9 Best Spyderco Knife Reviews for 2023 [Buying Guide]

Folder knives are compact and convenient. They’re the easiest to carry around. But things can go terribly wrong if they fail to deploy at the moment. Failing to deploy or the lock mechanism glitches aren’t that uncommon when it comes to folder knives.

Therefore, what you need is a reliable brand. And nothing speaks reliable better than Spyderco! They have been at it for years and have carved some of the greatest knives in the history of knives.

They have a range of products to choose from and today, we’re going to help you choose the best Spyderco knife among them.

All of these blades are excelling in some way or the other. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the finest ones.

Best Spyderco Knife Reviews

With so many locking and non-locking knife options, it’s not easy to choose one. Therefore, we have listed the best products for your safety and comfort.

1. Spyderco Yojimbo 2 Folding Knife

When it comes to owning a safe blade, there isn’t a better option than this one. The locking mechanism is top-notch, making this one of the safest products to have.

The design is classy and perfect for users who want the retro design on their blades. While there are products with much unique design but this one will never go out of style.

With pocket knives, you don’t focus on strength but on the sharpness. This blade is very sharp with no teeth nor any saw-tooth serrations.

When you hold it in your hands, it will feel like an extension of your body. Moreover, the Yojimbo hand grip uses special plastic with woven glass fiber. Therefore, it is strong, rigid, and won’t slip out of your hand in any situation.

This cutter is also immune to temperature changes and toxic chemicals. The blade is, of course, resistant to chemicals, but the grip also has a rigid construction. 

Further, this was designed by a defense trainer, so it’s the perfect tool for protecting yourself. The thumb forward grip makes you adjust to it right away so that you waste no time adjusting to it.

However, when ordering this, you have to be extra careful as you might get fake products. So only buy from reliable sources.

In terms of price, this is priced a little higher than your usual products. But with the ergonomic design and material, the price is nothing to fret over.

2. Spyderco Para Military 2 Folding Knife

We love this knife because of its customizable features. You can buy this in plane edge or spider edge. You can also get the blade in two different shades.

Furthermore, the handle comes in six different shades. You can customize it to black, midnight blue or camo.

On top of that, the plane blade is razor-sharp and often called a smooth blade because it cuts very smoothly. Therefore, this isn’t a knife for the faint-hearted. This can cut deep and fast. You can get through most of your cutting job with this.

This product is also very safe. You can keep it in your pocket and anywhere else without worrying about it. The reason behind that is the Spyderco patented lock. The compression lock uses a spring to make it run smoothly and securely.

Moreover, it’s very easy on the hands and can be used one-handedly as well. The round hole on the blade is accessible and makes deploying it with one hand possible.

Different people will find this useful for different reasons. You can keep this for your safety, or you can also use this for your daily needs. You can just about complete all your knife tasks with this.

According to reviews of customers, this could very well be the finest Spyderco knife out there. So there is no reason to not own this nifty razor.

3. Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight Folding Knife

When you own a pocket knife, you want it to be quick and easy to use. This knife is the ideal pocket knife.

To start with, its lightweight body makes it the perfect companion to carry around with. When knives are heavy, they’re not the ideal portable tool.

But just because it weighs less doesn’t mean you get any less function out of it. Unlike most folding knives, this is much longer and has two different blade styles.

The blade is thicker through the center and sharper on edge. The flat bevels give you a very good angle for cutting smoothly. This blade is a lot thinner, so the bevels make up for the width so that you can get your desired result.

Pocket knives without proper safety features can injure you by deploying on its own. The back lock on this is there to prevent such accidents and make this a proper safe product.

Moreover, to give you a better feel, the handle has a bi-directional texture. The texture feels good and pleasant on your hand.

4. Spyderco C81GPBK2 Para Military 2 Black G-10 Handled Knife w. PlainEdge Blade

If you think pocket-knives aren’t sharp enough, then you’re in for a surprise. With the para military 2 black, you get a sharp cutting edge. For clean and unfettered cutting, you won’t get a better blade than this. You’ll be glad to learn that many consider it as the best Spyderco knife for self defense.

The execution of the blade might make you feel as if you’re using a long heavy blade. But the quirk of this Spydercro knife is it’s about the size of your hand.

Now the other reason that we couldn’t help but enter this in our list is owing to its G-10 handle. With the woven handle, you get hard-plastic like feel that firmly attaches itself to your hand. Hence, there is no chance this will slip out of your hand. But that’s not all; the handle is known for its durability.

Another advantage of the G-10 handle is you can easily change its appearance to your preferred color. Unlike aluminum or other handles, this one is extremely customizable.

