The Spyderco Spydiechef is a great little knife. It’s well-designed, well-constructed, uses great material and uncharacteristically chunky blade. If you are interested in other Spyderco knives reviews, we have more than 10 reviews since we are doing Spyderco SpydieChef’s review today!
The name itself suggests that it is a specialized chef knife, but is also used for other EDC tasks. It is even used by NASA for ball bearings used in aerospace applications. Designed by custom knife maker Marcin Slysz, who also designed the Slysz Bowie and other knives in collaboration with Spyderco, the SpydieChef is manufactured in Taiwan.
The SpydieChef review will focus on one of its two variants, SpydieChef Titanium PlainEdge or SpydieChef Blue Titanium LC200N Exclusive. Although both the variants are high-end, the exclusive variant costs slightly lesser than the regular variant.
The SpydieChef costs at lowest price these day around $282 while the MSRP on official store is around $404. These prices are quoted on Spyderco’s official website, but you can probably get it on discount from its retailers and official distributors. You can get Spyderco SpydieChef for Sale and can choose 2 free gift items apart from Shipping as per my last check from Chicago Knife Works.
Key Specifications of Spyderco SpydieChef
Spyderco SpydieChef Review
Our Spyderco SpydieChef review will focus on SpydieChef Titanium PlainEdge. It is a mid-tier refined folding knife with the components of a world class chef’s knife and ergonomics well suited for a chef’s hand.
However, you can also use it as an EDC knife and carry it around with you. It is also a member of Spyderco’s Salt Series of ultra-corrosion-resistant knives.
Precision-molded into the LC200N, the nitrogen-based alloy is extremely corrosion and wear-resistant. The shape of the blade is also interesting. It features a sheepsfoot blade point, which protrudes slightly away from the handle when opened.
That makes it perfect for chopping food stuff while placing your index finger on the blade’s edge. The finger choil also plays an important part in the usage of the knife. It is curved in just the right places with a full-flat grind and exceptional edge geometry for low-friction and precise cutting performance.
The open-backed handle construction features two solid titanium scales precision-machined to optimize balance, reduce weight and simplify cleaning. It has a R.I.L (Reeves Integral Lock) on reverse side scale that opens and closes the blade just like Spyderco Swayback. It also comes with a lined lanyard hole for easy use in the water, along with a reversible deep-pocket carry wire clip with a quick tip-up access.
First Impressions of Spyderco SpydieChef
The Spyderco SpydieChef review would be incomplete without the first impressions. We must look at how the knife looks like when we first got it and we think about it, and then compare it with its usage and experience over time to really evaluate this knife. So let’s dig into it.
This is how Spyderco SpydieChef looked like right out of the box when we received it. It looked the same as on the website, shiny handle and scratch-less blade. I especially like the knife profile and the proportion of the blade and its handle. You can really hold it right to chop fruits and vegetables on a chopping board without your fingers getting in the way. That is what the knife was initially designed for. But that’s not all.
The grind lines are visible across the blade, and the blade thickness seems more than usual on Spyderco knives. The belly of the blade is also quite wide, which assists with precision cutting tasks.
The washer pivot system on SpydieChef assists with smooth flicking of the knife, along with the thumb hole, which cuts into the handle. I like the large thumb hole on this, as it makes the deployment simpler
As you can see, the knife profile is slightly slant. The wire clip is straight, but does not coincide with the locking mechanism. It makes it easier to handle the knife for day-to-day activities.
It is as long as 7.78”, which makes it a mid-tier slicer, but weighs only 3.8 oz., which is great.
LC200N Blade of Spyderco SpydieChef
The LC200N steel blade was originally produced by NASA for ball bearings in aerospace engineering equipment. But it made its way in the chef’s department and pharmaceutical industries. That means that this blade is ideal for industrial use. It is also profoundly used in chemical and recycling industries.
There are typically four aspects on which a knife steel is assessed: toughness, corrosion resistance, ease of sharpening and edge retention. Hardness does not include in this because reaching an optimal level of hardness may offset one of these aspects. Super tough steels cannot hold edge retention for long. Similarly, high wear resistance takes longer to sharpen and is not very corrosion resistant.
However, the LC200N can be used as a benchmark for optimal levels of wear resistance, rust-proof, greater edge retention, easy to sharp and toughness. It is very similar in feel to S30V with extreme corrosion resistance.
The blade shape, as discussed before, is sheepsfoot with a beer belly. It has a wider surface area than most folding knives, which is great.
The only drawback or setback of SpydieChef blade is that it can show visible scratches spontaneously. It could be because of the shiny blade and the grind lines left by the manufacturing process. But I won’t call it a deal breaker if it works fine either way.
The 3.32” blade length with a blade stock thickness of 0.118” could be an offset for some users. But, it’s a great slicer regardless.
The Handle of Spyderco SpydieChef
Using titanium for SpydieChef’s handle material was a great idea of Marcin Slysz, as it is one of the best handle materials for folding knives, including G10 of course. It makes the handle sturdy and hard, yet smooth on the edges. Combined with fine finishing the handle of SpydieChef is smooth to touch, yet grippy even when used with wet or sweaty hands. It is also another design function, as using a knife during cooking or fishing includes water.
The shape of the handle is one of my most favorite elements of this knife. I like the slant shape because the knuckles do not get in the way of using the knife. It also has good contouring and heavy chamfering that allow you to point the blade at its edge length without poking at your fingers. So it’s safe to say that there is no blade play here.
