Best Spyderco Knives

The History of Spyderco

Spyderco was founded, in 1976, by the Glessers, who initially focused on selling their first product around the country at trade shows. The company’s C01 Worker Pocket Knife was introduced in 1981, pioneering the concept of a round hole in the blade for one-handed opening, the option of a serrated edge and a pocket clip on the handle. These design elements virtually revolutionized the knife industry. Spyderco continues its long history of excellence in the knife industry with innovative designs and quality craftsmanship.

Why The Round Hole?

Spyderco’s iconic Round Hole, patented in 1981, helped define the form of the modern pocket knife. The hole in the blade offers a larger surface area and greater reliability when opening the knife with one hand. Other one-handed-opening devices like thumbstuds and disks interfere with the cutting action of the blade. It has become the symbol of the Spyderco brand, making any Spyderco knife instantly recognizable.

The Best Spyderco Pocket Knives

Sypderco Dragonfly 2

The Dragonfly has always represented an extraordinary blend of compact size and full-service cutting performance. Now that performance takes another quantum leap forward with the addition of a Wharncliffe blade profile. The blade of choice of many savvy knife users, the Wharncliffe’s perfectly straight cutting edge offers extreme cutting power near the heel and scalpel-like precision at the tip—especially when combined with a low-friction, full-flat grind. The Dragonfly 2 also has the injection-molded FRN (fiber-glass reinforced) handle, high-traction Bi-Directional Texturing, sturdy back lock mechanism and reversible deep-pocket wire clip, just like the original.
Pros:

• The Wharncliffe blade’s straight cutting edge offers extreme cutting power near the heel and scalpel-like precision at the tip.
• It has a fiber-glass reinforced handle with Spyderco’s high-traction Bi-Directional Texturing for a slip-free grip.
• It has a much smaller profile than standard pocket knives, making it easy to carry anywhere.

Cons:

• For someone, who wants a larger knife, it is definitely much smaller than expected.

Spyderco Para 3

The award-winning Spyderco Para 3 is rapidly redefining the state of the art in ultralight cutting tools. For tactical end users who prefer subdued blade finishes, this revolutionary design is now also available with a stealthy black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. Its PlainEdge blade is full-flat ground from CTS BD1N stainless steel and supported by a streamlined version of Spyderco’s patented Compression Lock mechanism. To complement the blade’s finish, the screws and reversible deep-pocket carry clip on its injection-molded, fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) handle also sport a non-reflective black coating.
Pros:

• This is an ultra-light pocket knife with a streamlined profile, taking up almost no space when you carry it in your pocket.
• The fully-serrated, CTS-BD1N blade has a stealthy black, DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating, which can stand-up to tough use.
• It has Spyderco’s patented Compression Lock mechanism.

Cons:

• Some people have found that it’s kind of difficult to open and close the blade.

Spyderco Endura 4

The Endura was one of the first, lightweight clip-carry pocket knives and remains one of Spyderco’s popular models. Now in its fourth generation, it can be found in a wide range of variations. The lightweight Endura 4 has skeletonized stainless steel liners and FRN handles. This elite version of the design also features a full-flat-ground, PlainEdge blade crafted from ZDP-189—an ultra-high-carbon steel that produces an extremely hard, long-wearing edge. Its slim, highly refined blade grind offers incredible edge geometry and a distal taper that reduce friction for optimal cutting performance. A sturdy back lock mechanism housed in the handle locks the blade securely open when in use yet allows easy ambidextrous lock release. Molded in a wide variety of color options, the fiberglass-reinforced-nylon handle features Bi-Directional Texturing for a secure, non-slip grip and a four-position hourglass pocket clip that supports left or right-side tip-up or tip-down carry.
Pros:

• This pocket knife offers a wide range of handle colors to choose from for a more personalized feel.
• Spyderco’s Bi-Directional Texturing grooves exponentially improve your grip when using it.
• The blade is crafted from ZDP-189, an ultra-high-carbon steel that produces an extremely hard, long-wearing edge.

Cons:

• Although, incredibly sharp with a long-wearing edge, the blade is very thin and can snap under pressure.
• Early rust formation has been reported by some owners.

Spyderco Delica

The Spyderco Delica has many of the same features as the Endura 4 including the bi-directional texturing molded onto the handle’s surface for slip-free traction. Also, inside the handle are the dual skeletonized stainless steel liners, which strengthen the knife without additional weight. They double as an anchor for external and internal components to attach, generating more sturdiness and rigidity. The blades are full flat-ground VG-10 with a thinner highly refined cutting edge and a larger 13mm opening hole. Added to the blade’s spine is slip resistant jimping. Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open/close action and the clip is upgraded to a four-way tip-up, tip-down, left- or right-handed clip.
Pros:

• Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the opening and closing action of the pocket knife.
• It has a larger Round Hole opening, at 13mm, for supreme control when deploying the blade.

Cons:

• There have been some issues with the pocket clip because it forces the handle to stick-out above the pocket line.

Spyderco Tenacious

Being tenacious means holding fast in tireless pursuit of a goal. This admirable quality is vividly reflected in the Spyderco Tenacious, a mid-sized folding knife packed with both performance and value. Its leaf-shaped blade is full-flat ground from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and cloaked in a stealthy, non-reflective black coating. The fully accessible trademark Round Hole allows for ambidextrous one-handed operation. The G-10 handle’s full, skeletonized stainless steel liners are the heart of its sturdy liner lock mechanism and the foundation for non-slip, textured scales. A four-position, black-coated pocket clip provides the option of tip-up or tip-down carry on both sides of the body and straddles a lined lanyard hole that allows the easy attachment of fobs and lanyards.
Pros:

• The four-way pocket clip allows for multiple easy draw and carry options.
• This is a great utility knife for cutting rope and other outdoors tasks.

Cons:

• Some people have found it challenging to quickly flick open.
• The blade is coated, not bare stainless steel, which can inhibit a smooth opening.