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
I don't know, Spyderco just has a tradition of sharpness, and good knife steel, I suppose. If you want to hear the cons about Spyderco, from a Spyderco guy, here they are:

1. the spyderhole looks like the knife has been mutilated by a dictatorial government to keep knife fiends from walking around with murder in their thoughts.
2. some blades look wider than they are long
3. handles are two dimensional
4. the standard production models you like are the ones that get dropped the following year.
 
They definitely look unconventional as knives but for me, their allure is in their functionality as cutting tools. My K390 wharncliffe is probably the best cutting blade I've ever owned. Full flat grind thin enough to cut all the way through material without getting hung up but still just thick enough for durability. And a steel that holds up like a laser all week long getting worked like a dog with just stropping. Good grip for the size too.

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To me, the Spydiehole was a revelation. Far easier for my big thumbs to open, as well as more satisfying to open than thumbstuds in my opinion. I only have only one knife now with thumbstuds as the only opening option.

They don't get in the way like studs do when cutting with the whole blade through something thick.

Spyderco ergonomics are second to none for most of their models.

They also pay attention to us knife knuts, with the owner Sal being a member of BF.
 
Like other said I like Spyderco for the many different steel options. I also really like the leaf blade shape that most spyderco knives have, I find it visually appealing and kinda hand for the type of cutting I do. I only have 3 at the moment a nativ LW s35v, a manix 2 in m4, and a caly 3.5 in ZDP. They’re all my work knives (shipping department at a local factory. I cut lots of cardboard….lots…). My caly 3.5 has been getting the most use lately despite the back lock being a tad “mushy” or “wobbly”. My native LW is also “wobbly” but to a very very tiny degree. so something to keep in mind with back locks, though that’s with my sample size of 2. Their knives aren’t always perfect but I don’t really worry about perfect too much with production knives.

Though it’s not something I have the money to do, an advantage to Spyderco is you could buy different steel options of the same knife to find out which is steel best for your use. Might not be as easy of a task with other brands.

All that being said I still voted for “depends on the model”. I’m not a fan of the look of some of their knives and I don’t have the money to go collecting every new run they drop. I also am not into reselling or trading knives (yet at least). If I see something I like and know I’m going to use then I buy it.

Kevin
 
Manix 2, PM2, Shaman, so many great models out there. I was turned off by their looks when I first started buying knives. Now Spyderco’s are almost all I carry. They just work, and you have to use them to really appreciate them. Plus, Sal and Eric are two of the best guys in the knife world.
 
I will always respect them, but I just can't find them be THE knife for me. I have tried about 6 or 7 of them over the last 20-ish years. All fine knives, but none have become a knife that gets much carry.

The three that do get a little more use is an Endura 4 my wife bought for me about 16 years ago for Christmas. Kind of a neat artifact from the Long Long Ago. White FRN spirit run handle with VG10 steel. I believe she bought it from New Graham. Old school inasmuchas it's got a pinned construction when you compare how many knives these days seem to NEED to come apart. I believe it was also the first or second year of Spyderco adding a metal liner to the handle which caused much wailing and gnashing of teeth for adding unneeded weight. VG10, at the time, was considered an upgrade in pocket knife steel.

The other is a full Spydie Edge Tasman Salt. I bought it before a trip to Florida some years ago to test out this newfangled H1. Awesome little knife. Never a bit of trouble, no rust, and it has spent about 6 years as an often used and abused box cutter at my office.

Finally, my newest (and favorite) is a serrated ARK. I bought it for another ocean trip. Just so easy to keep on my person, and it was co-designed by a forumite whom I have the upmost respect.

I've tried the Manix and a few other ones, but I gave them to my brother. Just never got into a groove with them.
 
Most Spyderco blades do nothing for me!!!! I think I have given maybe 3 models a second glance! And I own those models🤔. Subvert, Sub hilt & pattada!!!! Add the manba too... Maybe a GB2 at some point....
All the other model....I'll pass thanx.......
 
I have been fan of Spyderco since the 1980's because (1) their knives are good cutters, they just do the job and (2) the cost isn't too crazy for a knife made from good materials, designs, and engineering. Three of my favorites that I've been impressed with over the years are the unique (1) Spyderco Salt models, the first really rust resistant knives hitting the knife market, and (2) the resent Spyderco Resilience S35VN, good size knife, great steel, and at a reasonable price. That said my edc for many years is the (3) Gayle Bradley #1. All three of these Spyderco's are USER knives, but I guess you could stick them in your gun safe and start a collection if that floats your boat.



 
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It's a slippery slope, all right. Spyderco's trademark "hole" is sort of weird, but it turns out to be one of the most brilliant, ergonomically sound features you can devise. Compact, lots of different steels/locks/materials/colors to choose from, Spyderco has a knife for just about anyone.
 
For all the reasons already mentioned.....but for me the real allure is the brand's founder...Sal Glesser. Bought my first Spyderco from Mr. Glesser in 1982 and I've been a fan since. He stands by his products, listens to his customers, has designed iconic models and he's a Patriot as well.
 
I love my PM2, it’s been one of my most carried lately. I don’t have any other Spyderco models, but the PM2 is one hell of a slicer. Great ergos too, it’s one of the best IMO for an edc.
Also like others have mentioned, they offer the biggest selection of steel choices, bringing exotic new steels to the knife world.
 
I would say I am a skeptic turned user turned fan. Purchased my 1st Spyderco in the late 80s, have owned many of the models over the years. Here are some of my personal favorites / never going to sell -

-The GB2 might have been my favorite folder of all time had it not been a liner lock; excellently executed.
-The Chef is a fantastic knife for what its designed for, food prep, light EDC.
- Endela in K390 is one of my most often carried knives at the moment; I tried to avoid the K390 sensationalism but the hype is real imo, fantastic steel that is worth trying.
- Chaparral is my gym / swimming carry - its almost invisible
- Hard to explain this one, its just preference I guess, but I carry a Kapara so often it even surprises me. I just really like the blade shape and handle profile in the pocket.

Some of the models balance very well in the function, form, price paradox; Its just finding the ones that work for you. Visually it might not jump out in appeal, but using them changes that imo.

​

 
I was gifted a wharncliffe Delica. As a life long carrier of traditional style slipjoints, I figured it would end up in the sock drawer with the other non-starters but the ease of carry and utility has made it an EDC. Along with a slipjoint of course.
 
I agree with some of the folks. I collect Spyderco because they adventure out with all different types of steel. You can can have like me multiple native 5 knives and none have the same steel. I mainly stick to pm2 and native 5 but i do own a chaparral in case I travel and blade length is an issue.
 
For me it's mainly all about the hole, and the variety of choices. I don't like the ones with a finger choil using up edge length , which is one reason I like my Canis, the edge actually starts a little to the rear of the most forward part of the handle. The hole, teamed with a compression lock and their captive bearing pivot is the perfect combination so far for me in a work knife. They also satisfy my requirement now for a non ball bearing, non flipper tab folder.
 
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