First time buyer needs some help . . .

[Surf and Turf]

First off, I'd like to say that choosing a spyderco as my first real knife was a no-brainer! My roommate last year had a Spyderedge Pro-Grip, and the thing was great! I ran around the apartment for a good week looking for stuff to cut up with it. He got mad cause i wouldn't give it back to him!



Anyway, the time has come for me to buy my first serious knife from Spyderco, and since I have never really owned a real nice, personal knife before, I was looking for suggestions on what to purchase. I'm looking for an everyday knife that I can wear to work and use for odd jobs around the house and at work, but also one i can take with me when I hike and camp for jobs like cutting rope and cooking. I would prefer a metal handle, but it's not required. Also, suggestions on whether I should get a plainedge and Spyderedge would be helpful. FYI, money is no object on this purchase; even though I am a poor college student,I will spend as much as I need to, or buy two knives if thats what it comes down to (quality pays for itself!).



Basically, I want a double duty knife that will last me a long time, cause college isn't making me any richer. Since I plan on having the knife for a while, I also plan on purchasing a sharpening kit; any suggstions on what kind of sharpening gear to buy would be helpful also.



That's enough out of me, thanks for the help!

[cgjones]

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum. I would recommend the Native. It sounds like it would fit the bill nicely based on what you are looking for. You can get one with either FRN(Fiber Reinforced Nylon) or stainless steel handles. As far as plain edge or Spyderedge, I would go with the Spyderedge. With normal daily use it'll stay sharp damn near forever, and with the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, it's a snap to make it "scary sharp" again. May your pockets be full of Spyderco knives and your wallet more comfortable to sit on.

The forum member formerly known as cjones.

[thorin hammer]

I agree completely with Carson. I use my Stainless Steel Native every day with no problems yet. My Native is plain edge. And definitely get a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, the best sharpening system I have ever seen.

Ehh, supposed to be Thorin... : )

[Blades]

I don't like the Native, so I'm going to recommend a Ltwt Calypso. Maybe a plain edge Ltwt Wayne Goddard, or the combo edge.
I've been carrying a Delica/Endura combo for 7 years now. They have been cutting everything. The plastic clips broke, but the new versions don't have that problem.
I just received a plain edge Delica II(steel handle) which I've been carrying for a few days. Its a nice knife also. Heavy compared to the Ltwt's, but still nice.
Sorry I haven't been much help. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Get one small Spyderco, and one large Spyderco. One plain edge, one serrated. That will cover all your cutting needs. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>


Blades

[Tightwad]

HI..For what it's worth consider two knives. No one tool can do it all well. I've tried two different
approches. One, is my favorite calypso jr lwt. (what a great everyday knife) and a large plain claypso
(hard to find now) or a goddard lwt.plain. Two, the calypso jr ltw and a 4 /14 &quot; buck (camillus)
stockman three blade. This combo really does it all. It gives you four distinct blade shapes to
cover almost all daily needs Plus the calypso is a lockback of superior quality for those jobs that
need a locked blade. I know the stockman is not a featherweight ,but it's not that bad. Any good
name brand stockman will be with your for years and NOT raise any eyebrows and is inexpensive.
If you would really rather stick with spyderco look into the calypso &amp; dyad combo. Still a killer
everyday tool set. Good luck !

[John Smith]

Hey Surf and Turf. Going to San Diego State? I have some friends down there. Anyway, I recieved an Endura a couple years ago as a gift and it has traveled with me almost every day since then. The blade is the 50/50 combo-edge, which basically takes care of almost any cutting task (practical or impractical). As a fellow college bum, I find myself using it to prepare meals more and more often. It's usefulness just never ends. Generally you can find one for under $50 in a catalogue or online dealer, anything more than $50 is pretty much a rip-off. Keep in mind that FRN (plastic) handle may not seem to be quite as robust as metal or G-10, but it's definitely lightweight (perfect for hiking and backpacking) and low profile. Mine has coped with some very unforgiving environments with no damage whatsoever. It's a worthwhile investment. One more thing, if you do go with an Endura or something of similar size, use extreme discretion when bringing it out in public. Mine has raised quite a few eyebrows and gasps from surrounding city folk. If this is a problem then go with a Delica 50/50, it's more politcally correct.

