Ready To Purchase My First Real Spyderco. Which Should I Start Off With For Decent $$

[thedmasterr]

Just stalk the knife exchange on here for a decent deal on a native, endura, centofante, or jester. Something will catch your eye and it won't fail you.

 

[trashboss]

I've been using several nice King water stones for quite some time, is the Sharpmaker really that good or even better?

I take it you don't think very highly of the Byrd Cara Cara 2 then?

Never used King water stones so i cant compare them. I'm not very good with stones but i have a lot of confidence in ceramic sharpmaker stones, it's super easy to use and gets my knives plenty sharp enough for me. Ive never bought a Byrd though i'm sure it's an excellant knife and i know they are affordable, i'm just not into owning ChiCom made stuff when i can avoid it and thats pretty hard to do these days.

 

[Ogien]

Oh, I see, it's a Chinese production knife. That probably explains some of the low price. I'll put it on the back burner of my mind and focus and cooler better stuff.

I absolutely love my King stones. They are Japanese water stones, in fact they are the same stones that Murray Carter uses and sells on his website and although his prices are fair I managed to get my stones at a greatly discounted price and yes, they are new. Absolutely love them.

@thedmasterr, I'll keep an eye out and look for a sweetheart deal so that I can get something worth having while at the same time keeping under budget as March is going to be a very lean month for me monetarily speaking. Lots of expenses so I can't buy 10+ knives like I have been for the past couple of months.

@type00rev, I'm keeping score and seeing a lot of support for the Para 2 so it may well be the knife I end up buying. If March isn't going to be as costly as I anticipate then perhaps I'll get a couple of Spydie knives in March.

Lots of great suggestions from everyone that I need to research one by one before I can truly see what fits the bill for me but the paramilitary knife certainly has it's charms.

 

[Cynic2701]

Why not sell and/or trade for a Para 2 then? It might be worth your while to. I'd recommend only buying one high quality knife and EDC'ing that over a bunch of less expensive knives.

 

[Ogien]

Why not sell and/or trade for a Para 2 then? It might be worth your while to. I'd recommend only buying one high quality knife and EDC'ing that over a bunch of less expensive knives.

You know, that's not a bad idea. Thanks for suggesting it.

I guess I should check if my free membership on this board allows for trading and the like. Nevertheless that is a great idea.

Too bad I'm not sure of the value of most of my knives. Like I said, I have been collecting older "vintage" knives and several fixed blades too.

 

[ozgooner]

Kind of staggered that no-one has mentioned the Tenacious, which is a great entry point for a first time Spydie buyer. I had an Endura and Military and sold them both after realising that if I want something that big I will be reaching for a fixed blade. I do plan on getting a Delica and Para2 at some point though. Having handled both I know they are great knives.

 

[twl]

My first Spydie was an Endura.
If you want smaller, then the Delica.
If you are talking bang for the buck, these are where it's at.
The classic Spydies.

No doubt that there are better Spydies than that, and people go crazy with the upper-end Spydies. And they are all really nice. And worth it.
But if you are looking for a nice basic and durable knife with the representative style of the brand, it's the Endura and Delica that literally made the Spyderco brand reputation.

My personal favorite is the Sage 2, but it's twice the price you are looking to spend. And it might not be needed for what you want. I just like the titanium framelock design and the craftsmanship of it.

I'd say right now, the Paramilitary 2 is the one everybody is going nuts over. Very popular at this time.

 

[Ogien]

Ok, I've been studying some of the knives that were mentioned in this thread and I'm starting to drool over the Spyderco Para-Military2. I really want this knife but I need to find it for a maximum of $70 or under. It looks like one hell of knife and I'm REALLY wanting it. I forget which steel is used for the blade but I know it's a high carbon stainless (not 100% about the stainless) and this knife will hold and edge. Sorry, I am really bad with names so I couldn't tell you one type of steel from another without looking it up first but this one is pretty impressive.

Anyone know if Spyderco sells "Blemished" knives like Kershaw does at a discount?

 

[Ogien]

Kind of staggered that no-one has mentioned the Tenacious, which is a great entry point for a first time Spydie buyer. I had an Endura and Military and sold them both after realising that if I want something that big I will be reaching for a fixed blade. I do plan on getting a Delica and Para2 at some point though. Having handled both I know they are great knives.

Could you tell me more about the Tenacious? I've seen them on the Spyderco website but didn't really pay much attention.

Oh, I should mention that I really want to get a plain edge as I'm not a fan of half serrated and half plain edges at all.

I haven't decided on any one knife yet even though I really do like the Para2 but it is about $100 above my budget price range. If I can find a used or blemished one for under $100 then that's a different story but it seems that only Kershaw has the "blemished" knives available.

