Balance G10/SPY27 Sprint Review: An all-time great LBK, but probably not for everyone

[zuludelta]

Award-winning custom knifemaker Ed Schempp has had a long association with Spyderco dating back over two decades. And when Spyderco fans hear the name Ed Schempp, they probably think of large knives. His most popular Spyderco designs—among them the Persian, the Kris, the Barong, the Schempp Tuff, and the Schempp Bowie—all feature blades longer than 3.5 inches and overall lengths significantly beyond 8 inches. Indeed, my favourite Schempp design (and one of my all-time favourite knives, period) is the Spyderco Schempp Rock, which is a full-sized, fixed-blade camp knife supposedly based on a custom that he used to win multiple NWKC and OKCA rope cutting contests (I have never seen this custom myself, and the handful of links to images I found on the Internet turned out to be dead).

The Balance (along with its slightly larger offshoot, the Equilibrium), then, stands out among the Schempp Spydercos given its sub-2 inch blade. For as small as it is, though, the Balance’s finely tuned ergonomics make it feel like a much bigger knife in hand. I can actually get a very secure three-finger grip on it, and opening and closing the knife one-handed isn't as fiddly as I thought it would be. For me, the Balance is among the most intuitive and comfortable to use of Spyderco’s famed “little big knives”—not that any of the LBKs are bad (they're all universally great for what they are), but the Balance is just on a different level in terms of capability relative to its remarkably small size. It has curves and humps and bumps in all the right places, which results in a knife that is basically the length of the Ladybug feeling like a much more substantial tool in use.

By far the most interesting design aspect of the Balance to me is the shape of the blade. The blade has what can be described as a drop-point tip but its main body is angled at an aggressive rake. This serves two purposes: first, it gives the knife its distinct symmetrical appearance when it is closed (hence the knife’s name), and second (and perhaps more importantly), it allows the user to employ quite a bit of force when doing utility cutting motions such as drawing the edge along a flat surface, piercing a surface that is parallel to the length of the knife, or cutting cordage. In many ways, the Balance’s unique blade shape and orientation offers similar benefits to that provided by a hawkbill blade, but without the drawbacks of a blade that does not have a belly. It really is an ingenious design element that maximizes the versatility of such a small blade. I carried the Balance as a back-up work knife every day for a week prior to writing this review but I ended up using it almost as much as my main work folder because of how capable it is. The blade’s short length still serves as a hard limit for what the Balance can do, but it is otherwise a solid implement for any cutting task that doesn’t require much more than an inch of sharpened edge.

The original Balance, released in 2010 as a limited production run, was manufactured by one of Spyderco's Japanese partners and featured stainless steel liners with a Walker liner-lock mechanism, carbon fibre handle scales, and a VG-10 blade. Even back then, it was a pricey little knife, with an MSRP of US$199.99. This was soon followed by a regular production (2011–2013) version with a stainless steel handle that was a bit more affordable at US$124.99 MSRP. The all-new for 2025 Sprint version has updated build and materials with a Reeve Integral Lock (a.k.a., framelock) chassis, a cobalt blue G10 show-side handle scale, and a blade made from Spyderco's proprietary SPY27 particle metallurgy stainless steel. It is, in my opinion, the best version of the Balance yet produced, as far as materials and fit and finish. As for the price? I paid an eye-watering C$300+ for it at an authorized Canadian dealer. Even accounting for inflation and the vagaries of current international trade relations, this was probably the most I’ve ever paid for a knife in terms of dollars per inch of blade, and I won’t lie, for a period of a few days after purchasing it, there was a part of me that felt a bit foolish for spending so much on the Balance when I already have a bunch of other knives (even though it was a knife that I had on my radar since it was announced and I explicitly saved up for it).

I did feel better about the purchase as I used the Balance more and realized just how effective it was as an actual tool. But even as good as it is as a small folder, the Balance is something I’d only really recommend for those who, like me, are already seriously interested and invested in Ed Schempp’s work. The Balance G10/SPY27 is a great small knife—probably the most capable of Spyderco’s LBKs relative to its size—but Spyderco makes other great small knives that are more affordable, and it's hard to ignore that fact when making recommendations.

