The allure of Spyderco

Are you a Spyderco fan

  • Yes

    Votes: 208 67.1%

  • No

    Votes: 26 8.4%

  • Depends on the model

    Votes: 96 31.0%
  • Total voters
    310
ac3boyz

ac3boyz

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2014
Messages
1,167
So this is a rabbit hole my needs nor my budget really need to go down, but here goes. I started out about 10 years ago with a BM mini-barrage which served my needs for many years, Then I gained a passion for Protech auto's and was perfectly satisfied for several more years. Most recently, thanks to BF of course, I have acquired several other models of folders, such as Benchmade, ZT, Demko, Hinderer and most recently, Chris Reeve.

I have no idea why but the one knife that just never appealed to me was a Spyderco.

Well it's evident from spending any time on this forum that a LOT of people are really passionate about them so I thought I'd attempt to find out why they are so loved. I'm interested in what you like about them. I'd also be interest in hearing from owners that like a particular model or two only and why.
Also, If you were to recommend one model to a friend, which one would it be?

Thanks!
 
Thumb hole rocks the best imo! Spyderco mat have a unique look, but build for ergos that are hard to beat. Spyderco also pushed hard into trying different steels and locks forcing the industry to adapt to new standards.

Having to recommend one model? Easy, paramilitary 2
 
For me it's a few different things. 1) The thumb hole is awesome and never gets in the way when cutting. 2) They just cut so darn good!! Most of the grinds are fairly thin so it doesn't take much to make them insanely sharp. 3) I'm a steel geek and enjoy all the different steels that they use, although at times it gets a little ridiculous with all the sprint runs lately. 3) The ergos are pretty darn good, no matter what I am doing with them I always feel like I have a good grip on them.
 
Hey hey, my friend, I would recommend a Para2, Para3 in S45vn and definitely a Gayle Bradley 2 in M4 . Delica, Endela and or Endura in K390. As for why? And of coarse a Manix in any flavor. As for why, well, just use one and you will see
 
I'm not really a Spyderco fan but still have three Spyderco knives. They are popular for a reason, kind of where value and quality intersect.

Here is my favorite.
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pholder said:
Hey hey, my friend, I would recommend a Para2, Para3 in S45vn and definitely a Gayle Bradley 2 in M4 . Delica, Endela and or Endura in K390. As for why? And of coarse a Manix in any flavor. As for why, well, just use one and you will see
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'm fairly sure one will in my mailbox in the near future.
 
I currently own over 160 of them, so I guess you can call me a fan.

The 1st Spydercos that I purchased back in the late 80's or early 90's were an Endura, Merlin and Spydercard. I sold the Spydercard awhile ago but I still have the Endura and Merlin. However, I really didn't start "collecting" Spydercos until about 5 years ago.

What attracted me most to the line was the diversity of the models that they have produced over the years-- everything from autos to balis to SD knives to fixed blades and to folders of all kinds made with a wide variety of blade steels, frame/scale materials and locking devices (where applicable).

No other knife maker has ever offered such wide array of knives.

Before prices started to skyrocket recently, I was like a kid in a candy shop buying and "tasting" every kind of Spyderco in sight and, while I have sold a few over the years, I still own almost all of the Spydercos that I ever purchased.

If you name a model, I probably own (or have owned/sold) at least one variation of it.

Most of the Spydercos that I own are older, discontinued models and any additional Spydercos that I buy now most likely will be other older, discontinued models that I need to fill gaps in or expand my collection.

The same applies to the mostly "vintage" Kershaws and ZTs that I've collected that I also am very much a fan of. I own over 100 of them combined.
 
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I used to love Spyderco but over the years the bevels started getting off by an unacceptable amount. Now they are hit or miss. The only model I still love is the full serrated police with stainless handle. I will accept any of the full serrated models as acceptable but any plain blades must be hand picked.
 
Spyderco has had an outsized effect on the knife industry and market compared to it's size. So many of the features and steels we take for granted are because of Spyderco. Running blades at rc 65 and higher? Pure Spyderco. I recall trying to get several companies to harden blades to rc 60 when 57-59 was standard. Same with trying to get them to use tool steels. They never ran out of excuses back then. Spyderco started doing these things and pretty soon other companies did too but only after Spyderco showed the consumers what was possible. The lists of things directly attributed to Spyderco will take me too long to type but for some reason it also happens to be most of the things I demand in a knife now.
 
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