 

[mkjellgren]

Ok, I've been studying some of the knives that were mentioned in this thread and I'm starting to drool over the Spyderco Para-Military2. I really want this knife but I need to find it for a maximum of $70 or under. It looks like one hell of knife and I'm REALLY wanting it. I forget which steel is used for the blade but I know it's a high carbon stainless (not 100% about the stainless) and this knife will hold and edge. Sorry, I am really bad with names so I couldn't tell you one type of steel from another without looking it up first but this one is pretty impressive.

Anyone know if Spyderco sells "Blemished" knives like Kershaw does at a discount?

Unfortunately you are not going to find a new para2 for that price. Best you are going to find is about $100-110 for a new one. You might be able to find a used one though. Either way, the para2 is definitely worth every penny it costs and I would venture to bet that there would be many people who would say its worth double what it costs. The steel is s30v on the base model but is available in several other (but more expensive) steel choices if you are lucky enough to find them. For all but the most picky steel snobs s30v is far more than adequate. It is a powered steel which allows for tremendous consistency in structure and was one of the first (if not the first, can't exactly remember) steels created specifically with cutlery in mind. In terms of blemished models I believe you are out of luck, at least I have never heard of a place to get them.

 

[ozgooner]

Could you tell me more about the Tenacious? I've seen them on the Spyderco website but didn't really pay much attention.

Oh, I should mention that I really want to get a plain edge as I'm not a fan of half serrated and half plain edges at all.

Great knife. Readily available around the $30 mark new, lovely smooth action, rock solid liner lock, feels great in the hand, sharp 8CR13MOV blade steel, 3 3/8" (86mm) blade length, weighs 4oz (115g), G-10 handles (which I much prefer over the FRN of the Endura/Delica), straight edge and full flat grind.

Check out the Spyderco sub-forum here as well as the forums at Spyderco.com. There are several threads asking about first/favourite Spydies and the Tenacious comes up a lot, often along the lines of it being the first of many bought but the one users keep coming back to, and often in more auspicious company if the OP asks for a favourite three. The handle is really comfortable and the blade sharp enough for anything I have thrown at it so far. I showed it to a friend who owns the more expensive Delica, Para2 and Gayle Bradley and his immediate response was, "oh I think I'm going to have to get one of these."

It certainly won't be your last Spyderco, but you cannot go wrong with it as your first.

 

[jossta]

You can definitely end up with a Manix 2 within your budget if you watch the classifieds. Delica, Endura, Stretch and Native are also good options that aren't over budget.

Para 2 is in a class above all of those IMHO though. Worth the $30 more.

 

[Ogien]

Great knife. Readily available around the $30 mark new, lovely smooth action, rock solid liner lock, feels great in the hand, sharp 8CR13MOV blade steel, 3 3/8" (86mm) blade length, weighs 4oz (115g), G-10 handles (which I much prefer over the FRN of the Endura/Delica), straight edge and full flat grind.

Check out the Spyderco sub-forum here as well as the forums at Spyderco.com. There are several threads asking about first/favourite Spydies and the Tenacious comes up a lot, often along the lines of it being the first of many bought but the one users keep coming back to, and often in more auspicious company if the OP asks for a favourite three. The handle is really comfortable and the blade sharp enough for anything I have thrown at it so far. I showed it to a friend who owns the more expensive Delica, Para2 and Gayle Bradley and his immediate response was, "oh I think I'm going to have to get one of these."

It certainly won't be your last Spyderco, but you cannot go wrong with it as your first.

You can definitely end up with a Manix 2 within your budget if you watch the classifieds. Delica, Endura, Stretch and Native are also good options that aren't over budget.

Para 2 is in a class above all of those IMHO though. Worth the $30 more.

Thanks so much for the great advice and description of the Tenacious. Sounds like one hell of a knife and something definitely worth contemplating. I'm 99% sure that if I were to buy the Tenacious first that it certainly wouldn't be the last Spyderco I end up buying.

The Manix2 has certainly captured my attention but I need to learn more about it. The price is certainly something that I could find within my budget if I look around for deals.

The Para2 seems to be a darling amongst many on various knife enthusiast forums and that's saying something. I really like the look of the knife and handle as it looks like it would fit in my hand perfectly and comfortably. Wish it was an AO but that's not the end all be all.

Question is do I just allow myself to go over my budget to some degree and get the Para2 but the fact of the matter is that I already want more than one model of the Spyderco line of knives.

Yup, the disease merrily continues to levels I hadn't gone to before.

 

[jossta]

If the Para 2 is what you like the most, then it's cheaper to just get the Para than it is to get something else then realize you wanted the Para. Just my 2¢.

There aren't really a lot of bad options from Spyderco though....

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

I received a new black Pacific Salt SE yesterday in the mail - for a great price on a popular auction site. I already have two Enduras, mind you, and the Pacific Salt is nearly the same knife except with H1 steel. So you can tell I like the Spyderco Endura/Pacific platform quite a bit. My point is with patience you can get a new Spyderco FRN model for less than $50. The Salts are a good option if you intend to use the knife with food often, use it in salt water, or need a knife that you can sweat all over in the summer with no concerns. The VG-10 steel in the normal Delica/Endura (and others) is also very corrosion resistant, mind you, and will stand up to moderate sweat/fresh water/food with no problems. But the H1 SE holds a great edge and is worry free around water. The H1 PE, however, is soft and the edge tends to roll on me pretty easily. Another plus for the Salt models is how lightweight they are since they have no liners. This makes them a good option for summer carry (i.e. shorts and lots of sweat).

