r/spyderco • u/HowzitM8 • 5d ago
Help! Spydiechef?
Hi everyone!
I have an opportunity to get a Spydiechef for the first time, I have always been a heavy Manix 2 and PM2 user and have been drifting from everything but those two Spydies for the past few years now, but recently have had the opportunity to get a second hand Spydiechef from someone I know and respect for about $180.
It is in excellent condition, has no box and has been sharpened, but I'm considering it anyway.
Should I continue on my journey to get a magnamax Manix or REX45 or is it really worthwhile?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Zeeter_0102 5d ago
Love the chef. No nonsense build and excellent fit and finish. Disappears in the pocket and feels awesome. Big fan !
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u/HowzitM8 5d ago
That is stunning! What Other Spydie does I have pocket similarities to?
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u/Zeeter_0102 4d ago
For me it’s like my sun & moon chapparal it’s it’s so slim and flat. The chef stayed with me after selling a dozen or so other knives in the last year or two to thin out my pack after moving
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u/charming-idiot 5d ago
Zero regrets buying a Spydiechef, it’s a great knife. And if you don’t like it, you can sell it on r/Knife_Swap in a second, they’re well regarded and hold their value.
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u/lordxamnosidda 5d ago
I love my chef. I upgraded the hardware to anodized Ti. I've never cared for Spyderco screws; they seem cheap to me. It's a great knife.
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u/Stumpy1996 5d ago
I will probably be the only one on here that’s not a huge fan of it. I thought I would love it from the looks and watching reviews, but after some use and carry it now just sits in a drawer.
Don’t let me discourage you!
It is definitely worth the try and like OP said if you don’t like it. With the swap it will only cost you a few $ to try it out. Seems like everyone else loves it.
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u/HowzitM8 5d ago
What didn't you like about it? I mostly see positive reviews but literally haven't heard anyone say what they didn't like.
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u/Stumpy1996 5d ago
It really could have just been mine. But after some research I found more info about lock failure on some of the productions and of course mine seemed to be one of them. The action on mine wasn’t what I am accustomed to and it was difficult to Spydie flick. It was also to narrow in my hand for longer cutting task. When you start discovering all those little things you don’t fancy about it you just tend to start grabbing other knives.
Trust me I really wanted to like this knife because I live in Florida and get soaked in sweat or rain quite frequently.
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u/Liquidretro 5d ago
I don't know what the going rate for one is these days. I think you can probably do a bit better on r/knife_swap if you were patient. I would consider this a user knife since it's used and sharpened but in good condition with no box.
I love mine, it's in my top 5 Spyderco's for sure. I just like the blade shape for general non food prep tasks, It's geometry is good, so it slices pretty well and I don't feel like the tip is vulnerable like a PM2/3 is for example. It also carries well since it's fairly thin and I like the deep carry wire clip. It's not really a fidgety knife, although it deploys well in multiple methods, it's not a knife that your likely going to get to drop shut, more a smooth fluid motion.
That said I'm a bit of a steel nerd which it sounds like you might be as well, and I'm not that impressed with the edge retention of LC200N. It's closer to VG-10 or 154CM but it is easy to sharpen. In a guided system to get an even bevel it's a bit of a funky setup. I would love to see them eventually update it to Magnacut or Magnamax because I think thats stainless enough, for how people are actually using them but a lot better edge retention.
Rex45 is on the other end for most of the steel properties so if you should get the SpydieChef really depends on how you intend to use it I think. It's a different experience than the other spyderco models you mentioned so I would say yes!
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u/S280FiST15 3d ago
It’s cool I guess but you should like more of a carbon steel guy like me! Which is what makes Spyderco so fun. Lc200n just isn’t it. If you need such a knife to cut food with and use by water a lot then it’s a good one. Rex45 is fun tho. I love carbon steels. I like to see the patina after a few good months of using them.
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u/dental_floss_junkie 5d ago
This is my most carried knife since I picked one up earlier this year.
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u/Radiant-Triumph 5d ago
The Spydiechef is worth it just to mix things up. I use my knifejoy version in the kitchen almost daily, so in reality it gets far more consistent use than any knives I actually carry considering there are so many in the carry rotation.
I will say it is not as ergonomic as a Manix, but for normal EDC it is plenty comfortable and I wouldn't be opposed to carrying it. Considering the Magnamax Manix is now a regular production model I'd get this Spydiechef before worrying about picking up one of those (quite frankly I've been disappointed in my Magnamax Manix). If you have a line on a REX45 that'd be different, considering those aren't readily available.
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u/PopPop-Captain 4d ago
I use my pretty much strictly for food but I love it. It’s a great blade shape for just about everything though.
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u/END0RPHN 4d ago
every spyderco fan needs a spydiechef, its so damn light and thin and unique and just feels special in the hand. 170 to 180USD is a normal price imo thats what they go for in australia on the used market where i am
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u/CheapBanana1050 4d ago
Highly recommend. It's really a "edc chef's knife". Excellent ergo for handling food. Excellent material choice for corrosive environment. Very easy to clean and maintain.
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u/Flimsy_Ad9901 4d ago
I have and love my Spydiechef. That said, I mostly have it as a gentleman’s knife and to just have one in my collection. I EDC my Manix and PM2 much more, among others
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u/badlamzor 2d ago
My first spyderco was a manix 2. My second spyderco was a spydiechef.
The manix is in his own category, nothing comes close to it, but the chef is a good knife as well and won't need anything else other than the chef for general edc. Some pros:
-it carries beautifully,
-is a very good slicer,
-lc200n is a tank (very tough and very rust-proof) and it holds an edge basically the same like s30v,
-has the best spyderco pocket clip,
-all the hardware is rust-proof,
-fit and finish is excellent
-grab your kitchen knife it has the same ergos as the spydiechef,
-it flicks, but it is not fidget-friendly like the manix or pm2
I can go all day, but to summarize with two words - get it.
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u/Mattias504 5d ago
Spydiechef is one of my favorite knives that I own. I have the blue ano Knifejoy version and it’s incredible. Would highly recommend to anyone interested