The Best Spyderco Classics Folding Knives Available at KnifeCenter.com Media
Published: 5 years ago
To get your hands on one of Spyderco's greatest hits click this link: https://bit.ly/30Li7Rm
Famed for their precise edge geometries and most recognizable for their leaf shaped blades and trademarked Round Hole Opener, which is an elegant solution for a one hand opening blade, allowing left or right handed use without the need for protruding thumbstuds.
They’ve had a lot of great models over the years, but here are a few that we think are all-time classics - their greatest hits if you will.
First up is a twofer - the closely related Delica and Endura
Good catch all recommendation - no matter who is asking, I can pretty much say - get a Delica and call it a day. Here is why.
Good blade length for EDC and a size that can be taken almost anywhere
Color options - suit any preference
Nice ambidextrous design - thumb hole, lock back, 4 position clip
Basically - this knife will work for just about anyone
Hard working knives at a working man’s budget
Mid-mounted lockback - some say better to prevent accidental unlocking over end of handle
Bring up closely related Endura and draw lineage back to the Spyderco Police, but the Endura really has eclipsed that knife several times over.
Features a lot of the same elements - the bi-direc FRN, the boye dent lockback
But with a few other elements that have become staples in Spyderco’s design language.
The first is this large finger choil. Not just meant to be choked up on in specific moments, but it is an integral part of the grip. On the Dragonfly, this allows you to get a 3 and a half finger grip on what is otherwise a very small and easy to carry blade. The grip inspires a lot of confidence.
Also, this version here that I am holding comes from Spyderco’s Salt series. They have never been afraid to experiment with steels, and with virtually all their models they have a tendency to put out sprint runs featuring more exotic steels and handle materials.
One of the offshoots of this tendency that has wound up in the regular lineup are the Salt knives.
They have featured H1, or more recently LC200N steel, which are nitrogen-based metals that are virtually rust proof.
I think one of their best EDC designs of all time - like the dragonfly choil, but here it allows for a really full grip
It has a lot of the things that make the Endura and Delica so great - lock back, 4 position clip, great cutting geometry, and adds another thing, this one is also made in Golden, CO, USA, Earth
LW versions with the FRN, as well as heavier duty G10, in addition to further upgrades. This one showcases some of their upgrades with blurple G10 and S110V steel
2 More tac and certainly has the benefit of more history, but I prefer 3 - better for EDC and i feel like the handle ratios are a little better for me
Makes the list for perhaps being the best platform in the lineup for Spyderco’s Compression Lock
It operates sort of line a spine mounted liner lock, although it is even stronger.
There is a tab that sticks into the tang of the knife so you have multiple surfaces of engagement rather than a single one as on a standard liner lock.
What is nice is one handed safe operation
Lots of materials, oversize lanyard hole
All the signature spyderco design elements in a non-locking folder, yep a one hand opening slipjoint and Spyderco were one of the first to really legitimize this type of knife
They were really THE company that wasn’t afraid to make a knife like this - and they certainly legitimized and popularized the modern one hand opening slipjoint - and we are seeing a lot of other companies get into this in the past few years
Wire clip, leaf shaped blade, excellent edge geometry, multiple versions with upgraded materials
Really nice ergonomics
Since it is non-locking, the choil plays a really important role in this knife.
A lot of great knives on this list, but the Tenacious shows that no matter what your price range, anyone can enjoy the great Spyderco design chops.
This is a knife made in china, and when it first came out it blew people away with the level of fit and finish they were able to achieve at such a good price. Even today it is probably my favorite option for a true working blade under the $50 price point.
Good handle feel, high flat grind with a little more belly than some of their other designs.
Liner lock with full skeletonized liners impart a lot of strength to this knife.
