Spyderco Endura 4 (With Photos)

[JNieporte]

I thought I'd review a much-favored EDC - the Spyderco Endura. While almost everybody here is familiar with this knife, it's always nice to see a new review of it. The key difference between this and other Enduras is the pocket clip... this one has a four-way clip, while the Endura 2s had only a tip-up clip. This one is model C10PBK - plain edge, black handle - although the Endura is also available in combination edge and fully serrated. It will cost you about $50 in stores. Here are the details of this great knife...

Handle Details: The Endura 4 is 5" closed, and it weighs 3.0 ounces. A lanyard hole is provided in the butt. The handles are fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) with a semi-aggressive texturing to prevent the knife from slipping in your hand. It also has dual steel liners, which are skeletonized to reduce weight. They're nested, meaning they're placed into a hollow in the handle scales. The entire knife can be disassembled with a Torx wrench - the blade pivot pin uses a T-8 screw, while all of the other screws (including the pocket clip screws) use a T-6 bit for removal. The pocket clip is blackened steel, and can be positioned tip up or down, left or right handed. It has a hole cut through it to allow use with the lanyard hole when tip-up. Each side of the FRN handles have "SPYDERCO ENDURA 4" around the Spyderco bug in the middle. There are minimal finger grooves in the handle, which helps in gripping the knife. The spine of the handle also has jimping for finger placement when cutting.

Blade Details: The Endura has a kind of large blade - it's 3-3/4" with 3-7/16" edge. The left side has SPYDERCO above VG-10 on the tang, while the right side has SEKI CITY JAPAN on its tang. There's also an etched Spyderco bug on the left side of the blade. The blade is made of VG-10 stainless at 59-61 on the Rockwell scale. It has jimping on the spine and a nice tip. It came out of the box very sharp, and is easily touched up to a razor-sharp edge. Of course, it has the Spyderco round hole. The blade cuts and cuts, and rarely needs a touch-up.

And now, some photos of the Endura 4...

Closed, right side...

Closed, left side...

Open, right side...

Open, left side next to a Delica...

Open, next to a Tenacious...

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

nice comments on the endura 4
i have one, full serrated, makes a good EDC, even if it has an agressive look ..to some people that is

 

[sir woodley]

Thank you for the read. I just recieved my first Spydie two days ago. It's an Edura 4, White FRN, VG-10, Plain edge. So far I am very pleased! Once again, thanks for the review. I was surfin' for "Endura 4 info". M

 

[darkdaiz]

can anyone give me tips on sharpening mine? It was SO hair shaving sharp out of the box but I found it went dull fairly quickly. I have been using a Lansky 5 stone system on it (its all i can afford right now) and I'm really disappointed at how far from shaving sharp I end up getting! I have been advised to be a lot gentler and more patient with the finer stones (600 and 1000) but still I'm not having much luck. I'm using the 20degree setting. What am I doing wrong do you guys think?

 

[untamed]

I never tire reading a good review of a good knife! That's why it "endures!" Thanks for sharing.

 

[5370H55V]

can anyone give me tips on sharpening mine? It was SO hair shaving sharp out of the box but I found it went dull fairly quickly. I have been using a Lansky 5 stone system on it (its all i can afford right now) and I'm really disappointed at how far from shaving sharp I end up getting! I have been advised to be a lot gentler and more patient with the finer stones (600 and 1000) but still I'm not having much luck. I'm using the 20degree setting. What am I doing wrong do you guys think?

Darkdaiz, have you tried the sharpie method? Make sure that the very edge is being sharpened. What I do with my lanksy is use the next highest angle when working with the finest grit stone to create a secondary bevel.


And you could've gotten a sharpmaker for around the same price. Comes with better instructions, and the people here swear by it.

 

[heelflip_kid]

You're right about reading reviews - I always love seeing other people's opinions about this. Thanks for the review and comparison pics were cool.

Darkdaiz:
I agree with 5370H55V about the Sharpmaker. Never used the Lansky system, but the Sharpmaker is phenomenal.

 

[brj]

Thank you for the read. I just recieved my first Spydie two days ago. It's an Edura 4, White FRN, VG-10, Plain edge. So far I am very pleased!

yeah, me too
the white endura seems to be more sheeple-friendly than the regular or SS versions and I absolutely love the looks of the uncoated clip

 

[Decimator22]

hey JNieporte, us the macro setting on your camera, it will keep the pics from turning out blurry. usually the symbol for it is a flower.

 

[Dagon]

I really do like the Endura, especially the current colored FFG variants.
However I also do think it has in essence been superseded by the Stretch 2. The blade of the latter is just a bit shorter, but has a useful upsweep close to the tip (the total cutting length of the 2 knives will be pretty close). In addition, or should I say especially, the handle and ergonomics are on a higher level than on the Endura.

The only minus of the Stretch is that to some, it looks less attractive than the Endura.

 

[yuldeli]

Dagon, I agree with the fact that in many ways the Endura has been superseded by the Stretch. I tend to carry 3" blades, it would be nice if Spyderco would manufacture a "Stretch Jr" with a Delica sized blade.

 

[Fredde90210]

The only minus of the Stretch is that to some, it looks less attractive than the Endura.

For me it´s a huge MINUS...I will never switch an Endura for a Stretch...but thats me :foot:

 

[powernoodle]

Thanks JN for another look at a great knife.

Gratuitous pic: