The Endela: A great knife that arrived 19 years too late

[zuludelta]

I snagged the Sprint Endela in CTS Micro-Melt PD#1 steel and Burgundy FRN last week, and after several days of using it at work, I figured I’d share some of my thoughts on the general Endela model (I’ve been using the Endela as my work knife at least a couple of times a month since the start of the year, when I picked up a plain edge K390 Endela). I don't really consider this as a review, so I won't go into performance details, but I'll just state here that it's a perfectly good work folder, particularly in K390 and PD#1 (which is Carpenter's take on the tried-and-tested CPM Cru-Wear formula).

The Endela in CTS Micro-Melt PD#1 (top) and Böhler K390 (bottom)

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The Endela is something of a forgotten model in Spyderco's Seki City line. Debuting in 2019 and positioned to bridge the size difference between the Delica and the Endura, the Endela hasn't come remotely close to matching their popularity if we’re to use community sentiment as a barometer. It’s not that people don’t like the model, one just gets the feeling that it is consistently in the shadow of not just the Delica and the Endura, but also other production models in the Endela’s general size range like the Para Military 2, Tenacious, and Stretch 2.

Had the Endela been released in 1990 as the original Delica and Endura were, or even if it had debuted in the late 1990s or the early-to-mid 2000s, I have no doubt it would have become a modern classic like its older siblings. But in 2019, a good VG10 backlock—even one as good as the Endela—was likely to be eclipsed by either other Spydercos sporting more premium materials and/or newer lock designs; or by any number of the more affordable Chinese OEM-made linerlocks that were beginning to flood the market at the time. And in mid-2024 (the time of this writing), a VG10 backlock with a MAP of ~C$125 is even a tougher sell.

This is a bit of a shame, really, as I genuinely find the Endela to be a Goldilocks folder in the Seki City line: The Delica 4 is one of my all-time favourite folders—it's an eminently carryable pocket laser—but for work purposes, I find its handle a bit too stick-like to be very comfortable for prolonged, continuous use. And as much as I love the Endura 4—particularly the ergonomics of its longer and more broad handle relative to the Delica’s—I find the 3.75” blade length overkill for my use context, not to mention that it can appear very intimidating to "non-knife people" at my workplace.

The Endela (middle), compared to the Delica 4 (top) and Endura 4 (bottom)

The Endela pairs a handle that is only slightly smaller than the Endura's with a 3.41” blade that is almost as slicey as the Delica's. It is the perfect design compromise, incorporating the best functional elements of both models while at the same time mitigating their most significant shortcomings. In fact, if I were to recommend a knife today to someone choosing between a Delica or an Endura, I would point them to an Endela instead, unless legal blade length restrictions are a concern or 1:1 compatibility with a trainer is desired (both the Delica 4 & the Endura 4 have blunt-bladed training variants, the Endela does not).

The Endela does not have a trainer variant, unlike the Delica 4 and the Endura 4

I am not a big fan of the Sprint business model (FOMO and all that), but at least in the case of the CTS Micro-Melt PD#1 Endela, I am hoping that its limited edition nature and the novelty of its steel will get more members of the knife community to give the Endela a deserved second look. This Sprint will sell out, as all Sprints do (though in all likelihood not as quickly as the Delica and Endura PD#1 Sprints), but those who miss out can take heart from the notion that the regular production Endela in Böhler K390 arguably offers even better value—I bypassed the basic VG10 when I bought my first Endela and opted for the K390 version, as I think it offers the best cost/performance ratio among the model’s variants.

[Skywalker]

Like you, I'm also a fan of the Endela despite coming to it more recently than the Delica or Endura. I've got a K390 regular profile and wharncliffe, and have been looking at a third in VG10 to leave in the garage as a beater yard work knife.

However, I wouldn't count it out yet or say that it arrived too late. At the beginning of the year I tallied up all the responses to @Tristan_david2001's "If you could only own 5 Spydercos" thread, and after just over eight pages of responses, the Endela had 8 Top 5 votes, vs 20 for the Endura and 23 for the Delica.

viewtopic.php?p=1768309#p1768496

Pulling more than a third as many votes as the Delica/Endura is impressive for the newcomer. I would instead say that the Endela's momentum is only growing! Lots of people seem interested in the PD#1 sprint, the DLT CruWear exclusive got good reviews before this, and if I remember correctly the Endela was the first of the Seki lightweights to show up in K390, which drove some free press.

