Spyder Model That Can Endure The Most Punishment? Your Pick?

[O,just,O]

My most abused Spydie is a Byrd Wings. Poor thing does not like.
Not that I abuse my tools regularly because if an SE Spydie looks like it can't do I step up to a chainsaw. When things get out of the scope of my EDC Cento 4 it becomes the job of a real wood chisel.
If I were to choose from my limited collection for hard use bordering on abuse it would be the M4 Ti Millie, probably followed by the Vallotton.
O.

[JD Spydo]

My most abused Spydie is a Byrd Wings. Poor thing does not like.
Not that I abuse my tools regularly because if an SE Spydie looks like it can't do I step up to a chainsaw. When things get out of the scope of my EDC Cento 4 it becomes the job of a real wood chisel.
If I were to choose from my limited collection for hard use bordering on abuse it would be the M4 Ti Millie, probably followed by the Vallotton.
O.

If we could get them to bring back the C-44 Dyad in a Sprint run you'll be able to give your Byrd Wings blade a rest. Also it's high time we had a double bladed beast that can take the ferocity of super hard use. I just can't figure why the citizens of Spyderville haven't outright demanded a ridgid, double bladed Spyder-beast with 2 blades in some supersteel. It's just high time that happened. I won't quit until it does.

[dialex]

I have to vote Chinook II for this thread.......Once stabbed concrete by mistake, concrete chipped no damage to the blade tip, amazing.....Doc

I'd say the Chinook I is stronger (and IMHO the strongest of them all). They used to make it from S60V (or 440V as they used to call it those days) which isn't a bad steel at all. Not to mention that a happy few were made with VG-10

[JD Spydo]

I'd say the Chinook I is stronger (and IMHO the strongest of them all). They used to make it from S60V (or 440V as they used to call it those days) which isn't a bad steel at all. Not to mention that a happy few were made with VG-10

Hey Dialex we're certainly on the same page with Crucible's 440V ( S60V) on Golden CO USA EArth Spyders>> those knives were truly a very tough breed all their own. During that era there were some really monster Spyders made. The forgotten Stainless handled Rescue models were truly built like a skyscraper. It's another reason that I refer to 1998 to 2003 the GOLDEN ERA Of SPYDERS. Some of the toughest most durable Spyders ever made came from that era.

[Gofannon]

Forager is my strongest Spyderco

[vaisforlovers]

Of my couple dozen Spydercos, my Salt I endures the most punishment from me. It spends hours in salt water, it gets dropped in sand, it gets drenched in sweat. It has literally been my only knife on round the world trips. It then is expected to do everything from slice tomatoes and spread mustard, to open packages, cut zipties and open bottles. It keeps a wicked sharp edge for the first couple of days and then holds a solid working edge for the rest of the trip. Right about now it needs another 30 minutes on the sharpmaker to get it ready for more abuse.

[razorsharp]

another person here- forager is my toughest

[Pharmagator]

I have carried my millie (S-30V) for over ten years now... it has faced miles of packing tape, acres of cardboard, a mountain of that clam-shell plastic crap, string, wire, branches, even a bit of whittling...
and the blade looks new... never sharpened... (the partial-serrations have done most of the tough cutting - and I am not going to try to sharpen them) the handle (G-10) is nearly unmarked and the pocket clip (un-coated SS) has developed a nice 'stone-washed' patina... talk about hanging tough in the suburban jungle!

[razorsharp]

theres no way its still properly sharp

[ceya]

Goodard Jr. 50/50 G2, I still have it, I got from Wayne and Phyliss in mid 90s.

Been to 7 countries , jungles, desert, snow storms, city streets and 23 states of Union.

***Honorable mention first gen Baby Goddard , cutting ammo tubes (bees wax killer).***

S/F,
CEYA!

