Wave vs Non Wave Models?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

From your experience and use history what do you all think of the Spyderco knives with the Emerson Wave Opening feature vs standard blade? I have both and I appreciate both types. One possible downside to the Wave is it may limit some utilitarian cutting chores. But it also makes an appreciable unique and sturdy blade.

[Tristan_david2001]

I’d say generally I prefer using and owning standard spyderco blade shapes for my knives, but I do appreciate theyre available to the market. I think the Sabre ground delica wave is one I’d try out if I get ever one, I like how the wave turns the rest of the blade profile into a slender spear point shape. Not high on my list but definitely a cool knife

[Naperville]

I have one Emerson knife that I do not use. I carry my Spyderco Native Chiefs exclusively, and/or a fixed blade.

The Emerson wave works but it definitely kills the profile of the blade. I prefer the clean lines of the Spyderco Native Chief.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I’d say generally I prefer using and owning standard spyderco blade shapes for my knives, but I do appreciate theyre available to the market. I think the Sabre ground delica wave is one I’d try out if I get ever one, I like how the wave turns the rest of the blade profile into a slender spear point shape. Not high on my list but definitely a cool knife

Very good review, thank you. The Delica Wave model was actually a favorite edc/emergency self defense item of the late Hank Reinhardt, one of my personal heroes along with Michael Janich. Hank featured a photo of it in his "Book of Knives".

Though the blade shape is shorter than the Endura version, the Delica model is easier to maneuver, at least in my experience.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I have one Emerson knife that I do not use. I carry my Spyderco Native Chiefs exclusively, and/or a fixed blade.

The Emerson wave works but it definitely kills the profile of the blade. I prefer the clean lines of the Spyderco Native Chief.

Would you want a Waved Native Chief or not?

[Naperville]

I have one Emerson knife that I do not use. I carry my Spyderco Native Chiefs exclusively, and/or a fixed blade.

The Emerson wave works but it definitely kills the profile of the blade. I prefer the clean lines of the Spyderco Native Chief.

Would you want a Waved Native Chief or not?

NOPE

I can open a knife under duress if need be. If I'm being attacked, I'll open it with 2 hands, and let the party begin. I PITY THE FOOL THAT FORCES MY HAND.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I have one Emerson knife that I do not use. I carry my Spyderco Native Chiefs exclusively, and/or a fixed blade.

The Emerson wave works but it definitely kills the profile of the blade. I prefer the clean lines of the Spyderco Native Chief.

Would you want a Waved Native Chief or not?

NOPE

I can open a knife under duress if need be. If I'm being attacked, I'll open it with 2 hands, and let the party begin. I PITY THE FOOL THAT FORCES MY HAND.

With all due respect to the great Ernest Emerson and Spyderco for making the Wave models, would the Spyderco Bill Moran fixed blades or Spyderco Street Beat fixed blades be more reliable for both edc cutting and emergency self defense and cooking knives?

[Naperville]

I have one Emerson knife that I do not use. I carry my Spyderco Native Chiefs exclusively, and/or a fixed blade.

The Emerson wave works but it definitely kills the profile of the blade. I prefer the clean lines of the Spyderco Native Chief.

Would you want a Waved Native Chief or not?

NOPE

I can open a knife under duress if need be. If I'm being attacked, I'll open it with 2 hands, and let the party begin. I PITY THE FOOL THAT FORCES MY HAND.

With all due respect to the great Ernest Emerson and Spyderco for making the Wave models, would the Spyderco Bill Moran fixed blades or Spyderco Street Beat fixed blades be more reliable for both edc cutting and emergency self defense and cooking knives?

I like the different models. There is clearly a need for them. There are some people that prefer a wave. That is fine by me. Sal, Eric, the designers and marketing team make the decisions, I am just a very small insignifigant participant.

I have no complaints about waved knives, my Emerson knife works. As I get older I may carry a waved knife, or move solely to a fixed blade.

Right now I prefer knives in the 4 to 5 inch range too. Make a 4.5 to 5 inch waved Native Chief and I may buy a few!

For the last 2+ years the Native Chief has been my only constant.

[Naperville]

I guess I should not get so animated or excited. I have studied martial arts, and concentrated the last 3 years on knife arts. Self defense is important to me, and I am getting old. I am 64 now and definitely getting old is kind of frightening. When I was in my 20's or 30's I did not have this feeling of vulnerability.

The Spyderco Native Chief to me, right now, is the pinnacle of folder blade profiles for self defense. The length and height of the blade is OK. The excellent steels on the Native Chief are awesome too. Really, the best.

It's slicy, it is not thick at all. It pierces, the blade profile is one of the best there is. That pretty much covers the bases. The only thing that it is not is a dagger. Double edged daggers have their own positives and negatives.

If you do not have 3 or 4 Spyderco Native Chiefs you are really missing out on an excellent knife.

