It’s funny Nick that you would say unless you absolutely need all this blade get a Delica, most of the people watching your videos don’t “need” another knife myself included. I am 70 years old and have been carrying pocket knifes since I was a kid, and I am still buying knives, not because I need them but because I like them.
So, they've changed the warranty in the damned-near-a-year since I filmed this, and it's now no longer voided by disassembly. Old information. Fake news. Sad!
The Endura 4 is one of the best real world knives and often, they can be found at lower prices. I choose my colors based on which has the lowest price. I often find them at a lower price than the Delica. I like the longer Endura blade with food preparation since I can keep it cleaner close to the pivot and not have to get water as close to the pivot when cleaning. Maybe I am wring, but I use WD40 to displace water in tight areas since it was made for that purpose (WD = Water Displacement). One warning about disassembly: like the Delica, the Endura backspacer has small tabs on the sides that must be seated in the steel liners. Despite the relaxing of the Spyderco Warranty, the reassembly of the Endura (or Delica) will challenge your mechanical aptitude and perseverance in the face of adversity and blood loss. I use a very thin screwdriver to hold the lock in place as I work the female screw in while ensuring it lines up with the D shaped scale hole. I can spidie flick my Enduras once they are broken in. Also, my blades will drop easily on some of my Enduras when I depress the the lock release, but it never gets as free moving as a PM2.
Nick, how far in advance do you film your videos generally? Do you go into a cave for a month and film 200 reviews to last you the rest of the year or something? Or is it a case of keeping a few back as you go to use for holidays?
I've been carrying and espada XL for a while now, and as long as you have a couple other blade options available for cramped quarters or socially delicate situations, I have found it to be much more comfortable to carry in to use than I had expected. Highly recommended.
Great review . I am a heavy Construction Flatbed Truck Driver . I have carried and used My Endura 4 for years . My Favorite choice of my many knives . It has served me well . It has proved tough and durable .
Thanks for the recommendation! Went and picked one up and, oh my actual god, I love it so much! It's just so disgustingly practical and I use it for everything.
Thanks Nick, I have owned the saber ground version for about 8 years now. It has been everywhere with me from 14ers in Colorado, to 40ft underwater in spring fed caves in Florida. I still love it and can say it wears well. The VG10 is not fantastic for edge retention and does chip easier than some blade steels, but who cares. PS, I feel very good about never taking it apart after watching your great review :)
Very nice review. Out of all of the Endura's, Delica's and Stretch's I have had, a HAP40 Stretch is the only one I have left. It is in between the Endura and Delica in size, making it the best option IMO.
I like the painted clip, as i usually wear black pants.i have a fully murdered out p3.and it is virtually invisible even without the deep carry clip(wich is on the way).im a newb and i got the delica first then the p3,and you explained it perfectly the delica/endura are more of a sporty knife..the p3 is waay more of a serious peice of machinery
Hey Nick I was wondering if you might recommend the endura for someone like me who has unusually large hands. Normally I think I'd like the Delica but in my hands the ontario Rat 1 fits my hands the same way the Rat 2 fits most people's hands and larger bulkier knives are just far more comfortable than small ones for me. Am I still better off with the Delica if I don't need all the blade on the Endura or should I spring for the Endura because it might be better ergonomically for my hands?
Hi Nick, thanks for the review. I started collecting knives about a year ago, and am really focused on getting knives in as many knife steels as possible. This guy is high on my list, because it's now available in K390 for a not outrageous price, and it would be my first K390 knife. Anyway thanks. And thanks for mentoring other knife reviewers like MC that continue to grow our comminity.
I’ve inserted this one in my carry rotation along with my others, but your video made me think. Now I’m considering replacing my large daily bag knife, the VG-10 Police from Seki-city. Because of the Stainless Steel, I can gain some weight back.
I've had my endura over two years,got it when I was just starting my collecting.Now,about thirty mid to high ends later,I still carry it on occasion.About the only downside,(to me),is the backlock,I prefer a compression or axis lock.The knife is light,(for it's size),one of the best slicers around,big enough for self defense, yet still just fine for usually edc tasks,and it's reasonably priced.Hey,even Nick likes it,and you know how he feels about anything with a blade above 3.25in
Both the Delica and the Endura are fantastic entry knives into the world of Spyderco and knife world in general. That's exactly how and in that order that the disease started with me anyway.
I’ve carried mine for a decade, fantastic tool and made even better with a Lynch Ti deep-carry clip. Great for everything from food prep to light duty pry bar, not the easiest thing to sharpen but it’s so well balanced and comfortable it’s a joy to use
I have a green vg10 endurs that drops to my finger when I pop the lock, and I can spydie flick it. When I first got it in my pocket, I was in love with then light-a-tude and how well it carries, I am a bigger handed guy so I like the endura a lot, but I haven't gotten a delica in hand yet.
I like my endura, it is a very good knife that does not get much pocket time. Generally I carry the delica or one of my many Victorinox. If a need a larger knife that would be the PM2 or the sebenza 21. Too much competition. Good review!
