The Final (probably) Three, Revised

[TkoK83Spy]

Heck Michael, even a final 5 would have been difficult!

[Wartstein]

Michael, I totally get your approach: I have a similar one, just that my limit at any point in time is not three, but ten Spydies :) (and that means folders generally, I exclusively focus on Spyderco these days).

So, my three would be (and it is a TOUGH choice, I might feel differently just 10 minutes from now... :o )

- Endura 4 in HAP 40 (IF there was a VG10 full SE ffg Endura, that would be the number one)
- Chaparral FRN
- Pac Salt SE

That being said: Hard to imagine to be without Endela SE, Stretch 1 and lately Manix 2 LW

/ All the best to you, Michael!

[Holland]

Hi Michael, cool thread

Mine would be:
1. Dragonfly 2
2. Mantra 1
3. Junction

[Mako109]

Something big: S90V Shaman with Aramis CF scales - a good outdoor camp knife.
Something in between: M390 PM2 with Aramis CF scales - general purpose knife.
Something small: S30V Ikuchi - for city parks, the office and other urban areas.

The Aramis scales on the Shaman and PM2 are important as I never found the medial hump of the original scales comfortable; it pushes my 3rd & 4th digits out too much. Regarding "Something small" I list the Ikuchi only because we seem to be sticking to the Spyderco brand. While I like the Ikuchi very much, I find the Brad Zinker Dogtooth, a wharnie which is about the same size, fits this category better for my needs.

Then there's the new Swayback. Never handled one, but I find it tempting. It could change my top three.

Best wishes Michael.

[JuPaul]

As others have said, the three models I'd pick today would probably be different than the three I'd pick in a month. But currently, my top two would be:

Manix 2 g10 rex45, or cruwear with putman micarta
Para3 lightweight

I seriously cannot decide on the third!

I also just bought my first Military, though, and although it does feel like a pocket sword in my small hands, I can tell it's going to be a lot of fun to use.

[steelcity16]

I'd probably stick with the basics.

Blacked Out SE Pacific Salt 2

Teal S30V Endura (would replace with a Cruwear version if we see one)

Cruwear Delica

[curlyhairedboy]

CruCarta Shaman
Sheepsfoot serrated Caribbean
S90v Lil native

[foofie]

Para3 LW. Maxamet would have been the answer a few weeks ago, but rex45 sure fits the platform well.
UKPK - S110v. I have a few with custom scales - not sure I could choose.
Watu

I do have some boomer lil' para scales coming in for a jazzlica- this may make it onto the list since it gets rid of that bothersome (for me) finger hump.

[Naperville]

@Mako109 has some beautiful knives doesn't he?

My 3 knives. I'm a bit of a steel junkie:

- Stuart Ackerman Sustain in 20CV. I'd love to go hunt wild pigs/boar and see if the knife holds up. It seems pretty thin, but, I have faith in Spyderco. Looking to get my 2nd of these.

- Spyderco Province in 4V. Looks like an awesome self defense knife. Looking to get my 2nd of these.

- Spyderco Proficient in S90V. I don't own one and I think that they will be dropped! I love it, and need one badly.


I hope that you are getting better all of the time Michael. Thanks for the thread!

[anycal]

The PM2, Military, and Native 5 have been my top three for a while. Actually, pretty much since the beginning.

I always get excited when something new comes out. That's why the top five fluctuate a lot more. But these are the core three models for me.

[Wartstein]

The PM2, Military, and Native 5 have been my top three for a while. Actually, pretty much since the beginning.

I always get excited when something new comes out. That's why the top five fluctuate a lot more. But these are the core three models for me.

Very nice pic!! (Nice knives too, of course... )

[Woodpuppy]

I hope that I’m never forced to reduce my accumulations of any persuasion to 3, but I’ll participate in the exercise. This is from models I currently have, though there are a few others I’d like to try.

