Backspacers: What are your thoughts? yea or nay: explain

[Paraguy]

I think they look kind of cool but what's the point?

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[TkoK83Spy]

They don't make much of a difference to me. Nice when they look good and add some flair, but I also like the open back construction for easier cleaning.

[Evil D]

I dunno, needs an "indifferent" vote option. I tend to favor pillar construction so they're easy to rinse out. The Military used to have a short little back spacer that didn't run the whole length of the handle and that one actually helped with ergonomics quite a bit during hard use because it kept your skin from smashing in between the liners so I guess in that way they can aid in ergonomics. The ones with the stegosaurus spikes seem counter productive.

[Buddafucco]

If the knife needs a backspacer to make it more rigid or to stop somebody's finger from touching the blade then I'm all for it, but to just add one for looks... Nay.

[vivi]

I like having a backspacer because if a knife is loose in my backpack there is less chance something dings the edge. The ones with thick jimping look silly to me though.

[wrdwrght]

Wanting a “Depends” choice, I didn’t vote because the lock matters.

I’d rather not have a backspacer if its only purpose is decorative, as in the original Techno. One of the reasons I like the RIL (as in the Techno) and compression/liner locks is they allow for an open back, thus easy cleaning

Midlocks and slipjoints need full-length backspacers for tensioning (except for the marvelous T-Mag, which has the most open back of any Spydie, I do believe). And the CBBL needs a nearly half-length backspacer to house the spring.

Interestingly, the CQI’d Military Model, with its abbreviated liners, has lost its backspacer. I wonder if it was discovered that the rigidity the backspacer added wasn’t worth its weight.

[ladybug93]

usually, i would say nay, unless you really want to personalize a knife without actually modding it. however, in the case of the yojimbo, i've made an exception with a copper backspacer.

[JRinFL]

I’m another who wants a “depends” option, so no vote from me.

[Albertaboyscott]

I like some of the aftermarket backspacers I've seen for the pm2 so I voted yes. That being said, I've never bought one myself. Not yet anyway

[kobold]

Totally depends on the design and locking mechanism. Eg, yea in a back lock knife. Or they might help with the balance, eg see the Shaman. Or just look good.

[Abyss_Fish]

I voted Nay, not because I don't like them, but because they're much harder to pull off well than barrel spacers. It has to be even and complementary with two other separately finished pieces of metal, since any finish problems are immediately noticeable. It's just more complicated, and complication raises price. Plus if it's a knife that's gonna get dirty (or even just carried often) a full backspacer will catch dust and debris.

Again I do like them, just in moderation.

edit: There's also no difference in function that I can think of, MAYBE if you're really bearing down on a push cut a full spacer may make a difference, but I beat on my caribbean which has barrel spacers daily and I've never noticed a hot spot. It's really all aesthetics vs cost.

[Wartstein]

I like them. Certainly do make a handle a bit more comfortable when using the knife really hard (I mean, imagine designing a really comfortable fixed blade handle: No one would ever create it with just two narrow "ridges" and a gap between those on the handle back, right? More and rounder surface where the pressure can get distributed better is always a pro imho).

Actually the closed back is one of the backlock advantages for me as well as one of Manix 2 LW over Manix 2 G10.

Is it a big deal for me though?

No, not at all. I would never add a backspacer just for a tiny bit more comfort on my Tenacious for example.

[standy99]

Never taken a Spyderco apart as never had to.

Have thought about a backspacer but never overly pursued it.
Took years to actually buy a deep carry clip but was buying a Lynch prybar so loaded up.

[Evil D]

usually, i would say nay, unless you really want to personalize a knife without actually modding it. however, in the case of the yojimbo, i've made an exception with a copper backspacer.

That is pretty sweet looking. I think a glass breaker back spacer would make a lot of sense. It would probably be really expensive to make a tungsten back spacer. Yours makes sense for the Yojimbo since the handle is designed as an impact weapon anyway.

[ladybug93]

That is pretty sweet looking. I think a glass breaker back spacer would make a lot of sense. It would probably be really expensive to make a tungsten back spacer. Yours makes sense for the Yojimbo since the handle is designed as an impact weapon anyway.

and the backspacer isn't sharp, but it's pokey and... persuasive. more importantly, it protects my pants. since the blade stock is thick, there's enough room for the material of my pants to fold in and get caught on the tip of the knife. i cut a small hole in one pair of pants that way. i'm sure it would also work against a window in an emergency.

[Senfkarte]

I'm pro backspacer, as long they don't stick out. But it's not a must have.
They protect the blade a little, the knife feels more comfortable while using and usually it just looks better.
But I would not don't buy a knife, just because there is no backspacer, they are more a "nice to have" thing.

[Paraguy]

usually, i would say nay, unless you really want to personalize a knife without actually modding it. however, in the case of the yojimbo, i've made an exception with a copper backspacer.

Hmm... does that thing ever dig into your side?

[Paraguy]

I voted Nay, not because I don't like them, but because they're much harder to pull off well than barrel spacers. It has to be even and complementary with two other separately finished pieces of metal, since any finish problems are immediately noticeable. It's just more complicated, and complication raises price. Plus if it's a knife that's gonna get dirty (or even just carried often) a full backspacer will catch dust and debris.

Again I do like them, just in moderation.

edit: There's also no difference in function that I can think of, MAYBE if you're really bearing down on a push cut a full spacer may make a difference, but I beat on my caribbean which has barrel spacers daily and I've never noticed a hot spot. It's really all aesthetics vs cost.

I guess what i meant was removable ones

[T.J.]

I dunno, needs an "indifferent" vote option. I tend to favor pillar construction so they're easy to rinse out. The Military used to have a short little back spacer that didn't run the whole length of the handle and that one actually helped with ergonomics quite a bit during hard use because it kept your skin from smashing in between the liners so I guess in that way they can aid in ergonomics. The ones with the stegosaurus spikes seem counter productive.

I second the “indifferent” motion. I really don’t care either way.

[ladybug93]

usually, i would say nay, unless you really want to personalize a knife without actually modding it. however, in the case of the yojimbo, i've made an exception with a copper backspacer.

Hmm... does that thing ever dig into your side?

it doesn't at all. if i had it in my waistband, it would be uncomfortable, but the yo2 is already uncomfortable there anyway. in my pocket, i only notice it when i reach in to grab my phone. even then, it doesn't bother me because i put the backspacer there for a purpose. conversely, the backspacer on my zt0350 always bothered me because it served no real purpose but to give extra grip in a reverse grip and to tear up my hand every time i reached into my pocket.