How have you preferences changed over the years?

[El Gato]

I spend a good bit of my time out in the mountains either in camp or on the trails as far back in as I can get. Out there my Mules are my constant companions, CPM 4V, K390, or Maxamet. I am hoping to see a future Mule in Bohler K294 Microclean at some not too distant point. I will not have nor buy a stainless steel blade as I much prefer a high carbon tool steel for the sharpening qualities and edge retention I get for camp and trail use.

As for a folding knife, for a long time the Military was my knife of choice, but I never liked the too thick blade or the detent closing, which I never quite came to trust. Thinking smaller and lighter I tried the Sage series for the thinner blade but I never liked the short fat blade shape so I soon discarded them.

I am now very pleased with the Manix 2 LW with Maxamet blade. I like the blade size and shape which is a bit more streamlined and pointy than the Sage was for me and I prefer the long gentle curve of the edge. Also my blade measures a perfect .118" in thickness which I feel is as thick a blade as I would ever need or want. I find the ball bearing lock to be very trustworthy and easy to manipulate, and what's not to like about Maxamet? This knife is so pleasantly light weight I forget I have it. The Manix 2 LW Maxamet has quickly become my second favorite pocketknife.
I like it so much I ordered a second one.

As for my all time favorite pocketknife, and the one I have carried ever since I discovered it, the Titanium Chaparral is my most used and reached for. Although I would personally prefer perhaps a K390 blade, K294 Microclean, or similar carbon steel, I do find the XHP stainless to perform better for me than most stainless steels. I like the heft and solid feel of the Titanium frame, the thin blade and its pointy shape that cuts like a laser, and the secure backlock with internal pin design. To get my Chap one would have to pry it from my cold dead hand. But I have 6 more so I do have a couple of backups.

I am always looking for a better blade steel in a thinner bladed knife with trustworthy lock that fits my personal needs.
So far I have never had to look any further than Spyderco. :spyder:

[awa54]

Back before there were good pocket clips (an idea that I resisted for many years) I favored smaller knives that would fit in my RFP without crowding out my change or other pocketed items, or busting holes in my pockets. For many years the little Schrade 3OT was a regular carry as was a 197UH. Before that a Buck-lite or a two bladed Imperial jack knife were the regular carry. My heavy-duty beater was a Pakistani "Bullet" lockback bought from a mail order ad in the back of a comic book, later an Opinel No. 8 in HC replaced it (at least in the US, the stainless Opinels weren't available yet and I wouldn't have bought one anyway, since everyone knew stainless that didn't come from Buck or Puma was junk!).

My first brush with Spyderco was a friend's early production FRN SE Delica with the molded pocket clip, I was unimpressed due to the fact that several of the serrate tips had broken off on the G-2 blade, I also thought that the clip was likely to break easily, since it was "plastic"... after all real knives were all metal back then

Then I got a couple closeout Spyderco side-brand knives, a PE Solo 3 and a Moki 920 (clip-less version). I was so impressed with the 920 that I went to order a backup, but all the PE versions were sold out, so I grabbed an SE 920 and an SE 921 (I really wish I'd managed to snag a PE 921!!). The PE 920 got lots of use and convinced me that plastic knives could be durable and that there was good stainless that wasn't Shrade+.

At some point I got my ex-wife a PE, stainless Dragonfly in ATS-55, it was a great knife, but I didn't use it that often, so it didn't make a huge impression yet, though I feel like if I had gotten it for myself that might have been the turning point.

It still took almost another decade for me to become a full-on convert to Spyderco, I had already warmed up to the idea of pocket clips when I was introduced to a friend's Moteng exclusive PM2, he had dropped it and broken the tip off and I offered to do the repair, while reshaping and sharpening that knife my interest in Spyderco re-ignited! A few months later I finally decided to jump in with both feet and bought a Smurf blue Sage 3 that was being sold at a blowout price on Ebay... it was all down hill from there! The excellent Spyderco ergonomics, the better than "the rest" pocket clip and (new to me) CPM S30V, as well as the amazing action of the Sage 3 lock combined to suck me in. Next up was a sabre ground Manix 2 in S30V, at that point the hook was set.

Since then my EDC has grown from sub 2" blades on average to 3" +/- and I rarely carry a knife that doesn't have a pocket clip. I've also found that the excellence of modern stainless steels has made me less tolerant of the increased care that HC blades require in an EDC role, not that I don't still like and use my HC blades, but the very acceptable performance and care-free maintenance of VG-10, S30V, XHP and others have made it hard to argue that an HC blade is meaningfully better for most pocket knife level tasks.

