- Chaparral LW: my newest and current favorite carry either clipped or unclipped. Light and thin, it is disappears until I want it, and then I'm amazed at what a solid and excellent tool it becomes. In use it gives up a little in edge and ergonomics to the Sage (see below), but that is more than made up for by the way it slices and carries. With only 1/3" less edge, the Chaparral feels like less than half of a Sage 1 when folded.
- Sage 1: feels better in hand than any knife I own, but carries a bit large/heavy for my daily needs. I tend to use it for projects and around the house. The CF scales still look like new after seven years, and I'm very happy with deployment and liner lock mechanism
- Ladybug: I bought this to couple with a bladeless Leatherman Style PS; a surprisingly good cutter in a a small package. This combo gets a fair amount of pocket time .
- Executive C04P late 1980s vintage; this was a gift from my brother before I knew what a Spydeerco was, it has great sentimental value but gets little use.
- Not sure what's on deck. I am curious about Sage 5 LW, PM 3 LW, Chaparral CF, maybe a slip joint, but right now the Chaparal LW is scratching the itch pretty well.
Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
A 3" blade is more than enough for my needs in a folding knife. I only have four Spyderco knives:
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
In no particular order:
Military
Chapparal
Southard
GB1/2/Advocate
Native 5
Military
Chapparal
Southard
GB1/2/Advocate
Native 5
- Cambertree
- Member
- Posts: 1640
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:48 am
- Location: Victoria, Australia
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Right off the top of my head without really thinking about it:
Police 4
Pacific Salt SE
Dragonfly
Delica
Paramilitary 2
Urban
Hard not to include the Military, but I had to include the Urban.
And now I'm thinking how could I have left out the Stretch and the GB1, lol. :D
Police 4
Pacific Salt SE
Dragonfly
Delica
Paramilitary 2
Urban
Hard not to include the Military, but I had to include the Urban.
And now I'm thinking how could I have left out the Stretch and the GB1, lol. :D
-
- Member
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:56 pm
- Location: Knoxville, TN (LaFollette)
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Folders:
Manix
Autonomy 2
Caribbean
Native Chief
Endura/Pacific Salt
(Honorable mention: Delica/Salt, especially the wharnies)
Fixed:
Street Beat
Mule
Waterway
Aqua Salt
Enuff
(Honorable mention: Jumpmasters)
Collaborations and others I still want to try:
Amalgam
Smock
Swick
Ronin
Yojimbo 2
Police
Manix
Autonomy 2
Caribbean
Native Chief
Endura/Pacific Salt
(Honorable mention: Delica/Salt, especially the wharnies)
Fixed:
Street Beat
Mule
Waterway
Aqua Salt
Enuff
(Honorable mention: Jumpmasters)
Collaborations and others I still want to try:
Amalgam
Smock
Swick
Ronin
Yojimbo 2
Police
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
All Manix 2: I specifically love my KC Carbon Fiber CRU-Wear
Kapara: It was designed for food prep and excels at it. Perfect size, love the design
Delica: It was my intro to Spyderco and to me the quintessential Spyderco model to own.
Gayle Bradley 2: Amazing slicer, love the size. Lock-up on mine has worn over time so I don't carry it as much. Still one of the best
Sliverax
This is based on what I have owned and have experience with. PM2 would be #6 but I don't like how wide they are. There are many others that are probably great but I didn't want to list something I have never owned.
Kapara: It was designed for food prep and excels at it. Perfect size, love the design
Delica: It was my intro to Spyderco and to me the quintessential Spyderco model to own.
Gayle Bradley 2: Amazing slicer, love the size. Lock-up on mine has worn over time so I don't carry it as much. Still one of the best
Sliverax
This is based on what I have owned and have experience with. PM2 would be #6 but I don't like how wide they are. There are many others that are probably great but I didn't want to list something I have never owned.
More CBBL please!
Delica 4 Brown, Manix 2 G10 S110V, Gayle Bradley 2, Manix 2 CF Cruwear, KC Endura HAP40 pakkawood, Sliverax, Kapara, Manix 2 Rex45, Manix 2 4v, Ivory Straight Stretch
Delica 4 Brown, Manix 2 G10 S110V, Gayle Bradley 2, Manix 2 CF Cruwear, KC Endura HAP40 pakkawood, Sliverax, Kapara, Manix 2 Rex45, Manix 2 4v, Ivory Straight Stretch
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
I've owned many Spydercos over the years but only a few have stood the test of time to still be in my collection. Over the last 2-3 years, my tastes have changed to where virtually everything in my collection is under 85mm blade length.
Not it any particular order...
Gayle Bradley Air (an underappreciated gem but getting hard to find)
PM2/P3 in Maxamet (love the stonewash finish vs. brushed)
Lil Native
Dragonfly ZDP-189 Nishijin (if this version didn't exist I probably wouldn't own a Dragonfly)
Lil Nilakka (I wish the full-size Nilakka had the same styling)
Not it any particular order...