Size comparisons:

Balance G10/SPY27 vs Ladybug 3 Salt

Balance G10/SPY27 vs MicroJimbo 15V

Balance G10/SPY27 vs Lil' Native Comp. Lock CF/S90V

Balance G10/SPY27 vs Dragonfly 2 PD#1

Balance G10/SPY27 (closed) vs Dragonfly 2 PD#1 (closed)

EDITED 11/05/25 to correct factual inaccuracies

[infinkc]

Thanks for the review, i want one as a collector, but the price is too much for little guy. I even found one at a discount, but still a bit much.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the review, i want one as a collector, but the price is too much for little guy. I even found one at a discount, but still a bit much.

You're welcome, and thanks for reading. It's definitely one for the collector given its price and limited production. That doesn't take away from its effectiveness as an ultra-compact cutting tool, but it limits its appeal, I think.

[endura3]

Thanks for reviewing this! The design looks like a really great utility cutter with that negative blade angle. Glad you got one and have been able to put it to use. Compared to a similarly small hawkbill, do you think the blade more easily slips out of utility draw cuts like separating cardboard, or is it a similar feel? I'm trying to envision what cutting with this is like but I don't really have anything comparable.

[sal]

Hi Zuludelta,

Great review. Thanx much. Ed Schempp is a gifted designer and his approach to design is unique to him. Every once in a while, a designer, such as Ed, will create a design that is more for Afi's that study design, like you. Like you said, not for everyone, but a Ferrari non the less.

Thanx much ed.

sal

[Wartstein]

Thanks for the in-depth review, @zuludelta!
I was not even really aware of this model.

To me the Balance definitely is far from "for everyone" as a main general EDC folder indeed...
... But if I was one who carried two folders, this little thing would be very high on my list for the second one besides a large, serrated "main" Spydie!
Or even beyond that: Due to the supersmall size it could be one of the few options I WOULD actually carry as a secondary knife.
I really like "low" tips in comparison to where the hand sits, and this thing is really taking that feature to the extreme and thus makes it perfect for the "package opening" kind of tasks!
And, as long as I also have a long-cutting-edge option on me anyway, that short edge, but in relation to the overall size long grip area is perfect.

And: Though I am really not a lot into the looks of a knife, this symmetrical shape of the closed Balance is pretty cool indeed....

[Flash]

Thanks for the write up and the comparison pics.
I knew it was small from the spec sheet, but wow this thing is absolutely microscopic when compared to the other small knives in the line up.

They are £228 here or $297 US. That works out as $243.44 per inch of cutting edge. I know Spyderco has to pay the designer a bit but that’s a bit silly. Why so much for such a tiny, novelty-sized trinket of a knife??

Is it because it folds symmetrical? Is it because the tip points down? Whoop Dee do! …Take my money!

It’s the kind of Knick-knack I would be delighted if it fell out of a luxury Christmas cracker but would be mortified if someone actually spent good, hard-earned money on it for me for Christmas.

Again thanks for the pics and review, but I think I’ll be side-stepping this particular Spyderco release.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for reviewing this! The design looks like a really great utility cutter with that negative blade angle. Glad you got one and have been able to put it to use. Compared to a similarly small hawkbill, do you think the blade more easily slips out of utility draw cuts like separating cardboard, or is it a similar feel? I'm trying to envision what cutting with this is like but I don't really have anything comparable.

The hawkbill that the Balance is most similar to in size is the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawkbill (the Balance is somewhere between the Ladybug and Manbug in opened length, but has more handle to hold onto than either because of its finger choil). Unfortunately, I only have a regular Ladybug 3 Salt so I can't really make a direct comparison between the Ladybug hawkbill and the Balance.

I do have the serrated Dragonfly 2 Salt Hawkbill, though, and can compare the two FWIW (just keep in mind that the DF2 is much larger than the Balance). The DF2 Salt Hawkbill has three things that can conceivably keep it "in the cut" better than the Balance: (1) a tip that fully follows the inner curvature of the blade, (2) serrations, and (3) a much larger handle. The Balance has significantly thinner blade stock and a full flat grind (the DF2 Salt, as well as the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawkbill, are sabre-ground), however, which makes it a much better slicer. Those qualities mean I don't have to bear down on the Balance as much when making utility draw cuts, lessening the likelihood of the blade tip slipping out from the material. So all things taken together, the Balance has a similar feel to a small hawkbill in practical use, and I imagine one will have an easier time using the Balance than the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawbill to cut most materials (outside of rope or netting) because of the former's thinner blade.

