New Urban

[Jsg81]

I purchased an Urban online which I received yesterday and I’m left with a question about it.

The item description online said that the blade was n690 but when I received it the blade marking and the box said the blade was m398.

I see references online about the switch in material being made but when I look at Spyderco’s website the steel is listed as n690.

Is it possible I just got one of the first after the change or did I get a possible counterfeit? I would assume counterfeit other than I bought from the “Spyderco Store” on the website of purchase. I don’t remember the rules about naming specific sites so I’m hesitant to possibly break rules with my post.

[Michael Janich]

Dear Jsg81:

The steel on the Urban changed from N690 to M398 with the most recent production run. Although we make our dealers aware of such changes, it is their responsibility to update their own websites. Sometimes, there is a lag in that process.

Stay safe,

Mike

[ChrisinHove]

What??

N690 to m398 - that’s quite a change!!!

[Jsg81]

Thank you Michael for the confirmation. That was quite the happy accident from my perspective.

[Doc Dan]

I didn't realize or didn't remember that a change had been made. Now that it is mentioned, I do seem to have some foggy remembrance. M398 is a formula race car and N690 was a Toyota Corolla. It was good and reliable, but the M398 seems to be an improved version of M390/204P, which I like, and it holds a screaming sharp edge for a long time.
https://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/m398.shtml

[olywa]

My only Urban is also my first of many Spyderco K390 knives. I may have to try the new M398 flavor but not sure I need another Urban.

[Doc Dan]

Is it still hard to open? They had started making them more difficult to open. Also, what is the blade length? What is the profile (they had messed this up and were supposed to fix it)?

Can you post pictures? (postimage.org)

[aicolainen]

Is it still hard to open? They had started making them more difficult to open. Also, what is the blade length? What is the profile (they had messed this up and were supposed to fix it)?

Can you post pictures? (postimage.org)

Unfortunately I don't think they had any plans to "fix" the blade length/profile, but rather correct the spec, which had not been updated long after they shortened the blade.
It's unfortunate, IMO. The Urban handle is a chefs kiss with regards to size and ergonomics for me, but I never carry it. For such a short blade I rather carry my DF2 which is yet an easier carry with a better blade profile.
M398 sounds like a useful upgrade in steel, for what it's worth.

[Jsg81]

Is it still hard to open? They had started making them more difficult to open. Also, what is the blade length? What is the profile (they had messed this up and were supposed to fix it)?

Can you post pictures? (postimage.org)

This is my first Spyderco slip joint so I won’t have much to offer in comparison but I personally really like the walk and talk.


I’m in the middle of moving homes so I have not been able to find anything to measure with. I was also looking at the HH exclusive and I personally like this blade profile better based on the pictures I saw online. I hope that helps a little.

[GarageBoy]

Whoa, was this announced at some point? Or was it just dropped in a video somewhere?

[Mushroom]

Whoa, was this announced at some point? Or was it just dropped in a video somewhere?

It was updated to M398 in the 2024 Product Guide. I believe it was more of a rolling change and wasn't actually formally announced.

[ZrowsN1s]

M398 is a reason to go out and buy one! I ha e very much enjoyed my mule.

[Doc Dan]

M398 is a reason to go out and buy one! I ha e very much enjoyed my mule.

I was thinking that. I just want to make sure they fixed the spring tension to something that a reasonable adult could open with one hand.

[Paul Ardbeg]

That's quit the upgrade in steel! Just checked a retailer in Europe and see a review from July for the Urban with the same remark about change in steel. I would not mind getting a surprise like that!! Probably also the reason why they are sold out.

Edit: As they are produced in Italy, maybe they had some M398 left in stock after producing the Spymyto

[Jsg81]

For what it’s worth I have no problem opening with one hand. I do use two to close it but I’m sure I could do it one handed.

Once I realized it wasn’t a mistake I was not upset at all.

[Matus]

M398 … just … wow!

[Guts]

Just took delivery of an Urban that had the description on the site I bought it from advertising N690 steel, but the steel on the box and blade is indeed M398. Nice surprise as M398 is a pretty big upgrade from N690 in terms of wear resistance.

[aicolainen]

I was thinking that. I just want to make sure they fixed the spring tension to something that a reasonable adult could open with one hand.

A sample size of one probably doesn't provide much assurance, but I can reliably spydie flick mine. Definitively a one-hander IMO.

[Doc Dan]

I was thinking that. I just want to make sure they fixed the spring tension to something that a reasonable adult could open with one hand.

A sample size of one probably doesn't provide much assurance, but I can reliably spydie flick mine. Definitively a one-hander IMO.

That's nice! I have 3 Urbans and nobody but Godzilla could spydie flick them.

[dj moonbat]

So, wait: is M398 now the standard steel for the Urban, or is this a sprint?