-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
The allure of Spyderco
- Thread starter ac3boyz
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2013
- Messages
- 15,045
I've owned almost every regular production Spyderco model made in the last 10 or so years. Or at least a derivative of one of the "families."
I admit, hole can look goofy. Sometimes ugly. And, in one case, terrifying. I'm talking about the red headed stepchild that is the Spyderco Jot Singh Khalsa. I received one in a trade, only because I really wanted the other knife in said trade. It's hideousness caused me to nearly drop it upon opening.
To me, at least, it's the kind of ugly that if your wife gave birth to it you would tell the doctor to put it back, or tell your wife "that ain't mine!"
I admit, hole can look goofy. Sometimes ugly. And, in one case, terrifying. I'm talking about the red headed stepchild that is the Spyderco Jot Singh Khalsa. I received one in a trade, only because I really wanted the other knife in said trade. It's hideousness caused me to nearly drop it upon opening.
To me, at least, it's the kind of ugly that if your wife gave birth to it you would tell the doctor to put it back, or tell your wife "that ain't mine!"
soc_monki
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2019
- Messages
- 1,888
I know how to hold a screwdriver.
Wasn't insinuating you! But seeing some people nearly destroy their knives trying to get them apart, it hurts. Mostly in knifeclub on reddit... Lol
Chowser
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2020
- Messages
- 204
I blow hot and cold on Spyderco. Have owned several, down to just an old Delica now. I really wanted to love the GBII, but it doesn't fit my hand well. I'd like to try a Shaman but not wild about compression locks. I am intrigued by the Yojimbo... There are probably a few more Spyderco knives in my future.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2013
- Messages
- 15,045
There was a time when Spyderco was using permanent loctite on their knives. Mid 2010s, my PM2 is from 2014, Yojimbo 2 similar, but I won it here on BF so not 100% sure.
I had to use a heat gun to loosen the loctite on the screws. Pain in the butt. However, my 2013 GB1 did not have the permanent loctite, nor did my Domino.
The aftermarket game blowing up is probably why they stopped using it, as well as why they let you disassemble without voiding the warranty now.
I will say the Yo2 and PM2 are a pain to dis/reassemble.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2021
- Messages
- 1,261
Spyderco knives aren't always the prettiest, but they're thin slicey blades that cut things, which is kind of the point of what a knife is. If you need a pry bar they're generally not great and I'm not going to throw myself at any Sprint runs, but I like the wide selection of available steel and in recent years they've been making a lot of creative designs. They're a bit like Boker, but not like Boker, with knives made all over the planet to their specifications and bearing their mark.
I've bought a few Spyderco knives over the years and I've tried to keep from buying all the ones that caught my eye, so that I can buy knives from other brands too. Left: the Spyderco Walker I carried in the military. Top to Bottom: Police 4, Para Military 2, Manix 2, Byrd Raven 2, Native 5 Salt, and Cat. Right: Honorary Spyderco, the Benchmade Griptilian 550. I guess there's a reason why the Griptilion is one of my favourite Benchmade knives.
I've bought a few Spyderco knives over the years and I've tried to keep from buying all the ones that caught my eye, so that I can buy knives from other brands too. Left: the Spyderco Walker I carried in the military. Top to Bottom: Police 4, Para Military 2, Manix 2, Byrd Raven 2, Native 5 Salt, and Cat. Right: Honorary Spyderco, the Benchmade Griptilian 550. I guess there's a reason why the Griptilion is one of my favourite Benchmade knives.
If you don t like compression locks, you re probably not a Spyderco person.
I like the Delica and Endura type profiles. I like the lock backs. The Chinook 4 may be my favorite (A dc'd power lock model.) I am a big fan of the Spyderedge (serrations.) A lot of the dull subdued tacticool colors are not very peppy however they do make some interesting colors every now and then. How comfortable they feel in the hand usually more than makes up for the lack of spice colorwise.
I love the strange looking shape and thumb hole others hate it. Regardless of personal tastes the odd shapes are not gimmick but pure ergonomic function and I think most people who don't like the looks will have to admit they may very well have the best ergonomics.
It was an uphill battle when they first came out. Zytel handles, hump on blade with a hole, weird curved handle, serrations (people really argued over that,) light weight at a time when big heavy chunky folders were perceived as better quality than anything light weight. People would take one look at them and say no way I would never want to carry that thing.
The one thing most people did like was the convenient pocket clip Syperco put on their knives. As time went by people learned that light weight Zytel was strong for hell and the weird shape of the handle conformed better than other folder shapes in the hands of most people. The big hole in the blade made for fast easy opening whether left or right handed. The blade profile was a winner when it came to actually cutting things and that serrations are a very good thing in a lot situations. They appreciated a knife that can be carried without the weight pulling down their sweat pants or swinging like a heavy pendulum in their pocket. Quality was high and the Japanese steels were good quality and properly heat treated. As these knives were put through hell by a lot of people, they quickly found out that this plastic handled lightweight knife was in most cases just as strong, or even stronger than the soon to be obsolete heavy clunkers that were popular at the time.
The design spiked in popularity world wide and is even now still a strong competitor in the world of work knives made to be used. They are still hard to beat. This design is now time tested and proven.
Functionally I think the pinned all Zytel models in what is now common steel are just as good in most cases (aside from edge holding ability) as the newer more grippy textured Zytel stainless steel lined high end versions with higher quality steels and super steels that are held together with screws (in most cases.) I prefer the thicker saber/hollow grind blades to the full flat grind versions but people like thin full flat grinds and super steel so Spyderco makes them too.
