Recommendations for my first Spyderco

Jaytaylor · Feb 20, 2012

looking to pick up a Spyderco for EDC and not too familiar with the brand.

Can you guys recommend a good EDC with photos of course.

Orion's Belt · Feb 20, 2012

No photos, but the full flat ground Delica is a great choice for an entry level Spyderco. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Para 2 is my choice for the best EDC blade ever.

rg02 · Feb 21, 2012

Can't go wrong with the Gayle Bradley or Para Military 2:

Or a Manix 2 or Sage 3:

It just depends on what fits your hand the best, what blade laws you have where you live, and your budget!

SPNKr · Feb 21, 2012

The GB is great I think. The way the slightly exposed liners shimmer around the carbon fibre is just awesome, and CPM M4 is arguably one of the best steels money can buy, many tests have shown it to hold an edge longer than even ZDP189. Don't worry about rust, I live in an area with humidity frequently above 90% and it's holding out fine without any treatment.

Can be had for just over $100 too

Yo Mama · Feb 21, 2012

If you want cheap: Endura Full Flat Grind
If you want expensive: Para2 or Manix 2
If you want small knife: Native 4
If you want big honkin sucker: Manix 2 XL

arrowhd · Feb 22, 2012

FFG Endura as pictured. Just pick your color. If you need something with a shorter blade go with the FFG Delica.

arrowhd · Feb 22, 2012

Or, if you want to spend a little more money..... Military or Para2.

bernard_s3 · Feb 22, 2012

All depends on how much your willing to spend. Theres the Tenacious family all between $22-$35 (Ambitious, Persistence, Tenacious, and Resilience)
At around $50-$65 you can find the Endura, Delica, Dragonfly, Native, Stretch... And $80 or so to $120 There's the Paramilitary, Military, Gayle Bradley, Manix 1, Manix 2, The Caly line, and the Sage Series.

tjswarbrick · Feb 22, 2012

This comes up a lot - I trust you've done your search already.
What size do you like?
How much do you want to spend?

Perhaps the ideal "normal" EDC is the Sage1. No photo of mine yet, but it's all over the web.
If you can stand a little bigger, Manix2:

Or, my personal favorite, the Para-Military2:

bladebertt · Feb 22, 2012

The Military is the one to get.

Jaytaylor · Feb 22, 2012

tjswarbrick said:
Or, my personal favorite, the Para-Military2:

Snap, I've placed an order for the Para-Military 2 Bento Sprint, I find the blue really appealing.

Thanks all for the recommendations and awesome photos, having researched for my first Spyderco with the intention of only getting one I now firmly have caught the bug, theres about another 3-4 models I have my eye on, mainly the Manix.

Bumping into customsypderco didnt help matters, those wooden custom Sypdercos are superb.

Keep the recommendations coming, the photos help ease the anxious waiting for the PM2 to reach Aotearoa.

Sunby · Feb 23, 2012

Delica 4 FFG would be a good choice.
ZDP-189 is sharp!!

tjswarbrick · Feb 24, 2012

Jaytaylor said:
Snap, I've placed an order for the Para-Military 2 Bento Sprint, I find the blue really appealing.

Congratulations! You're going to love it.
The blue took a while to grow on me, but the M390 had me hooked from "coming soon..."

EZ Bake · Feb 25, 2012

Jaytaylor said:
Snap, I've placed an order for the Para-Military 2 Bento Sprint, I find the blue really appealing.

Thanks all for the recommendations and awesome photos, having researched for my first Spyderco with the intention of only getting one I now firmly have caught the bug, theres about another 3-4 models I have my eye on, mainly the Manix.

Bumping into customsypderco didnt help matters, those wooden custom Sypdercos are superb.

Keep the recommendations coming, the photos help ease the anxious waiting for the PM2 to reach Aotearoa.

I just got through carrying my Blue P2 tonight - can't wait until the Orange one gets here. The Digi-Satin one is my work-horse.

Be prepared to buy more Paras - I know very few people who can just buy one

matt1987 · Feb 25, 2012

If you want to ease yourself into it, pick up a tenacious or delica/endura. But you might as well get a paramilitary 2 now since you'll end up with one anyway.

Fat Goat Forge · Feb 25, 2012

I'd start with a delica 4 ffg if budget is an issue.

If you can spend more the Gayle Bradley is fantastic but maybe a little bit heavy for EDC. Its a fantastic hard work knife.

I wish I could speak to the Paramilitary 2 but both of the ones that I have on order are limited editions scheduled to be produced later this year. The orange in march/april. And the green in the summer. But I am certainly a fan of this knife I have never used to the degree that I have 2 on order LOL.

Based on the reviews I would say Para 2 or if on a budget IME love my delica 4 ffg. Get it in either VG-10 or ZDP-189 both great steels.

otis66 · Feb 26, 2012

This is my first Spyderco.

Jaytaylor · Feb 28, 2012

My first Spyderco arrived this morning and I'm pleased as punch with it.

The fit and finish are perfect, firm lock up and great action, the blade is bang on centre - overall an excellent knife.

My second Spyderco should be here tomorrow.

Now for the pics - sorry, crappy lighting.

Edited to add - what are the markings either side of the hole on the blade, on the clip side of the knife?

Evany · Feb 28, 2012

Edited to add - what are the markings either side of the hole on the blade, on the clip side of the knife?[/QUOTE]

You have chosen well. The markings are stylized initials of the designers of the knife, Sal and Eric Glesser.

Liquidm1980 · Feb 28, 2012

the delica is an amazing knife, i would say a good start at the price point. if you want something a little bit nicer take a look at the sage 2. its the sebenza i would carry and risk losing.