Spyderco's one-handed opening system depends on a simple thumb hole instead of a thumb stud system. The hole would weaken the blade of a smaller knife, but the Resilience has enough blade width to compensate. The Liner Lock designed by Michael Walker locks the blade open without complicating the build. The Walker system needs no extra buttons or levers, so just swing the blade open and it snaps securely in place. Release the blade after use by pressing on the liner lock springbar. The blade's detente provides enough resistance that the blade stays safely closed when in the pocket. Spyderco's 8Cr13MoV high carbon stainless steel holds an edge well but will need an occasional oiling. Like many other modern stainless steels, it's corrosion-resistant, not corrosion-proof.

For smooth opening, Spyderco brackets the blade pivot with phosphor bronze bushings instead of steel bearings. Phosphor bronze holds lubricant in the pores of the metal and provides fast deployment with very little play. Bronze bearings cut costs and don't have quite the lifetime of a stainless steel ball bearing movement, but if kept clean and oiled do perform well. Bronze wears easier than steel, so pay attention to maintenance and keep grit out of the works. If you don't let the bearings get completely dry, the lubricant shields the metal from abrasive dirt.

G-10 handle slabs keep the weight of this knife down to 5.4 ounces, providing an easily gripped textured surface which won't become slick when wet. The G-10 remains stable through a wide range of temperatures and resists most chemical solvents. A solid stainless steel clip secures the Resilience to the seam of your pants pocket.

If you're looking for a knife of the same practical quality but slightly smaller, see the mid-sized knife in Spyderco's value series, the Spyderco Tenacious.

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SPYDERCO C142GP RESILIENCE POCKET KNIFE US $43.50   Auction Ends: 15d 23h 3m

Spyderco 4 knife set Resilience Tenacious Persistence Ambitious US $103.50   17 Bids Auction Ends: 2d 4h 36m

The Para-Military 2 slims down the bulky styling of the older civilian survival knife but doesn't lose strength. In fact, this version features a longer blade and handle but weighs exactly the same as the Para-Military. The closed length of 4-13/16 inches still fits the pocket comfortably, and the 3.75 ounces of weight will hardly be noticed. A narrower handle style using the same efficient G-10 grip makes the knife more comfortable to use, and a thinner profile makes it easier to carry. Rounded grip edges and improved jimping also improve the knife's handling and make long-term uses more practical.

With the Para-Military 2, you get a slightly longer and narrower blade with a length of 3-7/16 inches and a blade thickness of 3.5 mm. The quality of the steel hasn't changed -- Spyderco uses CPM-S30V high carbon stainless steel for the corrosion-resistant blade. The round thumb hole in the blade gives smooth leverage for one-handed opening with an improved bushing pivot system that makes operation more consistent than the older model knife. Spyderco's trademark thumb hole actually works better than most thumb stud systems and doesn't interfere with the knife's cutting action. A compression lock snaps into place when the blade fully opens.

Choose any of four different carrying positions with the customizable stainless steel pocket clip.

See the Spyderco Chokwe Knife for an award-winning design by Chris Reeves.

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NEW Spyderco Paramilitary 2 II C81GPCMO2 DIGITAL CAMO Plain Edge S30V Steel US $109.49   Auction Ends: 15d 23h 16m

Spyderco Para Military Digital Camouflage S30V Folding Knife C81GPCMO2 US $109.99   Auction Ends: 22d 23h 48m

One of Spyderco's modern folder designs taken from traditional knife patterns, the Spyderco Chokwe resembles a fixed blade common among the Chokwe people of the Congo in Central Africa. The coffin-shaped handle and triangular blade are an efficient combination which translates well to Spyderco's folding clip technology. The knife's action is enhanced by the Chris Reeve R.I.L. liner lock, giving the Chokwe folder unusual lock strength and easy one-handed opening. Simply press on the liner lock tab, recessed in the handle, to release the blade. Gripping the knife for heavy work won't release the lock.

Two holes in the Chokwe handle allow the knife to be securely lashed to a pole for use as a survival spear. The holes also reduce weight and add traction to the knife's already secure grip. One scale of the handle is tactile G-10 over a strong stainless steel liner, while the other half of the handle is solid titanium and also serves as the spring bar of the lock. The 3-3/4-inch CPM-S30V blade is flat ground for extra strength and features the traditional plain edge. Folded length of the 3.7 ounce Chokwe is 4-3/4 inches. The Chokwe is configured only for tip down and right-handed carry.

Spyderco pledged to donate five percent of the revenue from Chokwe sales to the Keep A Child Alive organization, a relief effort for children and families in Africa and other third world nations.

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SPYDERCO KNIVES C132GP CHOKWE G 10 LOCKBACK KNIFE US $112.95   Auction Ends: 18d 17h 10m

SPYDERCO C132 CHOKWE PLAIN EDGE FOLDING KNIFE NEW ITEM US $134.99   Auction Ends: 22d 21h 35m

Older slip-joint knives, with which nearly all of us are still fondly acquainted, were not designed for easy one-handed opening. Put a thumb stud on the standard slip-joint, and you'll probably still resort to two hands to open the blade. The spring-bar slip joint knife resists most strongly at full-open and full-closed positions. Terzuola's innovation works with a very different action. Pressure for opening or closing the blade overcomes the resistance of a ball bearing. Movement is free and easy in between the locked positions. For added safety, the Terzuola adds a second stop to slow the action of the closing blade, allowing fingers a second chance to escape.

