Spyderco Forums

Knife/Folder toughness overall is subjective, as it depends on what you use your knives for. You might think I'd pick my Tuff or Chinook 1. But no, I consider this my toughest Spyderco:



Why: the shorter the blade, the tougher (I have nothing < 3"), relatively large pivot and tang overlap, appropriate blade steel and thickness (and still a good cutter), enough scale screws and backspacer, strong lock, etc.

Share and discuss :)

Roland.

I'd have to say my future CruCarta Shaman.

Easily my 4V Shaman.

Probably my recently acquired Cruwear Shaman, followed by my Lil’ Native compression lock. The rest are lightweights!

Military.

Or manix 2 LW.

Definitely the 4V Shaman I recently picked up. Sadly, I misplaced my s30v Shaman.

Even The base model shaman is strides ahead of the competition.

I would think about the overall construction of the knife before I focus too much on steel. Just because a knife has a well known tough steel doesn't mean the KNIFE will be tougher overall than another model. An example here might be the Pacific, which has one of if not the most tough steels out there (H1) but in a linerless FRN handle you can only expect so much outright abuse before the handle breaks. By comparison a standard Endura with VG10 might have a less tough steel, but the addition of steel liners adds some amount of overall structural strength which will make the knife survive more abuse around the lock and pivot. So for me the "toughest Spyderco" is an overall toughness ranking, not just which model has the toughest steel.

Then lets think about how knives are most likely to fail. Lock type is the most commonly debated strength/weakness of a knife but I've seen a couple lock comparison videos where it isn't the lock that fails, it's usually the screws to the pivot or lock bar/stop pin that sheer off and allow the pins to rip out. I believe you can very easily build a friction folder that is as tough or more so than any knife with a lock, assuming you aren't stabbing with it. The pivot/screws and whatever kind of stop pin/screws stop the blade are most important (assuming that the blade itself doesn't snap off). This is an area where a Sebenza is going to be nearly bomb proof, considering how large their pivots and screws are.


The OP's titanium/Cruwear Native is definitely a tough combo overall. I would guess that the pivot and/or lock bar screws would sheer off in a failure before anything else. Maybe if enough pressure is put on the spine you might see the lock bar/tab round off or break but personally I thinks pine whacks are the most idiotic "test" you can do to a knife. Overall though that Native is one tough SOB, it's a good combo of strong scales, strong lock and strong blade.

That said I'd have to just throw out a few options, because it's all really speculation unless we've all pushed our knives past the failure point and have some kind of measurement to compare. Some of these I don't own, I'm just throwing out ideas...

Manix 2 - The CBBL is a very strong lock. This is another combo that I'd expect the pivot or stop pin screws to sheer off before anything else broke. The "stop pin" on these knives is also anchored by two screws on each side instead of just one like most knives have, so the blade has a very strong back stop to press into. On the standard Manix 2 it also has solid steel liners that extend to the edges of the handle so structurally it's a very strong overall package. I wouldn't be surprised if the blade tang itself is the weakest link in most failures on these models.

Southard - This is just a beefy little knife in every way...thick blade, big pivot, strong titanium frame lock bar. If anything the lock bar itself may fail, I've seen some frame lock bars fold outward when they fail.

Nilakka - This may be an unlikely candidate to some but I think this knife is near bomb proof aside from the obviously fragile blade tip. The handle/lock/pivot are crazy overbuilt and the blade is thicker than most so the pivot is extremely strong on this one. The lock bar is also among the thickest liner locks I've seen from Spyderco.

Vallotton Sub-Hilt - Just a tank built knife overall. It's thick everywhere. I would rank this knife up in the very top tier of toughest knives Spyderco have built. The blade is a sharpened pry bar and the liner lock is super thick.

Gayle Bradley 1 - Much like the Vallotton, it's just thick all over. It also benefits from a tough standard steel option.

Techno - Short/thick/titanium, you can only apply so much leverage to one of these which will limit how much abuse you can put on it.

Chinook - Especially the current version with the Power Lock, I would expect screws to sheer or the blade to snap before anything else.

Shaman - This one is pure speculation since I haven't even had one in hand yet, but the overall package appears to be very tough. The Cruwear/4V versions especially will probably take a beating (from the ones of us who dare to abuse such a sure-to-be collectibles).

I'm sure there are many many more..

Either my Saber grind Manix or my Chinook 3. Although I do have a Superleaf somewhere I haven't seen in years! I'd imagine my original little Techno is a pretty tough knife also.

ferider wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:26 am

Share and discuss :)

Roland.

I have only two and I'd guess both are very though, can't decide!

