Spyderco Endura w/WAVE or Camillus Heat.

I like my Heat. Sharpens easy and holds the edge relatively well. Don't really like the handle material, though. Feels a bit cheap and light. But I love the knife and have carried it about 90% for the last year as my main EDC. Abuse the hell out of it and it hasn't broken yet. One thing to think about, though. Some overzelous LEO's do consider it a switchblade (the same ones who use thier small palms as a guide to 3"). And trying to educate some at night during a routine traffic stop isn't always a good idea. If it's late night and I'm driving, it's usually in my bag with a legal 3" non AO blade in my pocket. Just my thoughts...
 
Due to the raves about the wave feature I've decided to buy a Commander from Emerson. But I can't decide wether I want the regular size or the mini. Does anyone have any input on this? Thanks.
 
Radioactive said:
Due to the raves about the wave feature I've decided to buy a Commander from Emerson. But I can't decide wether I want the regular size or the mini. Does anyone have any input on this? Thanks.
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The full size feels like it was made just for my hand. The ergonomics are unbelievable. I have never held the mini. The best thing to do would be to find a store that carries them and see how each one fits your hand.
 
Radioactive, the size of the Commander you want depends on the size of your hand. The ergonomics of he Commander's handle are exceptional. Unless your hand is very small, you should find the full size quite comfortable.

Incidentally, not to speak negatively about the Commander, but the Wave on the Endura impressed me more than the Emerson original. It seems to catch the edge of my pocket more consistently and smoothly.
 
gunmike1 said:
The best thing to do would be to find a store that carries them ...
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Lots of luck. It's hard enough finding an internet dealer that carries them. :)

Failing an actual Commander, you could sketch each one to size and see how it matched your hand. This is far from the best way, but it beats guessing.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I have a medium-sized hand so maybe the regular Commander won't be too bad. The reason I'm considering the mini, if at all, is because the regular might be too big of a knife for something to carry around in a pocket.

And speaking of the Endura, I'll have to consider that again. Damn this decision-making. Is that knife too big?
 
Both the Endura Wave and both Commanders are very flat knives, and carry well in a pocket, without bulging.

I find the Endura Wave spearpoint more utilitarian than the Commander's big-bellied recurve. The Commander slices pretty well, but although it is a v-grind, the secondary bevel is chisel-ground (only on one side).
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Lots of luck. It's hard enough finding an internet dealer that carries them. :)

Failing an actual Commander, you could sketch each one to size and see how it matched your hand. This is far from the best way, but it beats guessing.
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I'm lucky, my local store has an HD-7, CQC-7, 12, 13 and a Commander. They also have tons of Benchmades and Spydercos, including limited editions.
 
Radioactive said:
Thanks for the replies.

I have a medium-sized hand so maybe the regular Commander won't be too bad. The reason I'm considering the mini, if at all, is because the regular might be too big of a knife for something to carry around in a pocket.

And speaking of the Endura, I'll have to consider that again. Damn this decision-making. Is that knife too big?
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If your hands are medium you will be fine with the full size Commander, IMO. The Endura Wave (I own one) isn't too big at all, it's very similar in size to the commander and carries great. Ditto Esav on the part about the Endura have a more utility shaped blade than the Commander, although I'm sure the Commander would work fine for your EDC needs.
 
I like smaller knives better myself. I have both a Spyderco Delica 4 and Camillus Blaze, but prefer the Blaze as its much easier/faster to open.
 
My friend had Heat and guess what he ordered last week… a waved Endura!
Heat is assisted and Endura has better (imo) steel.
Never handled new endura myself - is it true that its saber grind got more "saber" ie primary bevels are shorter (compared to older model)?
 
My waved delica is a dream and it waves beautifully. It definately made me a spyderco fan and now I'm a loyal customer/citizen of spyderville.
 
Hey GUys...

I agree with Esav...

I find the Wave on the Spydie much better than the Emerson...

I get very little to No failures on the Endura, while my Emerson still fails to open at times(User Error)...

ttyle

Eric...
O/ST
 
You can't go wrong with Spyderco, but I have to stand up for the Heat. I have had one for several years and have used it as a work knife without a hint of failure. The AO mechanism still works like new, it is probably the strongest assist that I have used. I find that the flipper is easily actuated with the inside of the second joint on my index finger. I'm afraid the design would not lend itself to a western style fan though. The liner lock engages fully every time, and there is no blade play. The handles are durable and provide a good grip. The AUS-8 blade is a good compromise steel, realtively inexpensive, easy to sharpen, but still able to hold an edge pretty well. The only drawback to the Heat is that the blade stop, the upper rear corner of the handle where the thumbstuds rest when open, comes rather pointy. This can be uncomfortable against the hand, but it can be easily rounded off with a Dremel or hand file. Just something to be aware of.
 
Radioactive said:
Thanks for the replies. They're a big help.

Oh, and is the Benchmade Griptillian an AO?

And I take it from all the comments about the Heat being a little difficult to open, you can't really do the swiping motion I was talking about.
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The action your talking about "swiping motion" works really well in a SOG X-Ray Vision it has the axis lock and when you depress the lock button and flick your wrist just a bit it swings open quite nicely & as far as the Camillus it has the Robo-assisted mechanism and if your looking for a great deal on one i have a New in the box model C2334B looking for a home it was a warranty replacement for the one i had which the teflon finish started to come off and they sent me the satin finish blade never used it yet NIB!
 
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