Then I made the mistake of joining this forum, where the knowledge and enthusiasm you all display are infectious, it's been great for my Spyderco collection, **** on my finances and I wouldn't have it any other way :D

[shunsui]

I've been a fan of the Endura since it came out. Didn't buy other knives until I got involved with on line forums. My collection is more of a steel collection. Lots of Mules, Militaries, Para2's, some Manix2's. I stick to the larger knives for the good ergonomics with my hand. After all is said and done, the FRN Enduras are still in my pocket every day.

[toxophilus]

Years ago before I joined this forum, I was gifting Spydies to Family. Initially carried/used a blue FRN Endura (still have it); my tastes have gone from discontinued smaller Spydercos to longer blades in different types of steel offerings.

I've never had issues with the different types of locks as some have stated, I also tend to use the proper tool for the job; for me knives are for cutting. If I need to tear down boxes or cut limbs/brush/zip ties, I have tools for those tasks readily available. It is good to know that in a pinch I could use my Spydies if needed but I generally don't.

Very grateful for the different steel offerings/models that Spyderco continues to produce. There were some models that I initially thought were ugly as sin, but after handling/using them 'it clicked'; the two in particular that I became a fan of were the Stretch & Manix 2 :D

[vivi]

But a knife is the right tool for breaking down boxes or cutting zip ties :D

[ZrowsN1s]

I've been a fan of the Endura since it came out. Didn't buy other knives until I got involved with on line forums. My collection is more of a steel collection. Lots of Mules, Militaries, Para2's, some Manix2's. I stick to the larger knives for the good ergonomics with my hand. After all is said and done, the FRN Enduras are still in my pocket every day.

Those are the only 3 knives anyone would ever need really. I've got the same steel trio, mine are D'Flys not enduras though :D

[embry386]

As a kid I was into fixed-blade daggers, combo edges, and anything that looked really "mall-ninja". I thought full-flat grinds looked cheap, and disliked folding knives.

These days I love the cutting abilities of a full-flat grind, prefer knives that are either full-serrated or full-plain rather than combo-edged (thank you so much Spyderco for making full-serrated an option), and don't carry fixed-blades because they're hella impractical if you live in a city like I do and need to be discreet about your knife. My aesthetic tastes still run towards the mall-ninja stuff: black-coated blades, hawkbills, serrations on everything; I think the black-bladed waved Matriarch 2 is absolutely gorgeous, etc... but now it's more about "this knife is really pretty" rather than "I could totally use this knife to fight off a rabid bear / horde of zombies / evil kidnappers".

[Brock O Lee]

I was never a big fan of the back lock, but I appreciate it a lot more these days. I appreciate the safety of the good self-close, knowing that accidental opening is pretty much impossible when carrying in waistband.

Over the years I've also come to love smooth scales, especially for the smaller/gentleman type folders, like Caly 3 CF, Sage 2 and also now the pakkawood Delica.

I grew up with stainless steel blades on SAKs, so I never knew much about carbon steels, but I have quite a few non-stainless tool steels and carbon steels in my collection today. Really like the Superblue / Cruwear / M4 variants.

[PSquared]

I've always carried a knife in my pocket. In the late '70s and '80s, in scouts, in the army and at university I was content with a SAK in some shape or form - plastic scales, mystery metal and (particularly in the army) they were abused. I had a few Okapis as well but didn't like them much.

Early in the 90s I got my first Delica and drifted toward single hand openers, pocket clips and serrated and partly serrated blades - not expensive stuff, the stuff I could afford on my first real salary - Delicas, Kershaw Vapors and Benchmade red class stuff - AUS8 mostly. I had, and was happy with, a rotation of 7 or 8 knives.

Somewhere around 2004 or so I discovered Knifeworks and Knife Centre ..... a switch tripped and it was a headlong rush to try every handle material, every steel, every lock type, a lot of different brands, every size of knife, blade profile, etc, etc. I bought a lot of junk and a lot of really nice stuff and carried a different knife every day.

300 knives later I'm not chasing all the newest greatest steels and designs any more. I know what I like and what I will realistically use. Smooth scales (non pocket shredding), plain edge (now that I can sharpen to my satisfaction), one hand opening preferred although I still enjoy and carry SAKs, pocket clip nice but not mandatory and preferably a handle that allows a good 4 finger grip - I'd call them "large-ish gent-esque folders". I still rotate through 30 or so knives and keep "specialist" knives like serrated Salt knives for wet and dirty work.