1. Native 5 CPM Cruwear: For the same reasons you mentioned.
Btw. fantastic scale swap there... I hope Flytanium or someone other will offer AM titanium scales for it.

2. Pac Salt SE: H1 is very unlikely to break, minimal distal taper, strong tip

Warrior. ETA: the title didn't say "folder" when I replied. :D

I'd say LionSpy.

Ok I was about to ask about a scale swap for that native just to double check that there wasnt a cruwear version before the kc exclusive. I love the native 5 for just a grab and go and do everything knife.
I also assume were talking folders here.
I really want to say my regular shaman wins here. But serrated h1 is undeniable in its ability to handle alot of abuse.
Does neglect, corrosion resistance, and lack of maintenance contribute to toughness? Arguably not but I think they certainly factor in if I were substituting the word toughness for most bulletptoof.
Honorable mention to the foliage green endura 4, it takes a beating.
Think ill go with shaman for now.

Manix 2 Backlock

Coffeetron wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:39 am

I have only two and I'd guess both are very though, can't decide!

1. Native 5 CPM Cruwear: For the same reasons you mentioned.
Btw. fantastic scale swap there... I hope Flytanium or someone other will offer AM titanium scales for it.

2. Pac Salt SE: H1 is very unlikely to break, minimal distal taper, strong tip

Me too. Somebody was selling an s35vn fluted for a crazy price and I couldn't resist. Plus I now have a LW s35vn Native that daughter #2 will love. #1 already got a yellow one. :)

Even after 10 years I still have to give that distinction of being the Toughest Spyder I own to my 440V, SE NATIVE model. When I was faced with a job out of **** so to speak I went to my footlocker where I keep all my "users" and decided I was going to sacrifice my 440V, full SE NATIVE. For two reasons: One because I knew that blade steel 440V would take a lot of the punishment I was going to have to give it. And the other reason was at that particular time the 440V, SE NATIVE was going to be a relatively easy model to replace.

Well that wasn't necessary because not only did it get the job done I still have it in my footlocker ready to go for another brutal job that may come up. The 440V, SE NATIVE is a true "Pitbull" of a folder and holds up to a lot of punishment.

Is this limited to folding knives?

I would say the Ankerson/Sanders Bowie in 4V steel is my toughest spyderco by far.

In a folder, the backlock Manix, with the Shaman a runner up.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:24 am

I would think about the overall construction of the knife before I focus too much on steel. Just because a knife has a well known tough steel doesn't mean the KNIFE will be tougher overall than another model.

Agree with all your points ... the reason why I picked the Native over Chinook (1 and 4), Tuff and even Ti Cruwear Manix 2, is because the Native Pivot is the same size as the Manix 2, but the Native blade is shorter. Max. torque (on the pivot at least) is proportional to the blade length.

BTW, I thought my 4V Manix 2 was tough until the tip broke off. These days, I look at Spyderco's 4V (with the hardness they use) more like at Rex 45, Cruwear chips much less likely for my applications. Plus (you convinced me?) the hollow grind is more fragile than the flat grind.

Thanks,

Roland.

Tucson Tom wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 10:33 am

Is this limited to folding knives?

I would say the Ankerson/Sanders Bowie in 4V steel is my toughest spyderco by far.

In a folder, the backlock Manix, with the Shaman a runner up.

Yes, I had folders in my mind. Sorry for not mentioning it in the OP (just corrected).

ferider wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 10:35 am

Evil D wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:24 am

I would think about the overall construction of the knife before I focus too much on steel. Just because a knife has a well known tough steel doesn't mean the KNIFE will be tougher overall than another model.

Agree with all your points ... the reason why I picked the Native over Chinook (1 and 4), Tuff and even Ti Cruwear Manix 2, is because the Native Pivot is the same size as the Manix 2, but the Native blade is shorter. Max. torque (on the pivot at least) is proportional to the blade length.

BTW, I thought my 4V Manix 2 was tough until the tip broke off. These days, I look at Spyderco's 4V (with the hardness they use) more like at Rex 45, Cruwear chips much less likely for my applications. Plus (you convinced me?) the hollow grind is more fragile than the flat grind.

I would love to try those models you mentioned i.e. The TUFF, The CHINOOK III, And the Manix for a brutal job if they were available in full SE. Trust me folks Spyderedged blades really shine in brutal work situations as I found out in that job I mentioned that I had with my 440V, SE Native about 10 years ago.
It's frustrating to me that several of Spyderco's really tough models that are truly built like an Abrams Tank aren't available in full SE :confused: I wish they would re-consider and make at least 10% of these models available in SE.