4 G.O.A.T. s

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
da1cyclist
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4 G.O.A.T. s

#1

Post by da1cyclist »

I likely have some life changes coming & have most of my knives in temporary storage. These are the four GOATs (greatest of all time) I’m keeping in rotation for now. Top to bottom-

Manix 2 maxamet - my first non-stainless “super steel” knife, it’s starting to get a nice light blue patina, if all the photos on the internet are true I’m sure the blade will snap one day, but I wouldn’t be too sad as I have plenty of other comparable Manixs

Yojimbo S30v - it will be my car knife, as a former Boy Scout it should help me to “Be Prepared”

Microjimbo SPY27 - small knife packing a big punch and legal to carry in more restrictive parts of the US

BM Osborne 940 MagnaCut - soft spot as it was my first MagnaCut knife IIRC, highest fidget factor, incredibly large blade for how small it is in the pocket, and nice to have something “different” in that it biased more towards “tough” rather than slicing
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Red Leader
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#2

Post by Red Leader »

Solid!

The ones I keep coming back to for a rotation are:

1. PM2 Salt (satin)
2. Chaparral LW SE
3. Stretch 2 K390
4. 10V Shaman

Runners up would be K390 Leafjumper SE and Manix 2 15V.

I think this list is constantly evolving. One knife I've been incredibly impressed with is the Lil' Native (G10, comp lock). Probably one of the most intelligently designed knives I've ever had in my hands.
jymset
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#3

Post by jymset »

A German's current EDC faves, non-locking knives galore:

Image

In no particular order:
  • ClipiTool serrated
  • UKPK HH exclusive
  • Lil' Native Slipit
  • Viper DAN 1
The ClipiTool hast no right being so good. Eric outdid himself with the ergos, it's great in hand in either configurations. Initially, I thought it was too small, but I work in an office, and it totally suffices in that environment. It's transitioned from gimmick or key Chain secondary to genuine EDC and may just have more (watch) pocket time than any other.

The UKPK is a genuine, unequivocal GOAT, especially in this config with S30V and, more importantly, G10. I inifinitely prefer the G10 handle to the FRN version... on this knife.

Lil' Native, and Eric ist two for two on this list. I thought I didn't like it, too small, G10 too rough on this one, and less comfortable than my actual favorite Slipit, the Urban. Never mind all that, the Lil' Native is the biggest Little Big Knife that ever, uh, bigged. Despite its diminuitive size, it'll beat the others into my pocket if I even suspect any duties beyond opening letters.

The Viper is currently my favorite non-Spyderco pocket knife. Is it a double detent slipjoint or a friction folder? The answer is yes. Spyderco, please make one like this for us poor Euro plebs! (@Michael Janich is this anything close to the idea you mentioned recently?)

Some honorable mentions on the right side. My Terzuola is in bad shape and its blade is a bit thick vis-a-vis the knife's petite overall size. The Urban is probably my favorite Slipit, but this one's edge ist currently a bit mucked up from improper use. The Chaparral, goodness, what a beauty; I just keep on wanting to put it back into the display shelf next to the Spyderco Friction Folder. Almost too beautiful (and expensive) to EDC...
gk4ever2
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#4

Post by gk4ever2 »

Here are my 4 current EDC favorites:
- Sage 6 S30V PE
- Manix 2 S30V PE all black
- LeafJumper VG-10 PE
- Military 2 S30V PE all black

Others come and go, like a Native Chief S30V PE and a Police 4 K390 SE.

