I really do like these long narrow blades, the Sprint Run is most certainly a complete winner in my opinion and at the top of my budget line so I might be trying to get one of these soon. Thanks for the review, I much prefer a review after the reviewer has had the time to really get to know the knife, and because of that you just earned me as your newest subscriber.
Great overview. I definitely think I'm going to try to pick up a HAP40 Stretch. I own Endura's, Delica's and Stretch's and have decided that the Stretch is my favorite.
I'm sorry - this isn't going to be overwhelmingly positive but this 'review' is waaaay too long and generalized. I will say that I am happy that you like your knife. Statements like "...the best steel Spyderco have ever used" - really? In this knife model alone you reckon it beats ZDP-189? Superblue? Spyderco have used M4 elsewhere to name just 3. You seem excessively focused on aesthetics and 'collectability'. Sure, I'm glad you like the burnt orange but you didn't make reference/comparison to the standard VG10 (which also comes in a bunch of colours if you're so inclined). When you referenced cutting 'galvanized wood' I had to stop. I'm no expert but clearly neither are you. Please stop this kind of pseudo-smart commentary. Best of luck...
+Ben Wilde I always welcome constructive criticism, since I know I have room for improvement with pretty much everything I do, and I'm not the best reviewer out there. I'm known to ramble at times as well. Your comments however seem as though you weren't listening based on all the incorrect statements you made. I never made a statement like "...the best steel Spyderco has ever used". I did say that HAP40 is similar to M4 and that I thought this was the first time Spyderco has used this steel. I did say that I thought it was the best steel Spyderco has used in the Endura model, but I wasn't aware that Spyderco had used ZDP189 in the Endura. That is a good point since ZDP189 does out-perform HAP40 is some ways. M4 and Superblue are not better than HAP40, they are quite comparable. I factored in and discussed several factors besides aesthetics and collect-ability such as, blade steel performance & comparative options, ergonomics, blade design, handle design, build quality, weight, price/value. I also did mention the standard Endura options, the different colors they come in and the standard VG10 steel it comes with. Sorry you missed it. Oh you got me...I used an incorrect term. You cant galvanize wood. Ohh man....I guess since I'm not an expert on weather-treating terminologies for wood...it totally discredits my extensive use of knives for the last 3 decades. Bravo...you've made the dumbest comment I've heard on any of my video responses to date. Correct though...I'm no wood expert...and never claimed to be. Please save yourself the disappointment and me the amusement...and stop watching my videos. Or if you do, turn down the lights, turn up the volume, take an Adderall and pay attention before you decide to brain-fart in the comments. Have a great day...
Hey buddy, nice video. FWIW, I would agree that this is the best steel that Spyderco has ever used in the Endura platform, (with the caveat that anytime we use the word "best" to describe a steel we are stating a subjective opinion that is based on our own usage and experience). ZDP-189 might have a slight advantage in edge retention but hap40 is close enough in that area to make the difference negligible and hap40 is far easier to sharpen and maintain the edge. I can take this steel from and edge that will barely shave to one that will whittle hair in less than a minute. Probably my favorite edc steel to date and I have them all. ;) As far as constructive criticism, I would agree that the video is a bit long. Often when I see a 25 minute review, I just pass. I watched this one but I would have paid more attention and enjoyed it more if it had been closer to 10 minutes. I have no idea if my thoughts on that are representative of most viewers but at least you have one extra data point. Aside from that, excellent work. :)
Lance, thank you for the insightful feedback. I definitely agree with a lot of your feedback. My statement about the steel was definitely subjective, but I think I was still incorrect in saying it because of ZDP 189 being better in several ways. I didn't know this knife came in that steel and from that I learned that I'll need to do better research on the different variations of the knives I review. Great point about it being easier to sharpen. I bet some people would factor that into how "good" the steel is. I realize that for many, longer videos are less attractive. Based on my views when I compare my shorter videos to the longer ones, I'm not seeing that most viewers are favoring the shorter ones. I will definitely take that into consideration and make sure that if the videos are longer, it's because it's full of good information...and not just me rambling haha. Thank you for watching my video, and thank you VERY much for giving me intelligent and helpful ways to improve. I will definitely try to make my content better going forward!