Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
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Cambertree
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Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#1

Post by Cambertree »

Some of my favourite threads and posts on this forum are those where members tell us about their favourite knives and what makes them so.

I often like to gain an understanding of some of my own favourite Spyderco knives by considering them in comparison with another knife model.

Like many of the Spyderheads here, I like to carry a pair of complementary knives which offer different specialised functions.

Sometimes this may be a pair of different sized knives. Sometimes it may be a plain edge and a serrated knife duo. Or it could be two knives with different blade shapes.

At the moment at work I’m enjoying using the SE LC200N Pacific Salt 2 and the K390 Dragonfly, for example.

Image

When I go camping, hiking or hunting I like to carry a fixed blade with a folder. Of late, that’s been the 52100 CE Paramilitary 2 with the Southfork.

I’m sure some of you also enjoy comparing the same knife model in different steels, too.

So let’s make this a place to compare a pair of knives. The pair can be as similar or as different as you like. They don’t even have to be knives you carry or use in tandem. Perhaps you might like to compare two incongruously different types of knives to aid in understanding the use and design features and functionality of both models.

For the purposes of this thread, let’s make them Spyderco models only, please.

Simple lists of favourite pairs for your dedicated knife tasks are welcome, although more in depth reviews and thoughts are very much appreciated and valued.

So let’s go! I’m eager to hear your thoughts!
Bemo
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#2

Post by Bemo »

Looking forward to this thread. I have taken to carrying a plain edge and a SE everyday now (yeah I blame this forum for that). I will say that my peculiarities push me to carrying the PE and SE of the same model if I have it. So today was the rock jumper pair. Can't wait to see what others do.
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kobold
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#3

Post by kobold »

I keep an FRN Chaparral in my Maxpedition micro and also EDC a folder in my front right pocket. That can be anything, sometimes it is another Chap.
Last edited by kobold on Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Military/PM2/P3 Native Chief/Native GB2 DF2 PITS Chaparral Tasman Salt 2 SE Caribbean Sheepfoot SE SpydieChef Swayback Manix2 Sage 1 SSS Stretch 2 XL G10
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jdw
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#4

Post by jdw »

I like pairing a Military or GB1 with a Hawkbill Dragonfly. They are different enough in both size and function that I can cover a wide range of tasks for light yard, helping with a small cattle herd work and general upkeep.

Edited to say that a Manix keeps finding increasing time in my pocket.
Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.
--Wovoka
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Danvp
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#5

Post by Danvp »

Not fair to ask only for a ‘pair’ of knives. I know I have a problem because I like to carry as many knives as possible. In pocket, don’t want to scare the people around me.

The ones I carry the most lately are the dragonfly 2 ZDP and my Cruwear PM2 both plain edge. I am not really a fan of serrated edges for my uses. The choice is made mainly based on the size and length of the cutting edge. Often times a police 4 lw sneaks into my pocket too.

Image

For now I am happy with my denim blue crucarta pm2.
MotoBro
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#6

Post by MotoBro »

I generally carry a Para 3 and a Ladybug or Dragonfly as a back up. No, this combo doesn’t cover a wide variety of things outside of basic EDC tasks, but I rarely find myself needing a fixed blade or serrated edge for daily use. I also keep a backpack in my vehicle with a Benchmade 810 Contego combo edge in M4 steel that I consider my “hard use” folder. I’d like to find an M4 Shaman or Manix to replace it as my hard use knife but they were both exclusives that sell for a lot on the secondhand market.
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TenGrainBread
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#7

Post by TenGrainBread »

Lately it's been a StreetBeat in the waist band paired with a folder in my jacket pocket. Sometimes my Jumpmaster 2 if I won't be around too many people.
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sal
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#8

Post by sal »

I almost always have a pair, large and small.

sal
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ladybug93
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#9

Post by ladybug93 »

my favorite pairing is my manix 2 lw and my pacific salt se. next favorite would be yojimbo 2 and pac salt. if i only want to carry one, it's the bee hunter (caribbean) in sheepsfoot se.
keep your knife sharp and your focus sharper.
current collection:
C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C
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Holland
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#10

Post by Holland »

My favorite pairing these days is either my Gayle Bradley 2 with a dragonfly or my Mantra 1 with a dragonfly

The dragonfly is a perfect second knife given how small and lightweight it is. Barely notice it is there and is great to use around non knife people
-Spencer

Rotation:
Gayle Bradley 2 | Mantra 1 | Watu | Chaparral 1 | Dragonfly 2 Salt SE
aicolainen
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#11

Post by aicolainen »

Rarely carry two, except for some outdoor activities.
Usually a bigger fixed blade and a small-ish folder, but in some situations I switch it around and carry a small fixed blade and a larger folder.
I don't have a lot of Spyderco fixed blades, but if I carry a Spydeco fixed blade, it's most often the Waterway.
The folder varies a lot. Often times it is a deliberate choice based on the activity, other times it's just depending on the pair of pants I threw on, as most pants in circulation is pre-fitted with a knife that goes well with the pants intended use. The folder is practically always a Spyderco though.
As of late, I think the most frequent pairing is Waterway and Native 5 Salt.
vivi
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#12

Post by vivi »

I've tried a lot of combos.