I had the plastic pin deform, it would get smushed, and sit sideways. So i just ordered the flytanium titanium scales that include a metal backspacer/lock spring holder. Hopefully that makes this knife less of a headache to reassemble. At the cost of some extra weight.
My next knife is an endura 4 with the wave and I'm getting the wise men karambit ring for it. Sorry I went so tactical but I love that look on this knife.
Loved my Endura. Yes the larger copy of the very old ATS-55 Delica which resides in my pocket at the moment. However, having made the fatal error of having it in ZDP-189 one day decided, rather than the arduous (for me) task of getting the blade just so, to send it off to Spyderco for their sharpening service. I Just got a call that they examined the knife and unfortunately they felt the locking mechanism wasn't up to their safety standards. Since they no longer offer the model in zdp-189 with a combination edge they offered me either a replacement under warranty with a plain edge in that metal, or the equivalent credit of the MSRP. Not yet sure what direction I want to go with this . I'm going to miss that knife but at least glad they are addressing it under warranty. The problem as always is that in such a situation the question is to spend a few more bucks and get something different. At this point I may look at a different selection of Endura with a steel I and my bench stones from granddad (well, that and a few ceramics from spyderco) might get along better with. Then again, I've had my eye on the Opus lately. I don't happen to see a review for the Opus yet. I welcome any thoughts. Oh, by-the-way I never had any problem with flickatude.
I just picked up a almost new Spyderco endura 4 from a pawn shop for $50. I have a endura 2 all metal I bought at the same pawn shop about 8 months ago it was used more but a good price.
Nick! I nearly replaced my trusty Boker UrbanTrapper with one of these but couldn’t make myself like the “sporting goods” look, as you rightly call the aesthetic of this knife. Thoughts about an updated Urban Trapper review?
I'm surprised you didn't mention the obvious use case for this knife: hiking and backpacking. This is the main situation in which having knife with a 3.75 blade that weighs 3.4 pounds (or whatever is is) might actually be useful - things can go wrong in the wilderness, so having a bigger knife provides some reassurance. I wouldn't carry the Endura for EDC- but I would take it camping any time.
I was comparing the Endura with the Manix 2 and I went with the Manix 2 lightweight because it was easier to open and close with the ball bearing lock... liked the blade shape better... preferred the wire clip... I would guess that CTS-BD1 is probably comparable to VG-10... Still... looks like the Endura is a good knife too... I would like that black clip on my Native 5 since I wear dark pants all the time and it wouldn't stand out so much...
Love lock back knives but the main turn off for me carrying it in my pocket i get lent build up where it locks up. Its a pain to clean out the lent all the time to get it to lock. Other than that both the endure and delica are some of my favorite knives. They need a collaboration on the benchmade axis lock on these knives or put the compression lock on it somehow and it will be the perfect edc knife in my opinion. Oh and have s30v or 154cm steel but that would up the cost :(
I just swapped my British Racing Green ZDP-189 Delica for a fixed blade that I have admired for a while. The Delica was worth more but I really like the fixed blade. No, I didn't initiate the swap. A friend who is new to the knife scene was looking for a good EDC knife, so I swapped, I'm now looking at an Endura...maybe.
I prefer this knife with a Sabre grind because it is so large, it feels fitting for it. It feels like nothing will ever break the blade so I am very confident when using it for whatever needs doing.
You left out some good with a back lock.. No worries about a weak detent due to the strong spring.. I read or heard 100 times that the Endura is great for XL hands.. I have at least XL hands and it's uncomfortable.. The finger points (grooves) on the handle are in all the wrong places for my hand..The forward finger point digs into my middle finger.. I have to hold the knife too far back (unwieldy)) or too far forward (unnatural) to be comfortable..For some reason, the Delica doesn't bother me so much.. The handle is just large enough (barely) and it works.. Many come off center, lock bar not flush, bad edges/grinds.. But, if you get a good one, they are great knives..
Hiya Nick. FYI, I've been able to get every Spyderco back lock that I have ever carried to open with just a thumb flick. Proper centering, not too tight but no blade play, frog lube liquid, and a little breaking in. I've done it with the ladybug, manbug, delica, dragonfly, caly 3, and native 5. I've managed to do it with a slew of tri-ad locks as well. I hope I caught all the spell correction that created a bunch of errors with all the funny names. Have a good day.
I've got two Endura's, one in HAP40 and the other in ZDP189. I carry the HAP40 Endura everywhere I go and even in jogging bottoms I don't know it's there. The ZDP189 version stays at home because it took me so long to sharpen it I daren't use the damn thing! I don't mind the painted clip getting scuffed - it adds character!!
I own 3 enduras... I love this knife to death. I carry a zip 189 for every day use. And a fully serrated vg10 with a wiseman co signet ring and a fang wave opener for self defense.
Nick, what about blade to handle ratio? This is one thing that REALLY bugs me from Spyderco (especially the Delica 4), its not about the blade length but about efficiency.