1. Cruwear Military - I too thought it was absurdly large; it’s not. It’s eminently useful and despite its size, is not a “pocket hog”. This knife embodies my preference for a full size handle, regardless of the length of the blade. It works with gloves or bare handed. Most knives are fiddlier with gloves; the millie is not.

2. Salt 2 SE - I live in Florida, and a mere day running a chainsaw after Hurricane Michael (in October, not summer) kicked off some spectacular corrosion (deeper than patina) on my beloved M4 Para 3. Since recently learning to sharpen Spyderco serrations effectively (20* position on Sharpmaker, elevate the end of the base with one of the extra rods) my H1 SE has become immensely enjoyable and useful in the yard. However, I’m finding the Salt 2 to be too small, especially for an outdoors/water play knife. An SE Pac Salt 1 or 2 is a planned upgrade. I’d like to try the Siren too, though its not SE and would therefore fall out of this slot for this exercise.

3. Para 3 in M4 - my first Spyderco since 1998, brought me “home” if you will. I’d been distracted by that other knife making company and having kids etc... When I saw the Para 3 it screamed buy me! It reminds me of a beefed up Worker, my first Spyderco.

This list is subject to change at whim, but I think a Military is a solid long term big knife, there’s really nothing else like it. It’s my only liner lock too. An SE Salt of some type is a permanent thing. The small knife can change I suppose. There are other steels (Rex45, VG10, 52100, K390, AEB-L) and other models (PM2, Delica, Dragonfly, Urban, Ladybug) in my collection that I really like and others I want to try.

[Woodpuppy]

The PM2, Military, and Native 5 have been my top three for a while. Actually, pretty much since the beginning.

I always get excited when something new comes out. That's why the top five fluctuate a lot more. But these are the core three models for me.

NICE!

[p_atrick]

Mako,

I liked your idea of grouping by size:

Something big
Something in between
Something small

So for me this would be:

• Police 4 LW - I really like the Seki knives, and I appreciate the forward finger choil. This knife carriers much smaller than I anticipated. I hope, one day, that SPY-27 makes its way to the Seki line.
• Sage 2 - Such a beautiful knife. It is simple, but all of the little things are done well.
• Urban in AEBL - As a small, non-locking knife it is legal in most places and is not threatening in the least. I guess the steel doesn't matter as much, but I do like AEBL.

For the limited amount of cutting I do, these knives are more than enough.

[Tucson Tom]

I didn't have to think long or hard, my 3 top models:

Shaman, PM2, and Manix 2

But which specific knives of those?

Shaman -- probably the Rex45 Pakkawood, but the CF/S90V could easily bump it.
PM2 - the K390, with the Cruwear and smooth G10 a runner up, and my S30V for sentimental reasons
Manix - the 20CV, but frankly I like all that I have quite well and this is tough

I like the Military, but for some reason it doesn't quite bump these others out of the top 3.

[Cambertree]

Hard question.

Today I'd choose:

-K390 Police 4
-HAP40 Stretch
-K390 Urban

Ask me on another day and the SE Pac Salt, Gayle Bradley 1, Lefty Millie or ZDP189 Dragonfly might sneak in there instead.

[Cycletroll]

Mille (204p or Ti/CF s90v)
Gayle Bradley 1
Endura (SG2)

I like and use larger knives most. IMO a PM2 is a "small" knife :)

[samdasnake]

UKPK 110V
Chap FRN
Native 5 Frn Rex45

I like smaller knives and I like FRN :)

[legOFwhat?]

I can't not have a hawkbill, fixed blade or para3 in my life. If I had to choose it would probably look like this:

1. BHQ Jade M4 para3
2. Mule team (please dont make me choose which steel)
3. Spyderhawk sprint.

Alternative: replace MT with my Province.

[koenigsegg]

What an impossible question. For me I have sentimental value on some of mine and done think I could ever part with even if they just sit in a drawer forever. But aside from those...

Kapara
Watu
Police

Can cover just about any use case I would have