Best Spyderco Knives in 2022
Spyderco makes some of the best knives on the planet. Straight out of Golden, Colorado, they spend time, dedicated research and real-world application to continuously craft their stellar blades. From kitchen to collectible, locking flip knives to tactical survival Godsends, there’s a clear view on their passion—creating the most phenomenal knives on the planet. There are too many good ones to count, but somehow, we managed to boil it down to a top sixteen best Spyderco knives list.
The Best Spyderco Knife
1ParaMilitary 2 G-10 Plain Edge Spyderco Knife
What’s not to love about this phenomenal blade? Born in the United States and equipped to handle every situation you can throw at it, the G-10 model has a killer grip position for maximum stability during use, and promises to relinquish your fatigue while using it. This knife isn’t for the faint of heart—this cuts through numerous materials, and includes Spyderco’s unique Pivot Bushing System, which makes the opening and closing of the blade seamless and safe. Carry it your way with the two-position clip, and be ready for anything, the Spyderco way. There is a reason it’s the best choice in out best Spyderco knives guide. Be sure to also check out our list of the best Karambit knives for more great items like this.
2Dragonfly 2 Spyderco Knife
Plain edge and folding, sporting the signature industrial appeal of the Sypderco brand, in Dragonfly 2 you get a compact pocket folding knife with some serious power. Originally from Japan, these spectacular knives are 5” from hilt to blade when opened, and fold up to just over 3” when closed. They continue with their epic ergonomic design that makes it simple to hold and easy to manage, while remaining lightweight and fitting in your EDC pouch. The spine cusp positions are specifically designed to give you control over the cutting edge; all in all, this knife is a fantastic addition to your collection, and perfect for those looking to add a little extra protection to themselves.
3Tenacious Plain Edge Blade Spyderco Knife
Cost-effective and stealthy-looking, Tenacious Plain Edge Blade runs 7.75” from hilt to blade tip, and is comprised of solid steel. Sporting their favorite G-10 series handle, this high-quality blade saves you cash while packing some serious power. The blade itself is underneath the standard “Four finger rule,” which may or may not apply to your municipality, so definitely check that out before carrying this. The signature circular hole in the blade itself is present with a screwed-down, locking handle, upholding their quality and the reason behind our decision to dedicate an entire guide to their amazing knives. Our handy guide to the best Ka-Bar knives features more great products like this.
4Tenacious G-10 Combination Edge Blade
Utilizing the Spyderco metals, attention to detail and unique design, the Tenacious G-10 Combination Edge Blade gives you a half-serrated edge for those instances that call for it, while also retaining the plain edge for clean slices. As always, their bolt-together, lock-down hilt perfectly cases your blade while reducing the overall length down to just over 3”, much like the tenacious plain edge model. Durable, signature power that you can’t get anywhere else—that’s basically how we sum up Spyderco’s collection. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best boot knives on the market today.
5Endura4 Lightweight Flat Ground Knife
Flat ground or flat grind blades are paramilitary and military use, giving you ample power when pegged downward. They focus on a rivet-style blade end, while Endura4 Lightweight Flat Ground Knife finds a hybrid between a folding knife model and flat ground. Screwed-together bolt-down construction gives you flexibility while providing a dependable hold on your blade. With phosphor bronze washers and skeletonized internal liners made up of steel, you get power and color variation apart from the hazard orange hilt material. Your blade comes just under four inches, and provides the power and strength of all Spyderco products. For more great knives, check out our diving knives review.
6Bug SS Slip Joint Plain Edge Knife
Always wanted to have a kunai like a ninja warrior? This is as close as you’re going to get. Made of satin-finished stainless steel, Bug SS Slip Joint Plain Edge Knife is so close to crossing the lines of legality that it isn’t even available in all zip codes in the United States. You can engrave this blade—the smallest knife in the Spyderco lineup—to personalize it as a gift or to commemorate an event for your own personal collection. The non-locking slip-joint mechanism is intended for consistent open function. This is a perfect keychain knife you can carry everywhere.
7Police Stainless Steel Folding Pocket Knife
This plain-edged blade looks like something straight out of the future. All stainless steel and designed like the runway model of all knives, this 1/8” thick blade comes with a lightweight 5.6oz body and seamless flair when you showcase it to your mates. Police is the ultimate knife for survival, self-defense, and showing off to your friends. It’s a showstopper piece that looks fantastic on a plaque, mantle, or as part of your ornate collection. Love this product? Check out our review of the best Benchmade pocket knives for our top picks.
8The Endura 4
With an excellent combination edge and lightweight construction, durability and form come out in full fashion. Titanium carbonitride-coated steel eliminates the potentiality for corrosion, while the ergonomic VG-10 hilt is easy to grab and hard to let go of. David Boye Dent locks keep your blade in place when no in use, while the four-position carry makes for excellent support. Side-carry or with the tip-down, with Endura 4 you’re ready to fly any time of night. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best tactical knives.
