10 Best Spyderco Knives 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Spyderco Knife

What’s the best Spyderco knife? Fortunately, this company offers a ton of different options, so there’s a knife for every application! We’ve done all of the research and review to bring you the top ten knives that Spyderco offers. There’s a pocket knife for everyone here! Before we get started, here are some things you should know about these knives that will help you make your decision. Let’s get started!

Handle Material: The handle on a pocket knife can be made of a variety of materials, from G-10 plastic to stainless steel, titanium, or nylon reinforced by fiberglass. The choice is yours, and it’s down to how you’ll use it.

Size: Here, we’ll tell you the dimensions of the knife. Usually, these are the dimensions of the knife when the blade is extended, and not when it is folded up and put into your pocket. This is important for your decision.

Folding: Does the knife fold down, or is it a static straight knife? Most of the Spyderco knives on this list are folding knives, which means that they can be safely and neatly folded up and placed into your pocket.

Color: This refers mainly to the color of the handle so that you can match your Spyderco knife with the rest of your gear. This is a neat factor that is ultimately down to you in the end.

Sheath: Does the knife come with a sheath? When the blade folds, it won’t come with a sheath because the handle acts as one when the knife is closed. Otherwise, a sheath might be an included accessory.

Edge Type: What type of edge does the knife have? Though most of the knives on this list come with plain knives, a portion do come with serrated or combination edges to keep things interesting. Check that out here.

Top 10 Products

Now that we’ve told you about all of our parameters, you have a better idea of why we categorized the following Spyderco knives as we did. Our top pick and budget pick are the best of the best, so check them out first before you move down to the rest of the list. We’ve brought you the top ten Spyderco knives for all different purposes so that you can make an informed decision.

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 Pocket Knife

The best Spyderco knife on our list is the Yojimbo 2. This folding knife was designed by Michael Janich, a well-known personal defense trainer. As such, this blade has been specifically formulated at every junction to be the most ergonomic and comfortable blade imaginable. It works with the natural contours of your hand to give you the most positive control and surface contact with the blade. The way the G-10 plastic handle is constructed helps to encourage a thumb-forward grip so that the knife feels more like an extension of your hand. It’s a strong blade that transfers energy all the way to the tip. Because of the way this is designed, this is the best Spyderco knife for self-defense on our list. It also comes with an ambidextrous clip to keep it on your belt and a compression lock with nested stainless steel liners to keep your blade in excellent condition. This is a great Spyderco knife!

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Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife

Next up, we have the best Spyderco knife for EDC, or every day carry. The Tenacious knife is a durable mid-sized knife with a laminated G-10 plastic handle that is ergonomically designed. It gives you a lot of contact with the handle for great control. Tucked away in that handle are skeletonized steel liners that help the handle stay rigid and strong, without making it heavier or harder to hold. The stainless blade is black, coated beautifully from the cutting edge right up to the spine, which is ground flat. This blade has the most cutting edge for the blade length, which is about 3.4 inches. It comes equipped with a four-way pocket clip so that you can carry it in a variety of positions, and that’s why this blade is definitely one of the best for every day carry situations. You can use it tip up or tip down on the right or left sides.

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Spyderco Endura 4 Damascus Knife

The Endura 4 is another great Spyderco knife that folds down to be less than five inches long. This blade is one of the most beautiful on our list, made of VG-10 stainless steel that is covered over with 15-layer Damascus. You get the beautiful Damascus steel ripple right on the blade, which is a beautiful thing to behold on this amazing knife. The blade is flat-ground and features a titanium handle that is also polished and silver. The glass clip is another classy feature that puts this knife above the rest. The edge is plain rather than serrated or combination, which gives you a ton of cutting power that transmits right to the sharp tip. The handle is a high-tech construction that gives you a comfortable grip and ultimate control over this beautiful Damascus knife. You’re going to love having it in your collection or keeping it by your side during the day. It’s a great blade!

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Spyderco ParaMilitary Knife

Spyderco’s ParaMilitary knife is the first of the occupation-designated knives on our list. This knife was created with the highest-quality materials, with a comfortable grip and ergonomics that can’t be beaten by the original design. It’s also more affordable, making it one of the best Spyderco knives for the money. The blade is 3.5mm thick so it transfers energy well, while still being thin enough to create a workable profile. It looks and feels great, even in the closed position, and it’s lightweight as well. You can use the four-way carry clip to carry it tip down, tip up, or for a draw with the right or left hand. It has a compression lock to keep it right where you need it until you release the blade. It’s got the same performance as other popular flat-ground blades, but with a lengthened tip and additional surface work. The Bushing Pivot System give it fluid motion and ease of use.