Edited by - John Smith on 6/23/2001 10:18:42 PM

[Zoro]

You can't go wrong with the Calypso Jr Lw very good cutting knife stays sharp a long time and is easy to keep sharp! And doesn't cost all that much.

Edited by - Zoro on 6/24/2001 7:28:54 AM

[Tightwad]

HI again... My son also reads this forum and he reminded me that while I really like a stockman
he finds a Swiss army knife to be more useful at collage. He is going to SIU here in Illinois and a
Calypso jr lwt. &amp; swiss army is much more useful there. He also noted that the swiss army didn't
get any notice at all when he uses it nor did the calypso jr.. Good luck!

[chambers]

Personally I'd go for the Endura SS handle it's a pretty basic knife with few bells and whistles. It does what a knife should cuts and cuts and cuts and cuts. and my endura has taken a good amount of beating and the sucker just sits there in my pocket taking it and cutting through all of it.

[The Stare]

I join those who have recommended the Native. While it and the Calypso Jr are about the same size, the Native is more robust -- at least in FRN. It arguably has the better steel, tho VG10 is awfully good. I prefer plain edges over combo or serrated.

If you do decide to get 2 knives, then the Dyad offers a lot of capability and flexibility.

And for a sharpening system, the Spyderco 204, with training video is sure the way I'd go, in your position.

Stare

[ftkinney]

i think all the recomadtions are good i am a grad-student now, throughout under- grad i've always had a knive or two, very handy. i've had the same vicornox since the middle of high school (about 12 years) for a large lock blade i used to carry a gerber gator. now i carry a 60/40 tim wegner, with the vicornox, i found the wegner a great genral purpous knife for camping, hiking, studio work, sharping a pencil during a test (using one serrade as a guide will sharpen a pencil quite well). i also perfer a metal handle but after using this knife with G-10 scales i now like them expecialy it if is cold or wet. i personlly don't care for the FRN as much as others do, i think i prefer a heavier handle than most. good luck

FTK

Edited by - ftkinney on 6/25/2001 4:22:36 PM

[sks]

Surf and Turf,

Welcome! The choice for a sharpening system is a no brainer. The Spyderco Sharpmaker is tops!

For everyday carry, I would recommend a Calypso Jr. Ltwt. When out in the woods, if I need a folder I usually go with the Chinook or a Wegner.

All plain edge.

My regular EDC are a Gunting, a Calypso Jr. Ltwt. and a Ladybug (Thanks, Joyce! :&gt;D).

HOpe this helps.

Steve

[vampyrewolf]

My personal carry consists of:
Delica, plainedge
Cricket, tuffram, serrated
ladybug on keys for work/abuse
ladybug in with change for light duty.

I would recommend a native for medium to light duty for EDC and kitchen also.
I find the calypso's only real difference from the Delica os more belly and better steel(and some $$).

I plan to pick up both Chinook and a flatgind, plain edge Dragonfly soon...

[Blue Gill]

I carried a plastic-handled Delica with serrated edge for about 6 years, and I've carried a plastic-handled Endura with serrations for the past 5+ years. I actually had 2 Delicas, but let an old girlfriend keep one for her protection. Now my wife carries my other Delica, and I carry my matte-black-blade Endura. These knives never die! I've had them all factory-sharpened multiple times. My Endura goes everywhere with me - in the pool, in the ocean, rock climbing, etc. My plastic clips haven't broken either, although they are quite worn from the rocks. I think I'll pick up a steel-handled Native for more &quot;formal&quot; dress occasions...