Why are Spyderco knives so ugly?

W

Wil lRogers

Joined
Oct 29, 2013
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Spyderco makes some of the most ergonomic knives out there. They feel great in the hand and cut like the dickens. But they're so ... well, ugly. Their blades look like someone took a pie-shaped wedge of steel and punched out as large a circle as possible in the wide end of the pie. Couldn't they do something to produce a more slim and elegant blade even with the S-hole? Or are they tryig to prove that esthetics has no place knife design?
 
At first I only liked how they cut, not the looks, but now I like the opening hole. It is the best opening method IMHO. Still not crazy about the humps, but luckily there are enough models without it - I find the Chaps, the Sages, the Natives the Manixes nice enough for a tool. And then the fluted Ti models and folders like the GB2, the Swayback and the Spydiechef are in the very pretty category.
 
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It has been said that Spyderco "designs in the dark". With them form almost always follows function. If a knife looks nice but isn't comfortable to hold and doesn't cut well, it belongs on Instagram, not in your pocket. Spyderco makes knives to carry in your pocket to be used for cutting things.
 
You have a wildly different idea of "ergonomic" and "feel great in hand" than I do. I have yet to find a Spyderco that's remotely comfortable to use. I have a PM2, Manix 2, Endura, Tenacious, Cat, Native 5, and Ladybug. None of them have a remotely comfortable handle. Too thin, too angular, humps and grooves in all the wrong places. Would it kill Spyderco to fill out a handle a little bit to put some meat there to grip? Overly sculpted in 2 dimensions does not make an ergonomic knife, just one almost as sharp at the handle as at the blade.
 
This is something that always puzzled me. I’ve read all over the place that people think they’re ugly. It seems even some of the biggest Spyderco enthusiasts say so. However, from the very first time I laid my eyes on a Spyderco, I thought they were the most beautiful knives. The leaf shaped blades, the gorgeous g10 handles, the Spyder-holes. I thought they looked the best. Everyone has their own opinion on things. Mine is that Spydercos are gorgeous. There are some that I don’t like the look of though. For example, the dodo, the spyker, the centofante. Looks mean nothing though anyway.
 
Yalius said:
You have a wildly different idea of "ergonomic" and "feel great in hand" than I do. I have yet to find a Spyderco that's remotely comfortable to use. I have a PM2, Manix 2, Endura, Tenacious, Cat, Native 5, and Ladybug. None of them have a remotely comfortable handle. Too thin, too angular, humps and grooves in all the wrong places. Would it kill Spyderco to fill out a handle a little bit to put some meat there to grip? Overly sculpted in 2 dimensions does not make an ergonomic knife, just one almost as sharp at the handle as at the blade.
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BLASPHEMY!!!! TEN YEARS DUNGEON!! Haha
I respect your opinion. What kind of knives do you really like that have the ergonomics you wish those Spydercos had? I’d love to check some out. I hope you find a Spyderco that’s right for you someday. I love the para3, endura, cat, tenacious and ladybug. I found all of them to be ergonomic for myself.
 
JCOutdoors said:
BLASPHEMY!!!! TEN YEARS DUNGEON!! Haha
I respect your opinion. What kind of knives do you really like that have the ergonomics you wish those Spydercos had? I’d love to check some out. I hope you find a Spyderco that’s right for you someday. I love the para3, endura, cat, tenacious and ladybug. I found all of them to be ergonomic for myself.
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Some of my favorites? ZT 0200, Kershaw Steven Seagal, Leatherman K502, Benchmade 551, Victorinox Hunter Pro. Big, beefy handles that fill the hand.
 
Spyderco is IMO largely function before aesthetics, that often makes a great knife like the Endura or Delica models. That being said some of the Spyderco custom collaborations and niche designs, look more unique than anything else.
 
Yalius said:
You have a wildly different idea of "ergonomic" and "feel great in hand" than I do. I have yet to find a Spyderco that's remotely comfortable to use. I have a PM2, Manix 2, Endura, Tenacious, Cat, Native 5, and Ladybug. None of them have a remotely comfortable handle. Too thin, too angular, humps and grooves in all the wrong places. Would it kill Spyderco to fill out a handle a little bit to put some meat there to grip? Overly sculpted in 2 dimensions does not make an ergonomic knife, just one almost as sharp at the handle as at the blade.
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In some instances you are right, eg the Chaparral FRN is so thin that it is uncomfortable for me too.
My PM2, Para3, Sage 1, GB2, and Native Chiefs however are in the same ballpark as my Sebenza and Inkosi. They are all thicker than 10 mm, which is I think the ergonomic threshold for handle thickness.

I think the flat, unmachined G10 panels make the handles visually thin even when they are not. Eg my Buck/Mayo TNT handle is thinner than all of the above, but looks comfortable because it's contoured.

There is also a point when additional heft is not providing more comfort, and makes pocket carry difficult (for some). Maybe like what a Buck 112 is (15 mm) and above.

The high level of ergos needed for hard, prolonged use is best served by fixed blades and they can be an inch or more thick.
 
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I much prefer my traditional tools.

But IMHO there is no better tool than a UKPK for day to day use if you are constantly removing it and opening and closing it all day.

I just dont love it,but I appreciate it as superb design that works well.
 
Wil lRogers said:
Spyderco makes some of the most ergonomic knives out there. They feel great in the hand and cut like the dickens. But they're so ... well, ugly. Their blades look like someone took a pie-shaped wedge of steel and punched out as large a circle as possible in the wide end of the pie. Couldn't they do something to produce a more slim and elegant blade even with the S-hole? Or are they tryig to prove that esthetics has no place knife design?
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Ah, I read about this one time. I recall reading somewhere that Sal Glesser designs knives for the hand rather than the eye. Boils down to personal taste, I think. I think knives like the PM2, Shaman, Military, and Manix are handsome knives.

On the other hand, there’s also the Bombshell. Uhh, yeah.
 
If you “pretty” them up the price would increase.
I hated the pm2 for the longest time. I never could understand why it was so popular. I have been carrying one for a few months now and it might be my favorite knife. It took a while to get use to the compression lock though.

And who says it’s not beautiful!

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