Which Spyderco for a Reliable and Versatile EDC?

[Wartstein]

Versatility for me equals serrations so you need teeth on your blade. ...

I can only second that.

[Wartstein]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned. Here’s why -

What is bad about it:
- It only comes in grey (I dislike the colour grey immensely).
- there’s no salt model yet.
- it’s not free.

What is good about it:
- It has rock solid lock up.
- It is so slimline in all directions that it just effortlessly fits into your pocket when clipped.
- the back lock is ambidextrous.
- you can get it out practically anywhere without people imploding in fear.
- it cuts like a tiny chainsaw.
- it is excellent value.
- it is very easy to get extremely sharp.
- it is svelte enough that you can IWB one and literally forget it is there.
- Chuck Norris is its spirit animal.

So unless you really need something with more cutting edge the Chaparral LW SE is a magnificent choice. Plus it’s so lightweight you can also carry a second larger knife if you so wish.

So true.

Chaparral SE (make sure you really get the SE and not the PE) is an amazing knife and performs extremely well.
One more pro is its supersolid built, but still light weight.

[elena86]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned. Here’s why -

What is bad about it:
- It only comes in grey (I dislike the colour grey immensely).
- there’s no salt model yet.
- it’s not free.

What is good about it:
- It has rock solid lock up.
- It is so slimline in all directions that it just effortlessly fits into your pocket when clipped.
- the back lock is ambidextrous.
- you can get it out practically anywhere without people imploding in fear.
- it cuts like a tiny chainsaw.
- it is excellent value.
- it is very easy to get extremely sharp.
- it is svelte enough that you can IWB one and literally forget it is there.
- Chuck Norris is its spirit animal.

So unless you really need something with more cutting edge the Chaparral LW SE is a magnificent choice. Plus it’s so lightweight you can also carry a second larger knife if you so wish.

So true.

Chaparral SE (make sure you really get the SE and not the PE) is an amazing knife and performs extremely well.
One more pro is its supersolid built, but still light weight.

I second that. Mine is a fierce competitor for my beloved SE wharnie Delica. For downtown edc is perfect. I never imagined I shall become so infatuated with this little yet very capable pocket chainsaw.

[CDEP]

I'd buy the Tenacious M4 PE to hold you over until the Native 5 CruCarta is released. It will also give you a blade without a choil and a lot of cutting edge. And, it is simply one of the best designs of any folder, ever.

I have every knife mentioned so far, and there is an argument for all of them. So perhaps the real answer is get all of them eventually. The Para 3 LW BD1N was my gateway drug, and I thought it was all I'd need or want, for awhile.

Then I caved and got a PM2 CruCarta, then a Native 5, then a Shaman, then a Mannix 2, then "ooh, Massad Ayoob designed a knife?".

Resistance is futile.

But if versatility in one knife is important, the Native is the winner in my experience, and would be where I would start if I lost all my knives.

Once that CruCarta variant arrives a lot of my knives are gonna be feeling lonely.

[Bergy24]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a Spyderco knife for everyday carry—something reliable, well-balanced between compactness and performance. avis jerkmateI'm currently torn between a few models:

Paramilitary 2: A classic, great ergonomics, but is it too large for certain tasks?
Para 3: More compact, but does it sacrifice grip and cutting performance?
Manix 2: Solid lock, excellent blade, but a bit bulkier in the pocket.
I’m aiming for a good steel (CPM S30V or better), a sturdy locking mechanism, and smooth deployment.
Do you guys have any experience with these models? Any other recommendations I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Just wondering what your thoughts are after everyone gave you their opinions?
If you are anything like me, you are probably even more confused and even more undecided.
Do you have a budget to spend on a knife? The secondary market is a great place to buy your first Spyderco, but be careful of scammers and fakes. If you are on social media, we can recommend some groups to join.

Let us know your thought on all of this and which way you are leaning or if you need any other info.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned. Here’s why -

What is bad about it:
- It only comes in grey (I dislike the colour grey immensely).
- there’s no salt model yet.
- it’s not free.

What is good about it:
- It has rock solid lock up.
- It is so slimline in all directions that it just effortlessly fits into your pocket when clipped.
- the back lock is ambidextrous.
- you can get it out practically anywhere without people imploding in fear.
- it cuts like a tiny chainsaw.
- it is excellent value.
- it is very easy to get extremely sharp.
- it is svelte enough that you can IWB one and literally forget it is there.
- Chuck Norris is its spirit animal.