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Spyderco Byrd Cara Knife

The Byrd Cara Knife is one of the best Spyderco knives ever made, with a plain edge and a handle made of fiberglass reinforced nylon. This knife is lightweight and compact and has been re-engineered from the original design. Now, it features a full-flat-ground blade so that you get more cutting precision and edge geometry. The textured nylon handle is bi-directional and allows you to use it with either hand, which is helped out by the four-position clip that allows you to draw with each hand equally. The handle is screwed together and includes bronze phosphor pivoting washers so that it folds and unfolds easily and smoothly. It also features nested handle liners to keep it rigid and easy to hold, as well as a screw-together construction to reduce bulk. This knife only weighs about 5.6 ounces all told, which makes it feel more like an extension of your hand. Leave creating a superior design to Spyderco.

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Spyderco Manix 2 Knife

The Manix 2 is another of the best Spyderco knife, EDC approved. You can carry this knife around with you every day and it’s going to serve you well. It has an ambidextrous clip that allows you to carry the knife tip-up on your hip. It has an oversized piped lanyard hole so you can further attach it to you, and includes a thumb hole pull to make it easier to open and close. The blade itself is a stainless blade with a black coating and black pocket clip for a great aesthetic that you’re going to love carrying around with you. The ball bearing lock allows you to open and close the lock easily, and with a locking mechanism that isn’t based in compression. It’s down to your choice if you prefer a compression lock, but the ball bearing is just as smooth and effective for getting the knife folded and unfolded quickly. You’ll love it!

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Spyderco Police Model Knife

The Police Model knife by Spyderco has a stainless steel handle that already sets it apart from the other blades on this list. The second thing is that that makes this blade unique is the combination edge that allows you to saw with the serrated edge and cut cleanly with the plain edge. This is a great multi-purpose knife that could serve you well in the great outdoors. The clip allows you to carry the knife for a right-handed draw with the tip down. The handle can be embellished or engraved if you wish to personalize your knife, and the spine has a swedge to reduce the weight of the knife. This makes it more comfortable to handle and carry around. The blade is hollow-ground and lightweight as well, made of VG-10 stainless steel. It has a thumb hole pull for further comfort and has ‘police’ engraved on the blade for some extra embellishment. You’ll love it!

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Spyderco Atlantic Knife

Spyderco’s Atlantic Knife is also a unique model on our list. The serrated blade is hollow-ground from H-1 steel, a higher-grade stainless alternative that is completely immune to rusting and provides excellent performance when it comes to cutting. It also gets tougher with use and doesn’t require heat treatment that might weaken lesser steels. The back-lock mechanism has a ton of strength to keep your knife folded and to make it easier to unfold. The handle is a yellow nylon construction that is reinforced by nylon and has a textured pattern so it’s easier and more comfortable to grip. The yellow nylon handle is a deviation from the regular black or silver, so it looks unique as well. It’s a mariner’s knife that is easy to open with wet hands or with gloves, and you can use it underwater to amazing effect. You can attach a lanyard through the hole to keep it on you underwater.

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Spyderco Delica4 Knife

The Delica4 is another amazing everyday carry knife with a four-way convenience clip that allows you to carry the knife how you want. It’s built for performance and durability so that it won’t wear down on you and the plain edge has plenty of cutting power. The handle is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon, with a bi-directional texture that gives you a better grip while you’re doing wet work, or even during normal use. The handle has internal steel liners with phosphor bronze washers. The blade is made of VG-10 stainless steel that won’t rust. They are flat saber-ground for stronger tips that transfer cutting power better. You can get the handle in various colors, from this black/grey one to orange and red, as well as a ton of other options. Choose your favorite for your every day carry a pocket knife. The improved ergonomics on the handle make this a comfortable knife to use regularly.

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Spyderco Byrd Hawkbill Knife

Last on our list is the best Spyderco knife under 3 inches, and it comes in the form of this hooked serrated blade that looks like it could definitely do some damage. It has a claw-like tip that’s most commonly used for fishing and other outdoor hunting-type activities for small game. It’s a flat-grind blade with a back locking mechanism, and the handle is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon. The edge is fully serrated and great at cutting through fibrous materials and webbing. It’s got improved control and is hollow-ground to make it more lightweight and easier to use. The blade is ideal for cutting downwards, and away from the body. The handle has a bi-directional textured finish so that even during your wet work, your hand won’t slip off. There are steel liners in the handle as well to improve stiffness and keep the weight of the knife down overall. It’s a small, effective blade with a four-way clip!

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Best Spyderco Knives

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 Pocket Knife

Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife

How to Choose the Best Spyderco Knife

Top 10 Products

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 Pocket Knife

Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife

Spyderco Endura 4 Damascus Knife

Spyderco ParaMilitary Knife

Spyderco Byrd Cara Knife

Spyderco Manix 2 Knife

Spyderco Police Model Knife

Spyderco Atlantic Knife

Spyderco Delica4 Knife

Spyderco Byrd Hawkbill Knife

About the Author

TOP PICK

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 Pocket Knife