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Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:04 pm
by benben
Just kidding, maybe just a little argument, some constructive arguing can be a good thing!
Here’s the question….what’s your best Spyderco? Not your favorite, not your prettiest, not your oldest, most sentimental Spyderco, your best built, most solid, the one that for years has made you say, man what a tank!
Gotta start with this, I’m a Manix fan, period! My Knifeworks Green 204P and my Crucarta Manix are, and will always be two of my favorite knives, they’re just fantastic all the way around!
But, to answer my own question….my G-10 S35VN Native 5 has got to be my best made Spyderco! I bought it new probably 12/13 years ago? It’s still as tight, and audibly locks up as loud as the day I bought it. To break this knife, you’d have to purposely be trying to break it for some dumb reason?
Some of my personal honorable mentions…..
My old plain Jane S30V Yojimbo.
My old hollow grind 154CM Manix that I shipped to Belgium to our friend Apollo here.
Both of my Gayle Bradley 1’s.
My Superleaf.
My Chinook 3.
All of these are just tanks, as solid and as well made as knives get!
But, and here’s the argument
my G-10 S35VN Native is the best knife that Sal has ever built, so flame on fellas. Just came in from the garage, touched it up, blew it out and wiped it down, so admiring it is fresh on my mind.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:19 pm
by Red Leader
Hmm, this is a really interesting question. I assume you are just talking about a particular example of a knife that we have.
I don't own the best Spyderco in the house, my son does. It is a Para 3 15V that as soon as I tried it out in the store, I bought it on the spot. Perfect centering, hydraulic action, no play anywhere, tight lockup, early lockup, just butter. Built by '1739', which is the box code for the builder, and the guys at the shop were telling me that this builder frequently gets awards almost every month for how good of a job they do.
Now, the catch here is that I believe that detent based knives are more susceptible to feeling 'out' than other knives, especially knives like the Manix and Native. Reason being, detent balls can be misadjusted, misaligned, worn, not seated nor centered properly, pivots can wear, locks can wear, and there are a lot of mating surfaces in these knives that are far more tactile than something like a backlock. For example, you almost hardly ever feel pivot lash with a CBBL or a Native/backlock, because with something constantly pushing against the pivot like that, you won't notice it, even if it is there.
The most consistently smooth knives I've felt tend to be the in the Manix family, with the roughest ones I've tried in the Native family (perhaps they smooth out over years of use?).
To me, nothing beats the feel of a properly adjusted detent-based compression lock, but it is harder to get everything right, and they can fall out of adjustment far easier or quicker than other knife locking systems (IMO).
All that said, I'm happy to hear a great report of a well-used Native - since there tends to be discussion of lock-rock with these and other backlocks, which I assume could or would increase over the years.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:21 pm
by vivi
benben wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:04 pm
Here’s the question….what’s your best Spyderco? Not your favorite, not your prettiest, not your oldest, most sentimental Spyderco,
your best built, most solid, the one that for years has made you say, man what a tank!
Can't think of any sensible answer from my collection aside from my C95's for folders and my Temperance 2 for a fixed blade.
The C95 is a tank. Love the Manix XL but the C95 hits different.
Same story with the Temps. I'm very happy with both generations, and for certain adventures would prefer the trimmer weight of my cruwear gen 1 sprint. The temp 2 however, has such a high quality feel in hand, with the sculpted micarta and full tang heft.
Really hoping they both get brought back at some point.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:03 pm
by RustyIron
benben wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:04 pm
my G-10 S35VN Native 5 has got to be my best made Spyderco!
WRONG!
The BEST Spyderco ever made is the Military 2. It has a sensibly shaped blade in a sensible thickness that is long enough to be useful. The compression lock is functionally wonderful, reliable, and trouble-free. The knife fits the hand like a glove. The proportion is beautiful. There is no better looking and functionally perfect knife made today.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:40 pm
by Wowbagger
best built, most solid,
Off the top of my brain , without going back and handling them all somemore . . . toss up between :
GB 1
Drunken
My Slym is right up there as well SO WELL MADE / perfect out of the box !
. . . sure I love my pile of Manixes but I do get tired of "fixing" (shortening ) the overly long lock spring on every one I buy . So long the spring seems to need to be completely compressed and then pressed some more until the spring boinks to the side just to release the lock . Not elegant , to say the least . . .
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:51 pm
by Wowbagger
Para 3 15V
(went with black G-10 for dirty mechanic hands use)
I find myself looking at , admiring it for the size and good negative blade angle , and putting it in my pocket more often than about any other Spyderco these days .