 

[Ogien]

The salt series I don't know if it's for me as my knives are never in touch with salt water or even sweat for that matter. I appreciate the info though.

I still haven't made up my mind what it is I'm goimg to get because I'm fairly certain that I could be temporarily satisfied with a less expensive knife for the time being but if I can find the Para for a decent price on the forums or eBay or other places where I can expect a discount then I'll likely jump on that.

The only thing is that I have to get my hands on some money and that won't be till March 1st unfortunately. Though if I can find a Para for $70+/- I can probably work my budget for this month and scrape together that kind of money.

Need to pay close attention to the selling forum on here.

Really excited about getting my first Spyderco no matter which one it is.

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

Hey the Salt recommendation was just food for thought. If you're not around salt water and you don't constantly use your blade for food prep, H1 is probably not necessary. If you search on corrosion resistance for VG-10 you'll find very few cases of blade rust. I have searched and read and while it can happen, it's clear that any normal amount of care on VG-10 will prevent any problems. VG-10 is a great steel.

If you can find a Para 2 for $70-ish dollars, jump on it. I don't think you'll find it, however, even on a clean used knife.

I own about twenty Spydies, and about half are FRN models (Delicas, Enduras, Salts, UKPK, etc). IMHO, while the Para 2 and other more expensive models are certainly worth the money, nearly everybody will find a place in their pocket and their heart for a Delica 4 or Endura model. You really cannot go wrong with these.


Here's a gratuitous Pacific Salt pic just for fun.

 

[Zuluninja]

My first spydie was a native and I followed the advice of thinning the bevel; the thing is now a surgery scalpel with a lock and handle. Recently said "what the heck" and bought the spydie I fell in love with at first sight some years ago, a Forester...can't review it yet as it has seen no other action than being pulled out of the kydex to fondle and admire. On a more practical level, my next 2 spydies will probably be a tenacious and a para. To me they may not be the prettiest knives out there (except the Forester - add "brutal" to the description) but you can't certainly argue against quality.

 

[Ogien]

Hey the Salt recommendation was just food for thought. If you're not around salt water and you don't constantly use your blade for food prep, H1 is probably not necessary. If you search on corrosion resistance for VG-10 you'll find very few cases of blade rust. I have searched and read and while it can happen, it's clear that any normal amount of care on VG-10 will prevent any problems. VG-10 is a great steel.

If you can find a Para 2 for $70-ish dollars, jump on it. I don't think you'll find it, however, even on a clean used knife.

I own about twenty Spydies, and about half are FRN models (Delicas, Enduras, Salts, UKPK, etc). IMHO, while the Para 2 and other more expensive models are certainly worth the money, nearly everybody will find a place in their pocket and their heart for a Delica 4 or Endura model. You really cannot go wrong with these.


Here's a gratuitous Pacific Salt pic just for fun.

Well, there is nothing wrong with gratuitous pictures of knives. That is a fine looking knife by the way. In all honest, due to the budget I set I will likely buy a Native or one of the other great Spydies mentioned. Thanks for the peep show of your knife btw.

Not a fan of serrations on the blade but for fishing and the like I can totally understand the need for having them there. You got a sexy knife there.

My first spydie was a native and I followed the advice of thinning the bevel; the thing is now a surgery scalpel with a lock and handle. Recently said "what the heck" and bought the spydie I fell in love with at first sight some years ago, a Forester...can't review it yet as it has seen no other action than being pulled out of the kydex to fondle and admire. On a more practical level, my next 2 spydies will probably be a tenacious and a para. To me they may not be the prettiest knives out there (except the Forester - add "brutal" to the description) but you can't certainly argue against quality.

Really? You got it that sharp? I've never intentionally changed the bevel of a knife before but I'm more than willing to give it a try. Actually, if anyone on this board would do it for me and you can point me in the right direction than I'd be thrilled to have them do it.

I will likely buy a Native or something along those lines that were mentioned in this thread as I have found out through research that they are all top quality knives. Yes, I would buy the Para2 if the price was more accessible but as it is right now I'm fine with buying something else and then when I have a month that isn't as costly to me as March, I can go ahead and consider the Para2. Certainly would love having more than one Spyderco in my collection.

If I buy the Native, any suggestions on whom could change the bevel on it for me relatively inexpensively? I'm sure I could eventually get it right but I don't want to scuff up the knife through trial and error. You know?

 

[ozgooner]

Well, there is nothing wrong with gratuitous pictures of knives.

Indeed.

My Pacific Salt heard you weren't going to buy one and decided to come and plonk itself down in the thread and sulk