So unless you really need something with more cutting edge the Chaparral LW SE is a magnificent choice. Plus it’s so lightweight you can also carry a second larger knife if you so wish.

So true.

Chaparral SE (make sure you really get the SE and not the PE) is an amazing knife and performs extremely well.
One more pro is its supersolid built, but still light weight.

I second that. Mine is a fierce competitor for my beloved SE wharnie Delica. For downtown edc is perfect. I never imagined I shall become so infatuated with this little yet very capable pocket chainsaw.

Somebody say pocket chainsaw? Seriously tho it’s my favorite Spyderco and hasn’t left my pocket since I got it!

[kobold]

Native for sure.

[akapennypincher]

15years plus, Rescue JR. IMHO

[z1r]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a Spyderco knife for everyday carry—something reliable, well-balanced between compactness and performance. avis jerkmateI'm currently torn between a few models:

Paramilitary 2: A classic, great ergonomics, but is it too large for certain tasks?
Para 3: More compact, but does it sacrifice grip and cutting performance?
Manix 2: Solid lock, excellent blade, but a bit bulkier in the pocket.
I’m aiming for a good steel (CPM S30V or better), a sturdy locking mechanism, and smooth deployment.
Do you guys have any experience with these models? Any other recommendations I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Of those you listed, for MY EDC needs, the PM2 gets the nod. The Para 3 feels about the same in the pocket but offers less blade. The Manix LW is a great EDC especially for someone wanting a more robust knife. It is my go to Hiking pocket knife. On days when I need a more discreet carry, I grab a Para 3 LW, they sit lower in the pocket. Lately, I find myself grabbing a Mantra since it has a super long cutting edge and a deep carry clip. I work in an office and discreet carry is better especially in meetings with the Top Brass..

[Infinite Zero]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned.

The SE Chap would have never been on my radar without this forum’s rabid evangelization of it. I got mine about 2 weeks ago and it lives up to the hype.

[Mat_ski]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned.

The SE Chap would have never been on my radar without this forum’s rabid evangelization of it. I got mine about 2 weeks ago and it lives up to the hype.

Agreed!

[Omak1]

You've got lots of responses to your questions. If i was starting over for a first Spyderco knife I would get a Stretch 2 in K390. It's thinner than the PM2, lighter weight and carries better in your pocket. If you want a simpler steel VG10 is good. I'd prefer BD1N for better corrosion and edge retention but i don't believe the Stretch comes in BD1N steel. The index finger choil make this knife easy to control for delicate tasks and the blade geometry is very slicey.

[cabfrank]

VG-10 actually has better edge retention than BD1N.

[Wallach]

In my opinion, reliable and versatile imply a couple things - the knife has few points of failure and an extremely strong lock, and has both ergonomics and blade design that can handle an extremely wide range of cutting tasks for a folding knife that carries reasonably well in the pocket.

Most Spyderco knives will fit the bill on reliability, to be honest. Especially of the knives you've listed, they all run on phosphor bronze washers and utilize strong locks. If I had to choose, the Manix 2 is going to be my winner of those three as the CBBL is technically a stronger lock while also being an improvement in ergonomics and general operation (being truly ambidextrous). But none of the knives will be bad in this department.

Versatility, in my eyes, is definitely impacted by overall cutting edge. A longer knife can mostly do everything a shorter knife can, plus more. There's no real versatility advantage to a shorter blade in the context of folding knives specifically (unless we get into extreme cases like the Cold Steel Espada or something). To that end, if I was really concerned about making sure my knife could handle the job in the widest variety of tasks, I'd take the longer knife most of the time. In this case, that's roughly a tie between the PM2 and the Manix 2 of the three choices you presented here. If I had to choose one, it'd probably again be the Manix 2 because of the slightly taller and more balanced blade geometry versus the thicker and more piercing-leaning Military blade line.

The other knife I'd personally consider that you didn't list here would be the Native Chief. I do think it shares a bit of similarity to the Military 2 in that the blade shape is a bit pierce-favored as it comes to a super fine tip, but the thinner blade stock does give it a bit of an edge in slicing, and it has a back lock that competes with the CBBL in lock strength and ambidextrous operation. The Native 5 is also up there on my list of all-time best Spydercos, but I think the cutting edge is a slight weakness in terms of versatility; in the cases where you know you won't really need more blade than it offers, though, it's one of Spyderco's finest.

