Review Spyderco Resilience Lightweight

 

 -  large and light, a folding knife for outdoor life

To date, I have reviewed about 35 knives from Spyderco. But even though I own several more, it has only been one from the "Tenacious series", which was their first venture into what they call "value folders". A category that means slightly simpler knives in terms of materials and manufactured in China. Everything to bring the price down and make them more competitive even in lower price segments. That family has since grown with models such as Efficient, Emphasis, Astute, etc. However, the line to their budget brand "Byrd" is fluid on that part although in this series you get a more pronounced Spyderco design.

It is one of the Value Folder knives we will take a closer look at today. The biggest actually, which goes by the name of Resilience.

Spyderco C142BK Resilience Lightweight

What is new is that a series called Lightweight has been released where the models Tenacious, Persistence, and Resistance have received a treatment which means that the G10 sides in the handles have been replaced with FRN. In addition, Spyderco has launched a luxury version of Resilience with a blade in S35VN steel. It is of course more expensive and the question then is what is the point of a so-called "value line". But that is the subject of another post.

However, it is not that version but the simpler of the two FRN variants of Resilience that is in focus here. 

Resilience, a lightweight beast from Spyderco

Twitter version: Lighter meant not only less weight but also better. The ergonomics got a boost in the right direction and the Spyderco Resilience is therefore an excellent choice for those looking for a large folding knife at a relatively good price.

Blade

The blade of this knife is of course identical to the original model. This means one of Spyderco's basic shapes, a "leaf-shaped" blade which is in practice a drop point where the back line is slightly modified to accommodate the blade hole. That consideration makes the blade wider than many others, and in addition, a thumb ramp naturally occurs at the base of the blade. In this case, it is equipped with grooves for increased traction.

Then it is not a small blade we are talking about as it measures over a decimeter in length, more precisely 107 mm. The height is 32 mm and the blade thickness is 3.1 mm. There is not too much in relation to the size of the blade, height, and not least the fact that it tapers towards the tip.

Resilience offers a formidable blade

The material in both this FRN version and the previous one is 8Cr13MoV, one of the simpler Chinese budget steels that are sometimes condescendingly called "number steels". But with that said, it is not that bad for pocket knives. To begin with, it is fairly resistant to rust given that it has been treated correctly during manufacture. Then it actually takes a good edge, even if it doesn't last forever.

It is also not the world's most impact-resistant steel in my experience*. But as I often point out, the fact that it is relatively easy to grind is not something you should turn a blind eye to. Especially not in a utility knife. Not all knife users have access to modern sharpening systems with fixed angles and diamond stones, and that aspect is important. 

The steel is as before Chinese, but Sal's marking has been added and the text "China" has been made smaller

As is usually the case with knives from Spyderco, the blade is fully flat ground. It provides excellent cutting properties provided the manufacturer does not skimp and has too much steel right behind the edge. In this case, it is 0.6 mm. Not the thinnest but in return, it is a fairly large knife.

The factory edge gets approved but no more. The knife arrived sharp but nothing extremely good. The edge is reasonably even but is steeper towards the tip. 

One thing worth noting is that the blade is slightly angled downwards in relation to the handle. It makes it easier to use the edge and especially the belly of the blade when cutting. A well-thought detail.

The combination of good texture on the sides of the handle, a recess for the index finger, and a thumb ramp with additional grooves make it very difficult to slip whether you are working with or without gloves. Even if it is used to stab with. This means that you as a user do not hesitate when you need to puncture, for example, heavy plastic packaging or the like.

You don't have to be afraid to do that either, as the tip is unusually robust for sitting on a Spyderco. Otherwise, the blade is quite flexible in terms of areas of use. The fact that the edge is drawn all the way to the handle is certainly a disadvantage when the knife needs to be resharpened, but is in return a great advantage when cutting wood, whether it is dry or fresh because you get closer to the material. There you have both more power and control.

In everyday materials such as cardboard, plastic of various types, and fabric, Resilience is formidable as a cutting tool. The wide blade slides through the materials thanks to the flat grind which makes the transition to full blade thickness gentle. Then the blade shape is a great asset in all forms of outdoor cooking. That's a bonus in this case.

Handle

The difference between this new version and the original is in the handle. The construction is the same as before with a lightened steel frame that the sides are then screwed in. In this case with three screws in addition to the pivot screw, which of course makes the knife sturdy. Especially as the lanyard hole itself consists of a steel tube, which further strengthens the construction.

However, the material in the handle sides itself is completely new. Here, the fairly smooth G10 has been abandoned in favor of heavily patterned FRN or "Fiber Reinforced Nylon" as it stands for. The actual coarseness or friction does not come from the material but from the pattern, which is Spyderco's "bi-directional", which means that there are heels in the molded plastic that bite the hand regardless of which direction the load comes from. It provides a grip that is on the verge of being too good sometimes. However, those looking for that quality need look no further.

The handle offers plenty of space and a very good grip

Otherwise, it can be said that the knife is open in the back. The spacers found there are not shaped in any way which is a pretty sure sign of a more budget-oriented knife. I say "more" because Spyderco's are rarely cheap. The frame on which the knife is based is unusually strong with its 2 millimeters. It matches the size of the knife which attracts heavier usage. 

