Spyderco Southard: Excessive Praise and Hype? (Or: Purchase One Now!)

Oakengroves said:
(3) What arguments or criticisms exist against the Southard? The knife has received such lop-sided praise that it almost begs suspicion.
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There are two things keeping me from buying one, or three.

1. The warranty. It's void if you disassemble it, plus Golden, Co will be expected to fix a knife they didn't make.
2. I tend to only buy USA made knives. You're paying $230+ for Taiwan manufacture. Note: this is just my prerogative, and your mileage may very.
 
Interesting info on CTS204P, Yardbird. I'd always read CTS204P was equivalent to M390.

Is the Southard thinner than the PM2 or a 940? Thin knives are great.
 
Im fine with the clip as is, and do not foresee it to be a detriment but now wonder why Brad made it that way. I suppose its strictly a design made for looks or perhaps it is for ease of placing it in the pocket. If it bothers, its nothing a bit of sandpaper cant handle. As far is it not being Ti, its stainless steel so its strong. And as John Jdavis on youtube suggested, the clip corresponds to the blade color. So, Ti scale/Ti liner, brown g10 scale/brown g10 lockstop, steel blade/steel clip... Made sense to me, no biggie.
 
204P is the equivalent of M390, and that is the equivalent of 20CV.

My issue is the Paramilitary 2. I have one in M390. It was about 50-60 bucks cheaper, US made, better lock, and up/down, left/right clip positions. If you can do without the bearings and flipper, the PM2 was the previous Spyderco absolutely everyone was clamoring to sell his mother to get.
 
I do not think it's hype! I feel Sal & Crew has a hit another home run with this one.
It is a premium knife. Not everyone will be willing to pony up the funds to obtain one. Some will purchase and not like it...
The Southard is one great edc, it carries well in my right front pocket. (At first I thought the knife's thickness would be a issue.)
It's blade came scary sharp (and still is, with only minor touch ups on a sharp maker. )
My only dislike is minor. The thumb flick (for me ) took extra practice due to the smaller hole and the sharp radius-ed area in the G10. but the ball bearings make the knife open up near effortless...
 
hardheart said:
204P is the equivalent of M390, and that is the equivalent of 20CV.

My issue is the Paramilitary 2. I have one in M390. It was about 50-60 bucks cheaper, US made, better lock, and up/down, left/right clip positions. If you can do without the bearings and flipper, the PM2 was the previous Spyderco absolutely everyone was clamoring to sell his mother to get.
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Such thoughts have entered my mind several times. Low and behold, the PM2 is one of my least favorite Spyderco offerings (favorites: Gayle Bradley, Sage 1, Sage 2, Caly 3.5).

Is the Southard primarily favored for the bearings and the flipper? Honestly, I can work a spydie hole and axis lock with enough speed that I doubt a flipper would be much faster.
 
Mine arrived today... I really like it, but I don't love it. Smaller flippers are fun to play with and the knife seems like it would be a great hard user for everyday tasks so I'm most likely going to keep it for a while. The zt0561 I had before was actually a LOT smoother, and actually a little more fun to flip but it was just too big for my taste.

If you don't have the funds for it yet, don't rush to get it. It's a nice knife but not so nice you need to have it NOW. I foresee a lot of these going up for sale on the exchange within the next few months.
 
I think the Southard is one of Spydies best offerings in quite awhile!! Perhaps since the Gayle! I am not a PM2 fan. Hate the lock. Everything about the Southard works for me! Love it! Get one!! Purchase one now!
 
The Logical One said:
I foresee a lot of these going up for sale on the exchange within the next few months.
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Yeah, just like any popular higher end knife (i,e 560 Sebenzas) on the exchange multiple times a day. Perhaps I'll get my second one this way, I hope to mod one if I can swing it.
 
I do not know: honestly I am not attracted to that knife. I guess it could be the shape of the blade spine: I would probably prefer something simpler. I pretty well may warm up to it one day: some sprint run with CF - who knows....
 
Poez said:
I do not know: honestly I am not attracted to that knife. I guess it could be the shape of the blade spine: I would probably prefer something simpler. I pretty well may warm up to it one day: some sprint run with CF - who knows....
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CF would be sweet!
 
frontline29 said:
:D
Yes the southards are good. But not that good. ;)
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Aww shucks...haha. The offer still stands if you change your mind...:cool:

Poez said:
I do not know: honestly I am not attracted to that knife. I guess it could be the shape of the blade spine: I would probably prefer something simpler. I pretty well may warm up to it one day: some sprint run with CF - who knows....
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I was in the same boat until I got my hands on one. I wasn't completely sold, and the shape of the spine was the main reason. But I have to say, in hand, and in actual use, the blade shape makes perfect sense. It really is incredibly utilitarian and far less unsusual looking in person. Again, you really owe it to yourself to at least get one in your hand and decide for yourself.
 
Poez said:
I do not know: honestly I am not attracted to that knife. I guess it could be the shape of the blade spine: I would probably prefer something simpler. I pretty well may warm up to it one day: some sprint run with CF - who knows....
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Someone posted one with a simple black G10 scale and even that looks really good (its on the Spyderco board). I guess you probably aren't into Brad Southard's customs as the Spyderco Southard fits right in with his other custom flippers. I'm surely glad I can have one as his stuff starts at over $400 and well beyond that.
 
5.56 said:
1. The warranty. It's void if you disassemble it, plus Golden, Co will be expected to fix a knife they didn't make.
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+1000, ive dealt with spyderco so called cs on several ocassions as well and have been far from please... i'll leave it at that.
the southard is a 100% solid all around performer priced very well but its like 300% hyped up from what it is by fans! i even dare i say more hyped than the zt 0560 was which is a big f'n wow! buy it if you can afford it but i wouldnt put bills aside to do so lol
 
The Southard is just about as easy to take down and put together as my Sebenzas, I doubt Spyderco will fault you if you send it in on warranty if you know what you are doing. Warranty is generally voided if you take apart the knife, AND break something in the process...It was highly anticipated prior to release as it is Spyderco's first flipper so there was hype before it came out, and it has lived up to it for me at least. For some who think it is "over hyped", what is an indiviual who likes the knife a lot supposed to say about it when threads like this come up? "No I hate it", or "No dont get it, I dont want to over hype it for you"?...lol
 
I've had my Southard for a week now and here's my impressions. Using the flipper it fires and locks almost effortlessly with the authoritative click of a well made piece of gear. The Spydie hole is totally useless for me. I have large hands and big appendages to go along with them. The hole is too small and the cutout/beveling on the G-10 has a lip which compounds the problem of getting my thumb in there. I consider it branding and no matter, this knife is a flipper after all. The end of the pocket clip is a tad sharp IMO but that's easily fixable. The Southard's just about the perfect size in my grip and it feels hefty and solid in my hand. I'm no expert, this is my first flipper, but I think the hype it's getting is warranted. It's is a solid, quality piece. Getting one in your hands is the only way to be sure, if you don't like it I doubt you'd have any problem flipping it.
 
5.56 said:
There are two things keeping me from buying one, or three.

1. The warranty. It's void if you disassemble it, plus Golden, Co will be expected to fix a knife they didn't make.
2. I tend to only buy USA made knives. You're paying $230+ for Taiwan manufacture. Note: this is just my prerogative, and your mileage may very.
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Another pass here. I am not opposed to Taiwan in the least but the benefit of those knives is the low cost. I am frankly amazed that people are falling all over themselves to buy a Taiwan production knife with such a price tag. I can believe that it is nice -but not $250 American dollars nice.

Still, it's cool to see people enjoying themselves; party on, flippers! :thumbup:
 
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