The Spyderco Terzuola handle is woven carbon fiber, one of the lightest and strongest materials now available, and a short leather lanyard makes retrieval from the pocket's edge even simpler. The knife's stainless steel pocket clip mounts for either left or right hand use. The Terzuola's plain-edged Wharncliffe blade of CPM S30V high carbon stainless steel remains under the common European legal limit of 3 inches. With a convenient closed length of four inches and an open length that's a practical seven inches, owners of the Terzuola should still be able to carry it nearly anywhere in the world without complications.

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Spyderco Bob T SlipIt Knife Plain Edge Terzuola CPM 30SOV Steel C131CFP New US $99.95   Auction Ends: 7d 23h 22m

Spyderco C55 Bob Terzuola Starmate Folding Knife Rare No Res US $122.50   13 Bids Auction Ends: 5d 20h 20m

One of the best synthetic materials for handles, G-10 resists damage from heat, water, and chemicals, and won't suck away the warmth from your fingers in cold weather. The tactile quality gives the Tenacious a non-slip surface, enhanced by the milled texturing on the G-10 slabs. This full-sized handle -- 4-3/8 inches long when closed -- conceals a 3-3/8-inch 8CR13MOV stainless steel blade. Hardened to the range of Rockwell 57-59, the combo-serrated edge remains sharp for long periods of appropriate use. The plain section on the forward half of the blade restores quickly with an ordinary whetstone or diamond hone, but the serrated portion will eventually need professional service.

Spyderco built a strong knife here, but not a heavy one. Underneath the G-10 slabs lie stainless steel liners, skeletonized to save weight without reducing knife strength. The total weight of the Tenacious is only 4.2 ounces. Other good features include the Walker liner-lock -- jimping on the lock's edge ensures a controlled release even in cold and wet weather. More jimping on the spine of the Tenacious's blade gives added thumb traction, for more pressure while the knife's in use. You won't find an awkward thumb stud on Spyderco blades -- the knife swings open with thumb pressure on the loop in the knife blade.

A strong stainless steel pocket clip keeps the Tenacious at the ready on the pocket's edge, not lost somewhere in the bottom. Four different clip mounting options allow positioning with the tip up or the tip down and the handle oriented for either left or right-handed deployment.

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Spyderco New Tenacious GP Knife C122GP US $31.79   Auction Ends: 28d 7h 59m

Spyderco 4 knife set Resilience Tenacious Persistence Ambitious US $103.50   17 Bids Auction Ends: 2d 4h 36m

Crosshatched jimping on the G-10 handle slabs makes the grip of this well-shaped knife even more secure. A finger choil formed from the base of the open blade and the forward part of the handle gives better index finger control and prevents slipping. The handle material is still the thing you'll notice least about the Meadowlark. What attracts attention is the blade with the trademark eye-shaped thumb hole used for one-handed opening.

Large enough to snag easily with a thumb tip and open without slipping across the cutting edge -- an occasional issue with thumb stud opening systems -- the thumb loop also provides a safe pressure point for hard cutting jobs. A three-inch blade of 8Cr13MoV high carbon stainless steel locks firmly into place with a strong liner lock mechanism. Released by a locking lever, the blade folds easily back into the 3-15/16-inch-long handle. The recess or dent in the release lever prevents accidental folding when gripping the handle tightly.

The Byrd Meadowlark is pre-assembled for right-handed users but does convert to left-handed carry. Pre-drilled holes for the stainless steel pocket clip allow shifting the clip to either side of the handle, in either tip-up or tip-down position. Filework on the spine of the Meadowlark handle adds more traction than decoration.

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Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark G10 Plain Edge Folding Knife 8Cr13MoV BY04GP2 US $32.99   Auction Ends: 5d 12h 19m

Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark Rescue 2 Knife Full Serrated US $27.99   Auction Ends: 2d 8h 14m

With a blade of S-30V high carbon vanadium stainless steel and tactical quality corrosion-proof G-10 handle slabs, the ParaMilitary cuts very few corners. The large thumb hole at the base of the blade allows secure one-handed opening, even when wearing gloves, and the compression lock eliminates concerns about the knife folding under pressure. Once it's open, use it as you would a fixed blade.

Closed handle construction doesn't add much to the weight -- only 3.75 ounces for this nearly five-inch (folded length) pocket clip knife. The solid G-10 handle grips keep the knife firmly in hand and keep out most of the dirt and debris that could interfere with blade action. Blade length of just over three inches keeps the knife within most social and legal limits. Owners can carry the ParaMilitary without drawing unwanted attention.

