Ive owned this knife for about 6 months now. I bought one for a friend's birthday and decided itd be a good excuse to get one for myself. It was also my first Spyderco. After using it for the better part of 6 months, I feel like I have a good understanding of what this knife has to offer.
First off, I love the spyderhole. I work with gloves a lot and the ability to thumb it open really sets it apart from other knives Ive owned. Also, I use a lot of sealants and other substances that can gum up the mechanism of a knife. I have found that by using the spyderhole opening I am able to keep gunk out of the mechanism.
Second, the VG-10 steel is amazing in my opinion. It is obviously not the best steel, but for the price point it is hard to beat. It sharpens both easily and well. I am able to get a hair shaving edge with only casual maintenance. I free hand the sharpmaker rods to sharpen it. The other day I had to scrape masking tape off of a metal cnc clamp and I had nothing else but my knife to accomplish the task. I was sure my edge was going to be ruined by the end of it. When I was done I still had a relatively sharp edge and was able to bring it back to its standard shaving edge in less than 5 minutes. Also, the steel has quite a bit of flex to it. I tried to pry open a paint can and was able to witness the materials ability to take pressure and stress without failing.
Third, the handles have really grown on me. I thought they were a bit too aggressive at first, but I quickly realized that they are incredibly useful and grippy without tearing up my hands. As a side note, the thumb ramp is the best Ive ever felt and the ergonomics should be a standard in the knife world.
Fourth, it opens fairly easily for a lock back. I can flick it open reliably with my thumb, less so with my middle finger. After being oiled (and cleaned) the middle finger technique becomes easier and more reliable. I also like the ability to one hand close it by disengaging the lock and flicking the knife forward into my pointer finger. After doing that to the point that it is "l shaped" I finish off closing it by (removing my pointer finger and) pulling it the rest of the way with my thumb.
Lastly, I think the fit and finish of everything is great. it is centered in the handle, has no blade play in any direction when opened, and sits secure in my pocket until it is needed. All of the screws have stayed secure (especially the pocket clip ones which tend to be an issue in most knives Ive owned). The grind came even from the factory.
Overall, I think it was one of my better choices in choosing knives. Ive owned many (in my opinion) and this one is definitely top of its class. I strongly recommend it, and if the size is an issue for you, it has smaller kin to consider.
First off, I love the spyderhole. I work with gloves a lot and the ability to thumb it open really sets it apart from other knives Ive owned. Also, I use a lot of sealants and other substances that can gum up the mechanism of a knife. I have found that by using the spyderhole opening I am able to keep gunk out of the mechanism.
Second, the VG-10 steel is amazing in my opinion. It is obviously not the best steel, but for the price point it is hard to beat. It sharpens both easily and well. I am able to get a hair shaving edge with only casual maintenance. I free hand the sharpmaker rods to sharpen it. The other day I had to scrape masking tape off of a metal cnc clamp and I had nothing else but my knife to accomplish the task. I was sure my edge was going to be ruined by the end of it. When I was done I still had a relatively sharp edge and was able to bring it back to its standard shaving edge in less than 5 minutes. Also, the steel has quite a bit of flex to it. I tried to pry open a paint can and was able to witness the materials ability to take pressure and stress without failing.
Third, the handles have really grown on me. I thought they were a bit too aggressive at first, but I quickly realized that they are incredibly useful and grippy without tearing up my hands. As a side note, the thumb ramp is the best Ive ever felt and the ergonomics should be a standard in the knife world.
Fourth, it opens fairly easily for a lock back. I can flick it open reliably with my thumb, less so with my middle finger. After being oiled (and cleaned) the middle finger technique becomes easier and more reliable. I also like the ability to one hand close it by disengaging the lock and flicking the knife forward into my pointer finger. After doing that to the point that it is "l shaped" I finish off closing it by (removing my pointer finger and) pulling it the rest of the way with my thumb.
Lastly, I think the fit and finish of everything is great. it is centered in the handle, has no blade play in any direction when opened, and sits secure in my pocket until it is needed. All of the screws have stayed secure (especially the pocket clip ones which tend to be an issue in most knives Ive owned). The grind came even from the factory.
Overall, I think it was one of my better choices in choosing knives. Ive owned many (in my opinion) and this one is definitely top of its class. I strongly recommend it, and if the size is an issue for you, it has smaller kin to consider.