[Eee]

I'm not the best person to ask as I use my Spydies for cutting not beating, I've got a ZT fixed blade for that

The Gayle Bradley has shrugged off stuff with style, like when I was cutting some plastic in the engine bay of a car that turned out to be fibre glass. I heard the distinctive crunch and expected it to have no edge when I finished. I was amazed that it still seemed pretty sharp after. I think my 440v Millie must top it though, just for longevity as a user. It's still as tight as a new knife.

[JD Spydo]

It kind of surprises me that I've heard very little of Spyderco's fixed blades being able to take extremely brutal punishment. I've seen the Streetbeat model endure some abolutely hellish abuse and come out smelling like a rose.

Not to mention the years of accumulative abuse that I've dealt out to my FB05 Temperance 1 model. For a knife as old as this one is it sure has endured the test of time. I can only imagine how much torture the Temp 2 could endure.

So tell me which fixed blade Spyder you've seen take horrendous abuse and come out of it in fine shape.

[Evil D]

It just depends on what kind of abuse you're talking about. On one hand, the Military has a 4mm blade and a pretty solid lockup with a large pivot pin (well, large among Spydercos), and is plenty tough to handle most anything you throw at it until you start stressing the blade laterally, and then the first thing to go is probably the tip breaking off. So, by that measure, one of the most stout blades i've seen from Spyderco in a long time has to be the Vallotton. I have no doubt that the pivot would let go before the blade broke, and the pivot is pretty stout. In all reality, if you don't pry with you knife, there probably isn't a folder in the lineup that won't take a crazy amount of pure mistreated abuse in ways you should never use a knife, and still survive to tell the tale. I don't recommend it but you could probably baton the hell out of a Ladybug before it really broke and became unusable. Of course, i think the current winner is likely the Tuff, and for good reason...big thick blade/pivot, thick Ti frame lock, good thick tip...I don't see many things breaking on that knife even if mistreated and abused. I think the pivot in/screws would likely break before the rest of the knife does.

[xceptnl]

Forager is my strongest Spyderco

+1 the Hossom line has to be one of the strongest FB knives and I think the SUPERleaf is probably my pick as the folder capable of enduring the most punishment.

[KardinalSyn]

It just depends on what kind of abuse you're talking about. On one hand, the Military has a 4mm blade and a pretty solid lockup with a large pivot pin (well, large among Spydercos), and is plenty tough to handle most anything you throw at it until you start stressing the blade laterally, and then the first thing to go is probably the tip breaking off. So, by that measure, one of the most stout blades i've seen from Spyderco in a long time has to be the Vallotton. I have no doubt that the pivot would let go before the blade broke, and the pivot is pretty stout. In all reality, if you don't pry with you knife, there probably isn't a folder in the lineup that won't take a crazy amount of pure mistreated abuse in ways you should never use a knife, and still survive to tell the tale. I don't recommend it but you could probably baton the hell out of a Ladybug before it really broke and became unusable. Of course, i think the current winner is likely the Tuff, and for good reason...big thick blade/pivot, thick Ti frame lock, good thick tip...I don't see many things breaking on that knife even if mistreated and abused. I think the pivot in/screws would likely break before the rest of the knife does.

+1

[JD Spydo]

+1 the Hossom line has to be one of the strongest FB knives and I think the SUPERleaf is probably my pick as the folder capable of enduring the most punishment.

That line of HOSSOM models just keeps coming up over and over again>> and I'm sure for good reason. I'm almost ashamed to say it's one of the very few Spyderco products that I've had no experience with at all. There's not many of the products that I haven't had some contact with though. I'm going to really keep my eyes out for one of those Hossom models because we're going to have a lot of gun shows coming up here in the Kansas City MO and Springfield MO areas here this upcoming autumn and I'll be on the hunt for one you can be assured.

Evil D you're not the only one I've had sing the praises of the Vallotton model. It intrigues me just to look at it and there was a very interesting article in one of my past Tactical Knives magazines here recently. It and the Des Horn have gotten my attention in a big way>> I just wish that Des Horn was offered in another steel other than S30V. But both models look to have a lot of potential. I'm also going to put one of the newer Native models high on my list too just to see if they still have the ruggedness of the original USA made model.