My personal choice overall would be the Manix 2. Despite my recent issues getting aftermarket scales to play nicely with recent production runs, I can't deny that the knife is one of the overall best ever designs for EDC. To me the CBBL feels like a near-perfect lock design that has reliability up there with back locks and tri-ad locks, but the ease of use and of a crossbar lock without any of the weaknesses that usually come with those designs (like near-zero closing bias / detent force). My LW Salt model wearing AWT scales is as close to a perfect knife as I've come across. If I had any real criticism of it, it would only be that the Golden factory seems to ship a fair number of these with fairly bad lock stick, and the ones I've come across that had it never seem to get rid of it over time like most compression lock Spydercos do. But when you have one that is working properly, it feels pretty hard to beat.

[JoviAl]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned.

The SE Chap would have never been on my radar without this forum’s rabid evangelization of it. I got mine about 2 weeks ago and it lives up to the hype.

Testify!

I had low expectations when I ordered it, but it is far far far greater than the sum of its parts.

[JoviAl]

To the OP - if this is just a light use EDC then I cannot recommend the Chaparral LW SE highly enough. It is the finest EDC knife in the world as far as I’m concerned. Here’s why -

What is bad about it:
- It only comes in grey (I dislike the colour grey immensely).
- there’s no salt model yet.
- it’s not free.

What is good about it:
- It has rock solid lock up.
- It is so slimline in all directions that it just effortlessly fits into your pocket when clipped.
- the back lock is ambidextrous.
- you can get it out practically anywhere without people imploding in fear.
- it cuts like a tiny chainsaw.
- it is excellent value.
- it is very easy to get extremely sharp.
- it is svelte enough that you can IWB one and literally forget it is there.
- Chuck Norris is its spirit animal.

So unless you really need something with more cutting edge the Chaparral LW SE is a magnificent choice. Plus it’s so lightweight you can also carry a second larger knife if you so wish.

So true.

Chaparral SE (make sure you really get the SE and not the PE) is an amazing knife and performs extremely well.
One more pro is its supersolid built, but still light weight.

I second that. Mine is a fierce competitor for my beloved SE wharnie Delica. For downtown edc is perfect. I never imagined I shall become so infatuated with this little yet very capable pocket chainsaw.

Somebody say pocket chainsaw? Seriously tho it’s my favorite Spyderco and hasn’t left my pocket since I got it!

The question on my mind now is ‘what saw is that?’. A Stihl of some variety, but which? (I love me a good saw ID guessing game). Is it a 460?

[R100]

Maybe an offbeat answer but if you are looking for versatility in a great knife the combo edge Tenacious LW in S35VN can be had for under $85.

I own and thoroughly enjoy multiple PM2 and Manix 2s and after shunning the China made Spydercos until recently I now have to admit that the Tenacious is in many ways a better knife. It's more compact than either but has quite a bit more cutting edge, it's ground thinner behind the edge and is a better slicer. I have a lot of Golden made knives and they all have some minor imperfections but strangely the Chinese made Tenacious is absolutely perfect. The centering is exact and the lock up is amazing - there is zero blade play in any direction which is more than I can say for a lot of Golden knives.

Just a thought even if it is heresy.

Dan

[Halfneck]

Para 2 feels good in my L/XL hands but is bigger than I prefer to carry.
Manix LW feels very good in my hand and carries like a smaller knife in my pocket - but again too big.
Para 3 is a good size for my knife needs and feels okay in my hand.

But I ended up getting a Sage 5 LW in Spy27. It feels better in my hand than a Para 3, but not overly large for my knife needs like a Para 2.

All that said, I still prefer my Delicas for day-to-day carry.

[Jimandchris2]

Great input. If you’re open to other recommendations, check out the Spyderco Native 5—it’s compact but still offers great ergos and steel options. The Shaman is another fantastic option if you don’t mind a slightly larger knife.

For steel, if you can get a model in CPM S45VN, M390, or Magnacut, you'll see improved edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Let us know what you decide!

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

So true.

Chaparral SE (make sure you really get the SE and not the PE) is an amazing knife and performs extremely well.
One more pro is its supersolid built, but still light weight.

I second that. Mine is a fierce competitor for my beloved SE wharnie Delica. For downtown edc is perfect. I never imagined I shall become so infatuated with this little yet very capable pocket chainsaw.

Somebody say pocket chainsaw? Seriously tho it’s my favorite Spyderco and hasn’t left my pocket since I got it!

The question on my mind now is ‘what saw is that?’. A Stihl of some variety, but which? (I love me a good saw ID guessing game). Is it a 460?

Ha! You guessed too high, it’s the Chaparral of Stihl’s lineup the MS 261-small but mighty