I have to agree ; fantastically satisfying knife !
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 2:04 am
by aicolainen
A question like this could probably be analyzed to death, and the result could come out different depending how deep you drill down.
The first knife that came to mind is the Native 5. And while they're probably all good, the salt version stands out to me.
For a linerless folding knife with (rather cheap feeling) FRN it manages to inspire and deliver confidence that exceeds similarly constructed knives in my possession.
Add on top of that, that it's a Salt. Which adds another layer of durability against the elements and lack of maintenance.
It's not the perfect knife for me, and there are some aspects of it that I'd like to change if I was able to design something similar. Despite its minor "flaws" (that are purely related to a slight mismatch in the interface between the ergonomics prioritized in the design and my own physiology, so strictly subjective) it's so often the knife I end up choosing, because it feels so right for the job and I never have any doubts regarding it being solid enough.
The irony of this reply is that I don't own one atm. I gave mine away to a good friend this summer, and I haven't gotten around to replace it. Partly because I keep forgetting it when I get around to placing an order for knives/knife related gear, and partly because I deliberately delayed the replacement process (at first) to force myself to use my CF/S90V variant, that usually takes the back seat when I have the option to choose the salt.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 2:22 am
by dickie
Only have a tiny selection at hand compared to most here, but thus far the first 2 Spyderco knives I bought years back hold the top spots:
Sage 2
Close second: PM2 S30V DLC
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 2:39 am
by Jeb
Heck, I am up for a picked fight here or anywhere else for that matter lol. I am your "Huckleberry"
All kidding aside there would realistically be two categories here, a folder or pocket knife and then a fixed blade...
But let's just say if Jeb had to pick just one knife here, I can absolutely say that knife would be my Ed Schempp- Rock... I have not had mine for very long at all, but it has so quickly became my single most favorite knife I own to date and regardless of brand...
Now for the instigation of the fight here, all you guys that have posted here with a mentioned knife or two, are all worthless without the art work that all you guys do so much better at than I lol... so to coin a phrase-
Bring IT!!!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:03 am
by Hopsbreath
I have a perfect fluted CF Native. Zero flaws anywhere on this knife — and I mean it. I love the lock up on a Natives in general as they lack the vertical rock I expect in Seki lockbacks. In addition I also own a G10 and couple FRNs as well and it might be my favorite Golden made design.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:07 am
by Evil D
You're going to get as many answers as there are options. Very difficult for most people to separate their preferences from what may be literally the best design. Then there's the question of what are you cutting, how much of it, how important are ergonomics and edge retention? You can analyze this to question into oblivion.
Looking at this as unbiased as I can, if we assume that Spyderco discontinue models when they don't sell, if they ALWAYS do this and not just keep models around simply because Sal and Eric like them, then the answer must be a standard model Police, Military, Delica or Endura. Of all of those, the standard Police model and Military have had the fewest major design changes, so I think you could argue that they must be the best designs because they've required the least amount of tweaking to keep them selling well.
But, here's the catch that's going to throw off every answer in this whole thread: Is it the model itself that keeps it selling, or is it Spyderco's recipe of steel/handle material options that keep them selling? If the steel types and handle materials never changed, would the answers be the same?
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:47 am
by Synov
When I think of "tank" the Tuff comes to mind.
Also my S90V CF Shaman and Subvert.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:51 am
by benben
Red Leader wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:19 pm
Hmm, this is a really interesting question. I assume you are just talking about a particular example of a knife that we have.
I don't own the best Spyderco in the house, my son does. It is a Para 3 15V that as soon as I tried it out in the store, I bought it on the spot. Perfect centering, hydraulic action, no play anywhere, tight lockup, early lockup, just butter. Built by '1739', which is the box code for the builder, and the guys at the shop were telling me that this builder frequently gets awards almost every month for how good of a job they do.
Now, the catch here is that I believe that detent based knives are more susceptible to feeling 'out' than other knives, especially knives like the Manix and Native. Reason being, detent balls can be misadjusted, misaligned, worn, not seated nor centered properly, pivots can wear, locks can wear, and there are a lot of mating surfaces in these knives that are far more tactile than something like a backlock. For example, you almost hardly ever feel pivot lash with a CBBL or a Native/backlock, because with something constantly pushing against the pivot like that, you won't notice it, even if it is there.
The most consistently smooth knives I've felt tend to be the in the Manix family, with the roughest ones I've tried in the Native family (perhaps they smooth out over years of use?).
