Since the Spyderco Smock was released in 2019, it has been in constant production and has actually been a top-seller.
The “best of” lists with respect to Spyderco always harp on the Delica, Tenacious and Para (or some iteration of the Para) as these are excellent knives.
But the people have heard enough. We all know those are Spyderco’s greats. But there’s more out there, and for a lot of users, the Smock hits it. To some, it’s definitely the best Spyderco knife among them.
Blade Steel
Key among the Smock’s offerings is the blade steel, which is CPM S30V. This is a crucible particle metallurgy steel, a martensitic alloy that is corrosion resistant, extremely tough, and extremely wear resistant.
Specifically, this alloy is conducive to the formation of vanadium carbides which are much more wear-resistant than chromium carbides. With that said, it still packs a whopping 14% chromium, so you get the best of both worlds: serious edge retention and corrosion-resistance.
In fact, S30V is so hard that some users complain about how tough it is to sharpen it – so take that for what it’s worth.
Blade Shape
For a Spyderco, the blade profile here is more remarkable than the steel chemistry. Spydies have been known to stray into the realm of super steels, but rarely leave behind the classic, almost trademarkable Spyderco humped leaf shape.
The Smock is a black sheep, but in a good way, thanks to its sheepsfoot style blade. This is very unlike a Spyderco but it has made it popular nonetheless, thanks to its super-adequate length of edge and downturned point that offers excellent strength and resistance to breaking.
Adding to this unique profile is that hollow grind, which makes it easier to get a ripping sharp edge.
Ergonomics
Notwithstanding the combo-breaking blade profile, the ergonomics are somewhat standard in the Spyderco Smock, but that is not a slight.
The handle is 4.53”, which gives even users with fairly large hands plenty of purchase. Also, the shape is basic yet comfortable, almost like a coffin-shape, with a rounded finger choil at the front which improves grip and indexing.
Handle Material
The Smock is made with black G10 scales which offer both texture and heft, not to mention the fact that G10, like other modern synthetics, can’t be beat for simplicity of maintenance – there is none.
You won’t need to worry about getting this knife wet, greasy, bloody, cold, hot, or leaving it out in the sun. It’ll hang just fine.
Deployment and Lock Mechanism
Like most (all?) Spyderco knives, deployment here is through a naturally ambidextrous thumb hole – but it also has a sleek, elegant flipper tab.
The Smock features a compression lock, which is like a liner lock with a stop bar, except the liner is on the top of the knife and not under the edge. Originally designed and developed by Spyderco, this lock is intuitive to use, user-friendly, very strong, and safer than conventional liner and frame locks.
The unique thing here, though, is that this compression lock is disengaged through a button – making it more akin to a button lock than a conventional compression lock.
Other Things?
Other than what we’ve already covered, there are some other things that might have some users hailing the Smock as the best Spyderco knife ever.
It also has a reversible pocket clip that allows for tip-up carry and skeletonized liners that lighten the overall package.
Not Convinced It’s the Best Spyderco Knife?
While the Smock has made waves for as long as it’s been in the spotlight, there are other Spyderco knives out there that can give it a run for its money. To see more of these, visit White Mountain Knives.
They carry this and other top-selling Spyderco pocket knives at competitive prices and offer free shipping in the United States, so get to it.
