Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight Signature Knife with 3.80" Black VG-10 Steel Blade and FRN Handle - CombinationEdge - C10PSBBK

Product Information

I got this knife for Christmas 2021 and have carried it nearly every day since excepting international travel. At the time of this review it has 15 months of use.

Although Sypderco is located in Golden, Colorado, the VG-10 version of the Endura 4 is actually manufactured in Seki City, Japan. However, the quality of the knife is not compromised even though it was not made in the United States as some individuals prefer. Key Specs of the Spyderco Endura 4 You will start to get some patina and staining on the blade. This is normal. This is not a stainless steel and it will turn in time. If you get it wet just dry it off. I wipe it down with a silicone cloth used for gun cleaning about once a week. The Endura started out at 9 LBS of down force and made 420 cuts on the 5/8” manila rope until it reached 20 LBS. It cut very aggressively with the 400 grit edge I put on it for testing. I didn’t notice any chipping or rolling going on with the edge. It remained sharp enough to slice phone book paper until the end and still had some bite.The waved Endura’s blade comes in just shy of 4” of length, which to me puts it out of the realm of practical EDC knives. As we’ll see more in the review, that’s not really the point. Of note is that Spyderco etches the Emerson patent number into the blade of the Waved Models, a nice touch. The star of the show is the hook cut into the spine of the blade forward of the 13mm “spyderhole,” which is more pronounced and forward (rather than upward) than Emerson’s own waves. Seeing as how Spyderco cuts the wave into the existing blade profile of an Endura rather than extending it upwards like Southern Grind, Kershaw, or Emerson, they leave the other half of the blade with a narrow strip for a primary bevel. What I’m getting at here is the sabre grind doesn’t cut particularly well.

Now, the handle on the Endura is also coated with fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN). FRN is known for being high impact resistant, strong, and stable in extreme temperatures, so it’s a great choice for the handle material. Spyderco’s Endura 4 Lightweight has achieved near-legendary status in the world of everyday-carry cutting tools. The latest variation of this iconic model furthers its enviable reputation by combining all the best-in-class qualities of the standard version with the extreme cutting power and versatility of a Wharncliffe blade.

Wrap-Up

Now we get down to it, how does the Endura in ZDP-189 Perform? Similar to the in-depth testing I performed on the Spyderco Military S110V, I ran the Endura through the same line-up of 5/8” manila rope, cardboard, wood, 175# zip ties and power cord. Before starting I reprofiled the Endura to 15 degrees per side using a Moldmaster 320 grit Silicon Carbide stone and finished with a 400 grit (40 Micron) Moldmaster Silicon Carbide stone. 5/8” manila rope