Spyderco seems committed to it and the community reception has been positive. You don't get to where the Delica and Endura are in just a couple years.

[mikey177]

The Delica used to be my favorite Seki model until the Endela came out.

I still buy the occasional Delica if it comes out in a configuration that I like, but when I grab a work knife, it will often be an Endela. I find the larger handle on the Endela better for prolonged use and greater control.

I have nine Endela variants so far (the serrated wharnie Endela is not in the photo below). There are at least three that I missed --the KnifeCenter HAP40 exclusive, the waved VG10 with grey FRN, and the Thin Red Line.

In the Spyderco FB groups, I do see Endela-related posts, so I would say that people are actually using this model.

Do pass by the Endela appreciation thread if you have time.

[Rival22]

I just got my first (PD#1), and am a big fan.

Delica is obviously great, and I had a Stretch 2 for a while that I liked as a "work" knife. I picked up an Endela to take that role.

I took it camping last week, and used it for like 90% of my camp tasks and it was the perfect size.

[capt.carl]

I would like to check one out. Just wish it had the same 2.5mm stock as the delica instead of sharing the 3.0mm of the endura.

[James Y]

I have only one Endela, a basic VG10 in SE. Interestingly, I find myself choosing to carry it when out and about, or for cutting stuff around the house, more often than any of my Delicas or Enduras.

Jim

[vivi]

I passed on them because of the size. I want to see an Endura XL rather than an Endura mini. No issues carrying folders that make Enduras look small where I live.

I will say the handle works a lot better for me than the Delica handle does.

[Fastidiotus]

I fall in the camp of loving the Endura and not being a cheerleader for the Delica. I bought a PD#1 Endela to give as a gift because on paper I think the Endela is the better size for most people. Having never handled an Endela I gave it a once over before gifting it. It is a best of both worlds knife that slots in very nicely between the Endura and the Delica. I like everything about it and if it had been out when I first started collecting Enduras I would have surely been an Endela fanboy instead. The only issue I found with the Endela is that I own a Leaf Jumper, which for me occupies the same space in Spydercos line up. I may just have to buy myself an Endela to compare though, you know... for science, not because I have problem.

[Manixguy@1994]

I like the Endela it has that just right feel in hand for me sort of like a Stretch 2 vs.XL when wanting a knife a little more compact but still very capable . Only have the DLT exclusive Cruwear at this time but will get another sometime. MG2

[olywa]

Similar story here. I now have 2 Endelas, the DLT Cruwear and the PD#1 sprint. I picked them up mainly for the steel but I have become pretty fond of them for daily carry. The only thing I would change on them would be to give them the same blade thickness as the Delica. That would represent the ideal sweet spot between the Endura and Delica for me.

[zuludelta]

Glad to see all the Endela support here. I guess I just wasn't looking hard enough when I wrote that the larger community seemed relatively indifferent to the model. Or it could have been that I was projecting my past feelings on the design: as much as I like the Endela now, I will freely admit to being skeptical of it when it was first revealed. It wasn't until I was able to hold one in person a couple of years ago that the lights turned on & I realized that it brought something to the table that was genuinely different (and in some ways, better) than the Delica 4 & Endura 4 did.

A question for the Endela fans out there: are there any Delica 4/Endura 4 variants that you would like to see translated into the Endela platform?

For me, it would be three variants: I'd love to see the Endela get a Zomé Green FRN version. The Dragonfly 2, Delica 4, and Endura 4 all have production variants with Zomé Green FRN handle scales & I think the Endela getting one will help cement its place alongside those Seki City classics.

Another variant I would like to see in the future is an Endela trainer—granted, I think the Delica trainer works well enough out-of-the-box as a stand-in for a dedicated Endela trainer, but a 1:1 trainer will always be better.

And finally, while I know the Seki City Salt knives are technically a separate line, I'd love to see an Endela-sized Salt knife (in LC200N), that will bridge the size gap between the Delica-sized Salt 2 and the Endura-sized Pacific Salt 2. Suggestions for a name: Salish Salt, Bering Salt, Baffin Salt

[Manixguy@1994]

Glad to see all the Endela support here. I guess I just wasn't looking hard enough when I wrote that the larger community seemed relatively indifferent to the model. Or it could have been that I was projecting my past feelings on the design: as much as I like the Endela now, I will freely admit to being skeptical of it when it was first revealed. It wasn't until I was able to hold one in person a couple of years ago that the lights turned on & I realized that it brought something to the table that was genuinely different (and in some ways, better) than the Delica 4 & Endura 4 did.

