Spyderco Ray Mears WolfSpyder Knife

  1 of 47

  I had been looking for a Bushcraft folder for a while, the TK4 being top of my list, then I saw the Wolf Spyder, I don't know why I hadn't seen this before. Ray needs to do some publicity on this, I'd love to see a video or two of him putting it to use but maybe it's best to keep it as a well kept secret for true bushcraft initiates only. So I'd been mulling over the TK4 for months, then I saw this one, and it took around an hour to mull it over before hitting the buy button. The TK4 is obviously a great knife, and I may still get one at some point, but the Wolf Spyder just ticks all the boxes for me. First I already own the Spyderco bushcraft knife, I managed to get one on sale just as they announced it's discontinuation, brilliant knife, so it's a no brainer for me that a good pair for that would be this Spyderco bushcraft folder. Secondly, it's designed by Ray Mears, a real pro that obviously a lot of us hobbyists trust. Thirdly it's a scandi grind, and that is what I'm used to, so that is a real bonus for a folder. Fourthly it's called the Wolf Spyder, that has to be one of the coolest names for a knife ever, certainly for the Spyderco range. All in all it was an easy decision for me to make. The secondary bevel on mine was very slight, and has all but dissipated with just some occasional wipes on the white side of a CC4, I think the secondary bevel is just there so Spyderco can be sure it'll have that out of the box razor sharpness. I've put it through it's paces on a lot of the usual bushcraft tasks and it has proven to be very easy to use, giving great results every time and also feeling very satisfying in use. I wasn't using it constantly processing wood for hours or anything, if you were in that situation you'd want a fixed blade anyway. I've heard the Spyderco Paramilitary can get a bit sore in the hands, but this feels very good, the ergonomics are amazing, it even fits nicely with the pocket clip on, but I took that off as it feels even better without it, the pocket-clip would be good in the US or other countries where this could be used as an EDC, but here in the UK it's best to keep it tucked away until needed. When first looking at the knife I thought the design looked a bit non bushcrafty but now I see it as the most perfect shape for the woods. It now looks sort of ancient to me, like an artefact from Elven days. By the way, Wolf Spider in Quenya is something like Lianteraca which has a cool vibe a great choice as Glamdring would obviously have been a bit ostentatious for a humble folder.  

  Gav

  2 of 47

  I was quite impressed with this folder having seen my instructor Callum use one on my recent course. The knife comes sharp and is the traditional bushcraft grind so reasonably easy to keep sharp. The steel is a little harder than normal tool steel but not too much of a chore to work. Positives for me are the blade length, the weight of the knife, the secure feel of the handle and the very positive lock that holds with no play on the blade. My only negative is the edges on the handle are a somewhat harsh so using the knife for prolonged periods does make my hand ache a little. The look of the knife is quite original and a deviation from the classic Spyderco shape but no reduction in the quality for sure. Blade shape is really functional for camp chores but also nicely shaped for whittling with the added bonus of being rugged enough for larger woodwork. Very pleased with the knife overall.  

  Darrel Singh

  3 of 47

  Very well designed and superbly made piece of kit. Big thanks to the team for very speedy delivery.  

  Ross Serra-mercer

  4 of 47

  Top knife, highly recommended.  

  Andreas Helbach

  5 of 47

  The WolfSpyder is every bit an every day carry work knife, yet urban friendly and oh so Robin Hood. Love it.  

  Jamieson D.

  6 of 47

  The first specialty of the WolfSpyder knife is the distribution. You can only buy it from Woodlore Ltd. For the blade. The decision to make this with CPM S30V surprised us as the knife is promoted as follows. The extraordinary tool distils the high-performance and multi functional versatility of a classic fixed blade bushcraft knife into a compact folding knife ideal for everyday carry. Should this mean Bushcraft S30V wouldn't have been our first choice. As a precautionary measure against chips or rolling, a compromise has been made in the geometry of the design. The Scandi grind is not a real one there is a microbevel which lives up to its name. You can not see it with the naked eye. The knife has outstanding cutting properties in wood that you don't want to put it down. The handle lies comfortably in the hand and is well suited for longer term work. Carving, feather sticks, delimbing, peeling bark, filigree work or rough cuts are all fun as this knife is easy to handle. It's amazing what qualities are in such a small knife. After a day of use the knife's sharpness did naturally decrease. This is where the type of steel and the blade geometry prove their worth as after a brief honing on a ceramic sharpening rod, the edge was restored to razor sharpness. At some point in the month to come we will of course restore the Scandi grind. We really like this combination on the knife. This is a good and well thought through design compromise of steel type, rust resistance, ability to re sharpen and suitability for everyday use whilst having strong performance. Closing the knife is special too. The detent usually sits in the compression lock arm at the front. If you want to close a Spyderco Kapara you press the lock, the blade swings freely and can easily be put back into the handle. This does not happen with the Wolfspyder because the detent sits on the opposite side under permanent spring tension which slows the blade drop all the way back into the handle. Ray obviously had security in mind when designing the knife as it is not a fidget toy, but a tool in the outdoors. In order to avoid injuries far away from home and a hospital, the handling of a knife should always be controlled and conscious which this knife ensures. With a little practice the knife can of course also be opened and closed with one hand but using two hands is always the safest solution. On to the Wolfspyder leather sheath, it is advisable to remove the clip when using the leather holster so that the case fits like a tailor made suit. We really like that it is very flat and not bulky and we are very impressed with the price to performance ratio. Really good classic craftsmanship. Upon conclusion the WolfSpyder is an excellent pocket knife or woodworking tool with every day carry qualities and a focus on safety. It is small and flat with a good hand position and a well-stowed blade. A very good tool and a pleasure use.  

  W. Ludwig

  7 of 47

  Love it. Unique blade. Big Spyderco fan and to combine a scandi grinder in a Spyder folder is something special.  

  Chris Hunter

  8 of 47

  This knife has quickly become my default choice over two other fixed blade knives I frequently use because of it's ease of use. It is very comfortable in the hand, really light and easy to carry on your person. It can't completely replace a larger fixed blade knife but it comes damned close to. I've found the shape of the blade to be optimum for wood carving, shaving feather sticks and many general tasks. I've even started reaching for it to use in the kitchen because it makes a perfect vegetable knife. I think the only thing I wouldn't use it as first choice for would be batoning logs. It appears to be very strong and sturdy despite its light weight and folding construction. The scales and grip they afford are of particular merit. This is definitely designed as a right handed knife though. Even though I've owned this knife for just a few weeks I wouldn't be without it now and I can see it becoming a cherished friend.  

  Lex Rylands

  9 of 47

  A really well designed and thought out knife. One of the few knives which has been designed with fresh thinking given to its shape. The blade is ultra sharp and the grind reminds me a lot of the mora knives so it should be easy to sharpen. To date I haven’t had much chance to use the knife heavily but for me its helped me make a picnic by slicing up tomatoes and hard boiled eggs without leaving any mess. It helped with a little greenwood carving and I shaved some small twigs up really fine to help start a fire. The opening is smooth and easy, even with gloved hands and the handle shape makes it what I is think the safest knife I have to use with both control and pressure. It’s a compact knife, my hands are medium and its a prefect fit for all my fingers.  

  Ian Davies

  10 of 47

  Excellent quality and good value knife. Small enough to forget it is in your pocket. The more I use it the more I like this knife.  

  Ken Welch