I'm surprised no one has given a vote to the STreetBeat model. My very best friend who just got his from yours truly has put his through some complete mayhem only to have it shine like a diamond in a mudhole . I hope that when they do bring back the Perrin Street Bowie that they might use the same Micarta handle as they did on the STreetbeat.

Isn't it interesting that some of Spyderco's more obcure models are tougher than many of the competitor's top notch models. But then again that really shouldn't surprise any of us when you think about it.

[Evil D]

I would LOVE to have a Street Beat. I finally got to handle one a few months ago and i was very impressed. I wanted it pretty bad, but the Vallotton came home with me instead.

[JD Spydo]

I would LOVE to have a Street Beat. I finally got to handle one a few months ago and i was very impressed. I wanted it pretty bad, but the Vallotton came home with me instead.

The only gripe I've ever had about the STreetBeat and I've owned 3 of them over the years is that it is just a bit too small for my hand which in turn decreases the mobility that I would desire from a fixed blade knife. Now my friend who is going to be joining us here at Spyderville very soon he's assured me is a smaller guy and once had the opportunity to be a race horse jockey says that the STreeTBeat is absolutely perfect for his smaller hand>> which is why I do indeed hope that it's larger brother the StreetBowie does indeed return to the line up even if it's only a Sprint Run. The Temperance 1 ( the older original model) fits my hand as though it is custom made for me. I do hope that someday Spyderco will either bring it back with an H-1 blade and make it a part of the Salt Series.

That Vallotton just has the look of an implement of destruction. If I were in the military or law enforcement that might just be my next pick as a tactical folder. I would really love it if it had a tool steel blade.

I'm sort of surprised that I am the only one who has even mentioned the stainless handled Rescue model. To me that was the most solid, rigid, tank-like Spyder I've ever had in my hand. The one I still own ( eternally grateful to Brother Spydutch) is one of my permanent Spyders>> in other words it can't be sold, traded, bartered. I've always respected and admired all of the Rescue models but the stainless handled version is a beast among very mean beasts. Why it got lost, ignored and never appreciated is one of the biggest Spyderco mysteries I've ever encountered.

[rodloos]

I too have the Forager and Forester, and think they are beautiful and tough knives, but I'll admit if I just *have* to be rough on a knife, I'll likely use another brand, (whose 1095 steel won't keep an edge as long but the knives are very tough, and the company will replace the knife if it breaks) or a less expensive machete. I don't see how Spyderco could offer the same warranty against breakage on their fixed blades, as many bozos as there are out there who will break stuff on purpose just to get it replaced.

But if I have to do any prying, I'll use a prybar . I just cringe when I see someone abusing a knife by prying with it.

[JD Spydo]

I too have the Forager and Forester, and think they are beautiful and tough knives, but I'll admit if I just *have* to be rough on a knife, I'll likely use another brand, (whose 1095 steel won't keep an edge as long but the knives are very tough, and the company will replace the knife if it breaks) or a less expensive machete. I don't see how Spyderco could offer the same warranty against breakage on their fixed blades, as many bozos as there are out there who will break stuff on purpose just to get it replaced.

But if I have to do any prying, I'll use a prybar . I just cringe when I see someone abusing a knife by prying with it.

Yeah I've taken that route myself as well. When it comes to clearing a path or just having a really big knife I'll usually use my Cold Steel, Carbon V Gurkha Kukri ( the 5/16ths thick model) and I can usually blow away anything that gets in my way. I have a couple of other knives of other manufacturers but I do use some Spyderco blades for some types of hard abusive work. This has been a great thread and I'm surprised at many of your answers. Some of the models you guys mentioned I would have never thought them to be that tough. But that's cool because I didn't think my Native could pass the test but yet it did with flying colors.