Spyderco Forums

carrot wrote:Since you're looking at a pretty wide variety of knives, I thought it'd be helpful to characterize them.

- Delica: the standard bearer for "every day carry". Light, slim, discreet. Versatile and a great performer (in FFG variant especially) but a little vanilla.

- Native: the "afi's choice". Similar to the Delica but has the crowd-pleasing finger choil for fine tip control. Carries a little wider and higher than the Delica, so less discreet. A little more comfortable for longer cutting chores.

- Dragonfly: the truly discreet carry. Great for urban use, cuts way outside its size class. Good if you like to be subtle, or carry the lightest, smallest tool for the job.

- Cat: urban knife for big hands. Similar to the Dragonfly but with much bigger hand-filling handles.

- Manix 2 LW: full-sized knife without the weight. Similar to the Native, but bigger. Perfectly fits in the hand and great for extended use. The wire clip and light weight make this knife feel invisible in the pocket.

- Raven and Crow: tough knives for casual users. These knives are thicker than they look and can take a beating. They trade some slicing ability to gain a sturdier build for users who may apply their knives to light prying duty. I'd characterize them as full-sized knives, despite their blade lengths suggesting a smaller stature.

- Chaparral: right in between the Delica and Dragonfly in blade length, but with a wonderful handle. Very slim, daintier than the Delica and Cat. Again a great choice if you like to be subtle and carry the smallest tool for the job.

You should also look at the Polestar and Alcyone. They're tough knives also, but slicing performance is on par or better than the aficionado classic, the Paramilitary 2.

dreadpirate wrote:Hi Jeb. I would say Delica or Native. I would give a slight nod to the Delica in terms of value and the handle design.

carrot wrote:Since you're looking at a pretty wide variety of knives, I thought it'd be helpful to characterize them.

- Delica: the standard bearer for "every day carry". Light, slim, discreet. Versatile and a great performer (in FFG variant especially) but a little vanilla.

- Native: the "afi's choice". Similar to the Delica but has the crowd-pleasing finger choil for fine tip control. Carries a little wider and higher than the Delica, so less discreet. A little more comfortable for longer cutting chores.

- Dragonfly: the truly discreet carry. Great for urban use, cuts way outside its size class. Good if you like to be subtle, or carry the lightest, smallest tool for the job.

- Cat: urban knife for big hands. Similar to the Dragonfly but with much bigger hand-filling handles.

- Manix 2 LW: full-sized knife without the weight. Similar to the Native, but bigger. Perfectly fits in the hand and great for extended use. The wire clip and light weight make this knife feel invisible in the pocket.

- Raven and Crow: tough knives for casual users. These knives are thicker than they look and can take a beating. They trade some slicing ability to gain a sturdier build for users who may apply their knives to light prying duty. I'd characterize them as full-sized knives, despite their blade lengths suggesting a smaller stature.

- Chaparral: right in between the Delica and Dragonfly in blade length, but with a wonderful handle. Very slim, daintier than the Delica and Cat. Again a great choice if you like to be subtle and carry the smallest tool for the job.

You should also look at the Polestar and Alcyone. They're tough knives also, but slicing performance is on par or better than the aficionado classic, the Paramilitary 2.

npad69 wrote:get the delica. it is my first spydie and what drove me deep into the 'hole'

spydies may look funny and sometimes fugly to those who aren't familiar with the brand, but the moment you hold one, you'll realize its in a league of its own

RLDubbya wrote:Welcome to the forum!

My only suggestion: consider purchasing used second-hand. That way, whatever you buy (assuming that you take reasonable care of it) can be resold for about what you paid. You can cycle through all your choices this way, and when you finally find the one that you really like, you can purchase it new in confidence that you are getting the correct knife for your tastes and needs.

Have fun!!

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

Surfingringo wrote:

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

That was my second Spyderco after a dragonfly salt. I later moved on to the Military/paramilitary platform but that bd1 Manix is a very nice knife for the money. Enjoy!

alexthegreat wrote:I see the Delica is a major recommendation for a first Spydeco, would y'all suggest getting the one with the wave feature or no for a first?

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

Eli Chaps wrote:

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

I think you've made a great choice. Please let us know what you think.

jebrand wrote:

Eli Chaps wrote:

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

I think you've made a great choice. Please let us know what you think.

Thanks, will do. Looking forward to it arriving. I like the unusual lock design, and although the bd1 isn't maybe seen as "posh" as some of the alternative steels, while I only have a whetstone I thought it sensible to get an easier to sharpen steel that still takes a good edge... Hopefully I'll get a new sharpening system in the new year!

Eli Chaps wrote:

jebrand wrote:

Eli Chaps wrote:

jebrand wrote:Hi everyone, quick update.. I chose, and have just ordered...


The Manix LW translucent blue! It was the first I had eyes for. Nearly ordered the new chappy, I'm sure I'd be happy with either and will end up with both!


Thanks to all for the welcomes and help, can't wait for it to arrive.

Joe

I think you've made a great choice. Please let us know what you think.

Thanks, will do. Looking forward to it arriving. I like the unusual lock design, and although the bd1 isn't maybe seen as "posh" as some of the alternative steels, while I only have a whetstone I thought it sensible to get an easier to sharpen steel that still takes a good edge... Hopefully I'll get a new sharpening system in the new year!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with BD1, especially on an EDC folder. I carry my BD1 version about as much as I carry my S90V version. No, it won't hold that super fine edge as long s the other steels but it will keep right on cutting your apples, opening your packages, and slicing up your boxes for a good long while in an EDC type environment.

I would recommend pursuing a strop and compound and give it a few passes each day or once a week. Stropping can be controversial but I like it, especially for maintaining the "softer" steels like BD1.