Heading the list of most carried Spydies are my Memory, Caly 3 and Chaparral. They are joined by a CRK small Insingo, a BM Arcane, customs by Trevor Burger (LEXK) and Jason Guthrie (Scout), a Protech Godson and a Strider PT CC. It's an eclectic mix of steels, locks and opening methods ... no real consistency other than I like how they feel in my hand and they cut stuff adequately.

The reality is that I carry and use them because I have them and there is a pride in ownership. I've gone full circle and would, if I was really honest with myself, be quite content with a Vic Compact or Vic Pioneer in my pocket every day but where is the fun in that.

[Evil D]

If you really wanna dig into it I've gone from carrying Case and Buck 110's to Spyderco. That's a pretty major shift in preferences. Those are still great knives and I still own at least one Case but no 110's at the moment. Pocket clips really were a game changer for me and took me from occasionally carrying to always carrying. I've learned more about knives and steels due to that one change than because of anything else because the ability to comfortably carry a pocket knife everywhere I go meant that I used it more often so I then started to care more about edge retention and steel type.

[Joris Mo]

Have come to really appreciate backlocks and FRN much more, never disliked it but it is now by far favorite.

[ZrowsN1s]

A more recent shift in my tastes would be in the 5 years from 2012 to 2017. In 2012-14 I was buying knives that were essentially the same steel (154cm), the same lock (liner lock), the same handle material G-10, and the same color; Black handle and Black DLC blade. Somewhere around 2015 I made the switch to Spyderco and since then, I have not bought a SINGLE liner lock (and wont unless they do a Lum Tanto Sprint :D ), I find Back Locks, Compression Locks, and CBBL locks to all be superior to the liner lock. I also have not bought a SINGLE all Black knife since switching to Spyderco(The new Karahawk will likely be the first), and I've only bought 2 with black handles (Yo 2 and P'kal because they only come in black), I really like all the colored G-10 and FRN. And last but not least after years of buying the same type of steel, out of the last 15 knives I bought no 2 of them have been the same type of steel (the exception being the 3 knives I have in H1). That has only been made possible by Spyderco, the ONLY major knife company that is continually pioneering and introducing new blade steels. A cutting edge (pun intended) company that has spoiled me to the point that I've actually had the gall to complain about some of their knives only being available in s30v :o .

[Knife Knut]

Interesting question. So interesting, and since Sal asked, I am breaking my own rule of excessive personal security to give my input.

My preferences Have changed surprisingly little. I have stuck almost exclusively to Spyderco for all my folding knives, and exclusively for EDC.

My first Spyderco was a FRN Clip Spyderedge Delica, as a gift, as I had expressed an interest in the brand due to the opening hole. I had theorized that a round hole required much less fine motor manipulation than a thumb stud for anything larger than the cheapie sub 2 inch blade inch thumb stud knife that was my first EDC.

Naturally, my second Spyderco was an Endura of same configuration.

Then I realized that serrated just did not work well for many tasks. So I got a 1st gen Plainedge G-10 Police. But I missed the utility of a serrated edge, so I got a matching Spyderedge that I often EDC'ed also.

Around then I got a FRN Cricket (I forget why), and decided to go exclusively tip down from then on, since the movement for all sizes of tip down are very similar, instead of confusing muscle memory by mixing tip down and tip up.

Bounced around with some other folding Spyderco EDC for a few years, but eventually stuck with just the Plainedge G-10 Police.

At some point after going to just the Police, I got a Gerber E.A.B. as an EDC beater / loner, or when my main EDC is too large to be appropriate. Over the years I had a few knives edge damaged when loaning them out, or a few occasions where I damaged tips through abuse myself, and needed a knife to fill these two roles, yet still be small enough to not be an extra burden; I had been keeping an eye on developments in the replaceable utility blade segment of the market, waiting for size to come down to something reasonable, and the Gerber EAB fit the bill. Frankly I am somewhat surprised Spyderco has not brought something out in the replaceable utility blade market segment.

But I still had a need to have a single knife that had both plainedge and spyderedge. The ergonomics of the full size Dyad just never sat well with me. Then, during a period of depression, when I got to handle a Comboedge S30V Military, I was enchanted. I also did not realize how useful a good sized belly on a blade could be.