Though the blade seems a little short, Spyderco kept enough of the full-sized handle to provide a strong grip, making the ParaMilitary more usable than smaller pen knives with equivalent blade length. Though the ParaMilitary from Spyderco comes in either plain edge or serrated versions, the serrated blade may be the preferred option for an urban survival knife. The toothed edge grips and severs harnesses, belts, and ropes quickly but does coarse work if used for shaping wood.

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NEW Spyderco Paramilitary 2 II C81GPCMO2 DIGITAL CAMO Plain Edge S30V Steel US $109.49   Auction Ends: 15d 23h 16m

Spyderco Para Military Digital Camouflage S30V Folding Knife C81GPCMO2 US $109.99   Auction Ends: 22d 23h 48m

Thumb stud opening systems sometimes threaten to carve off the side of your thumb if there's a little grit in the mechanism. The steel loop of the Spyderco camo knife is a much better method, holding the tip of the thumb securely for smooth and safe opening every time. Keeping the interior of a one-hand opening folder clean often is difficult, especially with a skeletonized build. Spyderco's Military Camo knife uses a solid frame and reduces those problems with a more protective design. No modern clip knife works well if it's filled with hay or sand or gummed up with the leftovers of a hunting expedition. With maintenance in mind, Spyderco designed the Military Camo knife with spacers that allow better access to the inside of the handle. Debris is visible and easily removed.

The shape of the 5-1/2-inch handle provides plenty of hand security, and the G-10 slabs were engineered for a non-slip grip. An open length of 9-1/2 inches includes 4 inches of dependable, corrosion-resistant CPM S30V high carbon steel, enough knife for any common task. The secure liner lock gives the Military Camo knife much of the strength of a small fixed blade but releases easily for quick return to the pocket. Only 4.25 ounces in weight, this knife adapts to camping and hiking needs perfectly and makes a good choice for the handyman also.

What impresses me the least is the digital camouflage, of little use in a folding knife bound for the pocket and only increasing the chances you won't find it if you drop it in the woods or the desert sand. Fortunately, this knife is also available in easily spotted orange.

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Spyderco Para Military Digital Camouflage S30V Folding Knife C81GPCMO2 US $109.99   Auction Ends: 22d 23h 48m

Spyderco Endura 4 Foliage Green Camo Digital And SOG Fusion Micron Bla Knife Lot US $69.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 6h 23m

With a 3-1/2-inch clip point blade of VG-10 stainless steel and a deep finger choil in the full tang pistol-style handle, the Street Beat knife offers nearly perfect balance as well as secure grip and high leverage. For those more accustomed to handguns than knives, the shift is instinctive with the choil taking the familiar place of the trigger. The wide Micarta handle slabs fill the hand and offer non-slip twisting strength, while the choil replaces the traditional hand guard or bolster.

The tang of this 3.2-ounce knife includes two lanyard holes for extra security, but you may decide that's not needed. A second lanyard hole at the base of the blade offers an extra level of control, with that lanyard keeping the hand correctly positioned on the blade. Though I've seen top quality knives lately which do have that option, as yet I've not been convinced it's a great idea. At best, this new option offers a new trick without detracting from the good qualities of this innovative but traditional fixed blade. Maybe you'll like that second lanyard -- if not, don't use it.

Nearly everyone will like the tactical style of the Street Beat sheath with an adjustable belt or harness mount that adapts to several positions and increases the number of access options. Carry the Street Beat fixed blade securely in five different settings: at the small of the back, inverted, at the standard vertical belt angle, set for a convenient cross-draw, or at an easily concealed horizontal angle in line with the belt.

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Spyderco Knives New Street Beat Knife Micarta SCFB15P US $180.50   Auction Ends: 25d 1h 5m

Spyderco Street Beat FB15P Knife US $149.99   Auction Ends: 24d 22h 11m

This 8-1/16-inch-long hunting and survival knife features a fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle injection-molded around a flat tang. The steel blank is VG-10 high carbon stainless steel, the type chosen for fine chef's knives as well as tough outdoorsman's blades. To increase comfort and grip, the sides of the handle include panels of resilient Kraton.

The Bill Moran FB02P uses a familiar blade style, the drop point skinner, which suits camp chores as well as hunting. This plain-edged knife isn't delicate -- the flat grind gives the edge the strength many hollow ground skinners don't have. No serrations means you can expect fast cutting with no scars. If you need a good blade for cutting wood as well as cutting rope, the FB02P does both types of work efficiently.

The Kydex G-clip sheath allows belt mounting in several positions. This three-ounce knife cuts back on weight with a blade thickness of only 1/8 inches and a conservative length of 3-7/8 inches, making it a very reasonable trail knife for ultralight hikers. The G-clip mounting allows owners to fix this knife to pack harness straps as well as belts, swiveling and locking in place for secure transport. If you've ever wrestled with a pack belt that won't get along with a belt sheath, consider upgrading to the FB02P.

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Spyderco New Bill Moran Drop Point Knife Black Blade FB02PBB US $77.99   Auction Ends: 23d 2h 10m

Spyderco New Bill Moran FRN with Kraton Inlay Drop Point Knife Black FB02 US $72.89   Auction Ends: 7d 8h 10m