The Appeal of Spyderco - What is it?

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Speedemon93

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Feb 28, 2011
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Just browsing through the EDC thread, it doesn't take long to notice the overwhelming amount of Spyderco knives. Well this is all well and good, and I intend no disrespect to those who enjoy the brand of knife, I don't see the appeal.

I have yet to understand what makes the opening hole more effective than a thumb stud. I've seen plenty of people who put a zip-tie on the hole as a makeshift thumb stud so they can deploy it more quickly - well, why didn't you just get a knife with thumb studs? The hole just makes the metal protrude more, which I hardly see being advantageous. I just don't see how digging your thumb into a hole to flick out the blade is any more effective than pushing on a little thumb stud. The only argument I've seen in favor of the thumb hole that the thumb stud can't boast is that it allows for a gimped thumb ramp, which is great for extra traction. I concur with that point, I suppose, but is that really a selling factor?

There's nothing else besides this that really makes Spyderco knives stand out. I understand that the overall quality is top-notch, such as the traction and blade steel/sharpness, but other companies have such quality as well. I also understand that they are lightweight and thin, which makes them effective for EDC; again, there are plenty of other knives like this, my personal favorite being the Benchmade 530. So again, the opening mechanism seems to be the only real "selling point" that most other knives don't have.

Maybe I'm over-analyzing this, and it's just personal opinion. Maybe some people are attracted to the overall look, unlike me. Still, I'd like to know why Spyderco knives appeal to you all. I'm just astounded at Spyderco's popularity considering the relatively unapparent benefits.
 
I love Spyderco's and prefer the hole over a thumb stud any day. It's just so much easier and faster imo.

Plus Spydies have the cool factor.
 
You can't "see" the benefit of the opening hole. You have to use it, and either it works for you or it doesn't. Personally going back to studs instead of the hole is not enjoyable for me.

also, the zip tie is not to use as a stud, it's to use as a wave feature like on Emersons.

The reasons I like Spyderco? Great working knives that favor function over form. Do they work "better" than any of the other good brands, nope, that's all just personal preference.
 
The thumb hole does allow you to have the thumb ramp as you say, but it also is easier to deploy without fumbling, and will never fall off the knife as thumbstuds can. With that being said, I much prefer thumbstuds, too, as they're much easier to deploy quickly for me than the hole. Also, the ziptie is a makeshift "wave" feature, not a makeshift thumbstud.

What attracts me to Spyderco despite the hole is the attention they pay to edge geometry and blade steels. Yes, other companies do this too, but not nearly to the extent that Spyderco does. Spyderco's simply slice better and stay sharp longer than other brands. So for a purely utilitarian blade, Spyderco is the way to go.
 
The zip tie trick is to function as a "wave" style feature, not a thumbstud.
And one advantage that thumb holes have over studs is the ease of use in gloves.

EDIT: beaten to it by tsujigiri about the wave feature.
 
For me:

1) Plain, simple designs. While other companies do this, there's something to be said about a knife that has simple G10 handles, an FFG blade, and no fancy embellishments. It's a user's knife.

2) I find that I can open the blade faster with the hole than a stud. Never really understood why...maybe I have long thumbs? The hole just seems more natural to me...personal preference I guess.

3) Local to me (Colorado)

4) Spyderco uses a lot of exotic steels at reasonable prices. I'm no steel snob, but it's fun to see what new steels preform like under hard conditions.

5) Customer service is top-notch


AFAIK people put a zip-tie on the hole so it functions as a "wave" feature, not as a stud. Maybe I'm wrong on that.

Overall there's a lot of companies that put out a lot of good knives. My Kershaws have all been excellent for example. I've just found that over time, every Spyderco knife I've held has been more versatile in real world use and has had better quality control and "intangibles" than knives from any other maker. They just feel...right.
 
I think the big appeal to spyderco is the value of materials and a price point makes them very accessible to a large audience.

If we are talking about the "hole" vs thumb stud thing, I am not really sure if the appeal is just an aesthetic or if people feel that it is a superior ergonomic.