Overall, just a really well thouight out and usable design, and one of my favorite little touches is the edge, which comes all the way back to the heel… combined with the handle shape here at the front it elimakes something that is really hard to find with a folding knife. Usually there is sort of a dead zone on a folder because of the pivot, where it doesn’t function as either handle or blade. The finger choils solve this on other Spydercos, but the Tenacious doesn’t need it. You can really get right up behind the edge which is really quite nice
Famed for their precise edge geometries and most recognizable for their leaf shaped blades and trademarked Round Hole Opener, which is an elegant solution for a one hand opening blade, allowing left or right handed use without the need for protruding thumbstuds.
They’ve had a lot of great models over the years, but here are a few that we think are all-time classics - their greatest hits if you will.
First up is a twofer - the closely related Delica and Endura
Good catch all recommendation - no matter who is asking, I can pretty much say - get a Delica and call it a day. Here is why.
Good blade length for EDC and a size that can be taken almost anywhere
Color options - suit any preference
Nice ambidextrous design - thumb hole, lock back, 4 position clip
Basically - this knife will work for just about anyone
Hard working knives at a working man’s budget
Mid-mounted lockback - some say better to prevent accidental unlocking over end of handle
Bring up closely related Endura and draw lineage back to the Spyderco Police, but the Endura really has eclipsed that knife several times over.
Features a lot of the same elements - the bi-direc FRN, the boye dent lockback
But with a few other elements that have become staples in Spyderco’s design language.
The first is this large finger choil. Not just meant to be choked up on in specific moments, but it is an integral part of the grip. On the Dragonfly, this allows you to get a 3 and a half finger grip on what is otherwise a very small and easy to carry blade. The grip inspires a lot of confidence.
Also, this version here that I am holding comes from Spyderco’s Salt series. They have never been afraid to experiment with steels, and with virtually all their models they have a tendency to put out sprint runs featuring more exotic steels and handle materials.
One of the offshoots of this tendency that has wound up in the regular lineup are the Salt knives.
They have featured H1, or more recently LC200N steel, which are nitrogen-based metals that are virtually rust proof.
I think one of their best EDC designs of all time - like the dragonfly choil, but here it allows for a really full grip
It has a lot of the things that make the Endura and Delica so great - lock back, 4 position clip, great cutting geometry, and adds another thing, this one is also made in Golden, CO, USA, Earth
LW versions with the FRN, as well as heavier duty G10, in addition to further upgrades. This one showcases some of their upgrades with blurple G10 and S110V steel
2 More tac and certainly has the benefit of more history, but I prefer 3 - better for EDC and i feel like the handle ratios are a little better for me
Makes the list for perhaps being the best platform in the lineup for Spyderco’s Compression Lock
It operates sort of line a spine mounted liner lock, although it is even stronger.
There is a tab that sticks into the tang of the knife so you have multiple surfaces of engagement rather than a single one as on a standard liner lock.
What is nice is one handed safe operation
Lots of materials, oversize lanyard hole
All the signature spyderco design elements in a non-locking folder, yep a one hand opening slipjoint and Spyderco were one of the first to really legitimize this type of knife
They were really THE company that wasn’t afraid to make a knife like this - and they certainly legitimized and popularized the modern one hand opening slipjoint - and we are seeing a lot of other companies get into this in the past few years
Wire clip, leaf shaped blade, excellent edge geometry, multiple versions with upgraded materials
Really nice ergonomics
Since it is non-locking, the choil plays a really important role in this knife.
A lot of great knives on this list, but the Tenacious shows that no matter what your price range, anyone can enjoy the great Spyderco design chops.
This is a knife made in china, and when it first came out it blew people away with the level of fit and finish they were able to achieve at such a good price. Even today it is probably my favorite option for a true working blade under the $50 price point.
Good handle feel, high flat grind with a little more belly than some of their other designs.
Liner lock with full skeletonized liners impart a lot of strength to this knife.
Overall, just a really well thouight out and usable design, and one of my favorite little touches is the edge, which comes all the way back to the heel… combined with the handle shape here at the front it elimakes something that is really hard to find with a folding knife. Usually there is sort of a dead zone on a folder because of the pivot, where it doesn’t function as either handle or blade. The finger choils solve this on other Spydercos, but the Tenacious doesn’t need it. You can really get right up behind the edge which is really quite nice