Spyder Model That Can Endure The Most Punishment? Your Pick?

[JD Spydo]

A couple of years or so ago I shared with you guys/gals at that time a Golden Colorado, USA Earth Spyder that I discovered that can take so much punishment I wouldn't have thought it to be possible. I was faced with a job at the time that was so brutal that when I picked a Spyderco knife from my footlocker for the job I had literally resigned myself to the fact that the knife would not survive. I was prepared to sacrifice the knife to get much of the work done that I needed to get done.

In other words I had no hope at all that my 440V, SE Native would even have a chance to survive the job I was undertaking at the time. But much to my most pleasant surprise the knife survived and is still fully functional and I still use it from time to time on other rough jobs.

Up to this point I have found that the Golden CO USA EARTH Native model may be the most endurable Spyder I've ever put to the test.

OK I want all of you to tell us what similar experiences you've had and which Spyder you put through **** itself and had it survive? And tell us a little about the brutal job you were using it on. Because so far I believe that the Golden CO USA Earth Spyders are truly the toughest on the planet. What's your pick??

[mikerestivo]

I would cast a vote for the original Manix. Mine has taken a beating so far with zero defects. That being said, I have not gotten to use my newly purchased Tuff yet.

[KardinalSyn]

Care to share a link to that original thread JD?

[PanChango]

I purchased a SS Harpy somewhere around 1996 that took truckloads of abuse until I lost it in 2010.

I doubt it is the toughest knife out there, but it was definitely one of the toughest knives I have owned and served me well.

[dj moonbat]

It's got to be the Techno, right? It's wide, thick, and short (so you can't generate enough leverage to break the thing, even if it wasn't quite so thick).

[Blerv]

Fine and ultra fine ceramic stones.

[setldown]

Hossom Forager is my toughest.

[Pockets]

I only have two :spyder: 's, and both of them can take a lot of punishment. I used my PE Delica to cut all the branches off a small tree I was taking down once, and I wasn't that gentle. It was still sharp when I finished. My SE H1 Dragonfly cut through more than 100 feet of tough synthetic gardening canvas while hitting rocks and totally fine when I was done. I know this wasn't that extreme, But I look forward to really using my knives harder in the future.

[Oofa]

About 15 years ago I bought a Delica with serrated Aus8 steel. It was my constant edc until about a year ago while backpacking, hiking, diving, doing everything everywhere and in all situations. I've put that thing through all kinds of horrible torture from cutting small tree limbs to using it as a screwdriver to prying open beer bottles to using it as a can opener to using it under water. Until recently, I had no idea about maintenance, the difference between steels or care of knives so I never did anything to care for it. I basically treated it as one would treat a cheap multi-tool. It has been retired for the past year or so but when look at it, it reminds me of all the good times I had with it right there at my side. I replaced it with an S30V Native from Golden Colorado when the tip snapped off while using it as a screwdriver. Within the first week of owning the Native and hardly even using it, much less abusing it, the edge chipped. I have no idea how or when but it sure didn't live up to the standards set by the Delica. That's when I started investigating other Spydercos and other steels. I am not a fan of S30V.

[Dr. Snubnose]

I have to vote Chinook II for this thread.......Once stabbed concrete by mistake, concrete chipped no damage to the blade tip, amazing.....Doc :)

[Minibear453]

JD, where's the old thread about the knife being used? I tried searching for it, and I found a couple threads where you referred to that incident, but nothing about it itself.

[JD Spydo]

Hossom Forager is my toughest.

Very interesting :) And I will admit up front that the Hossom line of blades that Spyderco had out in the mid to late 2000s is one of the very few Spyderco products I never owned or used

But you're not the only person I've heard that from. I heard that some of those Hossom models were used during "Hurricane Katrina" with outstanding results. I heard that the handles on those blades were virtually indestructible.

I've also heard 2 similar reports about the Temperance 2 model being extremely tough. The Temp 2 and the Hossoms both have extremely well made handles so it stands to reason. Again a very interesting reply.

[JD Spydo]

JD, where's the old thread about the knife being used? I tried searching for it, and I found a couple threads where you referred to that incident, but nothing about it itself.

It was either back in 2008 or 2009 when I worked for the Transglobal Company which is where that job from **** was at. It's been so long that I forgot the title of the thread. I know I also did a thread on it over at Bladeforums>> wish I could help more.

And it was about my 440V, SE, USA made Native that I do remember. I lot of turbulent water has been under the bridge since that time. But I'll try to remember what the title was and let you all know.

But what the heck let's talk NOW about how tough your favorite demolition Spyder is that you may have used yourself. What really blew me away more than anything was how tough the FRN handle was on the Native. And if I'm challenged with another job from the outer regions of **** I will again use some type of FRN handled Spyder again I can assure you.

[JD Spydo]

I have to vote Chinook II for this thread.......Once stabbed concrete by mistake, concrete chipped no damage to the blade tip, amazing.....Doc :)

Hey Doc I'm assuming that must have been an S30V Chinook am I correct? Because I had one of the first generation Chinook I models and it was 440V and I'm not sure if they used any 440V on the Chinook II.

But I have no problem believing that one at all. The 3 Chinook models I've owned and used were battlefield tanks and that's putting it lightly. I am interested to know if S30V could really withstand a concrete blow or not.

And I also agree with the other Brother about that first generation Manix being a tank of a knife as well.

[tautisg1]

Hey, great question! In my opinion, the manix 2 is one of the strongest knives that spyderco makes. I have abused the **** out of the blade (batoning, stabbing multiple times into tree, cutting soda cans) and many more things I have done to this blade. To this day, there is still NO vertical blade play, and the same amount of side to side as I got it from the factory. The Manix 1 & 2 were designed to be hard use folders, and they bloody well are :)

[Dr. Snubnose]

Yup S30V on that Chinook II....gotta love the steel!!!!....Doc :)

[JD Spydo]

Yup S30V on that Chinook II....gotta love the steel!!!!....Doc :)

That really surprises me Doc because yours truly JD Spydo hasn't had that great of luck with S30V myself. Personally I've had much better luck with the older predecessor 440V (S60V) under adverse working conditions. Your's must have had one super good heat treatment to say the least. But hey I'm glad it worked out well for you.

Another Spyder that survived some brutal work conditions on a couple of occasions was my beloved G-10 Harpy. I've even had great luck with the stainless handled Harpy models. And I'll add the ATS-55 Stainless Rescue models to the "TOUGH KNIFE" list. As well as those stainless handled Rescue models were made I truly believe you could drop one of them out of an airplane and they would still be workable :cool: .

[jhyde7585]

I would have to say the original manix personally. Loved the back lock on that baby :D

[JD Spydo]

I would have to say the original manix personally. Loved the back lock on that baby :D

I don't even think it's a coincidence that we are hearing the names of Golden Colorado USA Earth Spyders being mentioned numerous times. Especially the FRN and G-10 handled units made at the Golden CO USA Earth plant :cool:

And just about all the big Spyders that everyone refers to as "TANKS" are usually the ones out of the USA plant as well. Again that 440V, SE, FRN Native made a firm believer out of me. And I do remember just how ridgid and bullish my first Manix model was>> not to mention the Awesome Wonder known as the Chinook model :cool:

[tonydahose]

the one i abused the most was my tasman se that i had on my firecoat. i cut whatever i needed to to get the job done. I passed it on to a Lt. on the job so it is still going strong. I replaced it with a Jumpmaster and i am loving that as well.