A question for the Endela fans out there: are there any Delica 4/Endura 4 variants that you would like to see translated into the Endela platform?

For me, it would be three variants: I'd love to see the Endela get a Zomé Green FRN version. The Dragonfly 2, Delica 4, and Endura 4 all have production variants with Zomé Green FRN handle scales & I think the Endela getting one will help cement its place alongside those Seki City classics.

Another variant I would like to see in the future is an Endela trainer—granted, I think the Delica trainer works well enough out-of-the-box as a stand-in for a dedicated Endela trainer, but a 1:1 trainer will always be better.

And finally, while I know the Seki City Salt knives are technically a separate line, I'd love to see an Endela-sized Salt knife (in LC200N), that will bridge the size gap between the Delica-sized Salt 2 and the Endura-sized Pacific Salt 2. Suggestions for a name: Salish Salt, Bering Salt, Baffin Salt

I have begged and whined for a Salt Endela and hope we see one in the future in different flavors . I would definitely like to see an all blacked out H2 . MG2

[Nestor]

I'm sure like it, even though I have more Enduras. I would love to see a saber grind Endela being offered eventually as well.

[Bill1170]

My SE Endela in VG-10 is one of my top carry choices for the last year. I love it and hope it remains a staple in Spyderco’s lineup.

[kobold]

Very instructional. Hope the Goldilocks Native won't be 19 years too late.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

I only have the DLT exclusive and the k390 SE but they get tons of pocket time, both incredible knives…an lc200n and H2 TiCN version would be instant purchases for me

[mikey177]

+1 to an Endela Salt

[JayHenMac]

And finally, while I know the Seki City Salt knives are technically a separate line, I'd love to see an Endela-sized Salt knife (in LC200N), that will bridge the size gap between the Delica-sized Salt 2 and the Endura-sized Pacific Salt 2. Suggestions for a name: Salish Salt, Bering Salt, Baffin Salt

I have begged and whined for a Salt Endela and hope we see one in the future in different flavors . I would definitely like to see an all blacked out H2 . MG2

Count me as another user asking for an Endela sized salt.

[Hatuletoh]

I love my K390 wharncliffe Endela, especially since I put on micarta scales from suingab, who is the only real option for Endela scales at the moment. Demand for aftermarket scales could be one measure of Endela's popularity with the general knife-buying population, which doesn't seem to be terribly robust right now compared to the Delica and Endura as there are endless options for scales for those platforms, but obviously, they're 34 years old and were released into a completely different marketplace, which makes the comparison rather like comparing apples to hard apple cider: superficially similar, but fundamentally different. In any case, I plan to buy more Endelas so I hope to see more options for scales, because the stock FRN is just too rough on my pocket seams. Also, I enjoy customizing my knives, and the ease with which that can be done to most Spyderco knives is one reason I love them. As for variants, I'm a sucker for the Rex 45 models. I'm ambivalent about the orange scales, but I love Rex 45 blade steel and I'd buy at least two Endelas that had it. Three or four if there was standard and wharncliffe models.

[Manixguy@1994]

I love my K390 wharncliffe Endela, especially since I put on micarta scales from suingab, who is the only real option for Endela scales at the moment. Demand for aftermarket scales could be one measure of Endela's popularity with the general knife-buying population, which doesn't seem to be terribly robust right now compared to the Delica and Endura as there are endless options for scales for those platforms, but obviously, they're 34 years old and were released into a completely different marketplace, which makes the comparison rather like comparing apples to hard apple cider: superficially similar, but fundamentally different. In any case, I plan to buy more Endelas so I hope to see more options for scales, because the stock FRN is just too rough on my pocket seams. Also, I enjoy customizing my knives, and the ease with which that can be done to most Spyderco knives is one reason I love them. As for variants, I'm a sucker for the Rex 45 models. I'm ambivalent about the orange scales, but I love Rex 45 blade steel and I'd buy at least two Endelas that had it. Three or four if there was standard and wharncliffe models.

RCBladeworks offers Micarta scales for the Endela in many flavors . MG2