9Atlantic Salt Spyderco Knife
Rust-free and dangerous as they come, this classic paramilitary-style blade comes with the strongest grip on any ergonomic handle in the Spyderco collection, and a serrated edge along the entire length to give you maximum power and a stronger cut. Clip it onto your belt or utilize tie-up carry with the black titanium pocket clip or throw it into your EDC kit. Atlantic Salt comes made of H-1 steel, which is exclusive and powerful, giving you a unique addition to your collection. Our camping knives guide offers more great products like this so check it out.
10Pacific Salt Black
Plain edge and Japanese-oriented, Pacific Salt Black blade comes with the signature circular hole in the blade, and same ergonomic, grip-ready handle that you’ll come to love across all Spyderco products. Similar to the Atlantic Salt, you get exclusive H-1 steel that prevents rust, and takes an absolute ton to dull. The black injected-molded fiberglass and nylon handle ensures you’ll retain power when you’re holding it, while the blade’s diamond-like carbon coating puts it to the test—every test you could ever throw at it. The ultimate hunting knife.
11Yojimbo 2 G-10 Pocket Knife
Whatever happened to the good old fashioned pocket knife design? Well, Spyderco didn’t forget their roots. Designed from the personal defense trainer, Michael Janich, to act as the perfect extension of your body in a situation where you need to defend yourself. Outfitted with a compression lock for storing the blade and nested stainless steel liners, Yojimbo 2 G-10 knife encourages a thumb-forward grip on the hilt, while the reinforced ergonomics feel natural in your hand, lefty or righty. Make sure you also check our selection of the best automatic knives for more great knife options.
12Spyderco Dog Tag Plain Edge Folder
We’re ending on an odd note with a unique design that you’re not likely to have seen elsewhere. Spyderco Dog Tag Plain Edge Folder comes complete with a non-reflective titanium carbo-nitride coating, single-beveled 1.23” blade, and handle made from machine-grade carbon for maximum durability. It includes their patented G10 hilt laminate for an excellent grip despite the rectangular shape, and perfect control over the blade. For more unique knives check out our pen knives review.
13Manix 2 Lightweight Folding Knife
It’s like having X-ray vision into the interior workings of your handle. The Manix 2 comes with the cutlery hole in the blade where it meets the clip, sporting the Spyderco logo right beside it. The best locks for any knife handle are ball bearings, and this has ultra smooth-moving operators. Flicking in and out of the hilt is a flick of the wrist, aided by the weight distribution from all three ounces of high-grade co-polymer and steel. Three designs, plain-edged blade, and fiberglass-reinforced, every inch of this high-end blade is itching to be at your side for any and all purposes. This is a great survival knife.
14G-10 Plain Edge Spyderco Knife
Spyderco doesn’t produce anything beneath their extremely high expectations and requirements for all their blades, which can impose a higher sticker price. The Resilience Black G-10 blade defies that overhead cost while sticking true to their beliefs, keeping the quality and sharpness to a very fine criteria. Components include a four-way hourglass clip, phosphor bronze for easy opening and closing, as well as a screw-together build for simple cleaning and repairs. You even get a punch hole through the base of the hilt, making it simple to hook onto your external frame backpack, or simply toss into your preferred EDC kit for quick access.
15Assist Lightweight Combo Knife
There isn’t one thing about Assist Lightweight Combo Knife that isn’t absolutely epic. You get a bright hazard orange paint job on the outside, making it optimal for emergency crew and personnel use, which is what this was designed around. Don’t worry though, civilians who are well-versed with their blade handling skills are also ready to handle the hilt, which comes with ergonomic finger grip designs molded right into it. Part of the original design was focused around Swedish firefighters, giving them a quick way to tighten their blade and hack through thick rope with ease in rescue missions. No matter what way you spin it, this fits multiple uses for top-of-the-line needs. If you are a real knife liver, then check out our Bushcraft knives review as well.
16Ambitious Black G-10 Plain Ege Knife
Last but not least, we come down to the most cost-effective and simple to handle G-10 blade in the lineup. First and foremost, Ambitious Black G-10 Plain Ege Knifes are tested beyond compare for extended durability, but also come with phosphor bronze washers for quick and simple action or concealment. Spyderco puts their hearts into every knife, from the smallest to the limited edition series they’re known for. To know a bit more about the brand, and what makes them the best American-made, global retailer knife brand on the market, keep reading through our Spyderco buying guide below.
Things To Consider When Purchasing A Spyderco Knife
Spyderco: About the Brand
These blades range back over forty years, starting out in 1976 by founder Sal Glesser. They started producing knife sharpeners in ‘78, after Sal and his wife Gail gutted a bread truck, and took it around to exposes to promote Spyderco.
They produce high-quality cutlery-style blades, including straight edge, partially serrated, or the fully serrated “Spyder Edge” setup they have going on. They’ve used various grades of steel in the past, from 440C t o154CM, and many more. These each give specific uses, and allow for ease of sharpening, or make them more useful in kitchen scenarios.
