Spyderco Endura 4 is another folding knife by Spyderco, a cutlery company in Golden, Colorado, founded by Sal and Gail Glesser in 1978. It is a relatively larger knife, extending up to 9”, and also comes with lightweight version with different colors.
Spyderco Endura 4 Variants
Following covers the summary of different variations available in Endura:
- Handle materials: FRN, Stainless Steel, Titanium, FRN Zome, Mahogany Pakkawood, Wood
- Blade steel material: VG-10, K390, ZDP-189, VG-10/Damascus, AUS-6, CPM S35VN, CPM S30V, Super Gold 2, CPM 20CV, HAP40/SUS410, CPM M4
- Edge types: Combination Edge, Spyder Edge, Plain Edge
- Grind: Saber, Full-Flat, Blunted
- Colors: Black, Grey, Green, Silver Steel, Purple, Blue, Dark Navy, Teal, Mint, Red, Foliage Green, Mahogany, Orange
All the Endura 4 variants are of Japan origin, come with a Back lock, with Tip-Up/Down ambidextrous clip position. It has four lightweight versions: the Thin Blue Line series, the Thin Red Line series, blue Wharncliffe style K390 blade, and Purple Full-Flat Ground.
The previous versions of Endura are now discontinued by Spyderco, as it launched a series of new-and-improved Endura 4 versions over the years. Following are the main specifications of Endura 4, as to see what to expect from it and what not.
The Spyderco Endura 4 review will cover one of the variants we consider as better among the others which is Spyderco ENDURA®4 C10FPBK
Spyderco Endura 4 Review
The first-ever Spyderco Endura came out in the 1980s, and was a popular choice among knife enthusiasts and knife collectors. Back then, it was the first lightweight clip-carry folding knife, sending waves in the folding knives market.
The Endura was then reintroduced by Spyderco back in 1990 as a ¾ scale sibling of Delica. Both the knives were introduced side-by-side as lightweight performers with single-handed opening action and affordable. They came out as top 2 best sellers of Spyderco since, and with the company’s Constant Quality Improvement (CQI) policy, their progress hasn’t slowed.
During the CQI, Spyderco tweaked the knives’ ergonomics, improved blade performance and cutting edge, and refined blade steel materials. You can choose among various handle and blade steel materials.
For Spyderco Endura 4 review, we have chosen Spyderco ENDURA®4 C10FPBK as it’s another Knife with VG10 stainless steel. You will find online with free shipping & can get one free gift item to choose as well for lowest price online.
The latest versions including Endura 4 and Delica 4 have improved screw construction, making unscrewing and cleaning easier. The Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) handle comes injection molded with Bi-directional texturing, improving the handle’s ergonomics and traction just like Dragonfly 2.
The knife weighs only 3.3 oz. (94g). The dual skeletonized stainless steel liners inside the handle present in all the lightweight versions make the blade stay in its place. It also acts as an anchor for all the components holding the knife together, while adding rigidity and sturdiness without adding weight.
The British Racing Green variant is one of the elite variations with a Plain Edge Full-Flat ground, crafted from VG-1o stainless steel. It contains high carbon component, making it extremely hard and non-wear. Its blade grind is highly refined and slim with incredible edge geometry and distal taper. It helps provide exceptional cutting performance while reducing friction.
The Lock Back is another common locking mechanism of Japanese origin Spyderco knives. Its simple operation, combined with the Opening Hole makes the deployment simple and efficient.
Just as usual, before going further, i always mention key specifications of the knife which is under review so you should know what to expect from it.
Key Specifications of Spyderco Endura 4
First Impression of Endura 4
Spyderco Endura 4 is the kind of knife that you probably won’t fully appreciate until you hold it. If you have prior experience with Spyderco knives or other folding knives, you must pick it up once to see what I’m talking about. The first time I examined the knife at a local gun show and flicked it open, it had my attention. It had the smoothest opening and closing action.
Although the knife has a blade length of 3.8” with a handle length of almost 5”, it is extremely lightweight and thin.
And so I ordered one for myself.
It came in the standard Spyderco box with the inscription ‘Made in Japan.’
You may also find Spyderco tag in the box upon unboxing your Spyderco Endura 4.
Spyderco ENDURA®4 C10FPBK comes nicely packed
I held the knife, the first thing I noticed was its thin profile. It also felt incredibly lightweight with sturdy finish
The blade is perfectly centered and finish of knife is good.
Spyderco Endura 4 comes with product information and warranty guide, basic specs of the products and other details.
