Spyderco Forums

Dragonfly
Chaparral
Salt 2
Delica
Native 5

Not spending a lot of time on this, which is probably best, because the best should jump right to mind anyway.

Shaman
PM2
Manix - esp the backlock
Military
Ankerson Bowie

The Police 4 and Native 5 get honorable mention.

In no particular order:

Military
Endura/pacific salt
Manix 2 LW
Delica
Dragonfly

Enactive wrote: I am going to shamelessly bump this thread. I never responded to it earlier and it only lived for a couple days before. Curious if we will get any other interesting additions?

My list goes like this:

SpydieChef: This was my gateway drug to Spyderco folders. The uniqueness and kitchen utility of the knife really sold me. The F&F, ergos, looks, feel, action, performance are all top notch! Framelocks are not a favorite, but in this application it really excels.

Shaman: This was the knife that got me really paying attention to Spyderco folders again after not really paying them much attention. The Cruwear Micarta variant is really outstanding, although my "base model" Shaman has a stronger detent, which i prefer. Currently these are my only comp lock knives.

Stretch 2: This knife has exceptional ergos for me. The V-Toku 2 is a very fun steel, with its amazing sharpening response and fine edge capabilities.

Native 5: I couldn't pick between the Native Salt and the KC Cruwear exclusive, so i included both. They are both outstanding.

Native Chief: This bad boy is my pointiest knife and is an amazing slicer. While I want a Cruwear and LC200n Chief, I couldn't wait for a sprint and bought this guy as soon as it was available!

What y'all got?

IMAG3690.jpg

Edited to add: It's been a big year for my Spyder fever! So many cool knives.

Same list as you except I change the stretch 2 to the pacific salt/endura. I do like the stretch 2 ergos better but I grab my pacific salt and endura 4 way more. So that makes them better for me.

Caly 3.5
Waterway
Sprig
SE Pacific Salt
Toss-up between 52100 Millie and 204P Para 2
K05 this gets more use than any others, a mainstay in the kitchen. Other than these, whichever is in my hand. :spyder:

1. Caribbean
2. Baby Horn
3. Street Beat Micarta
4. Mantra 1
5. Jester

I'm pretty much in a holding pattern, nothing has shaken up my list since the Caribbean came out. I am looking forward to seeing how my Cruwear Shaman fares against the list.

Enactive wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:24 pm

Bloke wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:15 pm

It’s all subjective. :)

Nice assortment, Alex!

Thanks Josh! :)

I like my folders too, but you can’t beat a quality fixed blade.

Delica
Salt 2
Pacific Salt
Dragonfly
Aqua Salt

Sumdumguy wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:50 am

1. Caribbean
2. Baby Horn
3. Street Beat Micarta
4. Mantra 1
5. Jester

I'm pretty much in a holding pattern, nothing has shaken up my list since the Caribbean came out. I am looking forward to seeing how my Cruwear Shaman fares against the list.

You reminded me, how could I not include the Mantra 1 which reminds me of the Sage 2. Don't think there's a way to pick the 5 "best" Spydies.

As of now if we speak folder,I consider price and performance.
...
Delica 4
Pm3 light
Pm 2
Slysz Bowie
Dragonfly

If we were ti speak fixed...I mean...I do think the waterway Is the One that covers all. If you are going survival any big One Is great.

This is best in usage.

Than if we speak best in estetics...It really Is impossible to Say.

I'm still pretty much enamored with many of Spyderco's "old school" models.

(1) C-60 Ayoob ( SE & PE)
(2) C-36 Military ( preferrably with supersteel blade)
(3) Temperance 1 fixed blade ( SE & PE)
(4) Dodo ( SE & PE)
(5) Spyderhawk ( especially SE)

Some of their new stuff is great>> but I still feel like they had it right in the early days.

Based on my personal experience:

1. Autonomy 2
2. Military
3. Pacific Salt SE
4. Police 4

Can't think of a fifth.

Here are the five that have filtered down to become my EDC choices. The Caly 3.5 has been carried the most over the last six years. The Paramiltary 2 has been carried the most over the last year.

Caly 3.5
Paramilitary 2
Military
Para 3
Advocate

Delica 4- M390
Native 5 Salt- LC200N
Para 3- CPM M4
Native 5- CPM M4
Mule- CPM 20CV

Mine in no particular order:

Dragonfly 2 hap40
Mantra 2
Native (s90v or M4)
Chap LW
Superhawk h1 (yard knife)

Honorable mention to the baby Jess Horn

Without specifying the criteria (definition of “best”) this is the same as “ what’s your favorite”.

• One-Eyed Jack
• Rhino
• Lil’ Native

MichaelScott wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:24 pm

Without specifying the criteria (definition of “best”) this is the same as “ what’s your favorite”.

• One-Eyed Jack
• Rhino
• Lil’ Native

Both questions achieve the same goal. If criteria is not specified, at least on this forum, it's safe to assume personal preferences are expected.

This is nearly impossible as some true gems will be overlooked. But here goes.

For true hard use (construction on the house) I could go with either the manix or pm2 in s110v. They both work well with gloves and can cut and cut and cut, Even in truely abrasive materials. I tend to lean toward the pm2 as I like the longer handle and more hand positions. So, s110v pm2.

The 3” edc is the perfect size. My hands fit the ukpk/ caly3 like nothing else. It’s slim in the pocket. Take the back lock or just go without. Maybe the best edc there is. Screw together construction would be the only improvement I would want.

Another excellent and to me “the spyderco” is the sage. Sage 2 is my favorite but I have not tried the 5 and I’m sure I would like it. Not too fancy but a safe will do just about any edc task with style. If you prefer a thinner blade get a chaparral. But for me the sage is great.

The next great edc is the para3. A little beefier but still gets any task done. It’s no joke that there are so many sprints and exclusives. A great design. Pick a color and steel and enjoy.

There are so many candidates for #5. Just because I have been using this one extensively this week. Subvert. It’s big. It’s beautiful. It’s weird. It cuts rigid insulation better than anything else I have. Subvert.

Honorable mentions: Advocate, q ball, Persian, foundry, opus, police, pits, southard, mantra, hundred pacer, k390 urban.

1., manix 2
2., para 2
3., Superhawk
4., Police 4
5., superleaf, Gayle Bradley 2, spydiechef, endura.
Great thread!!

Para 3 (perfect EDC)
Para 3 lightweight
Dragonfly
Endura FF lightweight (great kitchen folder)
McBee