The Balance's small size and unique shape also make it so that it's very easy to index and orient it in hand and how I end up using it a lot of the time is I have it in the crook of my index finger. Held that way, I have a lot of control over the knife and can keep the blade tip where I want it to be at all times.

[zuludelta]

Hi Zuludelta,

Great review. Thanx much. Ed Schempp is a gifted designer and his approach to design is unique to him. Every once in a while, a designer, such as Ed, will create a design that is more for Afi's that study design, like you. Like you said, not for everyone, but a Ferrari non the less.

Thanx much ed.

sal

You're welcome Sal. And yes, the Ferrari analogy is very appropriate. I've wanted to own a Balance since I got to handle the original CF version over a decade ago at a local shop (I didn't have room in the budget to grab one back then, and it wasn't available for sale very long) so I am very much glad to have the Sprint version in my possession now, even as I recognize that it is very much a specialized tool that has niche appeal.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the in-depth review, @zuludelta!
I was not even really aware of this model.

To me the Balance definitely is far from "for everyone" as a main general EDC folder indeed...
... But if I was one who carried two folders, this little thing would be very high on my list for the second one besides a large, serrated "main" Spydie!
Or even beyond that: Due to the supersmall size it could be one of the few options I WOULD actually carry as a secondary knife.
I really like "low" tips in comparison to where the hand sits, and this thing is really taking that feature to the extreme and thus makes it perfect for the "package opening" kind of tasks!
And, as long as I also have a long-cutting-edge option on me anyway, that short edge, but in relation to the overall size long grip area is perfect.

And: Though I am really not a lot into the looks of a knife, this symmetrical shape of the closed Balance is pretty cool indeed....

I'm not one to regularly carry a secondary work knife myself (I already have a back-up knife at work in the form of the multi-tool that lives in my tool belt) but yes, the Balance is so small I could just throw it in my pocket and forget I have it on me until I want or need to use it.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the write up and the comparison pics.
I knew it was small from the spec sheet, but wow this thing is absolutely microscopic when compared to the other small knives in the line up.

They are £228 here or $297 US. That works out as $243.44 per inch of cutting edge. I know Spyderco has to pay the designer a bit but that’s a bit silly. Why so much for such a tiny, novelty-sized trinket of a knife??

Is it because it folds symmetrical? Is it because the tip points down? Whoop Dee do! …Take my money!

It’s the kind of Knick-knack I would be delighted if it fell out of a luxury Christmas cracker but would be mortified if someone actually spent good, hard-earned money on it for me for Christmas.

Again thanks for the pics and review, but I think I’ll be side-stepping this particular Spyderco release.

You're welcome and thanks for reading. I don't have any insider information as to what went into the pricing of the Balance Sprint but I imagine an extremely low production run probably accounts for some of it, as well as the fact that it's a Schempp design. It's what I like to call a "name tax", sort of like what you see with say, a Becker knife or a Chris Reeve knife. Speaking of CRK, using your math, the Balance Sprint still costs out as offering more blade per dollar than a Small Inkosi! .

Seriously though, with something like the Balance (or an Inkosi, for that matter), I think it's helpful to think of it less as a mass-produced tool and more as a limited run of functional industrial art. And when it comes to art, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "there's no accounting for taste" (both clichés apply!), and value becomes an even more subjective matter.

[Manixguy@1994]

I like Ed’s creative approach to this knife . So unique in looks but quite functional for small tasks . Thanks for review and comparison shots , definitely gives me some room for thought . I normally carry two knives and in colder weather vest pocket another in SE . Majority of the time a Dfy Salt is in right pocket so the Balance would work very well for my use for small tasks . MG2

[cjk]

...
The all-new for 2025 Sprint version is now made in the flagship Golden, Colorado factory and has updated materials with a titanium Reeve Integral Lock (i.e., a titanium framelock) chassis, a cobalt blue G10 show-side handle scale, and a blade made from Spyderco's proprietary SPY27 particle metallurgy stainless steel.
....