All are G-10, except for the LJ & P4 (both FRN), and Sage 6 (carbon fiber & G-10).
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Aladinsane
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#5

Post by Aladinsane »

4 GOATs for me are:

1. Caly 3 PE G-10

2. Calypso jr SE Micarta

3. Chaparral SE FRN

4. Dyad jr FRN SPY27

To me, these are all iconic Spyderco knives.
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
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Sharp Guy
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#6

Post by Sharp Guy »

I'd have to list like 10 G.O.A.T.s and even then it's subject to change weekly
Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!
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kobold
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#7

Post by kobold »

Chaparral Birdseye Maple
Native 5 S90V fluted CF
Stretch 2XL G10 Cruwear
OG Millitary S90V
Military/PM2/P3 Native Chief/Native GB2 DF2 PITS Chaparral Tasman Salt 2 SE Caribbean SF SE SpydieChef Swayback Manix2 Sage 1 SSS S2XL G10
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warriorsociologist
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#8

Post by warriorsociologist »

1. Stretch 2 (K390)
2. PM2 (Crucarta)
3. PM2 (Magnacut)
...now this is where it gets tough for me, but today I'm going with:
4. Native V (Magnacut)
- Chris (a.k.a. "rigormootis" on some other forums)
*Current Top 5: Stretch 2, PM2, Endura Emerson, Native V, & Delica Wharncliffe...
*Wishing for: "Salty" Stretch 2 (Magnacut or MagnaMax) & Endura Emerson (Magnacut, LC200N, or SPY27)
da1cyclist
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#9

Post by da1cyclist »

gk4ever2 wrote:
Sat Jan 31, 2026 11:57 am
Here are my 4 current EDC favorites:
- Sage 6 S30V PE
- Manix 2 S30V PE all black
- LeafJumper VG-10 PE
- Military 2 S30V PE all black

Others come and go, like a Native Chief S30V PE and a Police 4 K390 SE.

All are G-10, except for the LJ & P4 (both FRN), and Sage 6 (carbon fiber & G-10).
I love my Sage 6!
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standy99
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#10

Post by standy99 »

PM 2 cru-carta
Spyderco Junction
GB1
Delica 4 pakkawood (Knifecenter knife)
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
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Wartstein
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#11

Post by Wartstein »

Without much considering, but more from a gut feeling and in no particular order:

- Endela K390 SE
- Chaparral LW SE
- Pac Salt 1 H1 SE
- Endura 4 HAP40 PE
Top three going by pocket-time (update October 25):
- EDC: Endela SE (K390). Endela SE (VG10), Manix 2 LW (REX45)
- Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 2 SE (LC200N), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1)
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Larry_Mott
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#12

Post by Larry_Mott »

Ok, here's my list:
Delica Gen1
Delica, current gen.
Calypso Jr
BM Bugout
"Life is fragile - we should take better care of each other, and ourselves - every day!"
//Eva Mott 1941 - 2019. R.I.P.
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Pacu0420
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#13

Post by Pacu0420 »

Sharp Guy wrote:
Sat Jan 31, 2026 12:46 pm
I'd have to list like 10 G.O.A.T.s and even then it's subject to change weekly
Yep, I tried to narrow my list down to 4 and couldn't do it. And, like yours, my list changes quite often. Spyderco just has so many awesome knives
Collector of Spyderco and different types of steel
PaloArt
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#14

Post by PaloArt »

My personal and very humble collection consists of only user knives that I do love to rotate for different kinds of jobs but if I had to choose four G.O.A.Ts then it would be as follows:

Native 5 LW - love zero blade play back lock, blade shape and extreme versatility of the blade
Manbug Leaf shaped SE - lives rent free all the time in one of my pockets, true EDC as it hasn't left my pockets since the purchase
Chaparral LW - absolutely love it for the slicy blade and same reasons as Native 5
Paramilitary 2 G10 in S30V - so universal, great stable steel, golden standard for reliability and performance for me.
horzuff
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Re: 4 G.O.A.T. s

#15

Post by horzuff »

Choosing 4 is pretty simple:
1. Military 2, with AWT scales, the most comfortable in my biggish hands, plus a lot of blade
2. Bodacious, also in AWT scales, still top notch comfort, just a tiny bit less space, less blade but I like the design more
3. Kapara, I just love the design, good balance of usability, cutting performance, beauty, Taichung quality, wish there were more versions out there
4. Stretch 2 XL LW, ultimate utility among Spyderco models, lightweight, lots of blade, comfy handle, great steels, great price
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