Big and small (Police + spin)

PE + SE (Two Pacific Salts, Military and Tasman Salt SE, etc.)

Fixed and folding (Pacific SE+ Street Beat)

Over time I found for my uses pairing two knives is redundant and provides me with no tangible benefits.

I don't ever run into situations where I can't use a Police sized knife without drawing questions. SE vs PE isn't such a big difference I need both...each can cut anything I need to cut just fine. My knives hold an edge well enough I never need two to get through the week...much less day.

These days I pair a Spyderco with a pocket multitool, which is much more practical for my day to day life. Typically a Squirt, sometimes a Kick with pocket clip.

I've got enough weighing down my pockets between the rest of my EDC.
:unicorn
bdblue
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#13

Post by bdblue »

I've tried carrying a pair but it never worked out for me, mostly because I don't have extra space in my pockets.

My thought was that there might be some things that I wouldn't want to cut with my nice EDC knife, so I should have a beater along to use for that. I've realized that I'm going to go ahead and use my EDC for anything I need to cut, which normally doesn't get into anything abusive anyway. Some people might want to carry a big and a small so they could use the small knife for situations when people might react negatively to a larger knife. That has not proven to be a problem where I live so I just carry a larger knife always. I typically carry a PM2 or Manix 2 and I don't consider those to be large knives. I sometimes carry a Military or a Manix 2 XL but I'm not afraid to pull those out and use them in public. Nobody around here pays much attention to them.
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TkoK83Spy
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#14

Post by TkoK83Spy »

I also have to echo a few comments here. It is FUN to carrying a combo, but I'm 100% certain any one knife I'm carrying for the day is at least sharp enough to cleanly cut paper and and at worst scrape shave arm hair. For my purposes at work, that's plenty enough for at least one day and then touch up that night if necessary.

Whenever I do carry a combo, it's normally a PE and SE together. Just seems to make the most sense. Why carry a Manix and PM2 together especially if their both PE?? That doesn't make any sense, but maybe that's just me!

Just a few photos of a couple combos I've chosen over the past few years.

Resized_20190117_094458.jpeg
Resized_20191228_103012.jpeg
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15 :bug-red 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut

-Rick
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ladybug93
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#15

Post by ladybug93 »

pair for today: manix 2 lw (xhp from kc) and ladybug salt hawkbill se

since i got the yo2, and now the caribbean, i've carried the m2lw a lot less. every time i pick it up again though, i remember why i love it so much. even though it gets less pocket time, it's definitely still my favorite model when it comes to ergonomics and blade shape. death to pins though. just give me blacked out m2lw with screws and lc200n.
keep your knife sharp and your focus sharper.
current collection:
C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C
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legOFwhat?
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#16

Post by legOFwhat? »

I've also been pairing up SE and PE quite a bit and it's also tool steel and stainless. Here's my current favorite combo:

Image

I always have a MuleTeam with me as well :D
-Larry
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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Salty Dog
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#17

Post by Salty Dog »

sal wrote:
Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:16 pm
I almost always have a pair, large and small.

sal
Theres a good joke here, but I'll leave it :)
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JMM
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#18

Post by JMM »

For the last year or so I carry a SE & a PE nearly every day, usually one will be small & one large, but not necessarily. Prior to that I was just carrying a PE, but since I've started really buying and using SE models I've found more and more things that SE blades are good at doing than I ever thought possible. For some reason though, I don't really like CE knives.... not entirely sure why, if anyone has an explanation, LMK. :)

Cheers,

John
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Wartstein
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#19

Post by Wartstein »

Cambertree wrote:
Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:51 pm
Some of my favourite threads and posts on this forum are those where members tell us about their favourite knives and what makes them so.
....

I´d really like to contribute to your thread, my friend, but thinking about it: I actually almost never pair two Spydercos.
Only in very rare situations when I deliberately want to compare two models in a certain scenario, like not too long ago Stretch and Manix (and leatherman ;) ) on wood, see pic below.

I DO pair one out of two certain Spyderco folders with larger fixed blades sometimes:

- Mainly the Chap for reasons I have mentioned a lot (perfect sturdy little "bushcraft - claw" for smaller tasks, in which it will outperform and outslice any large fixed blade.
- Sometimes the Pac Salt SE, for its amazing special "SE performance" ( feathersticks and a lot more)
- BUT: Those fixed blades are never Spydercos. In fact I have only one Spyderco fixed blade, the "special grind" Waterway Pancake gifted to me, and that one is really a do-it-all-blade as long as no chopping is involved, so I´d never need a folder when bringing the waterway...

Image
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
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elena86
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Re: Spyderco Pairs: Reviews and Reflections

#20

Post by elena86 »

I like this thread. My all time fav pair

Image
Marius

" A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it "
( Rabindranath Tagore )

Proud member of the old school spyderedge nation :bug-white-red
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