But that is not the only reason why we love the handle; its unique shape will fit into your hands and give you immense control as you swing it.

Much like the other spydercro products, the pivot bushing system helps to smooth out the opening and closing of the blade. Alongside that, the nested compression lock is also a good addition to it. There’s nothing about this that you can’t love, but when buying, be careful of counterfeits.

5. Spyderco Atlantic Salt Lightweight Folding Knife

If you want a blade that will last you years, then this is the product for you.

While folded knives feature blades that are not as strong as fixed blades, this one stands out for its blades right away.

One complain people often have with their knives is how they get rusty after a while. The salt series is there to prevent exactly that. It uses a nitrogen-based blade to prevent any type of corrosion or oxidation. Therefore, your blade will maintain its sharp and clean construction for a long time.

The serrated teeth can cut through tough surfaces with ease. This is Spyderco’s patented design with one small and two large teeth pattern. The advantage of this is it substantially increases the edge, giving you more space to work with.  

As this is not a plane blade, expecting a smooth cut is futile. However, this is more powerful, and you can cut without exerting extra pressure.

Moreover, with the hollow grind, you get a thinner edge. Thinner edge on a stronger blade is one of the best combinations for a blade. Therefore, working with this will be like cutting through a breeze.

Although this is priced on the higher side. This is an expenditure that shouldn’t bother you too much because there are very few pocket knives that don’t rust in water. This is the EDC knife that you can actually rely on to have your back.

6. Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife

If you’ve heard of Spyderco, it’s likely you have heard of Tenacious too, as this is one of their best sellers.

The other reason to love this is its price. This is one of the most well priced Spyderco knives, which explains its popularity. But with the price, you’re getting a top-quality pocket knife. It is good enough to compete with the expensive ones.

This model features a full flat grind. Hence, it has a flat bevel from top to bottom. Flat grinds are perfect for the under-confident users who aren’t all that sure about their chopping skills. So if you’re worried about self-injuries, this knife will save you the thought.

However, the flat grind doesn’t mean its blunt; this one cuts just as smoothly. Moreover, the stainless blade makes it strong too.

Further, the handle weighs a bit more compared to the blade. So some might find that a little uncomfortable in the beginning. But once you adjust to it, you can use it efficiently.

So, just like its name, this blade is reliable and strong. If you’re in a pinch, this will hold out and make itself useful.

This also features the hourglass pocket clip, which can be placed in multiple positions. Therefore, whether you’re a lefty or a righty, with this knife place it so that you may use it right away.

7. Spyderco Delica 4 Flat Ground Folding Knife

If you enjoy carrying pocket knives then you probably understand, it’s not just about safety. These knives also carry a considerable fashion value.

Hence, the Delica is a precious model for those who give the aesthetics a high value.

You can find this in many different colors, including black blue, purple, camo, etc. The handle is not only colorful but also very ergonomic. It gives you a strong grip. The textured handle also helps to prevent slipping and adds to the firmness of the grip.

Moreover, the flat grind blade can cut through anything. It is easy to sharpen when the edges get dull. The blade is made of good quality stainless steel and is sturdy, much like the regular Spyderco products.

The back lock is also reliable. You don’t have to worry about unintended closures. Therefore, you’re also less likely to get an injury from this.

Compared to the features and the price, you are getting a great deal. The price is reasonable and affordable. This will suit the hands of all users irrespective of your gender.

Further, this has a longer handle. Therefore, you can really feel safe while using it.

You also get the Emerson opening feature for deploying this almost immediately. Its lightweight body only further strengthens its quick-paced use.

Hence, if you’re looking for a quick deploying knife that cuts deep and is within your price range, you can definitely try this one out.

8. Spyderco Bug Folding Knife

If you’re done with the usual knives and want something that gives you much more satisfaction, this product is for you. This is the smallest knife on this list. But don’t let its size derail you as this is an interesting tool to have.

The solid stainless steel handle and blade will get your attention instantly. But it isn’t just for the show; the construction makes this a very hard nut to crack.

If you’re working on something that requires you precision and control, then this will support you rightly. You can’t break this easily, unlike most pocket knives. Therefore, this is a great tool for engraving, as well.

The round hole defines that this is a pocket knife. It helps you open and close singlehandedly. On top of that, the hole on the handle is also useful if you wish to attach to a pendant or key ring.

While a complete steel body might give you second thoughts as they might corrode sooner, we urge you not to dwell on it. This steel contains a good deal of chromium to prevent corrosion and rusting.

Due to its size, this doesn’t have a locking mechanism. But it is still fairly secure if used properly.

Although it’s more of a gift or a showpiece, you can work with the plain edge if you’re doing small engravings. The price is also well within range, so this will be a great addition to your pocket knives column.