Gayle Bradley Air (an underappreciated gem but getting hard to find)
PM2/P3 in Maxamet (love the stonewash finish vs. brushed)
Lil Native
Dragonfly ZDP-189 Nishijin (if this version didn't exist I probably wouldn't own a Dragonfly)
Lil Nilakka (I wish the full-size Nilakka had the same styling)
- Maximumsmoochy
- Member
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:16 am
- Location: BC, Canada
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Oh yeah, evergreen thread. Gonna go with:
1) Para 3
2) Native 5
3) Military
4) Advocate
5) Stretch 2
All but the Advocate come in a variety of steels so can provide adjustments to flavour to suit.
1) Para 3
2) Native 5
3) Military
4) Advocate
5) Stretch 2
All but the Advocate come in a variety of steels so can provide adjustments to flavour to suit.
Past: Dragonfly, Air, Rhino, Lil' Native, Techno 2, Caly Jr., Brouwer, Chap LW, Para3, N5, Watu, ‘Chef, Mantra 2, SSStretch, PM2, Smock, Shaman, Advocate, GB2, Kapara, Military, Bradley Bowie, Province
Present: P4 K390 FRN
Future: Para3 Cruwear (someday)
Regrets: Most of them
Present: P4 K390 FRN
Future: Para3 Cruwear (someday)
Regrets: Most of them
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
The best one is easy, Chaparral. Small, slim, and cuts like nobody's business. It's a knife that can and does handle 99% of what a pocketknife needs to do. At home in a suit or as a pocket knife at a campout. My personal favorite is the stealth ti model, but I will be getting a sun and moon when they are released.
The other four in no particular order.
Ladybug, keychain knife extraordinaire.
Delica, feels and cuts like a knife is supposed to.
Native, one of the oldest and best designs.
Sage series. Pick your lock, they're all great.
Grizz
The other four in no particular order.
Ladybug, keychain knife extraordinaire.
Delica, feels and cuts like a knife is supposed to.
Native, one of the oldest and best designs.
Sage series. Pick your lock, they're all great.
Grizz
-
- Member
- Posts: 2618
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:31 pm
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Spyderco Stretch SE
Spyderco Stretch PE
Spyderco Stretch Combo
Para3 SE
Spyderco Hundred Pacer
Spyderco Military
Spyderco Pacific Salt DLC SE
Spyderco Salt DLC SE
Spyderco Jumpmaster
Spyderco Native Chief
Spyderco Stretch PE
Spyderco Stretch Combo
Para3 SE
Spyderco Hundred Pacer
Spyderco Military
Spyderco Pacific Salt DLC SE
Spyderco Salt DLC SE
Spyderco Jumpmaster
Spyderco Native Chief
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
^ That would be 10
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
2020 list :D
1. (Still) Hawkbill Dragonfly
2. Dragonfly Salt SE
3. ZDP-189 Dragonfly
4. SHAMAN (any)
5. Para 3 (any)
6. Bonus Knife, Fluted CF Native 5 (the highest quality knife spyderco makes imho)
1. (Still) Hawkbill Dragonfly
2. Dragonfly Salt SE
3. ZDP-189 Dragonfly
4. SHAMAN (any)
5. Para 3 (any)
6. Bonus Knife, Fluted CF Native 5 (the highest quality knife spyderco makes imho)
-Matt a.k.a. Lo_Que, loadedquestions135 I ❤ The P'KAL
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"Ghost hunters scope the edge." -sal
-
- Member
- Posts: 12643
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:59 pm
- Location: High in the Blue Ridge of NC
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Military
Caly 3.5
Stretch
DragonFly
Vallotton - actually dead dang uselful!!!
I must amend this to include the Manix 2 XL
Caly 3.5
Stretch
DragonFly
Vallotton - actually dead dang uselful!!!
I must amend this to include the Manix 2 XL
Last edited by MacLaren on Fri Jan 31, 2020 6:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Manix2
Sage3 *
Shaman
Para3
Police4 (G10 or FRN)
Honourable Mention -- Ulize, would love to see it made of Rex45 / 4v / CruWear / K390, w/a different colour of G10, but do not change a single thing about the knife other than G10 colour and blade steel. -- With any of these 4 steels, it would be overall my #1 Spydie of all time.
* Love pretty equally the Sage3 in CF or G10, and the Sage5 in CF or LW
Sage3 *
Shaman
Para3
Police4 (G10 or FRN)
Honourable Mention -- Ulize, would love to see it made of Rex45 / 4v / CruWear / K390, w/a different colour of G10, but do not change a single thing about the knife other than G10 colour and blade steel. -- With any of these 4 steels, it would be overall my #1 Spydie of all time.
* Love pretty equally the Sage3 in CF or G10, and the Sage5 in CF or LW
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Welcome to the forum! (And to be honest: I don´t fully understand your very first post in the context of this thread... )ownnife wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2020 2:33 amIf yOu like the layout. Seki and Maniago product is only a half step at the back of and if a knife from either source fits your desires buy it without hesitation! On to "Taiwan" (now not Taiching) and Chinese made knives, again, they're very strong competitors of their respective market segments, do not consider them "terrible", just extra budget orientated.