To me, nothing beats the feel of a properly adjusted detent-based compression lock, but it is harder to get everything right, and they can fall out of adjustment far easier or quicker than other knife locking systems (IMO).
All that said, I'm happy to hear a great report of a well-used Native - since there tends to be discussion of lock-rock with these and other backlocks, which I assume could or would increase over the years.
That's a very interesting, detailed read, especially about builder '1739' which I've never heard this story before. And yes, I should have specified folders, I see a couple of guys have already jumped in here with their fixed blades...
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:52 am
by benben
Synov wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:47 am
When I think of "tank" the Tuff comes to mind.
Also my S90V CF Shaman and Subvert.
And I can see why!!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 6:05 am
by benben
RustyIron wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:03 pm
benben wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:04 pm
my G-10 S35VN Native 5 has got to be my best made Spyderco!
WRONG!
The BEST Spyderco ever made is the Military 2. It has a sensibly shaped blade in a sensible thickness that is long enough to be useful. The compression lock is functionally wonderful, reliable, and trouble-free. The knife fits the hand like a glove. The proportion is beautiful. There is no better looking and functionally perfect knife made today.
Look at you all bowed up and screaming in RED!
I have an embarrassing admission....I've yet to ever own a Military, I've handled quite a few but never owned or used one!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 6:17 am
by benben
Last night when I was making this post, I knew
@vivi would fire back pretty quickly with his C95, and for good reason! I've never held or even seen a C95 before, but being the Manix guy that I am, I feel pretty sure this one would / should win this fight!
Maybe this post could be the catalyst to help move Sal forward to releasing another C95....in 3V
I'd absolutely buy one!
In a sense though, my Native 5 could still give the larger C95 a run for the money, maybe? With it's lack of overall length, full steel liners and G-10, and incredible lockup, it's one stout little bulldog, a mini Manix if you will.
I'm still in the fight Vivi!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 6:26 am
by benben
Evil D wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 5:07 am
You're going to get as many answers as there are options. Very difficult for most people to separate their preferences from what may be literally the best design. Then there's the question of what are you cutting, how much of it, how important are ergonomics and edge retention? You can analyze this to question into oblivion.
Looking at this as unbiased as I can, if we assume that Spyderco discontinue models when they don't sell, if they ALWAYS do this and not just keep models around simply because Sal and Eric like them, then the answer must be a standard model Police, Military, Delica or Endura. Of all of those, the standard Police model and Military have had the fewest major design changes, so I think you could argue that they must be the best designs because they've required the least amount of tweaking to keep them selling well.
But, here's the catch that's going to throw off every answer in this whole thread: Is it the model itself that keeps it selling, or is it Spyderco's recipe of steel/handle material options that keep them selling? If the steel types and handle materials never changed, would the answers be the same?
And then there's David, taking every post deeper into the Gray Matter, No that's a good read, and all good points!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 7:33 am
by TkoK83Spy
For folders, anything with a backlock and G10 is definitely a reliable tank. Love that lockup and sound of it.
But, for me, for the knives I've kept after going on a selling spree the last couple years of 20 or so knives...the Shaman with micarta scales has stuck around for that role. I swapped the blade with Rex45 from Cruwear, but regardless of what steel this knife has...it's solid. Solid lock up, great ergos, great materials, nice and thick blade stock. This knife loves to work!
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 7:37 am
by yablanowitz
My first thought was the original C95 Manix. Thick, strong, heavy and a pocket hog. Hard to top for "Tank-like". Then I thought about the McBee. For its size, it is even more of a tank. In fact, "tiny tank" is my mental tag for it. Honorable mention goes to the titanium Military for being just what a Military shouldn't be - a boat anchor.
Re: Came here to pick a fight!
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 8:23 am
by abbazaba
Hard to disagree. To quote myself from 2017:
viewtopic.php?p=1170615#p1170615
"The Native 5 could easily be described as the perfect knife by many standards. It is utility and elegance, practicality and performance. Many versions of the Native 5 exist, but Spyderco took it to a nearly unthinkable level when they created the work of art that is the fluted titanium model. This is not only one of my favorite knives to use, it is also one of my favorite knives to admire. For me, this is the pinnacle of knife design. Thank you Spyderco!"
Funny that it was designed for sale at Walmart lol.
sal wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:29 am
The dragonfly was designed to fill a space between the Delica and the Ladybug. The Native was designed to a request to design a knife for Walmart.
The Caly was a refinement of the Calypso.
sal