A major reason for this knife’s handle and exceptional ergonomics is Spyderco’s Constant Quality Improvement (CQI) policy. The Spyderco SpydieChef went through two improvement iterations before passing as the final product. The original SpydieChef had a steel detent ball that was prone to rust. It was a major setback directly affecting the knife’s performance. So Spyderco came out better with this variant.
Instead of the steel detent ball, Spyderco used the ceramic variant. Another revision included changing screws to black instead of silver – again to eliminate the rust factor in the latest 2019 release.
Deployment and Lockup of Spyderco SpydieChef
The deployment of SpydieChef is same as on every other trademark Spyderco knives – the round thumb hole, Spyder-Hole or Spydie-Hole. The Spydie-Hole on SpydieChef is quite big and round, capable of being opened with one hand, whether left or right. However, you will only see the round thumb hole carving inside the handle from the front. The backside of the handle obscures a quarter of the round hole. But that’s not a big issue, as it allows you to open the knife in the right direction – from the front rather than the back.
The R.I.L (Reeves Integral Lock) is a kind of frame lock that uses the handle scale itself as the lock spring to lock the blade in place. It may not be the best or as simple as a liner lock, but it works well. You may need to get used to it though, to retain muscle memory by using it again and again. However, there is no blade play involved in locking and opening the knife. Once the blade is open and locked in place, it stays its position.
The only challenge with this locking mechanism is to keep your pinky and ring finger away from the lock bar when the knife is open, so that it doesn’t accidently close disengage when in use. Also, opening the knife with your thumb thrusts some pressure towards your ring finger and pinky finger accidently locking the knife at the same time. That is not good. So if you open it with two hands, you will see that the action is smooth.
Testing Spyderco SpydieChef in the Field
The first thing I noticed when using the Spyderco SpydieChef was its pocket clip. It could be the best one I have used so far. It fits well no matter where you hang it, is discreet, has decent retention, and gives a sleek look to the knife.
The weight of the knife is also quite optimal – not too heavy or light, it’s just right. The handle being quite thin and lean adds to this factor – 0.40” to be precise
Starting with cardboard cutting, my experience with SpydieChef was awesome! As in, I could go on cutting and shredding pieces of cardboard for long without my hand or the knife giving way. The task was smoothest. It also did not require immediate cleaning, except for shedding off some pieces of cardboard before resuming.
Next, we tested it on food preparation.
We started with slicing off leaves, then moved on to cutting fruits and vegetables.
It is safe to say that Spyderco SpydieChef is a reliable tool in the kitchen. And not just for regular use. You can take it with you on a hunting trip, camping, or while cooking outdoors. It will work well on all fruits and vegetables, even fish meat. You can also use it to cut meat, although it is smaller for heavy meat cutting tasks.
Pros & Cons of Spyderco SpydieChef
PRO’s
Con’s
Comparison
Spyderco SpydieChef vs Slysz Bowie
The two knives call for the comparison not just because they look alike, but are both by the same designer.
As you can see, the pocket clip is also similar on the two knives. However, the SpydieChef’s blade shape is downward facing. It is excellent for cutting and dicing with your hand off the surface to protect it. As the name suggests, it would be an excellent tool for a professional chef who is used to cutting at a fast pace without breaks.
On the other hand, Slysz Bowie is more for practical tasks. It has enough belly to slice through with precision, like paper cuts or cardboard slicing.
Although the performance of both is equally good, the blade material of the two is different. SpydieChef features LC200N blade, while Spyderco Slysz Bowie has M390. However, the LC200N is almost rust-proof compared to Spyderco Slysz Bowie Knife.
Moreover, the pocket clips of both knives are also the same. However, there is a bit of difference between their finishing. As you can see, the SpydieChef has a slightly slanted pocket clip, making it easier to carry in different positions. The Slysz Bowie features a relatively simpler pocket clip, much like most of Spyderco’s pocket knives.
The SpydieChef has a rough machine finish on its blade, whereas Slysz Bowie has a mirror-finish. It gives a good look of the look, enough to show off.
Also, SpydieChef has two slabs of relatively flat titanium shafts inside the handle, and the finish is also titanium. The Slysz Bowie has slightly different contour finish, so it feels nicer in the hand.
However, when it comes down to it, the choice between the two depends on the tasks you want to undertake. I would prefer SpydieChef for food preparation, and Slysz Bowie for other everyday light tasks.
Spyderco SpydieChef vs Swayback
SpydieChef is a much better knife than Swayback. The SpydieChef with its LC200N steel blade is much better at performing food preparation tasks than Swayback did. Its frame lock is smaller but smarter than Swayback, with no blade play, making it safer. It is also cheaper than Swayback, has a unique cutting profile, and more for the hand than the eye.
Conclusion: Spyderco SpydieChef Review
The Spyderco SpydieChef review tied many loose ends by comparing and adding some of the best elements of folding knives by Spyderco itself. It is safe to say that SpydieChef is a good knife for the kitchen and outdoor cooking, especially for food preparation including fruits and vegetables and soft meat like the fish.
Our first impressions matched our personal experience with the knife. The knife profile, the blade, the handle, the ergonomics and the pocket clip works far too well. So I’d say that SpydieChef is a bargain chip at this price. It is a high-end premium knife that does what it promises. So I’d recommend it.