I especially liked its large size, as it fit easily in my hand. Although some people may be turned off by the size, especially if they had dealt with a smaller pocket knife before. In that case, I would prefer going for Delica 4. You can read all about Delica 4 and its review here.
The Spyderco Trademark round opening hole assists in one-handed opening action, as opposed to flipper or thumb studs on other knife brands. The finger choil at the back of the hole serves as a thumb or finger rest for more precise EDC tasks. However, if you are not used to bigger folding knives, then it may take some getting used to.
The Blade of Spyderco Edura 4
The VG 10 is an extremely hard Japanese steel by Hitachi (Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd.) with 1% carbon and 15% chromium. Most of the chromium is used in developing carbides to make it corrosion and wear resistant. It also adds immense cutting performance for high- speed and high-frequency EDC tasks. It also contains tungsten and molybdenum. If we conduct a hardness test of VG 10 of Endura 4, the result turns out to be 65-66hrc.
This places the blade on a very high hardness level. It means that it is able to perform pretty much all EDC tasks without the risk of going brittle or breaking.
The blade length of 3.8” is the major appeal of Endura 4. It is large and lightweight with easy carry and pocketable. Other than Delica, you can also compare it with Spyderco Dragonfly when it comes to blade size. The blade size of Dragonfly is much smaller, and perhaps it’s only drawback. Endura 4 fulfills this gap by providing enough blade length, strength and optimal cutting performance in a much lesser price range.
The long slender blade with a simple drop point is one of the biggest details on Spyderco Endura 4. The full-flat grind with the continuous single grind spine down to the bevel makes the blade easy to sharpen. The full-flat is very effective in food preparation. It has the ability to penetrate soft targets with lesser pressure.
The tip of the blade can be used by holding the knife from the finger choil for precision cuts and have control over the cutting tasks. The tip of the blade is pretty thin and sharp, providing immense cutting edge performance.
The Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip of Spyderco Endura 4
The FRN handle of Endura 4 with nested steel liners make the handle firm, sturdy, slip-proof, yet soft to touch and hold. FRN is also an extremely light weighed component, making the knife lightweight and thin. It also comes in various colors.
However, given the handle, the FRN is not the strongest handle material even with steel liners. This makes the knife incompatible with heavy EDC tasks. However, it is capable of performing light to medium EDC tasks exceptionally.
The ergonomics however, are perfectly good on Endura 4. I especially like the black FRN handle because it does not tarnish even after long-term usage. The 4.98” handle length provides plenty of room to hold the knife with the entire hand and move forward and backward for different EDC tasks.
The well-jimped thumb ramp along with the belly of the blade allows you to choke up for detailed work. The textured design of the handle is overcome by the contoured and rounded corners of the FRN handle. The bi-directional texturing allows a firm grip even if your hands are sweaty, wet or worn with gloves. It also makes it easy to use in all weather and seasonal conditions.
The standard Spyderco spoon-style pocket clip with a black coating is well implemented. The clip is sturdily held in place and screwed securely, and yet easy to hang on to the pocket. You can mount it on any 4 corners of the knife, making it ambidextrous.
The Deployment & Locking Mechanism of Spyderco Endura 4
The Spyderco Endura features a 13mm thumb-hole for deployment. Regular Spydero knife users will find the thumb-hole action effortless.
Its opening and closing action is smooth every time you open it. It fits perfectly inside with the steel liners without any blade play. It also makes the lockup safe and secure as your finger will not get in between the action.
The Spyder-Hole is well-placed and provides ample space for your thumb action. I especially like that the hole protrudes out of the handle, making it easier to handle.
The low-friction phosphorus bronze washers also contribute towards the smooth action.
The back lock is perhaps the easiest locking mechanism on Spyderco knives, Even if you have never used a Spyderco knife before, using back lock will be a breeze for you.
Spyderco Endura 4 Locking Mechanism
All you have to do is press the lock at the back with one finger, which will dislocate the blade. Then you just have to flick the blade shut in place with the other finger. Your thumb and index finger of one hand will be enough to operate the back lock.
My Experience with Spyderco Spyderco Endura 4
I used my Spyderco Endura with FRN handle for a considerable amount of time and performed various EDC tasks with it.
Moreover, it was also able to smooth out the edges of a wooden plank with exceptional ease. I was able to cut through any sharp edges and was able to smooth them out using the Endura 4.
Spyderco Endura 4 Making Wood Chips
I started by cutting wood chips from it, and the result was exceptional! It performed the action with minimal effort and time. It was also easy to hold because of its size, and the blade never gave way, even though it was a continuous action. I was also able to cut holes in the wooden plank with the edge of the knife, and it succeeded by making meticulous cuts.
