What do you think about Southern Grind Spider Monkey

Therom

Therom

Joined
Nov 13, 2013
Messages
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Hello,

I am interested in getting a southern grind pider monkey for EDC.

I already own some knife that I use in my rotation:
PM2 black, PM2S110V,
ZT 0350M390, ZT 0550, ZT 0562CF, ZT 0801BLK/0801BW,
BM 943BK/940-1, BM 558 mini grip doug ritter,
CR small insingo micarta inlays

Sooner or later I am plannig to get a Spyderco Techno, a CR large inkosi and a HK nitrous blitz

At the moment I am more and more interested in the spider monkey with a black blade.

Flipper, assisted opening etc... are very funny but basic manual opening are growing on me.
I shall be in my "keep it simple" mood...

Can you have comments/recommendation / feedbacks on the spider monkey with black blade?

Is it a nice knife to play with? Is it a good slicer (for food prep for exemple) etc...
 
I love my Spider Monkey; Superb fit/finish, smooth opening, solid lockup. For me it makes a fantastic edc, especially in khaki type pants. It is lightweight, and fits very comfortable in the hand. My version is stonewash, but I really like the looks of the blacked out version as well.

Out of the folders you listed, I own a PM2, zt 550, 801, and 562, and i've owned a zt350, a BM943, and a Ritter grip. The only one of those I would say I prefer over the Spider Monkey is my 562. And really the only reason for that is I prefer the larger blade (not that I've ever really needed the bigger blade, I just tend to carry them). Giving a comparison though I have 2 Bad Monkeys and I prefer them to the 562.

Southern Grind makes some awesome stuff and I have been nothing but impressed with them as a company.
 
I can't comment on the Spider Money specifically, but Southern Grind in general is a great company. I have owned two Bad Monkeys and both were awesome knives with excellent fit and finish. I can also say that they have great customer service. If you like the look and size of the knife then I will bet you will be satisfied with the performance.
 
To tell the truth, I don't think I've heard a bad word said about them.
 
Interested in this thread. The satin/pe version has been on my Want List for a good bit now. I've even posted a few WTB threads for one but to no avail. So, I just keep an eye on the Exchange for them.

The satin ones don't seem to come up FS too often, though, which tells me their owners must be quite fond of them.
 
I have a Spider Monkey, black blade, plain edge and I like it a lot. It's part of my EDC rotation. It opens smoothly, locks up solid and feels good in hand. I particularly like the milling on the CF handles, it makes it a dream to deploy from pocket. The black coating has held up well with light to moderate use and the edge retention has been good. The fit and finish are certainly in the realm of ZT or Taichung Spyderco. Initially I was concerned that the pocket clip was too short to keep it secured, but I've had no problems. That goofy, short clip holds just fine!

I've never really used it for food prep beyond cutting up an apple, so I can't really comment on that. I don't think it's much of a fondling knife in terms of sitting around flicking it. I'd probably rather sit around and slowly deploy it; it's that nice and smooth and positive. I wouldn't consider it a "speed" knife, although you can thumb flick it if needed, it's just not a strength of this particular knife. It's steady, methodical deployment reminds me of a Sebenza a little bit.

I can't find anything negative to say about the Spider Monkey.
 
I have one of the satin versions. I really like the knife. Love the carbon fiber. Very well made and a perfect size for EDC.
56986e1dddabc33e3fbcaff06f9a654f.jpg
 
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The satin blade looks like stonewashed... Is it correct?

I was thinking to get the black blade version but now that I look at the satin blade it grows on me ;)

Wha is the he coa not on the black blade?

Does anyone has pictures of black vs satin blade versions of the spider monkey?
 
I loved my Bad Monkey, but I was too big for me, I would try a Spider Monkey with no reservations.
 
Anybody encounter wedging issues during slicing tasks? The blade grind always worried me.

Edit: Autocorrect is an idiot.
 
Quality can be spotty; first one that I got had a very stiff and gritty deployment. It also had way to early lockup, almost non existent, in not sure how it even stayed locked open.

Used their customer service, it wasn't very good, took me a week to get ahold of anyone. I never got in contact with their customer service rep "Karly"

I finally got ahold of im guessing their lead production guy Mike. He was helpful and friendly. He got me a replacement sent out.

Doesnt pertain to the spider monkey but I bought one of their tool kits and the bit did not fit any of the four knives I had of theirs.

I believe i would try to find one to handle in person as I would not order anything else of theirs online. Also handled a few more in person with similar opening and lock up. Coupled with my bad customer service experience it makes them a tough buy for me.

Its a shame though as I really like their knives. But like I said I've never been able to get in touch with their CS Rep. Which makes it hard for me to want to get knives from company's like that.

I plan on writing a review thats more in depth of my experience with their knives and customer service as I own 1 bad monkey and 3 spider monkeys.
 
Z2KCT said:
Quality can be spotty; first one that I got had a very stiff and gritty deployment. It also had way to early lockup, almost non existent, in not sure how it even stayed locked open.

Used their customer service, it wasn't very good, took me a week to get ahold of anyone. I never got in contact with their customer service rep "Karly"

I finally got ahold of im guessing their lead production guy Mike. He was helpful and friendly. He got me a replacement sent out.

Doesnt pertain to the spider monkey but I bought one of their tool kits and the bit did not fit any of the four knives I had of theirs.

I believe i would try to find one to handle in person as I would not order anything else of theirs online. Also handled a few more in person with similar opening and lock up. Coupled with my bad customer service experience it makes them a tough buy for me.

Its a shame though as I really like their knives. But like I said I've never been able to get in touch with their CS Rep. Which makes it hard for me to want to get knives from company's like that.

I plan on writing a review thats more in depth of my experience with their knives and customer service as I own 1 bad monkey and 3 spider monkeys.
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Didn't your Spider Monkey come with the tool? Mine did, and it fits the screws perfectly.
 
oldskewl808 said:
Didn't your Spider Monkey come with the tool? Mine did, and it fits the screws perfectly.
Click to expand...

Mine didn't actually. All of mine have been purchased in the past couple of months. So not sure if thats something they did but no longer do?
 
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Z2KCT said:
Mine didn't actually. All of mine have been purchased in the past couple of months. So not sure if thats something they did but no longer do?
Click to expand...

The tool kit is sold separately but for the Spider Monkey it just takes a bit. We have started including the 2 prong bit with purchases and I think most other dealers do that now as well.
 
We have sold a lot of Southern Grind Bad Monkeys and Spider Monkeys. Like any knife manufacturer there have been a few that have had the occasional issue but it has been rare. The fit and finish are typically perfect. As for customer service I know they made some changes over the past few months so a return phone call or email sometimes took a while. I think they have gotten those kinks straightened out.

The Spider Monkey has been their best seller. It is a good looking knife, great size for EDC and top quality materials. The modified tanto spider monkeys also just came out and I personally love this blade shape.

https://flic.kr/p/Kwqd92 https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/
 
whitty said:
The tool kit is sold separately but for the Spider Monkey it just takes a bit. We have started including the 2 prong bit with purchases and I think most other dealers do that now as well.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I have, the 2 prong bit. I was thinking about ordering a build your own Bad Monkey with the Jade and notice they don't have the Spider Monkey in the web site anymore. I may have to hang on to mine.
 
I love mine, I have a small Sebenza insingo and a 940 that it shares pocket time with. My only issue is the pocket clip. Mine is very stiff and is difficult to put in pocket sometimes.
oFJ5Anz.jpg
 
What do you think of the satin blade ?
Is the stonewash good enougth to hide scratches and marks ?
 
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