I thumb "flick" mine all the time. More often than not with no wrist movement either. It's an acquired technique...involving muscle memory. Now, don't get me wrong...it's not an Axis Lock kind of thumb flick...I can't think of any other that easy. But once you get the hang of it...you can "fidget" away....Practice makes perfect. So, folks...don't be dissuaded in the least by the reported lack of action of this knife. Unless you need a smaller blade...BUY ONE of these...along with the Delica.
I bought my Endura 4 eight years ago to share EDC with my Delica 4 which I bought thirteen years ago. Both knives have seen their fair share of pocket time. Both are holding up great. However even though I still own them they have been retired for a Manix 2 and a Para 3 which will most likely be my ride into the sunset Spydercos.
@@HellGatefr2 Manix is my new EDC. I’m actually on vacation and it’s sitting next to me as we speak. It’s just better feeling in the hand, more stout in build. I’m really enjoying it. It’s even seeing more pocket time than my Para military.
This is the first review I've watched where I had the knife in my hand while watching it. I agree 100% about the black clip, it looks way out of place on my gray one as well, maybe if the handle was the same black as the clip, it wouldn't be bad, but other than that, there is no reason it shouldn't be silver. Mine has no hot spots on the interior at all, it's actually kind of smooth, I wonder if there is just a variance to them.
You can flick it open with your middle finger but over time it will wear away at the side of your fingernail which is quite painful... trust me i did this with a sabre ground version (heavier blade).
It's interesting that the blade shape on mine is different from the blade shape on this one. Don't know why that would be. I actually laughed when he said it was a "huge" knife as I saw it as a small knife. (But then, I normally carry a Cold Steel Voyager Large with a 5.5-inch blade.) Still, it's a nice review. I can't for the life of me see why anyone would want a Sebenza given it's high price and soft blade steel. I wholeheartedly agree about the clip's being painted. I'd rather have a silver clip. But many people have been arrested because they have been seen by a silver clip, so who knows?
I do feel like the endura isn't that big, the blade length is the same as a small paring knife, as a french I love to cut my cheese with it, it feels a bit craped doing it with the Delica and I don't like having food in the spidie hole... But there is something so satisfying about going right through it so easily with that Endura blade, especially compared to many EDC knives which are not full flat ground... Love my endura, was crazy sharp out of the box too, was 95€ in France.
The Endura is simply the best work knife available. Relatively Inexpensive, stainless, easy to clean, lightweight but strong thanks to the steel liners, tough handle material, plenty of blade length with a functional but robust tip, and you can get any damn color you want. Only problem is the VG10, which means if you’re working in a warehouse hacking through tons of cardboard every day you’re going to need to sharpen it pretty regularly, but you can always get a tool steel version if that’s you. Or there’s even a few dealer exclusive versions with S30V or better steel for a couple bucks more. Not the flashiest choice but if I’ve got serious work to do, I’m reaching for this over my PM2, 940 or anything else similarly sized.
For the use that you are referring to, K390 would be great of course ! Now, if you also eat with your knife I wouldn't be sure about that tool steel hehe
It's usually on knives around $60-$100. It's not really low end, it's pretty damn good steel but it's not as good as a steel on a $200 knife. It's definitely still great though.
When I first heard him mention it was on the lower end it definitely threw me for a loop. I then rationalized his words due to the niche of knife reviewing and the fact he most likely encounters and uses the highest quality steels and this makes it normal thing to him. Now back to reality. VG 10 is a high end steel, no debating. Super quality. I think when he said that he must think that people who edc $200 plus knives frequent this channel by a such a majority that he is comfortable saying VG 10 is low end.
"Laterallity" is not the word you were looking for when you were talking about the symmetry of the knife; the word would be "chirality", to indicate that it does not have the property of "handedness" as in left or right. Just thought you'd like to know!!
Close but no cigar! I am but a lowly student of chemistry. Those are properties we find in molecules, which allows certain drugs Adderal to exist (Dextro-Amphetamines) which is to say their the "dextrous" or 'left-handed' version of the normally super harmful/addictive drug.
I bought this for daily use and have fallen in love with it. I use it outdoors and fishing as well as around the house. Yes, it's long but you won't notice once you pick it up. Seki City rules.
Mine endura flicks open like butter. And you install the lockbar last as to not deform the frn backspacer. Also there is no reason to purchase a delica when the endela is a much more useful size if the endura is too "big" for someone
I thought spyderco changed their policy about disassembling their knives not voiding the warranty any longer. Got an endura in zome green. Amazingly lightweight.
I'd love to see an endura with a liner lock and s30v.dont get me wrong I have beat the hell out of mine for years now and it still gets carried everyday
'Bout time Nick. Thanks for finally reviewing a TRUE FREAKIN GEM! And it's not 'a huge freakin knife'... It carries like a a pencil as knives go...if you actually bother to try and carry it, you'll find it's totally awesome through and through until you pull it out in the company of sheople...Finally, and I don't recommend it as either, DO NOT DISSASSEMBLE THIS KNIFE...But if you didn't heed the warnings and you find yourself in 'that circle of hell' remember 'zip tie', and that may...MAY....help you crawl out....and the more you open this knife the easier it is ti spydie flik...
