Best Fit and Finish

[jackthedog]

Sage 2, Domino, or Southard. The Taichung line is really great. Though my Para 2 is flawless.

[bh49]

From my own experience:
1. I owned 6 Italian made Spydercos. All of them near perfect.
2. I owned four Tauchung made knives. Three had great F&F, Navaja came from dealer with scratches on bolsters.
3. There were some imperfections among Golden made knives in the past, but all (more than 15) Golden made knives, which I bought within last two years near perfect. I am very impressed with improvements.
4. Moki. I own about 30 Moki made knives. All of them top notch. But lately I read quite a few comments less than favorable comments about Calys and Starmate. I even passed on Starmate because of these.

[Per-Sev]

I think the quality in the Domino is as good as it gets. I have had custom knives that were not built as good as the Domino is. The Native 5 Forum knife comes in a close second and my Tuff is third only because the blade is slightly off center. As far as I am concerned these knives listed here are equal to any knife made at what ever the cost. Sure there are Damascus and Ivory custom knives out there that look better but is the build quality better I doubt it in most cases the art knives are not nearly as strong as these knives and I doubt the tolerances are better. You have to look at the materials used, you have titanium, carbon fiber, g10, a bearing system, super CPM steels. This is the exact same material used in knives that are $400-$1000 and are not any better than these knives are and I have owned most of those knives and while they maybe equal there not better they are just hand ground blades with CNC machined handles using the same materials the only difference is who made them.

[paladin]

Hard call, IMHO. For one thing, comparing the fit and finish of an open framed slab handled or slab scaled knife, held together with screws, with that of a pinned construction bolster and scales midlock, lockback, or slipjoint is ludicrous. The C27 Jess Horn has phenomenal fit and finish, but, to put that in perspective, it had an MSRP over $400 twenty years ago, so God only knows what they'd need to sell for today. The original bolster and scales Jigged Bone Kiwis came awfully close, at a fraction of the price.

+1, I would add that every stainless original backlock kiwi that I've seen or own is flawless to the naked eye. BTW a decent looking Jess Horn C27 just sold on a popular online auction site for $299....a great bargain for some lucky sniper, IMHO. As noted by many, Zulu and Phoenix are things of beauty also. I would love to endorse the Chapp. but I had the grit problem.

[gbelleh]

I'd have to say Taichung is the most consistent with excellent fit & finish. All but one Taichung knife I've owned has been near perfect in every way. But, I've seen equally good work from Japan and the US. Chinese knives have been hit or miss for me. I don't have enough Italian knives to offer an informed opinion. But, all are an excellent value and function great.

[phaust]

Taichung wins. For straight quality, they're putting out the best Spydercos now. Throw price into the equation, and they're even farther ahead. Throw consistency into the equation, and again they're farther ahead.

[Holland]

Taichung wins. For straight quality, they're putting out the best Spydercos now. Throw price into the equation, and they're even farther ahead. Throw consistency into the equation, and again they're farther ahead.

I agree for the most part, except i have never tried any of the italian models

[Mako109]

I have so many exemplary models it would be easier for me to name the few boo-boos I've encountered (emphasis on "few"). Anyway, a couple of good ones not mentioned yet are the C01 Worker (three screw version made in 1982) and the more current but discontinued Tim Zowada. Both are par excellence in fit and finish IMHO.

[Infinite Zero]

I'm going to say my Domino. That thing is perfect.

[RobC2]

My Domino is perfect as well. Big fan of the Taiwan knives.

[Surfingringo]

As the title states, I want to know which Spyderco you own has the best fit and finish.

Out of the Spyderco knives I own currently, the best fit and finish goes to the Chokwe.

I was in the knifeworks store the other day. (Awesome experience btw) and got to handle pretty much every spyderco I have ever frothed over. Had probably 25 of em laid out on the counter in front of me at once! The best f&f on any of them was that of the Chokwe! That knife was flawless!

[SQSAR]

My Southard is about as good as I've ever seen in any Spyderco. In fact, I'd say its F&F is absolutely on par with my Sebenzas and **** near as perfect as my Hinderers. However, all my Taiwan Spydercos are awesome (GB, Techno, Domino, Valoton, and Perin PPT). I know there may be some, as EvilD has said, who are making a judgment based on a narrow sampling of Spydercos, but I've just seen too much great stuff coming out of Taiwan with the Spyderco logo on it to believe it's just coincidence that I 'happen' to get such good F&F every time I buy one. The fact is, the Taiwan operation has their production down to an art and it's reflected in the knives we purchase.

[zinczinc]

can anyone tell me that the spyder hole on Techno is so rounded due to its design or only by Taiwan great F & F? IMO, it makes me think techno is the perfect one in my collection.

*all other three spyder hole cut my nails while opening

[paladin]

can anyone tell me that the spyder hole on Techno is so rounded due to its design or only by Taiwan great F & F? IMO, it makes me think techno is the perfect one in my collection.

*all other three spyder hole cut my nails while opening

All Spyderholes are cut "sharp" around the hole, it helps "grip" your thumbpad when opening...if it is too sharp for your preference take your white sharpmaker rod and carefully smooth the inner circumference

[bengaiser]

C42 or Phoenix? Both of mine are flawless (got a spare C42 PE coming so I have a beater :D )

Sorry, the original, C42P for me!

[zinczinc]

Thanks. But there is really a big different b/w techno and others.

Techno is way rounder than other spydies.

And I had done you have said lol use the rods on my Cat

[xceptnl]

Bradley folder
Volpe
Caly 3/3.5
Southard
Forum Native
Kopa

[Doc Dan]

Caly3 hands down.

[phillipsted]

For a modern folder, my original Sage 1 was pretty darned close to perfect.

But the best F&F I ever got on a spyderco was my original aluminum scaled Terzuola Jr.

Ted{

[flash900]

My Bradley and Techno rank as the most flawless Spydies in my collection.

The Southard would be in that list but the clip was sharp enough to stab me.

The Domino (my current favorite) would also be in the list but for the Spydie hole, which is surprisingly unfinished.

F&f on the Perrin PPT and Chaparral S30V are excellent.

I used to think the Sage 1 and 2 would qualify for this list. As good as they are, they have been surpassed by the above models. (My Sages were made several years ago and may or may not represent current production standards in Spyderco's Taiwan plants.)

ADDENDUM: My Forum Native belongs somewhere on this list.