Salt Series Recommendation

Low Country Dude · Feb 11, 2012

My family owns a home down on the coast where we enjoy a variety of activities boating, swimming, snorkeling, beachcombing, kayaking, wave runners, biking and various outdoor activities. I would like to carry one of the Syderco Salt series with H1 steel in my pocket for general use. We normally do not fish very much, so cutting up bait or fish is not really a big issue.

So, for those you who carry a Salt series what model and blade style do you recommend for just general use?

tinwiskers · Feb 11, 2012

I prefer the Salt 1 for utilitarian work. average sized blade. I'm not sure if you are looking for holster or fixed blade, in that case I would go with an Aqua Salt

Salt 1

Aqua Salt

Spectre · Feb 12, 2012

tinwiskers, where can I find an Acqua Salt?

Thanks, John

The Deacon · Feb 12, 2012

As a general use folder, the two best would be the Salt 1 and Pacific Salt. Which of them would be best for you depends on how large a knife you prefer, or are legally permitted, to carry. Salt 1 is Delica size, Pacific is Endura size. Both are available PE and SE in both black and yellow.

Sithus1966 · Feb 12, 2012

Unfortunately the Aqua Salt is discontinued so you would have to look online for someone that still has one. Best place is on auction probably.

Spectre said:
tinwiskers, where can I find an Acqua Salt?

Thanks, John

americanbulldog1 · Feb 12, 2012

Pacific Salt SE is my choice for an all around salt water knife.

Spectre · Feb 12, 2012

Yeah, I've looked.

Fat Goat Forge · Feb 12, 2012

My daughter is a junior at Maine Maritime Academy and will spend the summer as an intern on an ocean going tow tug pulling barge trains. I am going to get her a salt as a bon voyage present. We looked over the spyderco catalog this morning and the Atlantic Salt seemed to strike her fancy. Endura sized, Full serrations for emergency cutting, Blunt tip so if a wave tosses you around you dont stick anybody. She liked the yellow.

Gadgetman7 · Feb 12, 2012

I've carried one when boating for a couple of years. I think the Salt 1 is adequate for most things you'll encounter but I strongly suggest that you get the serrated version. The plain edge doesn't seem to hold an edge as well as other steels but the serrated seems to hold an edge better. I don't know why but I think there are a couple of threads discussing the difference.

The other option I'd recommend is the serrated Pacific. I've never run into anything it couldn't handle. One other thing I've found is that the yellow is much easier to find on a crowded deck.

Niles · Feb 12, 2012

Hands down I would recommend buying an Atlantic salt and sending it to Tom Krein to get this regrind done:

I absolutely love this knife now.

AfghanWarrior · Feb 13, 2012

Fat Goat Forge said:
My daughter is a junior at Maine Maritime Academy and will spend the summer as an intern on an ocean going tow tug pulling barge trains. I am going to get her a salt as a bon voyage present. We looked over the spyderco catalog this morning and the Atlantic Salt seemed to strike her fancy. Endura sized, Full serrations for emergency cutting, Blunt tip so if a wave tosses you around you dont stick anybody. She liked the yellow.

She has good taste. The Spyderco H1 knives are great. I have a few, but never carry them. I just save them. My cousin is a Maine Maritime Academy grad...its a good school.

kreole · Feb 13, 2012

A re-tipped Atlantic Salt is my most-carried Spyderco. It's not quite as pretty as Niles'

I had and sold off a Tasman Salt and have but rarely use a Pacific Salt. The Atlantic is my favorite of the three (even unmodified).

bfboy · Feb 13, 2012

The Deacon said:
As a general use folder, the two best would be the Salt 1 and Pacific Salt. Which of them would be best for you depends on how large a knife you prefer, or are legally permitted, to carry. Salt 1 is Delica size, Pacific is Endura size. Both are available PE and SE in both black and yellow.

Do either of these have an adjustable pivot point?

Frozy · Feb 13, 2012

Yes, the Pacific salt and Salt 1 have adjustable pivots, probably since 2010?

bfboy · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks for the info.

bfboy · Feb 13, 2012

Frozy said:
Yes, the Pacific salt and Salt 1 have adjustable pivots, probably since 2010?

Thank you very much for the information.

coop1957 · Feb 13, 2012

Salt 1 is a great size and very durable.
My work knife.

Flinx · Feb 13, 2012

My work knife as well.

afultz075 · Feb 14, 2012

I second the recommendation for a serrated edge Salt over the plain edge version. Plain edge H1 doesn't hold an edge well at all but the serrated H1 knives are beasts and hold an edge very well.

I also can never seem to get plain edge H1 nearly as sharp as other steels. I can get it to slice paper, but I can't get it hair popping sharp like I can with S30V, D2, 1095, and VG10.

Low Country Dude · Feb 16, 2012

Hey all thanks for the good advice and personal experiences. So, based on all the great recommendations I bought something no one actually recommended – the Spyderco Saver Salt. Now, at first it may seem I disregarded your great advice, but not really. The Saver combines many of your recommendation such as the smaller Delcia size, the SpyderEdge, the Sheepfoot blade. Basically I wanted to try all of these features along with the H1 steel and this seemed like a good option.