Spyderco- the working man's knife

I despise Spyderco’s (so called) customer service, yet I bought a PM3 S110V today. Thinking (hoping) my need for that awful customer service is almost nil due to the quality of the product. Big Benchmade fan due in no small part to their excellent customer service.
 
Ajack60 said:
Admit it, you’re drawn to Spyderco more than Benchmade. The next course of action is to sell the Benchmade’s so you can get more Spyderco’s.
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Been there, done that.
A long time ago I started buying Benchmade knives, and at some point I had a few ZT as well. For some reason I had stayed away from Spyderco. Then I started buying and using Spyderco after reading the volumes of posts on how good the PM2 is. I've gradually sold all of my other brands except for one token Benchmade and everything else I use is Spyderco.
 
JWright214 said:
I carry both a folder and fixed blade daily, and I use the folder the most out of convenience, but if I had to choose, I would only carry fixed blades.

Just curious Enzo’s Woodshop Enzo’s Woodshop , what is your preferred fixed blade right now?
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At the moment it's my LT Wright Boattail in A2 w/ green micarta. It is the only knife I've used for 2023 so far, as I'm participating in a year-long One Knife Challenge on BushcraftUSA. The exception are specialty tools, like hook knives for making spoons/bowls.

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I have owned spyderco knives since 1999, still having all but one of them I’ve had since then. However, I prefer thumb studs to the hole. And I’m not a big fan of the spyderco endura/delica blade shape. No doubt, they’re well made and all. I prefer the Benchmade 551/556 blade shape and thumb stud setup. Another thing; a few weeks ago I pulled out a nice Delica to carry and the sharp jimping on the back of the blade took the hide off the back of my hand throughout two days of carrying it. Now, it was set up for right hand, tip down carry, and I could’ve changed the clip around and/or sanded the sharp little grooves down but it was much easier to toss it in the safe and grab something else. Now, with that being said, I do like the thinness of the Endura/Delica vs everything else. As a side note, possibly my quirkiness, I like the old Spyderco molded plastic FRN pocket clips. Call me crazy. My very first Endura still has that and it was very well used when I got it in ‘99 and took all the abuse a teenage boy could dish out and still holds just fine. In those days I did farm work, logging (the old school way with chainsaws and a Big Stick cable loader on a 5 ton International truck), and plumbing/electrical work with my shop teacher after school and the knife and it’s clip took it all in stride. I know a lot if not most of those broke but mine didn’t.
 
I respect the hell out of Spyderco and the house Sal built. First class product, CS, and owners who get fair business.

...but they don't fit me. I have 5 or 6 and they are all kinds meh in terms of what I want in a carry knife and I don't particularly like a large spydiehole for opening the knife. Actually, the one I carry even a little bit is a serrated ARK at the beach. Incredible design.

I really like their knives, but if I were to choose a single brand for a work knife, it would probably be some boring overbuilt Cold Steel with a Triad lock. Most days, for me, an OTF auto or mini Adamas works fine. If I weren't going to grab a Voyager or something in terms of a down and dirty work knife (not a fan on the openness of the Axis lock when it comes to actual mud and debris), I'd probably take a page from my old man's playbook and just grab a Buck 110. He's been packing one every day for nearly 50 years. Held up to mud, water, dust, axel grease, plastic cutting, etc. Simple, affordable, reliable.

We on this forum tend to overthink a lot of things ;)
 
I’ll bite.
Love me some Spyderco, I can’t seem to carry anything else.
I give other knives a shot, yet always kick them out for a spyder.

Only complaint I have is that they push variants in different steels faster than I can justify buying them.


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Guess I’m a fan.
 
I own nearly twice as many Benchmade knives as Spydercos, but when I'm grabbing a knife to go do some work it's usually a Spyderco. Right now, my winter jacket for working outside has a Benchmade Griptilion in the pocket, but I consider it an honorary Spyderco by design: hole opener, slicey blade, cheap handle scale material, and strong build.

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I think the variable here is the definition of working man. If, like me you sit on your ass staring at a monitor pecking a keyboard all day then sure a Spyderco is fine. But if you require work attire that involves say, a hard hat, work boots and some sort of power and/or hand tools I’d think you might prefer something a little more heavy duty.
 
I started with Spyderco in the 1980's....have owned many, many knives (both production and custom) and I keep coming back to Spyderco for daily use. I haven't found anything that tops the Military for "work".....and it is easy to sharpen.

For those that mention the Buck 110.....it is a great working knife but in "working" conditions....I find the spyderhole and pocket clip to be more practical and easier to use.
 
My shelf for hard working knives features a few from different makers.

Spyderco: Shaman in M4, Gayle Bradley 2 (M4), Tuff (3V)
Benchmade: AFCK (M2)
Hinderer: XM-18, XM-24 and Full Track (Various blade profiles)
Demko: AD-20 in Cru-Wear
CRK: Large Regular Sebenza, Sebenza 21 Insingo, Sebenza 31 Tanto (MagnaCut)
ZT: Sinkevich 0456, Hinderer 0550 and 0562 CF

I have quite a few more Spydercos than Benchmades, ZTs, Hinderers etc...but any of the folders in the list above is a knife I am confident putting to work.

Any of my fixed blades by Carothers would satisfy my need for anything more durable than the above.
 
Recently used a Manix 2 XL while ankle deep in mud to trim a rubber gasket around a water line. I later used the same knife to cut open bags of concrete. I have done similar tasks with a rotation of 154cm Griptilians. Yes, these knives need cleaning and touching up, but spiders and butterflies are both excellent work knives.
I make a habit these days of carrying one of each as a gesture towards reconciliation.
Before I became a supervisor, I carried a series of fixed blades on my belt (Esse 3, Eskabar, Shadow Tech Raptor, etc) and have spread the gospel amongst my plumbers, most of which have Izulas.
 
I've got a bunch of both, all excellent knives each in their own distinctive way. Never had a quality issue with any of them.
 
eveled said:
My work knife has always been a Buck 110. Going on 40 years. I don’t see me changing.
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Has it been the same 110 throughout those years? I've recently taken a shine to that knife and would love to see photos!

Anyway, relevant to the thread: The combo edge Endura 4 is the best all-around work knife on the market!
 
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