Fantastic write up. FWIW, the Spyderco website says it's made in Japan and that the RIL is stainless steel.

https://spyderco.com/products/balance%E ... -run%C2%AE

[zuludelta]

...
The all-new for 2025 Sprint version is now made in the flagship Golden, Colorado factory and has updated materials with a titanium Reeve Integral Lock (i.e., a titanium framelock) chassis, a cobalt blue G10 show-side handle scale, and a blade made from Spyderco's proprietary SPY27 particle metallurgy stainless steel.
....

Fantastic write up. FWIW, the Spyderco website says it's made in Japan and that the RIL is stainless steel.

https://spyderco.com/products/balance%E ... -run%C2%AE

I stand corrected, thank you! Original post edited to reflect the correct information.

[Flash]

Thanks for the write up and the comparison pics.
I knew it was small from the spec sheet, but wow this thing is absolutely microscopic when compared to the other small knives in the line up.

They are £228 here or $297 US. That works out as $243.44 per inch of cutting edge. I know Spyderco has to pay the designer a bit but that’s a bit silly. Why so much for such a tiny, novelty-sized trinket of a knife??

Is it because it folds symmetrical? Is it because the tip points down? Whoop Dee do! …Take my money!

It’s the kind of Knick-knack I would be delighted if it fell out of a luxury Christmas cracker but would be mortified if someone actually spent good, hard-earned money on it for me for Christmas.

Again thanks for the pics and review, but I think I’ll be side-stepping this particular Spyderco release.

You're welcome and thanks for reading. I don't have any insider information as to what went into the pricing of the Balance Sprint but I imagine an extremely low production run probably accounts for some of it, as well as the fact that it's a Schempp design. It's what I like to call a "name tax", sort of like what you see with say, a Becker knife or a Chris Reeve knife. Speaking of CRK, using your math, the Balance Sprint still costs out as offering more blade per dollar than a Small Inkosi! .

Seriously though, with something like the Balance (or an Inkosi, for that matter), I think it's helpful to think of it less as a mass-produced tool and more as a limited run of functional industrial art. And when it comes to art, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "there's no accounting for taste" (both clichés apply!), and value becomes an even more subjective matter.

I don’t know about that.
You can get the basic titanium Small Inkosi in Magnacut delivered here with taxes for £450 or $585 US.

That’s $210 per inch - still way cheaper cutting edge per inch than that of the Balance. Also with the Inkosi you will get the added bonus of a knife that is hand made / finished, has a better customer-focused warranty and is infinitely more practical as a cutting tool.

I know Spyderco has to make money as well as pay the independent designer but I can’t get past the thought that for the asking price Spyderco is trying to diddle customers with this one.
£228 for a key ring novelty knife?? Come off it Spyderco!

[zuludelta]

I like Ed’s creative approach to this knife . So unique in looks but quite functional for small tasks . Thanks for review and comparison shots , definitely gives me some room for thought . I normally carry two knives and in colder weather vest pocket another in SE . Majority of the time a Dfy Salt is in right pocket so the Balance would work very well for my use for small tasks . MG2

It's certainly a unique piece, though I can see a bit of the Schempp Khukuri in its design DNA.

[Manixguy@1994]

I like Ed’s creative approach to this knife . So unique in looks but quite functional for small tasks . Thanks for review and comparison shots , definitely gives me some room for thought . I normally carry two knives and in colder weather vest pocket another in SE . Majority of the time a Dfy Salt is in right pocket so the Balance would work very well for my use for small tasks . MG2

It's certainly a unique piece, though I can see a bit of the Schempp Khukuri in its design DNA.

Yes I see the resemblance too . Nice idea to create something big to small use . Dan

[Sildani]

Thanks for the review, zuludelta. You echo all my insights into this - it's amazingly capable, cuts cardboard and cordage extremely well, and allows for an excellent three-finger grip. The blade sits naturally into my index finger and is amazingly controllable. It also vanishes into the fifth pocket of my jeans and I forget it's there until needed. Wonderful design.

One nit I'll pick is the blade's ricasso could have benefitted from jumping where the thumb rests. It's a bit slick and some positive traction there would have helped. Perhaps that would have spoiled the "balanced" appearance when folded though.

