what blade length for a first timer?

[ViperGTS]

Thanks guys for all the input. The 3" size seems most popular and versatile.

I'll pay $100 or so for a nice one, though 150 would be max.

Seems like the Delica is great size and price.

Been eyeing the Caly3 and Sage 1.

Of those 2 which is better? Sage 2 is nice too.

Darn this is tough!

[jackknifeh]

Thanks guys for all the input. The 3" size seems most popular and versatile.

I'll pay $100 or so for a nice one, though 150 would be max.

Seems like the Delica is great size and price.

Been eyeing the Caly3 and Sage 1.

Of those 2 which is better? Sage 2 is nice too.

Darn this is tough!

I've never owned a Caly3 but I do have a Sage1 and LOVE that knife. I never got the Caly because the hump is too big to look at IMO. I know that is trivial especially since most Spyderco's look different because of the hump. But, the Caly is too skinny at the pivot with a hump that is too big. That is only the cosmetic aspect. I bet it feels wonderful in the hand and that is far more important to me. Being truthful, the looks of it has kept me from finding out how good it feels to use.

Anyway, I would rather have the Sage1. I've had more consistant satisfaction with S30V than ZDP-189. ZDP is a great steel if you (or I) understand how to sharpen it. All that is necessary IMO is that it has an edge bevel of 36° to 40° inclusive to keep edge micro chipping to a minimum. The back bevel can be as low as you want it to increase slicing performance. Keep the edge sharpened like that and the ZDP will perform and hold an edge extremely well IMO. I also want to say the chips I get with ZDP are so small they don't hinder the performance of the blade, it just bugs me so that issue is just a personal thing. However, S30V is one of my favorites and on most of the knives I carry most of the time. The other steel I prefer is M4 (big surprise, huh :) ).

I'm sure you would be happy with either since I've never heard a bad word about either. The worst thing I've heard about either knife is "It just wasn't my cup of tea." But you'll get that from some people with any knife.

Jack

[Benny90]

Thanks guys for all the input. The 3" size seems most popular and versatile.

I'll pay $100 or so for a nice one, though 150 would be max.

Seems like the Delica is great size and price.

Been eyeing the Caly3 and Sage 1.

Of those 2 which is better? Sage 2 is nice too.

Darn this is tough!

They both have the exact same blade length and cutting edge length. It comes down to either S30V on the Sage or ZDP on the Caly3 as well as if you would rather have a liner lock (Sage) or a back lock (Caly). Can't go wrong with either IMO.

[Koot]

The Caly3 carries low in your pocket, out of sight with only the clip really showing. I find the Caly3 sort of disappears in my hand if I choke up on it, it could pass for a fat paring knife if you didn't look too closely.

I work at a job where it is expected that you carry a knife and the Caly3 was going to be the last knife I thought I would need, and it was my EDC for a few years. Then I bought a Caly3.5 Super Blue and the Caly3 now seems small to me. But the Caly3 is still a great knife.

Koot

[SolidState]

I loved my Caly 3 until my girlfriend stole it. I also love my delica zdp ffg. Both are perfect in almost every way. You can't go wrong with either.

[Evil D]

Go for it you know you want to.


Military you forget it's there after the first day.

Ya know, funny you say that because i've been carrying mine for about a week now, and it's no harder to carry than a Para 2 or the original Paramilitary (assuming you have pockets that are deep enough). The other thing i thought was funny was after carrying it exclusively for a week, when i pick up my Para 2 the blade feels small. You really do adjust to what you carry the most. The reason people feel that the Military is too big is because they're accustomed to smaller blades.

[xceptnl]

Any of the tenacious line, or the delica

+1. For the price of a normal Delica you could get an Ambitious for work and a Resillience for outdoor use.

[JB3]

Delica's have always worked well for me ... 3" blade (well ... 2.9 actually, but I tend to exaggerate a little)

[phillipsted]

Can't go wrong with a basic Delica. For the money, its the best knife ever made.

Plus, it comes in pretty colors. :cool:

TedP

[kennethsime]

Native or delica

This +1. Maybe consider a Dragonfly if you want something smaller.

[SuzieQ]

I think something with FRN scales in a fun color is always a good choice when it comes to an office or work environment where there's mostly NKPs. The Delica is a great EDC knife that can really handle most of the stuff you throw at it. Maybe not the prying and batting stuff but then I would consider this abuse to any kind of knife. The orange FRN is a great popping color that would also make it useful outdoors because it can't really get lost because it's so darn bright :D And it's a good in between size. Not too small and not too large.

If you're in doubt about the knife maybe being too large for a first timer maybe have a look at the Dragonfly. I love the bright yellow of the Salt edition with the rust-proof H1 steel. Great little knife and more the league of traditional SAKs and multi-tools when it comes to blade size. But still much more useful blade-wise.

[jackknifeh]

I know this isn't a Spyderco but I was thinking of something like this for a nice office knife. The overall length is only 10 inches. :) It should take care of any envelope that you encounter.

Jack

[Blerv]

Lol Jack. Nice trolling bro :) .

[chuck_roxas45]

Kiiiiiiwwwwwiiiiii!!!!!

[Mr Blonde]

Another vote for a 3 inch blade, should be perfect for the intended uses. I'd recommend a Delica, FFG if you can convince the recipient to remember that it's not a prybar.

[RanCoWeAla]

Think I would go with three and a half unless you state law says different. Plain edge S30v steel. I don't own a tanto point or serrated knife because to me that makes a knife totally useless. I'm more likely to peel an apple or Orange than anything else with a knife. Saw an article in Blade magazine not long ago where it was proven that a plain edge out performed the serrated edge at every cutting chore. You couldn't give me a knife with tanto point or serrated edge free if I had to keep it.

[austinguy23]

Native 5. It won't frighten the office sheeple.

But, there's really no "right" answer...just suggestions.

[jabba359]

All sorts of good suggestions here. I have a serrated edge Delica that I carried every single day for seven years. If served me well and I never encountered anything that called for a knife that it couldn't handle. That said, the Caly3 is the knife that finally replaced the Delica, as I find the Caly to be more refined (though at twice the street price it better be!) and I like having the finger choil. Dang it! Now that I'm thinking about the Caly3, I suddenly decided that I do, in fact, need one of the Caly3 Damascus sprints that are coming out later this year.

But before you make up your mind, let me just say that the Sage I is a superb knife as well and is also one of my favorites. When my best friend got married, that was the knife that I deemed worthy of being my wedding present to him, so that should tell you how great of a knife it is. Before owning a Sage I, liner locks did not appeal to me at all. After using the Sage, I quickly changed my mind, as Spyderco certainly knows how to execute a well made liner lock.

So, you've got quite the decision ahead of you. No matter which you choose (even if it's not one of these three), you're going to get a quality knife and I believe that the knives right around the 3" range are the perfect balance of utility, people-friendliness, and pocket space conservation. Have fun picking just one!

[D1omedes]

I think a FFG Delica in Vg10 is the best option. Light weight, easy to carry, easy to sharpen and reasonable price.

[Evil D]

If you're sticking with a 3 inch blade...i have to say probably the best 3 inch knife Spyderco ever made is the original Paramilitary.