Which Non sprint/exclusives?

[HarleyXJGuy]

So lets say the sprints and exclusives we're not avalible to you and you had about $400 to buy a range of spyderco knives.

Which ones would you buy and why?

Trying to get a range of the best production folders Spyderco makes. Different steel, scales and locks. Some small, some middle and some big, kinda like Red Riding Hood.

[Paddy B]

I know you don't want to hear this, but $400 won't get you too much as far as diversity. I think every spyderco collection should have a delica or endura (or both if you can swing it). To me those 2 blades are the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word "spyderco". I think a version of the manix 2, the paramilitary 2, and military are also staples. My favorite is probably the Gayle Bradley folder, but it's not for everybody. There's just so much really GOOD stuff spyderco puts out, it's hard to choose!

[animportant]

I started with the Sage 1, not my favorite knife that comes to mind, but I still carry it more than any other. Perfect edc or a Caly, which everyone loves. I have yet to see, hold, or use a caly, though.

[The Deacon]

FRN VG-10 Stretch as primary EDC most days. CF Chaparral as primary EDC for those days when I visit beautiful downtown Greenville with its 3" blade limit. Jigged bone Kiwi, because I prefer highly functional jewelry over rings, bracelets, and chains. Sorry about the lack of variety, but I strongly prefer midlock folders with 50/50 choils.

[Donut]

Chaparral 1 is pretty awesome.

Sage 3 in CF is a nice blade.

The S110V Manix is production! Hopefully you can find it in stock.

You can probably throw in a Dragonfly 2 as well and have some money to spare.

[bearfacedkiller]

Para2, delica and dragonfly to get started. You should be able to throw a military in there and be right around 400.

[Holland]

s110v manix 2 LW,
CF Chaparral,
H1 SE Dragonfly 2,
Gayle Bradley

[Surfingringo]

This is where I would start.
1. Military
2. Paramilitary 2
3. Pacific Salt
4. Chaparral

Puts you just over $400 but that's a pretty **** good "insta-collection".

[xceptnl]

To provide you with a wide range of features and allow you to sample a bit of all of Spyderco's offerings I suggest the following (and they should be within your $400 budget)

1. S30V Military
2. VG-10 Caly 3.5
3. S110V Manix 2 LW
4. H1 Dragonfly Salt SE or H1 Ladybug Hawkbill SE

This quartet will sample 3 locks, 4 steel, and a wide range of blade lengths. I would also agree that the Delica could replace the Caly in my list to give a more balanced transition between each blade length, but the Caly is so much more robust and I love 50/50 coils like Deacon stated.

[MacLaren]

Manix 2 S110V
Caly 3.5 VG10
PMII S30V
Domino CTS-XHP

That's over $400. But is a good variety of steels, handles, locks etc.
4 steels
4 locks
4 handles ( g10,frn,cf,&ti

[Brock O Lee]

PM2 S30V (compression lock and G10)
Manix LW S110v (ball bearing lock and FRN)
Sage 1 S30V (liner lock and twill CF)
Dragonfly Salt (H1 with serrations, back lock, FRN)
Sharpmaker

3 steels, 4 locks, different handle materials. Slightly over budget with the SM, but you need keep them sharp!

[GoldenSpydie]

Why no sprints or exclusives? You can often get the same model with an improved steel and cool scales for only a little more money.

But if we must limit this to non-sprint knives, how about this:

PM2
Delica 4
Manix 2 XL
204 Sharpmaker

That will give you a compression lock, a back lock, and a CBBL lock. It also gives a good range of size. Sadly, you only would get to try out S30V and VG10. That's why sprints are so great--you could, for example, get a Super Blue Delica, an S30V PM2, and an S90V Manix XL so that you can try three different steels. But then again, that would be over $400.

Here are pictures of the 3 knives I listed. Please excuse the fact that the Manix XL is the back lock version--please picture a CBBL lock instead.

[bh49]

1. Sharpmaker
2.Native5 S35VN
3. Caly3.5 Vg10
4. Manix XL S30V

[Cujobob]

Techno (even though it's a collab), Dragonfly II, Paramilitary 2, and a Manix. If you find good deals, you can probably get those for around $400.

[jujigatame]

I'm sure better prices could be had with time & effort but let's say you wanted to make one order from a well rated online retailer.

A Ladybug should be in there I think. Make it a serrated Salt version ~ $40
G10 UKPK ~ Discontinued but let's say you could find one NIB for $100 since that will get it in the budget here.
Manix 2 Lightweight with the standard BD1 ~ $80 (wish this could be done fully serrated)
Gayle Bradley ~ $180

4 distinct steels, 3 locks & 1 non-lock, 3 scale materials by counting FRN & FRCP as the same.

A small pocket/keychain piece, a mid-sized dead reliable EDC, a larger model that's tough & inexpensive for your beater, and a flagship with exotic blade & handle materials that could be your prized safe queen or a workhorse. Not a great deal of variety in blade shapes but some of the funkier and more specialized styles have limits on their practical uses.

Must hit submit at this point because if I keep thinking it over I'll be here for hours. :D

[HarleyXJGuy]

Suprised by the number of people who said Chaparral and Pacific Salt.

Am I missing some gems here?

[The Deacon]

Suprised by the number of people who said Chaparral and Pacific Salt.

Am I missing some gems here?

In a word, possibly.

The Chaparral is an elegant looking, office friendly folder that takes up minimal pocket space while providing a decent sized blade. Its FFG 2mm blade makes it a great slicer and, like all the Taichung folders, the fit and finish is excellent.

The Pacific Salt is a virtually corrosion proof knife with a large blade. The unlined FRN handle keeps it light and simple and the serrated version holds an edge extremely well.

If either or both of those sets of qualities appeal to you, then you're definitely missing something.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

Without sounding too heretical as a card-carrying Caly series diehard, I agree with the others above in giving the Chaparral a real look and consideration. It could ably take the place of the Caly's or Delica's in the list above. It shares many of the same features of both and often surpasses them. If you want some serious blade length in a tight package, you can't beat a Caly 3.5! Happy hunting. Cheers, Radioactive :)

[HarleyXJGuy]

Without sounding too heretical as a card-carrying Caly series diehard, I agree with the others above in giving the Chaparral a real look and consideration. It could ably take the place of the Caly's or Delica's in the list above. It shares many of the same features of both and often surpasses them. If you want some serious blade length in a tight package, you can't beat a Caly 3.5! Happy hunting. Cheers, Radioactive :)

Maybe once I retire and get a office job I will look into a "gentlemans folder" just not needing something like that now.

You guys have me almost talked into a Caly of some sort with all the good endorsements I read about here. The 3.5 would be a nice baby brother ot the Millie I have on the way. Would love a sprint or exclusive though.

[LC Kid]

Hi Folks!


So, $ 400 for a representative range of Spyderco knives, as from the current catalog:

- Paramilitary 2, S30V PE, G10, Compression Lock (~$125)

- Stretch FRN, VG-10 PE, Mid Lock (~$85)

- Delica 4, VG-10 PE, FRN, Mid Lock (~$58)

- Dragonfly 2, ZDP-189 PE, BRG FRN Mid Lock (~$67)

- LadyBug Hawkbill, H1 SE, Yellow FRN (~$33)

These make a total of $ 368, so you still have $ 32 left, more than enough for S&H and Taxes.