As for cost... enough's been said about that. I can't argue against it, and won't, but for a knife I'll use the rest of my life I think it'll work itself out.

[endura3]

Thanks for reviewing this! The design looks like a really great utility cutter with that negative blade angle. Glad you got one and have been able to put it to use. Compared to a similarly small hawkbill, do you think the blade more easily slips out of utility draw cuts like separating cardboard, or is it a similar feel? I'm trying to envision what cutting with this is like but I don't really have anything comparable.

The hawkbill that the Balance is most similar to in size is the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawkbill (the Balance is somewhere between the Ladybug and Manbug in opened length, but has more handle to hold onto than either because of its finger choil). Unfortunately, I only have a regular Ladybug 3 Salt so I can't really make a direct comparison between the Ladybug hawkbill and the Balance.

I do have the serrated Dragonfly 2 Salt Hawkbill, though, and can compare the two FWIW (just keep in mind that the DF2 is much larger than the Balance). The DF2 Salt Hawkbill has three things that can conceivably keep it "in the cut" better than the Balance: (1) a tip that fully follows the inner curvature of the blade, (2) serrations, and (3) a much larger handle. The Balance has significantly thinner blade stock and a full flat grind (the DF2 Salt, as well as the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawkbill, are sabre-ground), however, which makes it a much better slicer. Those qualities mean I don't have to bear down on the Balance as much when making utility draw cuts, lessening the likelihood of the blade tip slipping out from the material. So all things taken together, the Balance has a similar feel to a small hawkbill in practical use, and I imagine one will have an easier time using the Balance than the Ladybug 3 Salt Hawbill to cut most materials (outside of rope or netting) because of the former's thinner blade.

The Balance's small size and unique shape also make it so that it's very easy to index and orient it in hand and how I end up using it a lot of the time is I have it in the crook of my index finger. Held that way, I have a lot of control over the knife and can keep the blade tip where I want it to be at all times.

This is super helpful - thanks so much for your detailed reply! It does sound like an extremely capable piece for the size.

[TkoK83Spy]

Thanks for the write up and the comparison pics.
I knew it was small from the spec sheet, but wow this thing is absolutely microscopic when compared to the other small knives in the line up.

They are £228 here or $297 US. That works out as $243.44 per inch of cutting edge. I know Spyderco has to pay the designer a bit but that’s a bit silly. Why so much for such a tiny, novelty-sized trinket of a knife??

Is it because it folds symmetrical? Is it because the tip points down? Whoop Dee do! …Take my money!

It’s the kind of Knick-knack I would be delighted if it fell out of a luxury Christmas cracker but would be mortified if someone actually spent good, hard-earned money on it for me for Christmas.

Again thanks for the pics and review, but I think I’ll be side-stepping this particular Spyderco release.

You're welcome and thanks for reading. I don't have any insider information as to what went into the pricing of the Balance Sprint but I imagine an extremely low production run probably accounts for some of it, as well as the fact that it's a Schempp design. It's what I like to call a "name tax", sort of like what you see with say, a Becker knife or a Chris Reeve knife. Speaking of CRK, using your math, the Balance Sprint still costs out as offering more blade per dollar than a Small Inkosi! .

Seriously though, with something like the Balance (or an Inkosi, for that matter), I think it's helpful to think of it less as a mass-produced tool and more as a limited run of functional industrial art. And when it comes to art, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "there's no accounting for taste" (both clichés apply!), and value becomes an even more subjective matter.

I don’t know about that.
You can get the basic titanium Small Inkosi in Magnacut delivered here with taxes for £450 or $585 US.

That’s $210 per inch - still way cheaper cutting edge per inch than that of the Balance. Also with the Inkosi you will get the added bonus of a knife that is hand made / finished, has a better customer-focused warranty and is infinitely more practical as a cutting tool.

I know Spyderco has to make money as well as pay the independent designer but I can’t get past the thought that for the asking price Spyderco is trying to diddle customers with this one.
£228 for a key ring novelty knife?? Come off it Spyderco!

You've complained about this knife and it's price multiple times now in multiple threads...why add on in another? We get it, you think it's a rip off.