Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight 8.78" Signature Folder Knife with 3.80" ZDP-189 Steel Blade and British Racing Green FRN Handle - PlainEdge Serration - C10PGRE

This isn't a knife so much as a folding scalpel. I've never owned a knife anywhere near as sharp as this thing is right out of the box! It just cuts, and does it well. I used it once to open an envelope, and I literally couldn't even feel the edge touch the paper; it was like running the knife through an envelope that was already open. Needless to say, slicing off ribbons from hanging paper is no problem.I still can't even believe it's this sharp out of the box, and it doesn't appear to be losing its edge one bit. Granted, I haven't tried hacking through a 2x4 or anything like that, but it has sliced right through paper, food, etcetera without any difficulty whatsoever. It has a full flat-ground blade, complete with a thinner tip than, for example, a saber-ground blade would have. Combined with the very hard steel (RC64), it is not suited to use as a pry bar. Quite frankly though, if you want a pry bar, save yourself some coin and get one. This is an incredible, precision blade made for cutting, not a blunt object.It is a Spyderco, so right off the bat you know it's a quality product. It sits in my pocket very well, and lays flat - no annoying pressure on the side of my leg. It feels nearly weightless too. The pocket clip is a sturdy piece of steel, and it appears that Spyderco has given it a black oxide coating rather than a paint job. This is a good thing, as it means your clip should look good and remain relatively scratch-free for a much longer time than a painted clip. It also looks and feels better to me; it's a nice smooth satin black. Ultimately, however, if you use this knife for every day carry, as I do, it will eventually get scratches of some kind. I've been carrying mine about a month now though, and it still looks brand-new.For anyone who is on the fence, jump on down and grab this knife. It's a great price for a great blade. I can't recommend it enough, and I will probably pick up a few more to give as gifts, and to increase my personal stash!

Form follows function. Beauty follows function. Spyderco ZDP-189 has won my heart. These Spyderco ZDP-189 knives come closer to magic than any other steel I have encountered. Roselli fixed blades are awesome and close to magic, but they are fixed blades, and I'm too old to be playing Daniel Boone. The same with Dozier's D2 knives. I'd bet my life on them, but I have them for their beauty. Japanese blue and white steel knives at the high mid-sixties RC are awesome, but I use them in the kitchen. You can't beat Spyderco for EDC (every day carry). I bought the Endura, Delica, Caly3, Dragonfly, and Ladybug, all in ZDP-189, and all because I read the reviews of ZDP-189. I got one, and loved it so much, I bought the others over time just to have them. I bought them not as "in search of magic" knives, but "because they are magic" knives. The Endura is too big for me to carry. It's a big EDC knife, but I love it anyway. It screams, "This guy is carrying a big knife," and that's not good, unless you are a "working man" who needs to carry and use a big knife. If that's the case, it's a great choice. For me, the Endura 4 is a "just in case" knife. It's a fun knife. For EDC by the ordinary man (or woman) the ZDP Dragonfly is tops. The Ladybug is a little small. I tried to carry it, lost it, and had to replace it. The Caly3 is great, but expensive, and a little heavier than the others. It's prettier though. The Delica is my second choice, but I'm thinking about carrying an Opinel 7 sometimes. Both are bigger than I need for EDC, but both are great knives. The Opinel is about one fourth the price. The Delica is about four times the knife. I'm almost seventy years old and have been looking for Excalibur all my life. With ZDP-189, I think I've found it. It comes closer than anything else I have come across-at least for my gentlemanly needs.

Who needs a knife this sharp?! Seriously, I never understood "scary sharp" until I got this knife... It's insane! I ran it down with an 8000 mesh stone and in less than 5 minutes I was actually shaving with it. The metal is just nuts.The FRN grip looks kinda cheap, but I have a feeling it will outlast me. It is also comfortable to hold.The knife design itself is ergonomic and feels great in your hand.One last thing, for those guys who say the knife is a little big for EDC, just go get another Zima for your manicure and get over yourself! Don't knock on this knife because it doesn't fit in your suede man-purse. This is a great EDC that will last a lifetime; Endura is quite an appropriate name indeed. I will recommend to everyone who will listen to me, largely because of the blade, but also because of the design.**UPDATE:Well, it's been about a month now.Some things I can reflect on:-The HandleAnything bad I might have once said about the handle is completely overturned with use. It is seriously functional and tough.-The bladeThis blade is brittle. The first day I got the knife I had to put a new tip on it. Of course I was "assisting" a lock open when the tip broke; not a smart idea for a knife with a 64-67HRC blade. The edge only stays scary sharp for a few days, then remains about 85% for a few days of normal use. At that point I give it 3-5 swipes on the 8000 mesh and it is perfectly sharp again.-ConstructionThe knife is extremely well made overall. One small thing I've noticed is that the belt clip is coming a bit loose. The screws are torx heads, so I have to buy a new wrench to tighten it.-OverallOverall I can't imagine anything else for an EDC at this point. The darn thing grows on ya so well. It is just nice to be able to pull out a razor sharp edge anywhere you need it.