Spyderco Kitchen knives - REVIEW

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
I received two spyderco kitchen knives for a passaround and took the liberty of using them over the weekend.

So here is my little review.

First let me say that my usual kitchen knives are some Henckels I picked up several years ago. Henckels have a rigid blade and a relatively thick blade.
Any henckels will be denoted by an "H" the Spyderco by an "S"

Ok let's get to it:

Overly ripe tomato - The H knife perhaps a little dull had to poke through the skin with the point before slicing. The S knife started on it's own. They both sliced relatively well with an advantage to the S, probably most due to the factory fresh edge. I was also able to get a very very thin translucent slice, pretty darn good for a mushy tomato

Pork Cutlets - H did OK, so did the S. These cutlets where already cooked an on a cutting board so they where a little tough.

Veggies - H has a rigid blade so I could put some force down on the back of the blade. they work OK but not great as choppers. S blades are not choppers, the blade is thin and just a bit flexible, but they of course cut through fine. So really it just a reasonable difference in technique based on the knife type.

Breads - S had an advantage here due to the serrations. I don't have an H bread knife.

Cleanup - The spyderco cleaned up easier, the steel was "slicker".

Handyness - The S's where more handly as the blades where not as wide and a little smaller than the 6" H chef's knife I was using.

Bottom line, next week I'll be ordering a set of S kitchen knives.

BTW these knives are now on passaround:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=255051
 
Did you freshly sharpen the H before using them, considering the S is fresh out of the box w/ factory edge?
 
No, I didn't sharpen the H before using, I should have but didn't.
 
Thanks Dave :).., yeah I have a few Spydie kitchen knives and I really like 'em for most stuff. I epecially like their little paring knife.., awesome for boning chicken...
 
For a good general use kitchen knife, Spyderco is hard to beat. They are a little flexible but, I have never really found that to be a problem. Their thin profile makes them cut very well.

The only fault I could really find is that the handles are a tad small for my tastes. I do like an overly large grip though so, take that comment for what it's worth.
 
The Spyderco 4" blade SPK5PBK plain edge utility knife is my number one light job choice in the kitchen (and I own over 100 kitchen knives). The size and shape work well for paring, triming meat, cutting tomatoes, dicing small amounts of veggies. The handle is very ergonomic and secure when wet. The size also works well for my wife.

The MBS-26 alloy takes an incredible razor edge and holds it well. The thin blade goes through hard or soft material well. The Santoku is the perfect companion for larger work on the cutting board. I don't have one at the moment and use a MAC UK-60 as my next step up. For slicing a roast I often use my 8" long Spyderco. Thin and razor sharp is best for most purposes. Spyderco has some of the best around.
 
I've had to give several of the Spyderco Santokus away to keep mine from getting stolen by friends (WAIT! If I'd have given the old one away I could have kept replacing it. :rolleyes: )
 
Originally posted by DaveH

Breads - S had an advantage here due to the serrations. I don't have an H bread knife.
Click to expand...

Plain-edge Spydies will also cut bread pretty easily.
I've had great luck with the Fallkniven K1 and K2 cutting bread.
My Opinel 8 also works pretty well.

Good steel and sharpness will cut through bread just fine, serrations or no.
 
I've had the knives for two weeks now and I have some startling observations!!
The kitchen knives were just ok. I don't like serrated blades for kitchen knives, not even steak cutters. The blades were very sharp, the handles fit my hand very well, and the blades dfid not flex too very much. But like I said I don't like serrated kitchen cutlery. Except in a bread knife!
The STARTLING part of this was the CRICKET :eek: :eek:

When this knife came to try out I sneered. IT IS TINY.
This ia a knife that I would not have picked up and I would have just passed it by because of it's size. Did I mention that it's small? :)
SPECS ARE HERE
Well Thank you DAVEH and SAL for the hands on experience!!!!
This has become my favorite carry.
The knife has this hawk bill that I came to appreciate as a box opener and quickie slicer. THE KNIFE IS TINY!!
I opened the box and out popped this baby knife. I said This stinks, I'll never be able to hold it let alone open it. Boy was I wrong. :)
It took most of an hour, after I took it out of the box, till my hand became comfortable with it. At first I felt cramping in my fingers but I figured I'd give it a chance. It took some getting used to because of it's size. :)( I have beefy mitts :)
I've carried spydies for many many years, usually the delica and rescue.
I don't like metal handles. My paradigm is that they're too slick. I didn't have any problem with slipping or discomfurt
After the hour or so I was able to open this blade as fast as any spydie I've had. And I pride myself at opening as fast as any auto, I've seen. The knife carries well and is very light. Easy to get lost in the pocket. I clipped it to my pocket and it rode well and low.
The serrations cut well and held an edge very well. I didn't sharpen it though. This may be a challenge to sharpen because of it's hawkbill or reverse s shape. I can't find my Spydie Sharpmaker :(
The blade locked up very safely with a (unique to me) system that takes the metal of the handle and uses it to lock up. A "Chris reeve integral linerlock". Great idea and function. I really put this through some paces.
I cut letters, industrial carpet, romex sheathing 12 and 14 /2 and 3, heavy cardboard and an apple as well as some heatermeals I just tried out at work :). It did well with all tasks, even the apple :)
This is a blade that I'm going to purchase. I don't usually feel this way about the knives I've had the chance to test out with Dave's passarounds!!
While I have liked them all this is the first one I have to have immediately.

THANKS AGAIN DAVE and SAL!!!
Tom
 
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