So, while I do keep an open mind, I do not foresee changing my normal EDC of the ComboEdge Military and Gerber EAB, as they provide the spectrum of capabilities I need, unless I need to suplement those with a fixed blade.

Over the years I have gotten some smaller or thinner folding Spydies for when larger EDC would not have been appropriate. Burgundy Jester, Small Micarta Dyad, and SpyderCard come to mind.

If I ever get into Kayaking like I would like to, I will likely get a Salt sheepsfoot of some sort.

As far as fixed blades, I do not have brand preference, but in the last few years, I have been getting some of the new Spyderco Fixed Blades. I have always demanded good ergonomics, design, and good steel well suited to the intended use of the design (the hallmarks of Spyderco, and what has kept me coming back to them for folders); screwing up any one of those will eliminate a knife from consideration. But talking any more about this subtopic crosses the line as far as my personal security concerns.

I have never liked drop points, fixed or folder, and can think of only a handful in my collection. Aside from skinning (and even that is debatable), which I don't foresee myself needing to do, I see very little need to give up the utility of a pointier blade and/or wider belly.

As far as fantasy knives, I almost completely skipped that phase. Only the Hibben Hornet Sword and Indiana Jones Bowie were special enough for me to recall being interested in them; the only fantasy knife I ever actually purchased was the sabertooth-like knife that eventually became the paired knives of Riddick in Chronicles of Riddick. At the time I knew so little that I thought it actually had some good defensive capabilities, though it never left the house.

Wow. That was a lot more than I expected to write.

[Knife Knut]

Oops, Double post.

[ThePeacent]

Interesting question. So interesting, and since Sal asked, I am breaking my own rule of excessive personal security to give my input.

My preferences Have changed surprisingly little. I have stuck almost exclusively to Spyderco for all my folding knives, and exclusively for EDC.

My first Spyderco was a FRN Clip Spyderedge Delica, as a gift, as I had expressed an interest in the brand due to the opening hole. I had theorized that a round hole required much less fine motor manipulation than a thumb stud for anything larger than the cheapie sub 2 inch blade inch thumb stud knife that was my first EDC.

Naturally, my second Spyderco was an Endura of same configuration.

Then I realized that serrated just did not work well for many tasks. So I got a 1st gen Plainedge G-10 Police. But I missed the utility of a serrated edge, so I got a matching Spyderedge that I often EDC'ed also.

Around then I got a FRN Cricket (I forget why), and decided to go exclusively tip down from then on, since the movement for all sizes of tip down are very similar, instead of confusing muscle memory by mixing tip down and tip up.

Bounced around with some other folding Spyderco EDC for a few years, but eventually stuck with just the Plainedge G-10 Police.

At some point after going to just the Police, I got a Gerber E.A.B. as an EDC beater / loner, or when my main EDC is too large to be appropriate. Over the years I had a few knives edge damaged when loaning them out, or a few occasions where I damaged tips through abuse myself, and needed a knife to fill these two roles, yet still be small enough to not be an extra burden; I had been keeping an eye on developments in the replaceable utility blade segment of the market, waiting for size to come down to something reasonable, and the Gerber EAB fit the bill. Frankly I am somewhat surprised Spyderco has not brought something out in the replaceable utility blade market segment.

But I still had a need to have a single knife that had both plainedge and spyderedge. The ergonomics of the full size Dyad just never sat well with me. Then, during a period of depression, when I got to handle a Comboedge S30V Military, I was enchanted. I also did not realize how useful a good sized belly on a blade could be.

So, while I do keep an open mind, I do not foresee changing my normal EDC of the ComboEdge Military and Gerber EAB, as they provide the spectrum of capabilities I need, unless I need to suplement those with a fixed blade.

Over the years I have gotten some smaller or thinner folding Spydies for when larger EDC would not have been appropriate. Burgundy Jester, Small Micarta Dyad, and SpyderCard come to mind.

If I ever get into Kayaking like I would like to, I will likely get a Salt sheepsfoot of some sort.

As far as fixed blades, I do not have brand preference, but in the last few years, I have been getting some of the new Spyderco Fixed Blades. I have always demanded good ergonomics, design, and good steel well suited to the intended use of the design (the hallmarks of Spyderco, and what has kept me coming back to them for folders); screwing up any one of those will eliminate a knife from consideration. But talking any more about this subtopic crosses the line as far as my personal security concerns.

