Gear Review: Spyderco Ladybug 3 Salt Spyderedge Knife

Last year a friend bought me a large spyderco Bolo style fixed blade knife and the brilliant Spyderco sharpening system. The knife is light weight for it size and came with a molded plastic sheath that allows you to carry the knife in several positions. including upside down. The small sharpening system comes in a hard case and is idiot proof as well as being able to sharpen anything including axes and gardening tool.The knife is well balanced an can be used for throwing, which I practice on camping trips when I am bored. It is great for any survival situation, including butchering large game, comes sharp enough to shave with, and the blade is so well ground that I have literally used it a 100X's and still haven't used the sharpener. Pricey? yes but you get what you pay for. And I bet that slot canyon kid wished he would had one instead of that cheap piece of steel he had to cut his arm off with.

General comment on knives. Spyderco's sound expensive, but if you do as much research on knives as you would do for hiking boots, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc., you would find that they are one of the top quality & design knife companies in the world. H1 steel great for camping/backpacking since it is rust proof, not resistant, but proof. Not to get technical, but they replace carbon with nitrogen in the H1 steel, since carbon is the component that rusts. Plus they hold an edge longer due to the quality steel. Im always surprised how few good quality knives are in places like REI. Personally, I would opt for a bigger blade than the Ladybug - Salt 1 or Pacific Salt (as noted above). $50 too much? Not for a quality piece of equipment. A good knife should not be an afterthought.

spyderco knives are the real deal ... knives you find for less are knock-offs. you find COPIES of spyderco designs the world over because sal glesser, the founder of syperco, created this type of knife. the spyderco knives are made of superior metals and components.

>Get a grip. $50 for a single blade knife!
>Refine your shopping skills.
>Posted: Nov 05, 2010 Buteo Azul

Spydercos cost more because they are so well made. I have 5 and need only one. None of them will probably ever wear out, but I am a packrat collector. The quality of the steel, and the fit and finish of the knives insures satifaction on the trail.

I love Spyderco knives. I have a Pacific Salt that is made with their H1 steel. It's a very nice knife and fairly light for it's size. I will usually take it on my backpacking trips or if I'm going really lightweight I'll take my Spyderco Dragonfly. It's not made of H1 steel but I've never had any problems with rust and it is a very sharp and capable knife for it's small size. The Pacific Salt runs about $60 and the Dragonfly around $35. Other good choices would be the Spyderco Persistence for under $30 or the Tenacious for right around $30.

Spyderco makes great knives. I have the stainless steel police, but I'm looking for something smaller, I might check this out. I don't think $50 is too much for a knife, especially a reliable one I use nearly every day...

Get a grip. $50 for a single blade knife! Refine your shopping skills.

I have this knife as well as other H-1 Spyderco knives. The steel is great, holds an edge, and as mentioned by other owners, will not rust. The Ladybug is a great keychain knife, or when placed on a string, can be worn like a necklace. Great knife for salt water sport fans.