Spyderco Wolfspyder Initial Review

Kreyzhorse

Kreyzhorse

Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
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I literally just received my Spyderco Wolfspyder in the mail today less than two hours ago. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is a collaboration between bushcraft legend Ray Mears and Spyderco and is only available for sale on Ray’s website in England.

It’s a quirky designed knife and you don’t see too many folders advertised as bushcraft knives. Nonetheless, this blade is advertised as just that and I was intrigued enough to pick one up when I saw it come through the the exchange.

The blade is S30V, again, an odd choice for a bushcraft blade and it comes in at just under 3” in length with a Scandi grind and compression lock. I’m a lefty and the knife, at first glance, is not left handed friendly at all. The Spyderhole is only accessible on the right side of the knife. The pocket clip is tip down, right side only. The G10 has a cut out for your right thumb when choking up on the blade for fine work. As I pulled this knife out of the package, I thought, briefly, that it would be a catch and release for me. After a few minutes however, I find it very comfortable in my left hand. The right thumb notch is actually a perfect spot for my left middle finger when I choke up on the blade. The pocket clip, which I thought would dig into my fingers is not an issue so far. Of course I haven’t cut a damn thing with this knife, but in the “we are getting to know each other” phase and I’m currently very happy with her.
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Speaking of the G10, it is a lovely dark green. It is a very nice color and will make finding it in the woods a challenge should you drop it. The G10 is also really grippy and the texture is fantastic.

The handle shape, well, it reminds me of the Spyderco Dodo a bit. The Dodo by the way, has the best ergos of any Spyderco I’ve ever held but I never found the blade shape very useful. The ergos on the Wolfspyder seem to be very good so far. I’ll see how it feels with some cutting chores but right now, I’m sold on the shape.

Overall, it is smaller than I thought it would be but it seems to fall fully into the little big knife realm that Spyderco makes their own. I’ve got a camping trip coming up, and while I don’t see the Wolfspyder replacing a good fixed blade, it should be a nice companion blade. I’ll update this thread again after the trip, but I wanted to get my initial thoughts out now.
 
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. The wolfspyder could very well go down as one of Spyderco's strangest designs ever. It does seem like they missed the mark if it is indeed intended to be a bushcraft type knife.

That said, I still want one.


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Nice knife, probably the only current production model I really want but haven't gotten to yet. I use a Yojimbo 2 for outdoors stuff and really like the compression lock. I wonder if I'd really like the Wolfspyder enough to justify the higher price and wait time...
 
Woops. Some Enzo Birk DNA get into the Spydie gene pool?
I presume it had nested stainless steel liners?
I like it. Don't know what I'd really need it for. But I like it.
 
You are correct, it does have stainless steel liners.

I didn't exactly need it but I'm looking forward to using it.

Seems like more of a daily carry than a bushcrafter so far and it carries like a daily.
 
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As I recall, Ray was shooting for a "bushcraft style" knife for everyday chores, rather than an actual folding bushcraft knife. I picked mine up at the last seconds sale, and I kind of wish I'd snagged another.
 
If that was the intent, he nailed it. I look forward to using it over the next couple of weeks.
 
I like this folder but... it'll come down to this one or the Lil Temp3.
rolf
 
I bought one of these the other week.

Weird looking - yes , but comfortable in the hand. It has a strong lock, like the PM2

Its only got a 3" blade , but that's all I need. Good for slicing and general cutting.

A quick touch up on the sharpmaker and its razor sharp.

My previous EDC was a PM2 , but it was too wide.

This model from Ray is slimmer , and doesn't catch my hand when I put it in my pocket.
I now love the shape , and colour of the handle.

All I need to do now is to smooth off those sharp edges .

Thanks Ray and Sal
 
Day 1

I cut lots of "officey" type stuff. The Wolfspyder excelled at envelopes and assorted plastic wrapped goodies. Clearly, no hard use, but the blade is comfortable to carry and I've enjoyed using it so far. After all, enjoying a knife is what all of us are here for isn't it?

I tend to agree that this was never meant to be a bushcraft knife. I think it's a niche design for Ray Mears fans. Honestly, I consider it an urban "brushcraft" knife. It will get you through simple day to day cutting tasks, and maybe more, but it isn't a knife you'd want to build a log cabin out of.

Anyway, I'll update as I put it through some tougher tasks but wanted to give it a 24 hour review.

All the best BF.
 
Day 7

I'll be honest. I love this knife. I just got back from a weekend hiking trip and didn't use the knife at anything more than basic kitchen chores. No hard usage but I have carried the blade for a week straight and this is fast becoming my favorite knife. I can't really say anything new about it, but after carrying it and using in for day to day cutting chores, the knife really fits my hand well and by no means was it designed with a lefty in mind.

As a side note, as my wife and I were heading south for our trip, I stopped and bought ice. I pulled out the Wolfspyder, cut open the bag and sat the knife down on the bed rail to spread the ice between two coolers. After that was done, I hopped out of the bed, raised the tailgate and headed south. After 20 miles or so I thought "Oh shit" and glanced in the side view hoping to see the Spyderco still on the rail. No luck of course and I pulled over at the next exit ramp hoping against hope that somehow the knife slide off the rail and into the bed. After stopping the truck, I walked around back and peered into the bed, no knife. "Damn" and with that immediately started plans to buy another one. Before I got back in the truck, I grabbed my go bag and behold, the Wolfspyder had partially slid underneath it blocking my view. Yes! Not sure how the damn thing fell into the bed rather than off the rail but I am damn glad it did.

I would have hated to bought two of the exact same blades less than 7 days apart.
 
Hi Kreyzhorse,

Thanx much for the comments and pics. As Yab mentioned, a "Back-up" folder with Bush-craft features was the design intent of the knife. We made quite a few protos working with Ray as the design evolved. Eric and I both thought the design was expectional from the first drawing Ray made.

sal
 
What about the edge geometry: is it a 0 degree scandi grind, a scandivex, or scandi with a microbevel?
 
Zero grind, mine is actually very slightly hollow ground. Whether that is normal or because it is a second I couldn't tell you. I didn't really notice until I sharpened it flat on an Extra Fine DMT hone and came up with two shiny strips at the top and bottom of the primary grind.

Edit to add: my angle gauge shows about 25° included angle on the grind.
 
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