I can say though that on the old Endura/Delica knife if your right hand carry tip up only integral Zytel pocket clip (strong but not unbreakable) snapped you were screwed. The new ones have screwed on stainless steel pocket clips that generally don't break and give you the options of screwing it in Left or Right hand carry tip up or tip down.
I love the strange looking shape and thumb hole others hate it. Regardless of personal tastes the odd shapes are not gimmick but pure ergonomic function and I think most people who don't like the looks will have to admit they may very well have the best ergonomics.
It was an uphill battle when they first came out. Zytel handles, hump on blade with a hole, weird curved handle, serrations (people really argued over that,) light weight at a time when big heavy chunky folders were perceived as better quality than anything light weight. People would take one look at them and say no way I would never want to carry that thing.
The one thing most people did like was the convenient pocket clip Syperco put on their knives. As time went by people learned that light weight Zytel was strong for hell and the weird shape of the handle conformed better than other folder shapes in the hands of most people. The big hole in the blade made for fast easy opening whether left or right handed. The blade profile was a winner when it came to actually cutting things and that serrations are a very good thing in a lot situations. They appreciated a knife that can be carried without the weight pulling down their sweat pants or swinging like a heavy pendulum in their pocket. Quality was high and the Japanese steels were good quality and properly heat treated. As these knives were put through hell by a lot of people, they quickly found out that this plastic handled lightweight knife was in most cases just as strong, or even stronger than the soon to be obsolete heavy clunkers that were popular at the time.
The design spiked in popularity world wide and is even now still a strong competitor in the world of work knives made to be used. They are still hard to beat. This design is now time tested and proven.
Functionally I think the pinned all Zytel models in what is now common steel are just as good in most cases (aside from edge holding ability) as the newer more grippy textured Zytel stainless steel lined high end versions with higher quality steels and super steels that are held together with screws (in most cases.) I prefer the thicker saber/hollow grind blades to the full flat grind versions but people like thin full flat grinds and super steel so Spyderco makes them too.
I can say though that on the old Endura/Delica knife if your right hand carry tip up only integral Zytel pocket clip (strong but not unbreakable) snapped you were screwed. The new ones have screwed on stainless steel pocket clips that generally don't break and give you the options of screwing it in Left or Right hand carry tip up or tip down.
Last edited:
VorpelSword
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,633
I voted no.
The quality may be above adequate to very good.
I just can't get comfortable with the alligator looking humped blade with that huge eye hole. I was givien a large one for Christmas (so I have to keep it) and the thumb hole hurts the ball of my thumb when opening it even though I've chamfered the edges.
If it is good for you . .I am happy for you. I just can't get there with Spyderco.
I would prefer a nice flipper opening folder. I am open to suggestions on that.
The quality may be above adequate to very good.
I just can't get comfortable with the alligator looking humped blade with that huge eye hole. I was givien a large one for Christmas (so I have to keep it) and the thumb hole hurts the ball of my thumb when opening it even though I've chamfered the edges.
If it is good for you . .I am happy for you. I just can't get there with Spyderco.
I would prefer a nice flipper opening folder. I am open to suggestions on that.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2015
- Messages
- 390
Danny Linguini
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2022
- Messages
- 2,279
Clearly we need to start a Society of Sick Heathens. I’m sure someone with a far more creative mind than me can come up with a name whose acronym is appropriately profane.
VorpelSword
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,633
Sorry. It takes all kinds. Eye of the beholder and all that.
CVamberbonehead
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2017
- Messages
- 2,235
I dont like most of them, since they make the ugliest knives possible. However, I have owned a few and they were good. I have a PM2 right now that I like. Its pretty square in the handle so I dont know why people go nuts over the ergonomics, but it does cut well. I think that Spyderco is popular because a lot of modern knife companies make knives that cut like crap with too thick blades, but Spyderco makes thin knives that actually cut.
Personally, I would rather have a traditional pocketknife like a Case Trapper in most cases since they tend to cut like a Spyerco but they arent hideous pocket hogs like a Spyderco.
Personally, I would rather have a traditional pocketknife like a Case Trapper in most cases since they tend to cut like a Spyerco but they arent hideous pocket hogs like a Spyderco.
tony281sc2
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 2,399
I haven’t read this entire thing, but has anyone seen the new Stretch 2XL ?
It looks awesome, 3.99” of CruWear, comes with a hefty price tag, but it might be worth it
It looks awesome, 3.99” of CruWear, comes with a hefty price tag, but it might be worth it
ac3boyz
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,227
Well we're up to 18 heathens now. I have a PM2 on the way, who knows, I may be on their side in a week. But for now, maybe we can just call them "the Deplorables".Clearly we need to start a Society of Sick Heathens. I’m sure someone with a far more creative mind than me can come up with a name whose acronym is appropriately profane.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2003
- Messages
- 1,028
How I was introduced to Spydero was just before 911, I had a Gerber 400 lst and a Buck 110 for hunting and Victornox, usual over the counter hardware store purchases. I was working for the airport authority in lost and found. Had to go through everything, I mean everything. Worst was a back pack w/ the bones of a whole consumed chicken or the purse that someone had shitted in. But I digress, I was going through a black bag listing the valuables and I saw it!
A old school Delica, that plastic clip and full serrations. I was like "hey now, that's this" and I couldn't stop playing with it. Well 90 days later we were tossing unclaimed crap and I got the Delica. Been an endless trip down the spydie hole from thereout.
A old school Delica, that plastic clip and full serrations. I was like "hey now, that's this" and I couldn't stop playing with it. Well 90 days later we were tossing unclaimed crap and I got the Delica. Been an endless trip down the spydie hole from thereout.