Southern Grind Spider Monkey serial number 2023.
Like most people, I studied reviews on the Southern Grind Spider Monkey carefully before pulling the trigger. With one exception, the criticisms that others have shared about this knife don't line up with my experience, so I thought it might be worthwhile to offer my first review on this forum.
Fit and finish on my example, (serial number 2023) are excellent. All pieces fit together perfectly, no gaps where there shouldn't be, no grind marks where there shouldn't be, no rough edges.
The blade grind is excellent with the only slightest asymmetry on the secondary bevel. This requires close inspection to notice and is well into nit-picking territory.
Detent is firm, allowing for quick deployment from the thumb studs. Lockup is early but solid with no blade play in any direction. I don't experience anything I'd call lock stick. The blade will drop freely when the lock bar is released.
When slowly opening or closing the knife, there was some grittiness. This was apparently introduced by the detent ball sliding across the blade stock. I lived with this for about a week since it didn't bother me much. One evening I had some time to kill so I found some Hoppes gun oil and placed a drop on the pivot. I should have done that sooner. It was transformative. The action is glass smooth now. I've made no adjustments or alterations to the knife otherwise as none are needed- something I can't say about any other knife I own.
Ergos a great for my medium glove wearing hands. The pocket clip doesn't bother me while the knife is in hand.
Speaking of that pocket clip, It's very tight and requires deliberate effort to clip it to my jeans pocket. Once there, it's not going anywhere tough. I'd rather a pocket clip be too tight than too loose. Still, I find that I carry this one in the bottom of my pocket most of the time. Its small enough to go unnoticed there.
My one gripe is with the thumb studs. If you fidget with your knives, like I do, and spend more of your time riding a desk than riding tractors, you may find your thumb gets worn after a while. After a good week of flippipng, it doesn't seem to bother me anymore. Either my thumb has gotten used to it, or the improvement in action post-oiling has cured the issue.
Much has been said about the value proposition of the Southern Grind Spider Monkey. $219.95 isn't cheap, but when you put it into context against what else is out there, it seems easier to swallow. Take the Benchmade Foray, for example. At $191.25 you're getting a different high end steel in the same size blade, steel liners vs. the Spider Monkey's titanium liners, fairly flat G10 scales vs. the Spider Monkey's intricately finished carbon fiber and 3.58 ounces vs. the Spider Monkey's 3.2. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
What other compelling options are out there in a 3.25 blade near that price point? Chime in in the comments. I'd like to know what you think.
Like most people, I studied reviews on the Southern Grind Spider Monkey carefully before pulling the trigger. With one exception, the criticisms that others have shared about this knife don't line up with my experience, so I thought it might be worthwhile to offer my first review on this forum.
Fit and finish on my example, (serial number 2023) are excellent. All pieces fit together perfectly, no gaps where there shouldn't be, no grind marks where there shouldn't be, no rough edges.
The blade grind is excellent with the only slightest asymmetry on the secondary bevel. This requires close inspection to notice and is well into nit-picking territory.
Detent is firm, allowing for quick deployment from the thumb studs. Lockup is early but solid with no blade play in any direction. I don't experience anything I'd call lock stick. The blade will drop freely when the lock bar is released.
When slowly opening or closing the knife, there was some grittiness. This was apparently introduced by the detent ball sliding across the blade stock. I lived with this for about a week since it didn't bother me much. One evening I had some time to kill so I found some Hoppes gun oil and placed a drop on the pivot. I should have done that sooner. It was transformative. The action is glass smooth now. I've made no adjustments or alterations to the knife otherwise as none are needed- something I can't say about any other knife I own.
Ergos a great for my medium glove wearing hands. The pocket clip doesn't bother me while the knife is in hand.
Speaking of that pocket clip, It's very tight and requires deliberate effort to clip it to my jeans pocket. Once there, it's not going anywhere tough. I'd rather a pocket clip be too tight than too loose. Still, I find that I carry this one in the bottom of my pocket most of the time. Its small enough to go unnoticed there.
My one gripe is with the thumb studs. If you fidget with your knives, like I do, and spend more of your time riding a desk than riding tractors, you may find your thumb gets worn after a while. After a good week of flippipng, it doesn't seem to bother me anymore. Either my thumb has gotten used to it, or the improvement in action post-oiling has cured the issue.
Much has been said about the value proposition of the Southern Grind Spider Monkey. $219.95 isn't cheap, but when you put it into context against what else is out there, it seems easier to swallow. Take the Benchmade Foray, for example. At $191.25 you're getting a different high end steel in the same size blade, steel liners vs. the Spider Monkey's titanium liners, fairly flat G10 scales vs. the Spider Monkey's intricately finished carbon fiber and 3.58 ounces vs. the Spider Monkey's 3.2. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
What other compelling options are out there in a 3.25 blade near that price point? Chime in in the comments. I'd like to know what you think.