[ladybug93]

i have an emerson delica and i really like the blade. i've never had any issues with the wave getting in my way in use and i prefer the beefy saber grind it has. that said, it's nowhere near as slicey as my wharncliffe delica, but i see those as different tools with different purposes and i'm probably more likely to carry the wave because it begs to be abused and it's built for defense, whereas the wharncliffe is a standard edc for me. i also have a signet ring on the emerson delica, so it's a weak side, back pocket defensive blade/backup knife for my use.

i did try the pickpocket on my wharncliffe delica and quickly took it off and bought the emerson delica. i don't think the pickpockets work well on thinner blade stock. i couldn't get it to stay put or perform reliably. i'm glad though because that's what led me to get the emerson delica, which does exactly what i want it to do.

my yojimbo sports a pickpocket too and it's a completely different animal. not only is it completely solid, secure, and consistent, but it also improves the ergos of the knife for me. i wrote a whole review here on the forum about my pickpocket experience if you care to read it.


so, yes, i like them. they have their place though and aren't for everyone. i wouldn't want them on all my knives. probably wouldn't even want them on most of my knives.

[vivi]

I waved a Pacific Salt, thinking I'd enjoy carrying it.

I ended up selling it and sticking with standard Pacifics.

Good option for those that want to carry for self defense I guess, but for my utilitarian EDC usage I found a regular opening to work better.

[Evil D]

My experience is that zip ties work more consistently and can be used as needed and removed when you don't want them. You're also not limited to a handful of models that offer a wave hook.

[spydergoat]

For EDC its not the best cutter or safest option. Its arguable whether the wave is even better for SD and that is its main use. Only people with niche SD systems should even consider.

[ladybug93]

My experience is that zip ties work more consistently and can be used as needed and removed when you don't want them. You're also not limited to a handful of models that offer a wave hook.

interesting. i tried the zip tie thing and couldn't get it to work consistently at all. even when it did work, it was far less likely to fully deploy the blade. conversely, i almost never have issues with deployment. i will say the signet ring helps with that though. the ring makes it easier to turn the knife so that it catches better than when grabbing the end of the handle.

[Catchadroppimgknife]

I’m a keep it simple stupid kind of guy. Waves kind of bother me - they would seem to complicate a rather simple process. Now I must say I never had one, but I’m not sure I want to try. Seems it would more likely to get caught up and/or cause me to cut myself more than anything.

I can get my plain old Spydercos out and opened easily. And I do not want to get into a knife fight - that’s messy and bothersome. I work real hard to not be in that moment in the first place. And I train to run real well


.

[mikey177]

I've tried the wave feature on both the P'Kal and the Tropen, and neither worked for me as I am used to opening the folder after drawing it from my pocket.

I detached the wave protrusion on the P'Kal, and ground off the one on the Tropen.

I'm happy for people that like and use them, so not a big deal for me if waved models are in the lineup.

[Fastidiotus]

I really like my Wave Endura. Very sturdy blade, I think the pivot would break before the tip ever does. I'm hardly ever slicing through endless cardboard and sometimes it's nice if one hand is occupied to be able to just pull an open knife out of your pocket.

My Wave Endura is also the absolutely smoothest opening action on any of my 10 or so Seki lockbacks or any lockback I own for that matter. Does the factory spend any extra time putting the Wave models together or did I just happen to get very lucky?

[ladybug93]

carrying a knife specifically geared for self-defense certainly doesn't mean people want to get in a knife fight. as stated, i carry my waved delica with a signet ring in my back pocket on my weak side. running is great. avoiding the type of situation that might get you into trouble is even better. however, sometimes trouble finds you whether you want it to or not. in those situations, i'm still going to rely on my wits first, my fists second, and my knife last. the reason for a wave and signet ring is to make the knife easier and more available to deploy when the other options have already been exhausted and maybe even when i'm already in a compromised position. in other words, if i'm already defending myself and it's not going well, my last ditch option is going to draw and deploy without much thought and it's going to stay in my hand well enough to effectively back a person off. it doesn't take a lot of training to use the knife this way and it's less likely to be taken and used against me. i don't even want to get in a fight in the first place, so i definitely don't want to get in a knife fight. but i can't control what other people will do and i'd like to get home to my family at the end of the day. that's not niche, it's thoughtful.

i should add that i trained in martial arts for years. i know how to protect myself, and fully understand that that starts long before any conflict begins. that's why i've never been in a real fight. avoidance is alway the best option. a very close second though is always being ready for people that don't give you an option.

[Naperville]

100% @Ladybug

[Evil D]

My experience is that zip ties work more consistently and can be used as needed and removed when you don't want them. You're also not limited to a handful of models that offer a wave hook.

interesting. i tried the zip tie thing and couldn't get it to work consistently at all. even when it did work, it was far less likely to fully deploy the blade. conversely, i almost never have issues with deployment. i will say the signet ring helps with that though. the ring makes it easier to turn the knife so that it catches better than when grabbing the end of the handle.

What works best for me is to come in from the back side of the thumb hole:



This positions the head of the zip tie on the presentation side which (if you're right handed) puts the zip tie against your body and also can double as a thumb stud to aid in opening (I've used these in the winter when wearing gloves).

Then you want to cut the end of the zip tie off at an angle so there's a forward facing point so it snags your pocket better.





Looks like garbage but wave hooks aren't exactly beautiful IMO so it's all subjective and at least I can break this one off when I'm sick of it being there.

Then it just depends on your draw angle just like it does with a real wave hook. If you draw slightly outward towards the outside of your pocket that should catch every time. I tend to have more issues with drawing it and the blade opening when I don't want it to than failing to open at all, and that's about the time when I get annoyed and break it off.