Came here to pick a fight!

[TimButterfield]

When I think 'tank' for the Spyderco I have and use, I immediately think of my Lil' Temp 3 SE. That's been such a beast on cardboard. But, if we're looking at overall build quality type factors, that may be a bit different. While the Lil' Temp 3 is quite good in that regard, I'd give the edge to something else. My first instinct would be to select either my Chap or Caly 3.5, which have a great build. I love the solid back on both. But, I think I'll agree with the GB2 mentioned earlier. I've had Sebenzas in the past, but really like the GB2 a lot also. Mine is the Cruwear/Jade G10 version. It's a really solid knife.

[JoviAl]

There are some less obvious "tanks" if that's what we're after here, the Vallotton is as stout as any of these others. It has just as thick liner lock as a GB1 and is basically a sharpened bar of steel. It's a textbook iron fist in a velvet glove. You'll never look more dapper while stabbing car doors.

funniest thing I’ve read all day! Well played

[Sharp Guy]

Hard to disagree. To quote myself from 2017: viewtopic.php?p=1170615#p1170615

"The Native 5 could easily be described as the perfect knife by many standards. It is utility and elegance, practicality and performance. Many versions of the Native 5 exist, but Spyderco took it to a nearly unthinkable level when they created the work of art that is the fluted titanium model. This is not only one of my favorite knives to use, it is also one of my favorite knives to admire. For me, this is the pinnacle of knife design. Thank you Spyderco!"

Early in my Spyderco journey I drove over to Forth Worth to visit House of Blades. I a nice display near the front door they had a Native 5 Fluted Ti. What a beauty! It was my grail Spyderco for a long time after that. Fortunately, a few years later I was able to pick one up at a nice discount when the model was disco'd. It's not only a very nice piece but it's a little tank as well.

There's a number of Spyderco models that wow me. The one I really marvel at is the Paysan. I get that it's a collab model but it doesn't matter to me. Everytime I handle it I get a chuckle out of it. It's a beast of a blade in a small-ish handle. It's one of my favorites to carry

[zuludelta]

Just kidding, maybe just a little argument, some constructive arguing can be a good thing!

Here’s the question….what’s your best Spyderco? Not your favorite, not your prettiest, not your oldest, most sentimental Spyderco, your best built, most solid, the one that for years has made you say, man what a tank!

Gotta start with this, I’m a Manix fan, period! My Knifeworks Green 204P and my Crucarta Manix are, and will always be two of my favorite knives, they’re just fantastic all the way around!

But, to answer my own question….my G-10 S35VN Native 5 has got to be my best made Spyderco! I bought it new probably 12/13 years ago? It’s still as tight, and audibly locks up as loud as the day I bought it. To break this knife, you’d have to purposely be trying to break it for some dumb reason?

Some of my personal honorable mentions…..

My old plain Jane S30V Yojimbo.
My old hollow grind 154CM Manix that I shipped to Belgium to our friend Apollo here.
Both of my Gayle Bradley 1’s.
My Superleaf.
My Chinook 3.

All of these are just tanks, as solid and as well made as knives get!

But, and here’s the argument my G-10 S35VN Native is the best knife that Sal has ever built, so flame on fellas. Just came in from the garage, touched it up, blew it out and wiped it down, so admiring it is fresh on my mind.
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Good call on the Native 5. One of the very first Spydercos I ever bought (I think it was my second Spyderco) is a combo edge Native 5 LW in S35VN and I used it really hard for the two or so years that it was my primary work folder. Still locks up as solid as the day I bought it almost a decade ago now.

But my "tankiest" Spyderco has to be the Schempp Rock. I regularly put mine through the wringer when doing local trail maintenance and it has never let me down.

[Spyderbot_matrix]

Gotta tell you, the full Liner Manix 2 in S30v is the most stout folder in my hand- weighs like a Bubba Burger, comparatively to an Esee 4, the knife I used to EDC, until my boss had words for me.

I got the LW Manix 2 in S110V and it was night and day. Military, and Military2 are just the Best to me, but fall into no-no Esee 4 territory.

Shamans after they break in are it. I have natives, PM2/3’s lil native, stretch 2 and 2XL. Understandable about that choil that bumps your finger while closing though to not like the knife

[40mm]

I'm going a different direction here and going to say the old Salt 1 and Pacific Salt 1 models. Every single one I've had over the years has been rock solid. Zero blade play and very snappy. The design is simplicity at its finest and the materials used just shake off whatever you can throw at them. Pick your size, "Standard" or "Big Boy" and go get after it without any concerns. I blame dudes like @vivi and @Surfingringo for my love of these models.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I'm going a different direction here and going to say the old Salt 1 and Pacific Salt 1 models. Every single one I've had over the years has been rock solid. Zero blade play and very snappy. The design is simplicity at its finest and the materials used just shake off whatever you can throw at them. Pick your size, "Standard" or "Big Boy" and go get after it without any concerns.

One of my favorite knives of all time.
But now I have to save up to get me a Triangle Sharp Maker and learn to sharpen my Salts and others!

[kennethsime]

I think this DLT-exclusive PM2 has been my most problem-free knife over the last few years.

It came tuned very nicely, smoothest action of all my PM2s. It's stayed sharp very well - I've only stropped it a few times. S90V is great stuff. I don't know if I've even dropped oil in the pivot.