From my personal experience I think the hole is superior if you ever deploy it using gloves or are forced to open it with your non- dominant hand. I think that his how they made their break into some of the law enforcement and first responder markets. Then again I might just be talking out my ass. :)
 
Hole vs stud doesn't really make a difference to me. What endures me to Spyderco is their designs, ingenuity, and commitment to the demands of users. Spyderco makes some of the most usable, comfortable, and best performing knives on the market, appearances be damned. Some of their knives might look funny, but when you hold them and use them, you'll understand why they're designed that way.
 
They are good knives. . . ergonomic, sharp, with good edge geometry, Quality materials, and one of the best Companies in the business. Aesthetics are a personal choice, but holes vs studs doesn't matter to me.
 
Planterz said:
Hole vs stud doesn't really make a difference to me. What endures me to Spyderco is their designs, ingenuity, and commitment to the demands of users. Spyderco makes some of the most usable, comfortable, and best performing knives on the market, appearances be damned. Some of their knives might look funny, but when you hold them and use them, you'll understand why they're designed that way.
Click to expand...

This is the answer I was waiting for. You likely won't see the benefit from Spyderco designs. You need to have them in your hand and use them to realize how much thought is behind the designs.
 
I used to think Spyderco's were weird looking and kind of ugly. But then I held one for the first time and I fell in love. So for me, Spyderco knives appeal to me mostly for ergos. The thumb hole, as mentioned as well as the way the knife fits in the hand are great.
 
most thumb-studs are tiny or don't offer enough grip and your thumb can slip off of it. i can open my spyderco's lightning fast, 100/100 times. i can't say the same for a thumb stud. i haven't bought or carried a knife with a thumb stud in about 7 years, which just so happens to be when i got my first spyderco.

as a company, spyderco is excellent. they are always improving with both materials and designs. with spyderco, function comes first and looks come second. there are other good companies making knives (i do own knives made by other companies). spyderco's have always "felt right" in my hands.

if you don't own a spyderco, definitely consider adding one to your collection.
 
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There are studs and then there are studs. My first Benchmade, the Mini-grip, has a very comfortable stud; my Mcusta is far less comfortable. The Stretch 2 beats them both in terms of comfort.

There is the very subjective issue of ergonomics as well. As a quick comparison, I found the Mini-grip's handle too short for my hand (I find the Military too large, as a guideline...), but the Para, Stretch, Delica and PPT perfect.
 
On the issue of thumb stud vs. Spydie hole.
I see Benchmade making knives with Spydie holes. I don't see Spyderco making knives with thumb studs. Must be a reason there.
To each his own.
 
You need to have one in your hands to truly appreciate it. IMHO the most ergonomic folders out there. To me using a hole vs a thumb stud enhances the slicing ability, you can use the entire blade without it getting hung up on the stud.
 
When I nearly sliced my thumb in half last summer, the only knives I could use were traditionals, and Spyderco. Anything with a thumbstud just caused me too much pain to try and open. That's the main reason why Spyderco's are pretty much the only "tactical" folders I currently use and carry on a regular basis.
 
Try slicing clean through a block of cheese with a blade that has a thumb stud in which you need to use the entire length of the blade. Now, do the same feat with a spydie and you will find yet another reason for hole over stud. Personal preference is a big factor in anything. That is why we have so many companies out there to pick from. Same goes for cars, cigars, and guns. Some companies just seem to do it right. Spyderco is one such company, and that is why there are more spyderco knives in my collection than any other.
 
I used to use a knife a lot while working on my farm. I found some spydercos to be very comfortable to use for long periods, especially when cutting hard materials like green wood and bamboo.

The thumbhole vs. thumbstud issue for me is also another plus since some thumbstuds are not so well designed that opening these knives is uncomfortable and difficult. Some thumbstud opening knives are well designed and this makes the deployment method about equally desirable for me.

As for the zip tie in the hole thing, this is what it's for.

[youtube]OndEVzgo9mI[/youtube]
 
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