Next, I tried using it in the kitchen for food preparation.
I especially used cheese and tomato for my test because applying too much pressure on these two is not good for them. A brittle blade would require pressure, squeezing all the tomato juice out, spilling and spoiling it. However, the Endura 4 passed the test with flying colors.
I performed all the cutting actions in one go, and during this time, it did not require sharpening once. However, once I was done, I thoroughly cleaned and sharpened it. Regular maintenance is what keeps a knife usage over long periods.
After using it for a few months, it developed some wear and tear.
However, it does not discredit the knife. It is the least we can expect from a good EDC knife, It is still good to go for long-term usage.
It is important to note that the knife will only perform well if you have prior experience with woodworking and are handy enough. An amateur may find the wood chopping task difficult. However, anyone can use it as a kitchen knife for food preparation. It is also designed for continuous cutting performance to speed up your kitchen tasks.
Comparisons
I have compared Spyderco Endura 4 with Delica 4 as well as Spyderco Endura 4 with Spyderco Endela for being almost identical yet little different in size.
Comparing Endura 4 with Delica 4
I thank one of our contributors, who sent me, this picture for comparison between Endura 4 and Delica 4 share many things in common, but differ when it comes to size. Delica is a much smaller knife than Endura, but both offer exceptional cutting performance and edge retention.
Both the knives have FRN handle material and are full-flat ground. For equal comparison, we chose both knives with blue handles. Both the knives also have Thin Red Line and Thin Blue Line series. Delica 4 also comes with same black material blade just like Endura 4. That places both the knives on the same spectrum. Both the knives have the same jimping on the thumb ramp and come with a back lock, both made in Japan.
However, the preference between the two knives falls on size and price. Delica 4 is smaller and costs less. People who are used to smaller pocket knives may prefer Delica 4. However, I would go for Endura 4 as I prefer an ample knife space to hold and perform cutting tasks. I feel more comfortable with a larger blade. That way I can use whichever area of the blade I want for precision. The thickness of the blade on Endura 4 is excellent for slightly heavier EDC tasks.
Comparing Endura 4 with Endela
The Endura 4 and Endela also fall in the same spectrum. Both the knives have drop point blade with FRN handles with similar texturing and lock back mechanism.
The Endela however, is a newer Spyderco knife as compared to Endura 4. Its invention lies on the spectrum between Endura 4 and Delica 4, hence the name Endela. It is slightly larger than Delica 4, but smaller than Endura 4. Hence, its price is also between the Delica 4 and Endura 4. However, it is not available in ZDP-189 blade. It comes in other blade materials, like Bohler K390, that are equally good when it comes to cutting performance. Therefore, for fair comparison, we chose Endura 4 with a K390 blade as well.
Both the knives were manufactured in Seki City, Japan. Japan is a well-known manufacturer of knives and high-quality steel.
The comparison between these two knives also falls on the size. The Endura 4 can easily fit in larger or beefy hands. However, Endela also does a good job and provides excellent ergonomics. Its handle may not be as large, but it fits an average-sized hand perfectly on its scale, providing a non-slip texture.
Therefore, if you want a perfectly sized knife with a reasonable blade size, then Endela is the right choice. However, if you have slightly larger or beefy hands, then Endura 4 might be the right choice for you. For me, both the knives are equally good. I can easily use them both as EDC knives.
Pros & Cons of Spyderco Endura 4
PRO’s
Con’s
Concluding Thoughts on Spyderco Endura 4 Review
The Spyderco Endura 4 review tells us that it is an excellent EDC knife, and you can get it in a lesser price while it is on sale. However, even at full price, it is a pretty pocket-friendly knife and is large enough to carry out EDC tasks however we want.
The FRN handle material with smooth edges makes it non-slip with bi-directional texturing. The pocket clip is equally good and easy to hold. The steel liners hold the blade in place and makes the handle sturdy.
The blade of Endura 4 is extremely hard, with 65-66hrc, making it durable. You can easily carry out light to medium EDC tasks with it. And although the blade is able to carry out heavier EDC tasks, the handle may not be able to take it.
However, during out testing, we saw that it was able to cut wood chips, punch holes through a wooden plank and cut cheese and tomatoes with extreme precision. The finger choil also allowed more control over the knife.
Hence, I did not find any major problems with the knife, and I would totally recommend it. However, its stock is low, so you may have to time your purchase. It is also another drawback of this knife. As good as it is, I feel it should have enough supply.
