was kind enough to make enough of them for us to enjoy it as well.

Treat yourself to one. ;) I did. :D
 
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I like Spydercos fixed blades, Wish they would come out with one like the Temp2 with a smaller price tag. Sal said they'd be bringing in a new fixed blade this year sometime. Maybe it will grant my wish.
 
I have PE and SE Aqua Salts and a Rock Salt (all H1 of course). My other fixed blades are Busses, a CGFBM and a small run skinner/utility knife called the Groove Master (probably called that because of a double-ramped spine that provide great ergonomics). I'm saving my pennies for the H1 Warrior. I've also owned a few other Busses, but what I've wanted to hang onto are the ones I consider the best of their class (see above).

The CGFBM of course is for clear cutting the state of Washington, and Spyderco doesn't make a blade intended to compete with that. Excellent for chopping down trees, killing zombies, chopping cars into small pieces, cage match with a grizzly...

The Rock Salt is a larger all-around blade, amazing ergonomics, really strong/tough, but feels very fast and light in the hand. Unlike the CGFBM, the Rock Salt is usable as a large kitchen knife. I haven't batoned with it, but I imagine it would do just fine, I think others here have said so. I love it. Probably a great fighter. Amazing design.

The Aqua Salts are smaller, better for finer work of course, the SE blade is a-freakin'-mazing. Also very ergonomic. Smaller/lighter than the Rock Salt, not as good for batonning, you get the idea. I'll be bold here and say that with work-hardening, the SE Aqua Salt performs as well as a VG-10 blade (go ahead, shoot me down :)).

I will say that it can be a benefit to have a not-so-hard steel (H1) as opposed to a really hard steel (VG-10), just because field sharpening is so much easier.

That's my two cents. Just understand that I'm one of those H1 nuts, I'm waiting for an H1 katana (though not holding my breath), the Temperances in H1 would be very cool also, like their design, have never held one.
 
I'll be ordering the Aqua Salt SE next week, so I'll tell you then :)

I was doing some yard work last week and I suddenly realized how great it would have been to have had an SE fixed blade to cut some plants up.
 
The sheaths seem to be the downside of the earlier fixed blades.
Bit rattly on Perin (1) , loose fit on Lum Tanto, Temp one good , but bit bulky.

No prob with the knives, I really rate fixed blade Spyderco's and admire the close copying of the original design of the collaberation models.

Temp is good, probably the best for using, don't know about the newer ones so much.
 
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I have owned three spyderco fixed blades, a LumTanto, Perrin Street Beat, and a Temperance 2. Fit, finish, and materials used all exceeded expectations. For me a FB EDC isn't always that feasible so I've not looked very hard at other FB Spydies. However The Jumpmaster intrigues me.
 
I am not a diehard Spyderco fan, I only own a few Byrds and a single folder, but I bought a Dayhiker and a Rock Salt and they are both very good blades, outstanding value for money.
As stated before, the sheats are less than exemplary, I prefer the SecureEx by Cold Steel by a large margin but the knives themselves compare well against any other manufacturer. Both the H1 and the N690C steels are great, aquire and keep an edge really well. Ergonomics are spot on, the design is beautiful, I can find little or no fault with them.

I have not used the Rock Salt very seriously yet, haven't tested its rust resistance at all, but it cuts and slices very very well, it's thin and the edge geometry is very good.
The Dayhiker is now part of a small fixed blade EDC rotation (the others are Bussekins and a Cold Steel) and has been used for all sorts of chores, including light chopping, hard cutting and even some prying (in wood). It holds up perfectly, and it's a beautiful knife to boot.

This is my limited experience with Spyderco fixed blades, and it's A+. I would have no hesitation buying any other of their fixed blades.
 
I like the Dayhiker's overall design and ergonomics. I do have to say however all these custom makers out there are going to make stiff competition for Spyderco fixed blades.

That said I can't see anyone competing with Spyderco's line of H1 fixed blades.

I used to be a lifeguard and spent quite a bit of time at the beach if you require a knife in that environment H1 steel is what you are going to need unless you plan on setting aside a portion of your time every day to thoroughly clean and dry your knife.

The salt air will rust the most stainless of steels and sand particles will find their way into any type of mechanism. That is why I think Spyderco has an advantage in this area of the market.

To top it off my opinion is H1 also happens have characteristics that are quite suitable for large blades.
 
Given how much the Hossom fixed blades cost when they first came out and what they're available for now, it's hard to imagine going wrong with any of them. But I'll know more in a few days when my Dayhiker arrives.
 
greater said:
I like the Dayhiker's overall design and ergonomics. I do have to say however all these custom makers out there are going to make stiff competition for Spyderco fixed blades.
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I don't see how they can ever compete. I paid $89 for my Dayhiker. I don't know of any custom maker making a 5- inch knife with micarta handles and a premium steel for that kind of money. And a sheath+TecLok to boot.
 
That $89 is a reduced price and yes a custom 5 inch fixed blade in carbon steel is probably going to cost more but not wallet breaking if you shop around.

The Hossoms are unique beauties and I am familiar with the Day Hiker which I really like but for me they are the exception I am more likely to opt for hand made carbon steel over stainless within the same or similar price range in larger fixed blades.

If however I had a need for an ocean worthy rust proof knife that will hold a decent edge I can't see any other better option than H1 fixed blades which it seems Spyderco has good selection of.

For someone who hates cleaning and maintaining knives again I can't see a better alternative. I also had the tip bend a little on my Spyderco H1 hawkbill I bent it right back and it has no problems to this day.

For a large fixed blade I would rather have a steel with those characteristics than one that would snap instead of bend.

I have no doubt Spyderco makes some fine fixed blades that are hard to beat in value. The mule team project knives in different steels are some of them that come to mind. These smaller knives are cutters above all and they do quite well.
 
greater said:
That $89 is a reduced price
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It was pretty regular when I bought it. Or are you thinking of MSRP? You can still buy its bigger brothers for comparable prices (between $90-$120)

and yes a custom 5 inch fixed blade in carbon steel is probably going to cost more but not wallet breaking if you shop around.
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Define 'wallet breaking.' If you can buy a custom made knife of the same stats and quality as the Dayhiker for under $200 (and forget about the sheath, which would set you back another $40 at least) you are king. I don't think it can be done.
There's a reason why factories, conveyor belts and robots make stuff cheaper than humans. Humans cannot compete on price.
 
I've got three Spyderco fixed blades; the Hossom Dayhiker, the Perrin Steet Beat and the Lum Tanto. All are first rate designs featuring excellent fit and finish. Well worth their respective street prices when I bought them.

greater said:
The Hossoms are unique beauties and I am familiar with the Day Hiker which I really like but for me they are the exception I am more likely to opt for hand made carbon steel over stainless within the same or similar price range in larger fixed blades.
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I don't know, I think you would be hard pressed to find a custom knife equivalent in size and quality to the Hossom Dayhiker, for example, in the $150 price range. Certainly, if you are looking at the MSRP (which IIRC was around $230-250) then that opens up the comparison to a lot of custom work but I doubt many Dayhiker owners paid full list price.

philwar said:
It was pretty regular when I bought it. Or are you thinking of MSRP? You can still buy its bigger brothers for comparable prices (between $90-$120)
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When I bought mine a year or so ago, I could not find a Dayhiker for less than $150 anywhere (and I looked long and hard) until Spyderco discontiued them and started dumping them to customers and retailers for bargain prices. IMO the knife was well worth the $150 I paid for it, those of you who managed to pick one up for $80-90 got an absolute steal.
 
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