I have never liked drop points, fixed or folder, and can think of only a handful in my collection. Aside from skinning (and even that is debatable), which I don't foresee myself needing to do, I see very little need to give up the utility of a pointier blade and/or wider belly.

As far as fantasy knives, I almost completely skipped that phase. Only the Hibben Hornet Sword and Indiana Jones Bowie were special enough for me to recall being interested in them; the only fantasy knife I ever actually purchased was the sabertooth-like knife that eventually became the paired knives of Riddick in Chronicles of Riddick. At the time I knew so little that I thought it actually had some good defensive capabilities, though it never left the house.

Wow. That was a lot more than I expected to write.

Interesting read!
maybe now is the time to step up and kill two birds with one stone, the fixed blade you're still missing and a "Spyderco EAB" (small, thin, light, very slicey, non aggressive looks, quick and inconspicuous, with a thin pointy tip and nice curved belly):
I suggest you the ARK knife.
Steel is H!, so you can abuse it and pry with it, cut into bad stuff and slice over edge-unfriendly surfaces, as it is soft and springy, won't chip and it'll be extremely easy to bring back to sharp or touch up with any sharpener or abrasive
Won't ever rust, is as thin and light as you could imagine.

Being H1 I recommend getting the new SE version, but the PE is nice too and very versatile
Won't scare anyone, or you'll be able to conceal it easily as it fits in your palm on its entirety

[JD Spydo]

It is very interesting to read all of these comments about how people's preferences have changed or evolved over the years. With me it's been more of an evolution of different uses and different demands I've been facing.

It's not really so much about change as it's been that I've finally found what I really like and what I've really been looking for all along. As well as finding the type of blade that gets the job done more proficiently. It wasn't until I actually started using a lot of these different types of blades that I realized their intended purposes.

As better materials have come about and newer innovations have been borne that you just naturally gravitate toward what works best for your individual cutting needs. FUNCTION has far superseded looks or aesthetics>> it's not that I don't like cool or stylish looking tools but function is far more preferable to me.

And Spyderco is not afraid to try out new things that other knife companies wouldn't even dare to. Hey if something new works for me it doesn't take long for me to adapt or change my ways. Because I'm always looking for something better when it comes to the tools I use.

[Midnightrider]

My preferences haven't changed much I guess. I used to think 3.5 inches was a good using size but I have been carrying a Millie the last few months and it carries small and I think it's very functional. I do like a combo edge, when you need one you really need one but so far this knife is really working for me. I like liner locks so this wasn't that big of a change for me from the last few decades.

[Knife Knut]

Forgot to mention, I have never liked the compression lock. First time I opened one, a ParaMilitary, It bit the meat of my index finger. Whenever I have given the compression lock a another chance in stores, the movements needed to disengage it do not feel particularly natural, compared to that of backlock or linerlock. And it still sometimes bites me.

maybe now is the time to step up and kill two birds with one stone, the fixed blade you're still missing and a "Spyderco EAB" (small, thin, light, very slicey, non aggressive looks, quick and inconspicuous, with a thin pointy tip and nice curved belly):
I suggest you the ARK knife.

Thank you for the suggestion, but that would not mount well on the edge of a pocket, which is the most convenient place for me to put my Gerber EAB.
As for Belly, the Military takes care of that. And If I totally bork the tip or edge beyond repair. I can replace just the blade for under a dollar.
Irwin Bimetal blade tempered 400 Degrees F in the oven is what I use. Before I tried tempering them they would tend to easily chip out.

[vivi]

One I forgot to mention is I don't like choils.

I used to like them. The UKPK and Caly 3 were my favorite knives for some time.

Over the years I've noticed I don't use them much. I added one to a Pacific Salt and never use it.

I'd much rather the cutting edge extend further back towards the handle, along the lines of the Tenacious series. I find that much more beneficial to how I use a knife than choils.

Choils reduce the available cutting edge, and I often find it gets my hand too close to what I'm cutting.

[bh49]

I am carrying Spydercos for only 12 years and so far only two changes to compare with the very beginning:
1. I used to like, but now dislike black peel-ply G10
2. I used to dislike, but now I like smooth CF.

still prefer:
1. back locks
2. tip up carry
3. finger choil
4. carry two knives with 3"-3.5" blades (not counting key-chain knife)
5. Military still huge
6. VG10 is good
7. still love the look of SE hawkbills and reverse S, but do not use them :rolleyes:
8. C83 Persian still one of my favorites