I think I shared already my top 5 when this thread came up first, but I am sure this ranking has changed meanwhile:
1.) Endura 4 ffg (HAP 40 very closely followed by VG10. And if the FFG Endura 4 came in SE, it would be my number 1 forever I guess...
2.) Stretch 1 (discontinued) HAP40 or VG10 : Always a tight match with the Endura for number one... Tbh on many days I am not sure which one I like more...
3.) Endela SE: A bit too short edge for my main-EDC-preferences, but for me great ergos AND: That perfect serrations in the ffg blade...
4.) Chaparral FRN: If I could only have TWO knives, number 2 ALWAYS would be the Chap (together with some larger blade as Nr 1) - Absolut perfect design, does everyhing right for a small folder (blade stock, size in pocket and so on) - I still wish for a Chap XL with the same thin blade stock
5.) Pacific Salt SE: My go-to-outdoor folder. For more "urban" EDC tasks I prefer the Endela serrations, but for thougher outdoor jobs (cutting branches, rope and so on) the Pac Salt SE is hard to beat.
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Large: CF Military
Small: C22 CF Walker
The rest:
Pacific Salt since it survives sailing and diving in the ocean
Kapara, very useful and gorgeous (with a liner lock it would have been perfect)
Can't decide on the last one (Chef, Bowie, CF Stretch and Techno maybe)
Small: C22 CF Walker
The rest:
Pacific Salt since it survives sailing and diving in the ocean
Kapara, very useful and gorgeous (with a liner lock it would have been perfect)
Can't decide on the last one (Chef, Bowie, CF Stretch and Techno maybe)
-
- Member
- Posts: 2618
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:31 pm
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
I know that's why I don't usually participate in these threads. I like too many to pick just 5Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:21 amDarn things are like potato chips who can eat just 5?
Decided to post again just to see what changed from the first time without looking.
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!
-
- Member
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:00 pm
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
My hands are average-sized, so my preference skews towards ~3" blades.
1. Delica / Meadowlark - Perfect size, weight, and ergonomics for EDC. This one fits juuust right. Bonus points to the Delica for its ergonomics, but it's hard to fault the Meadowlark at its price.
2. Tasman Salt - Combines the Goldilocks size of the Delica with the fantastic H1 steel & a serrated curved blade. I was unsure of the Hawkbill blade until picked the Tasman up on clearance. I'm now a 100% believer in the bill, and plan on picking up larger & smaller hawkbill blades in the future.
3. Sliverax - This is my favorite Spydie, but I recognize that it's probably not the "best" for everyone. I'm a sucker for a good flipper, and I LOVE the action on this one. I also love the blade-to-handle ratio, compression lock, deep carry clip, blade shape, and lightweight carbon-fiber scales. It was my first $100+ knife, and sold me on the value of higher-end folders.
4. Pacific Salt - I can't believe how LIGHT this big knife is. The entire Salt series is growing on me by the day.
5. Robin/ Dragonfly - A small knife that handles like a big knife. The Dragonfly is more ergonomic, but the Byrd Robin is still excellent for the cost. Being able to wrap all of my fingers around the grip of a ~2" blade makes that blade a LOT more capable than I expected.
1. Delica / Meadowlark - Perfect size, weight, and ergonomics for EDC. This one fits juuust right. Bonus points to the Delica for its ergonomics, but it's hard to fault the Meadowlark at its price.
2. Tasman Salt - Combines the Goldilocks size of the Delica with the fantastic H1 steel & a serrated curved blade. I was unsure of the Hawkbill blade until picked the Tasman up on clearance. I'm now a 100% believer in the bill, and plan on picking up larger & smaller hawkbill blades in the future.
3. Sliverax - This is my favorite Spydie, but I recognize that it's probably not the "best" for everyone. I'm a sucker for a good flipper, and I LOVE the action on this one. I also love the blade-to-handle ratio, compression lock, deep carry clip, blade shape, and lightweight carbon-fiber scales. It was my first $100+ knife, and sold me on the value of higher-end folders.
4. Pacific Salt - I can't believe how LIGHT this big knife is. The entire Salt series is growing on me by the day.
5. Robin/ Dragonfly - A small knife that handles like a big knife. The Dragonfly is more ergonomic, but the Byrd Robin is still excellent for the cost. Being able to wrap all of my fingers around the grip of a ~2" blade makes that blade a LOT more capable than I expected.
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Paramilitary 2
Para 3
Native
Tenacious
Salt
Para 3
Native
Tenacious
Salt
Re: Opinions Wanted: Top 5 Best Spydercos
Air
Para 3
Caly 3.5
Paramilitary 2
Military
Advocate
DF2
Para 3
Caly 3.5
Paramilitary 2
Military
Advocate
DF2