Help me build out my spydie wishlist

[MichaelScott]

I’d say if you want representative Spydercos in your collection, get a Delica and PM2 at least.

[dreadpirate]

Nice list. I am currently in love with the Lil Native and the Caly 3.5 VG10/black G10. I too prefer the smaller sizes

I love my Caly 3.5 in VG10 as well! I don't get why they stopped making them.

[cheeseheaded]

You seem to like smaller knives so I suggest the Delica Hap40 pakkawood KC exclusive. Each blade and handle will be slightly different, so you get a unique but factory knife. I also suggest the ladybug serrated hawkbill...it will make you want more hawkbills.

[redhawk44357]

Open catalogue and throw dart? I only have about 20 but each has its merits.

[toocool006]

Open catalogue and throw dart? I only have about 20 but each has its merits.

Hahaha love this suggestion :D :D - but really gets the heart of the difficulty, which is that there are very few Spydies that don't sell themselves on their own merits.

But before I resort to the full dart approach, I just wanted to thank everyone who's weighed in on this thread, it's provided a lot of food for thought and plenty of additions to the wishlist. I'm definitely getting an H1 SE Dfly or Ladyhawk asap at the very least thanks to this thread. And for anyone keeping score at home, in thinking about a larger blade to try out I've recently spotted the Alistair Phillips prototype from the Amsterdam meet and it has quickly rocketed to the absolute top of my list...

[Mr Blonde]

If you like small slipits, then by all means try out a Squeak, and maybe try to hunt down a sprint run version in Ti!

[SF Native]

That’s a good call on the squeak. I would also say that you can still find some discontinued models at very good prices if you look hard enough. A few months ago I found a Memory, which did not disappoint. The firefly and vrango can be found a very good prices right now too.

[joeldworkin307]

Why limit yourself to a wish list? Get them all.

[toocool006]

So it's been just over a year now since I joined the forum and spydie land in general, and thought it would be fun to check in on how my tastes have been evolving.

Current Collection:

Sharpmaker
Chaparral LW
Pingo (Orange)
Pingo (mod w/ CF scales and thumbstud)
Rhino
Dice (mod - a DigDug72 chop special!)
Sliverax
Kapara
Positron CF
GB Air
Caly Jr. SB

Tried out and moved on:

Urban K390
UKPK S110V
Caly 3 Hap40
Spy-DK
Techno
Ti Squarehead
Cat
Sage 2
PITS
Mantra 1
Delica 4 (KP mod)
Spydiechef

Current Wishlist:

Police 4 (in the mail!!)
Smock (on pre-order)
Ikuchi
Lil' Native
Native 5 LW Maxamet
Freehand Sharpening Gear - Double Stuff 2? DMT set? Strops?

If I had to pick out a few trendlines, I would say that I'm definitely moving away from my initial titanium phase, moving away from slippies, and also branching out into exploring larger knives (Vivi's recent Police 4 thread put me over the top, combined with how much I've been enjoying the larger (for me) Sliverax and Kapara).

I still have a lot of corners of the Spyderverse that are as-yet unexplored (PM2, Para 3, DF, Salts) but it's been such a wonderful journey so far and really enjoying not so much where it's taking me as the fun I'm having along the way. I'm definitely more on the collector end of the spectrum, but I try to carry and spend quality time with each knife to appreciate the design before coming to any conclusions. I find the hardest part is keeping the collection at a manageable level, because there really is something about almost every knife Spyderco makes that speaks to me. I've been trying to refine a rules list to keep it all manageable (currently it's a total max number in the collection, and a total max out-of-pocket spend on the collection).

My next major goal is to really get into the sharpening game, as I'm starting to get a feel for designs that work for me, and want to take the next step into maintaining my knives. The real end game for me would be if I can do regrinds that look like Vivi's :D

Have y'all gone through similar changes in taste and preferences through the years? When did you settle in to a stable collection/rotation, or is such a thing even a worthy goal?

[shao.fu.tzer]

Get a Mamba. It's a work of art. Plus, it didn't run for very long, it's discontinued, and prices are at an all-time low. Get it now before the price skyrockets.

[vivi]

I don't know if you really want your knives to look like my regrinds, some of them are pretty ugly :p

Curious to hear what you think about the Police 4 when you get it, as you gravitate towards much smaller models. Feel free to post your thoughts in my P4 Observations thread if you'd like, it's been fun hearing from different members.

[mb1]

My next major goal is to really get into the sharpening game, as I'm starting to get a feel for designs that work for me, and want to take the next step into maintaining my knives.

Good call. It's kind of pointless to me (no pun intended) to be into knives, and not be into sharpening...at least if you're using them. Also, sharpening is what really brings some of the perennial favorite steels to the forefront, such as M4, Cruwear, Hap40/Rex 45, etc. Part of the appeal of these steels is the joy they are to sharpen. It is satisfying to put a fine edge on a knife.

[vivi]

Absolutely.

Buying a high end knife without having a method of putting a good edge on it is like buying a high end sports car and using the lowest grade of gas and driving on tires at 20PSI. You're not going to get the full experience :)