Which Spydercos feature buttery-smooth opening?

pa 1 · #1

I got my second (not counting the bug, though it is a fine keychain folder) Spydeco around Christmas. The first is a Native 3, the newest is the UKPK FRN Grey (both knives are serrated). A more thorough review could be here given (can tell it's a cheaper knife, but this is expected because...it is, but is also insanely sharp, which is after all the point, is it not?), but my greatest surprise is that there were so many comments about how loose the opening mechanism was. Mine was very, very stiff, more so than my Native, which is fairly loose with over a year's worth of use, but still seems to me to require more effort than other knives out there. I don't really mind this; in fact, I kind of like the solid feel and lockup of a knife with a bit more effort, but shocked as I was at the stiffness of the UKPK (still do notice that blade itself is thinner and lighter, maybe that is what so many referred to?) it has me wondering: are there spydercos out there that open with a slightest flick of the the thumb right out of the box? The Military I hear is like that? Others?

AJF · #2

Well, I suspect there are lots of Spydies that fill that bill. I will say my Sage I is a very smooth opener, and locks up solid as a rock.

Andrew

Drahkis · #3

The smoothest opener I have handled us the chokwe, smooth as silk!

gbelleh · #4

The Chokwe is my smoothest Spydie. Every time I open it, I'm amazed how the blade flies open with the slightest flick of the thumb.

Not every specimen of any knife will be exactly the same, and the pivot can be adjusted on most models.

BTW, my FRN UKPKs are both very loose.

O,just,O · #5

Right on Drahkis.
You want smooth along with everthing else Spydie good, then get a Chokwe.
O.

gunnut35 · #6

The Stretche's are very smooth. My Phoenix can be opened by just slight pressure on the lock and a flick of the wrist and closes the same way. The Phoenix is the smoothest of all my Spyderco's with the Stretch in second place.

gunnut35 · #7

The CF Caly 3 is very smooth as well.

Samwise · #8

Manix2 is a definite contender.

Antonio_Luiz · #9

Sage2 for me. For some reason my Ti Milli is very hard to open, but it's a safequeen so guess that's not a real issue

wsdavies · #10

Agreed...the Stretch opens with ease. My Centafonte 3 is pretty smooth too, but not as smooth as the Stretch.

JacksonKnives · #11

I don't have any of the newer bushing-pivot knives, but the Sage I (Walker Linerlock) is far and away the smoothest one I've got.
I thought the SageII was super-smooth, what with the precision-fit lockbar and all... then I tried the first Sage and realized how much the tension of that lockbar was binding on the blade. (For EDC use, the Ti framelock is probably superior just because of better blade retention, but you can't beat the silky feeling of the Sage I.)

RIOT · #12

the Military and Starmate are the most smoothest opening Spydercos ive had my hands on.

Sequimite · #13

Chokwe gets my vote as well.

Jay_Ev · #14

I would say the Volpe and titanium Peter Herbst are my smoothest Spydies.

J D Wijbenga · #15

The Walker cf sprint is very smooth. Very easy to filick open with your thump. Great knife too!

JD

npueppke · #16

I would say the Stretch, Sage II, or Chokwe.

c.joe · #17

T-Mag comes out like butter.

Nederspyder · #18

Gayle Bradly, without a doubt.

dbcad · #19

In addition to those mentioned above, Chinese Lum.

racer88 · #20

Hands-down, the Gayle Bradley. I'm pretty sure I can open it telekinetically!

Unbelievably smooth, fast, and effortless... right out of the box. It's as if the blade was on teflon-coated ball-bearings.