I haven't really bought a new knife in over 2 years... I made a very positive post about the Spyderco Native 5 on this forum and that was about the last knife I bought. However I carry a fair amount of gear regularly for various other uses, and don't view folding knives as a defensive item generally; the shiny pocket clip, very hard to conceal and the fact it didn't offer that much over a Sodbuster Jr or a Ladybug at least in my day to day life meant I rarely carried it... so I recently sold it on Ebay.
But I found myself wanting a knife for the occasional camping trip, hike, work-project, or whatever, that might be appealing to carry just for the heck of it outside of those scenarios. Here were my criteria:
3-3.5" blade
Stealthy in pocket (width, clip, ride , thickness)
Ffg or at least great slicer
Leaf blade or drop point
Volcano Frn preferably... or g10
Excellent lock, and suitable for some hard use
No choil (I found the choil on the Native 5 to be very limiting - the knife didn't seem that great in the "extended" non-choil grip and using the choil effectively makes it a very short bladed knife)
Sub-$100
I should have listened to Jshirley earlier as he raved about the manix 2. However I didn't like the hollow saber grind of the regular version nor the blue transparent scales of the first "lightweight" release.
That changed with the recent advent of the lightweight version being released in black. It satisfies all of my criteria VERY well except for "no choil" but the choil is very well-designed and now, with it in hand, I can say for sure I don't mind it. The handle works equally well with or without the choil in use and is the most ergonomic I've used.
The fit and finish on this spyderco is exceptional for a $70-something knife. The grind and edge is one of the best I have seen on a spydie (or any knife) and that's saying something.
EVERY detail indicates multiple generations of refinement, from the enlarged opening-hole to the ridiculously ergonomic scales. I strongly prefer this to my Paramilitary 2 that I probably sold 3 years or so ago.
I will probably post some more thoughts as I use it more, but I'm really happy with it as of now and I don't see that changing...
The pic is just a quick one taken without flash... doesn't do either of my EDCs justice.
But I found myself wanting a knife for the occasional camping trip, hike, work-project, or whatever, that might be appealing to carry just for the heck of it outside of those scenarios. Here were my criteria:
3-3.5" blade
Stealthy in pocket (width, clip, ride , thickness)
Ffg or at least great slicer
Leaf blade or drop point
Volcano Frn preferably... or g10
Excellent lock, and suitable for some hard use
No choil (I found the choil on the Native 5 to be very limiting - the knife didn't seem that great in the "extended" non-choil grip and using the choil effectively makes it a very short bladed knife)
Sub-$100
I should have listened to Jshirley earlier as he raved about the manix 2. However I didn't like the hollow saber grind of the regular version nor the blue transparent scales of the first "lightweight" release.
That changed with the recent advent of the lightweight version being released in black. It satisfies all of my criteria VERY well except for "no choil" but the choil is very well-designed and now, with it in hand, I can say for sure I don't mind it. The handle works equally well with or without the choil in use and is the most ergonomic I've used.
The fit and finish on this spyderco is exceptional for a $70-something knife. The grind and edge is one of the best I have seen on a spydie (or any knife) and that's saying something.
EVERY detail indicates multiple generations of refinement, from the enlarged opening-hole to the ridiculously ergonomic scales. I strongly prefer this to my Paramilitary 2 that I probably sold 3 years or so ago.
I will probably post some more thoughts as I use it more, but I'm really happy with it as of now and I don't see that changing...
The pic is just a quick one taken without flash... doesn't do either of my EDCs justice.
Attachments
Last edited: