Spyderco T-Mag....opinions?

Wavester

Wavester

Joined
May 5, 2008
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1,665
Curious to see what is the general consensus on here concerning the Spyderco T-Mag....you like it? Dislike it?....Any and all opinions welcome.

T-MagMir02.jpg
 
Well, there have been many opinions posted already, especially when these were being liquidated at less than $50.00 recently. I bought two when the mad rush was on. I'm not going to tell you to search all the other threads either, I'll gladly give my opinion. (BTW, I sold both shortly after receiving them)

BITTERSWEET

The SWEET = Overall appearance and materials are just phenomenal! I love the Chinook style blade along with the CF and wire clip. It is just absolutely pleasing in that regard. And the clearance price was amazing but....

The BITTER = The cursed, almost non-functioning magnet killed this knife. The knife inspires no confidence or trust that any, even very careful use may cause a nasty cut or worse. Maybe letter opening would be safe enough. The whole sad, double-edge sword idea here is that it is a really cool looking knife with great materials but the magnet concept was better left on the drawing board.

My .02.
 
Novel concept of a magnet to hold the blade but it doesn't work well.
I bought a couple when on sale and feel like I got a good deal despite the impracticality of the design.
 
I love the over all design of this folder. The CF scales, the blade shape and the wire clip. Yes the magnet is not all that strong but I EDC'd it for over 3 months without an issue. As long as you keep your finger in the finger choil then there's little to worry about.

I would eventually like to see Spyderco make this design with a functional lock but overall I really like mine and plan on keeping and using it
 
after the Millie, this is my favourite Spyderco right now and my 1st option for a gentleman's folder
 
The design is not without it's faults, but I still like it. I like it more since I paid only $50 USD when it was on clearance.
 
hiredgun said:
Well, there have been many opinions posted already, especially when these were being liquidated at less than $50.00 recently. I bought two when the mad rush was on. I'm not going to tell you to search all the other threads either, I'll gladly give my opinion. (BTW, I sold both shortly after receiving them)

BITTERSWEET

The SWEET = Overall appearance and materials are just phenomenal! I love the Chinook style blade along with the CF and wire clip. It is just absolutely pleasing in that regard. And the clearance price was amazing but....

The BITTER = The cursed, almost non-functioning magnet killed this knife. The knife inspires no confidence or trust that any, even very careful use may cause a nasty cut or worse. Maybe letter opening would be safe enough. The whole sad, double-edge sword idea here is that it is a really cool looking knife with great materials but the magnet concept was better left on the drawing board.

My .02.
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You are saving me some typing this morning. I couldn't have said it better. It amazes me how this beautiful knife could have been so much more. I have 2 that will likely never leave the box. If this knife had a lock it would never leave my pocket! BITTERSWEET is pefect
 
Great innovative idea, top-of-the-line craftsmanship and materials, but ultimately, yeah...not all that fantastic. Not a bad deal for the $50 they went on closeout for (I got one), but it's basically not much more than a letter opener, because you won't want to use it for anything heavier. Held properly using the finger choil, it's basically as safe as any slipjoint, but might not "feel" like it, so you won't use it for much.

I, like the others above, would love to see an equally-well built Ralph Turbell designed Spyderco with a proper lock.
 
Planterz said:
Great innovative idea, top-of-the-line craftsmanship and materials, but ultimately, yeah...not all that fantastic. Not a bad deal for the $50 they went on closeout for (I got one), but it's basically not much more than a letter opener, because you won't want to use it for anything heavier. Held properly using the finger choil, it's basically as safe as any slipjoint, but might not "feel" like it, so you won't use it for much.

I, like the others above, would love to see an equally-well built Ralph Turbell designed Spyderco with a proper lock.
Click to expand...

While I'd love to see this design with a lock, I say enough about the knife. I love it. It's a great little knife to put in your pocket when you don't want to edc a Military to church. It's got a nice wire clip, smooth CF scales, it's light, and the blade shape is useful and not huge. Once you recognize the limitations the magnet puts on it (non locking) it's easy to use.
 
tinwiskers said:
Yes the magnet is not all that strong but I EDC'd it for over 3 months without an issue. As long as you keep your finger in the finger choil then there's little to worry about.
Click to expand...

was just about to ask if anyone here had EDC'd one of these or a UKPK. Once you do, you'll see that unless you're stabing car doors or doing spinewhacks, the design makes the lack of a lock a non-issue.
 
Per this comment: "it's basically not much more than a letter opener, because you won't want to use it for anything heavier." Not true. I've used it for everything I'd use a pocket knife for, including kitchen work and it hasn't bit me yet. I even took off a bottle cap to test the S30V tip and edge...no chipping.

Remember, you cut by pressing down :) and people have been using friction folders for hundreds of years. The magnet is better than a friction folder. If you're a wuss, you can always tighten up the pivot and it'll be as good as a slipjoint. I tried it, but the action is so quick when loose and I've not been cut yet, I loosened it back up within a day or two.

I'll admit, I wouldn't buy it at 150 or 250 due to the absence of the lock, and I didn't like it when I got it. However, it grows on you over time. Ralph and Sal are not idiots, the knife works and works well. It just wasn't marketed properly and Spyderco underestimated the public's potential and actual misunderstanding of the magnet. It was originally "marketed" in the magazines as being a magnetic lock. It wasn't advertized anywhere I go, and the copy in the catalog and on websites was not truly representative of the knife's capabilities.

If your T-mag's a safe queen, try it you may like it :)
 
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