These guys pride themselves on their attention to detail and like to have fun with it every once in a while. They’ll rifle-off limited runs, giving you an exclusive limited batch of blade types to choose from, while still holding onto that lifetime warranty. Spyderco has collaborated with numerous big names, appeared in various publications over the last few decades, and continues to put quality products from the page into your hand. Reliable without fail.
Spyderco Knife FAQ
Q: Why Get a Spyderco Knife?
A: We could say that they’re one of the most-trusted brands in America for quality knives, but that doesn’t really hit close to home. Truth is, there are hundreds of stellar knife brands out there, but what separates Spyderco apart from the rest is their unique element. Any brand or item that succeeds (and becomes recognizable) needs that unique element to stick out, to tell people, “Hey, that’s a Spyderco knife.”
The good points: they have a lifetime warranty on all knives, they sharpen them for free (more on this in a moment), and uphold their transparency about the entire process, from purchase to cashing-in on that warranty. Even if it’s not what you want to hear, they put it out in big, bold letters so you’re left with no surprises. In the age of internet marketing, when so many things feel like they’re built on falsehoods and zeal, it’s refreshing to have a high-quality brand that understands and appreciates your business, even after they’ve already earned your trust and land a sale.
Q: Do Spyderco Knives Have a Lifetime Warranty?
A: Yes, they do cover lifetime repair and replacement on their knives. We only devote entire guides to brands that really deserve it, and Spyderco is one of the most transparent brands on the face of the planet. They really want you to have the best experience possible with your knives, which is why they honor that commitment every single day.
Now, a lifetime warranty may seem pretty vague, so here are the in-depth specifics:
Defects - If, for any reason, you notice imperfections or defects in your Spyderco knife, they’ll replace or repair it for free. They take serious pride in their craftsmanship and attention to detail, and will work tirelessly to solve the issue.
Exchange - If they find issues in the product that you send back, they’ll either fix it, replace it, or they’ll exchange it for another product in their lineup. The exchange rate is dependent on the value of your knife, as defined by them.
Estimate Services - Some damages aren’t covered by warranty, and since they’re going to cost Spyderco money, they will quote it to you, tell you what you’ll need to pay (which is always less frustrating and a lot cheaper than going to a local blade sharpener), and wait for you to make a call.
Now, it’s very important to also understand what won’t be covered by your warranty. Spyderco covers a lot, and as such, they need to clearly outline instances and damages where they won’t be able to do anything, or things that are outside their scope of warranty coverage.
They Won’t Replace Altered Knives - If you’re a gent who likes to mod their blades, you’re making a big mistake. Their warranty only covers original, unaltered blades. That also includes the screws, clasps, joints, and other things. If anything on your knife is altered, it’s going to raise some red flags when they make a decision on fixing it or replacing it. If you ever need to replace screws, use the exact same type and color so you’re not voiding the warranty, or contact them to purchase additional screws.
No Free Clips - Your clips aren’t covered by the warranty, meaning if they get bent or broken, or even if you lose them, they’re just as good as gone. Even if the error appears to persist as a result of a manufacturer defect, it’s going to be difficult to prove if it’s been a while. If you’ve had your knife for two years, chances are that wear and tear are to blame, and not a faulty product.
Determining Your Mechanical Work - This one falls in the grey area. If you’ve personally serviced your blade in the past, then you have to be 100% certain beyond the shadow of a doubt that you did it in a competent and beneficial way, one that actually fixed the knife instead of causing potential future problems. If the skilled technicians at Spyderco don’t think that you’ve done a fair job at maintaining your knife, then they’ll deem your warranty to still be active. Make a mockery of their work, and it’s not going to look pretty for your warranty viability.
State Exclusions - Some states don’t allow for this, but in most states and individual cases, you’re going to run into an issue with trying to claim on incidental damages. It’s worth looking up your state’s laws against exclusions and limitations on warranties pertaining to incidental damages.\
Loss and Theft - It goes without saying, but if you call up any company and say, “Hey, I lost this product,” they’re not going to replace it. Same goes for products that are stolen, even if you have proof.
Q: Will Spyderco Sharpen Your Knife for You?
A: Spyderco ensures their knives go through a rigorous testing phase before shipping out to you, so you know you’ll get it very well-sharpened. These guys are seriously dedicated to the quality and longevity of your blade, so if you’re in need of a sharpening, just ship it back to them. This isn’t going to include warranty-specific fixes, such as missing or damaged parts.
Ship it, they’ll sharpen it. It’s going to cost you $5.00 to get it shipped back to you, so plan for that ahead of time. You may want to start with a phone call to get things kicked-off. Keep in mind, they’re located in Colorado, so we’re talking mountain standard time. They’re available during:
Sunday: CLOSED
Monday: 9:00 AM / 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM / 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM / 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM / 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM / 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM / 5:00 PM
They can be reached at 303-279-8383, with an extension of 107. If you’d like, you can use the toll-free number at 800-525-7770, same extension. These times and days of the week can change, so it’s best to stay current on Spyderco.com to ensure you’re calling/contacting them at a reasonable time. Remember, safety first when purchasing any knife from out best Spyderco Knives list.