9. Spyderco, Inc. 9007198 para Military 2 G-10 Folding Knife

This is one of the best Spyderco knives and also very expensive.

The first thing you notice on this is its woodsy handle. The handle has a very nice texture, and you get a firm grip on it. The texture also makes it non-slippery and temperature resistant.  

Coming to the blade, we really like the shape of the blade. You can tell if properly sharpened, it will be razor-sharp and will cut through anything.

You can deploy and close this single-handedly. On top of that, it can be locked with the same hand as well.

It has a couple of interesting features going on for it. The thumb wrap on the top makes it very comfortable to use. Adding to that, you get a nice little finger choil on the front. These small features really go into the show; Spyderco designed this with utmost care and precision.

The pocket clip can be placed in different positions as well, tip-up or tip-down, adjust it according to your wish.

This is a product we can get behind confidently because you can tell right away this is durable and very sturdy.

In terms of material, it’s all stainless blade, inside and out. Therefore, if you’re willing to spend, you can buy this with your eyes closed. For pocket knives, size matters a lot, and this one has the perfect size. It fits in comfortably.

Buying Guide for Spyderco Knife

A pocket knife is something you carry around with you everywhere. If it isn’t to your liking, then the whole purchase is wasted. Furthermore, there’s a whole variety of brands and products to choose from. All this can get daunting for anyone.

Therefore, to make it more precise, you need to know what features you need to focus on.

Blade

This is an obvious point. The blade is the first thing to consider when buying knives. No matter how fancy they look or feel, if the blade is dull, there is no point in buying the knife.

Blades can have a hollow grind or a flat grind. For amateur users, flat grinds are safer as they have smaller edges. Therefore, injuries are less likely to occur.

But if you’re looking for the finest results, then hollow grinds are surely more useful. The extended bevels make them sharper and give them a greater edge.

Moreover, you also need to look into the blade length. For pocket knives, you don’t want them to be too long. Longer blades don’t make up for a good pocket knife.

Handle

Having a good handle is just as important, if not more. If the handle is wobbly, it increases risk. The handle also holds in the blade. Therefore, it needs to have good material that is stable enough to hold in the blade.

Moreover, how comfortably you can use your dagger also depends on its handle. If the grip is uncomfortable or slippery, you won’t enjoy using the tool.

A good handle doesn’t necessarily mean a textured handle. But textures do help to make it better. But that depends on your preference and what feels right for you. The handle mostly depends on what you think is a good fit for your hand.

Edge

Plain edges are more popular because you get a smooth and clear cut. Plain edged blades are better for push cuts. If you’re designing with your blade, then the plain edge is what you want. However, they need to be sharped often. But it’s easy to sharpen them and can be done easily too.

The other type of edge is the serrated edge. The small teeth on it are perfect for pull cuts. These are great for cutting tougher materials. However, if you’re sharpening them, you have a whole other thing coming for you. Perhaps, the biggest disadvantage of a serrated blade is how uneven the cuts are. It gives you a clumsy result.

Finally, there are blades with both the plain and serrated edge. These are good for cutting, but sharpening them can be a pinch.

Price

Price is usually the first thing you check when you like a product. Good knives have greater prices but they’re usually worth it too. However, for knives, the low priced ones will do the job, but it has added safety concerns.

Blade Deployment

For Spyderco, their round hole makes it easy to open the blade with one hand. That is something you consider when buying pocket knives. As their biggest attribute is saving time, you want to open them as quickly as possible.

Therefore, check whether you can easily deploy it with one hand.

Locking Mechanism

Locks prevent your knives from closing in on your hand and hurting your fingers. Locks keep them from opening and closing accidentally. Therefore, locks are important for your safety. However, they can get lagged, so check if the locks are smooth before buying your knife.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why choose Spyderco?

They have been in the business for a long time and know their ins and outs. So they can be trusted and relied upon.

2. What is a good size of a knife?

A good pocket knife should be easy on your hands. They can be found in various sizes, so a good size depends on your hand's size.

3. Does Spyderco sharpen the knives?

If you want to send your knives for sharpening, then you can. But you have to pay for the shipping price.

4. Is it safe to carry pocket knives?

The safety is more on you than the knife. If the knife has a good locking mechanism, it will be safe to use.

5. Do Spyderco knives break easily?

If you use it properly, it won’t break. However, you have to keep in mind these are pocket knives; they aren’t meant for cutting tough and big materials. If you force it to cut through it, then it might break.

Conclusion

Safety is one of the biggest concerns for pocket knives. We prefer Spyderco for that very reason.

Hence, in this best Spyderco knife review guide, we focused on products that are safe and effective.