The open back reveals simple spacers and that the frame is lightened

The actual dimensions of the handle are enough for most people, even those with really big hands. The length is around thirteen centimeters and most of that can be used to hold around. The height is 2.9-2.4 cm and the thickness of the handle is 12 mm. This also makes the knife excellent for those who want to use it with gloves on.

 Resilience is a substantial but well-balanced folding knife

The fact that the handle is spacious means that all grips the undersigned can think of work. The thumb ramp with its grooves is both figuratively and literally made to place a thumb on, and thus the saber grip feels completely natural. Likewise, the hammer grip feels excellent, not least because the handle is quite high, which fills the hand better than slimmer handles. Then you can cut close to the handle and that is the grip at least I use the most.

The spacious handle makes it easy to vary the grip

For the same reason, a high but thin handle is advantageous. The edge is where you expect it, so to speak. With the giant "finger choils" that have become modern, the edge is moved far from the handle, which makes such grips difficult to work with. But that is not the case here. 

Opening and Lock

Like basically all Spyderco knives, Resilience also opens via a hole in the blade. After all, it is their signature and what is found on most of the non-flipper knives in their catalog. In this case, the hole works fine but everything else would have surprised me.

Good means that the location in relation to the handle makes the hole both easily accessible and that the blade can be easily maneuvered.

A blade hole, what else? But a very well-functioning one should be added

The sides of the holes are not chamfered, which Spyderco sometimes receives criticism for as they are perceived by some as too sharp. If you are one of those who think so, it is easy to make a turn with a sharpening stone on the inside. Otherwise, it provides a better grip and prevents the thumb from slipping as easily. Especially not with cold or wet hands. Something that is also in line with the knife's area of use.

A very strong liner lock

In the same way, this is a rather strong lock, especially for being a liner lock. This is achieved by having a lock bar that is two millimeters thick and with adequate height. It simply gives a greater area of contact between the blade base and the lock bar.

The lock bar has been provided with some deep grooves for a better grip and is easy to access when the knife needs to be closed thanks to a generous recess in the handle on the opposite side.

The function itself is excellent and anything else would have upset me even though the Resilience is not one of Spyderco's most exclusive knives. But they usually make good locks, and that is the case here too. The blade is held in place without play in any direction. Nor does it slip under load or react to lighter hits from the wrong direction, i.e. the blade spine. In short, it does what a lock is supposed to do. 

To Carry

All knives have their pros and cons and sometimes one or the other dominates. Sometimes it's a close call. As for how Resilience is to carry, the latter applies. Certainly, it is relatively light, but the word was relative. However, it is other dimensions that make it somewhat less sympathetic in the pocket. It is not extremely thick with a width of 12 millimeters. However, it is both long and, as is so often the case with Spyderco knives, quite tall. It measures 13.2 cm by 4.3 cm in those dimensions.

On this knife, I have actually chosen to have the clip mounted at the pivot screw

Another complicating factor is the pattern I praised above. It gives an extremely secure grip, but it also causes the knife to tear against everything else as well. But here is a small detail that Spyderco has implemented since a few years ago that must be highlighted. That's how they chose to have the small plate with the logo just below the clip. It reduces the problem of fabric being pinched between a rough pattern and a strong clip.

It's a strong clip that didn't work as well without the flat surface it rests on

The clip, it's recognizable. It belongs to one of Spyderco's standard variants. Although my impression is that they usually are a bit thicker and thus feel a bit clumsier on models made in China. 

It can be mounted in all four "corners". Sometimes I can find it doubtful if it is necessary. But maybe not on a knife this big. Namely, I belong to those who actually shift the clip on some large folding knives. Today, it has almost become "law" or at least the norm among knife enthusiasts to carry knives equipped with a clip with the tip facing up, i.e. the clip attached to the back end of the handle. It mostly applies to me too, but there are exceptions. In part, it may be about knives that become more comfortable in the hand due to the design of the clip or, as here, that size plays a role.

Because the handle is so long, otherwise the knife must first be pulled, and then one is forced to shift the hand forward on the knife to access the hole with the thumb before the blade can be opened. Personally, I find it easier to instead spin the knife a quarter of a turn to achieve the same.

The clip otherwise works well. The ramp is good, it doesn't feel much in the hand because the handle is so big and it holds the knife in place. The tension is quite strong but not unaffordable.

To Conclude

The first impression of either the original or this version of Resilience is that it's a big damn beast. It is one of Spyderco's largest folding knives. As I said, the blade is over a decimeter long, and the knife measures thirteen centimeters in the pocket. But then there was the weight. It is light and sometimes you talk about how much weight you have to "pay" for a certain edge length. Here, that ratio is very good.

Resilience belongs to Spyderco's larger folding knives. Here in comparison with the Military and Police 4

The question, however, is whether Resilience is too big as an everyday knife? For many it probably is, and for others, all knives are too big except for a Victorinox Classic. But at the same time, if you know you have big hands or just like substantial knives, this is a very good candidate. Then there are all the other uses for a knife in addition to acting as a pure pocket knife for everyday use.

Of course, you can carry Resilience as an EDC knife, but preferably combined with something smaller

That's actually where I mainly see Resilience LW, that is, as a knife for the "other" tasks. Then I think most of an outdoor knife, regardless of what that means for you. Spyderco, in this case, has managed to pack in several important features that are significant in that context. The first is the weight, 125 grams in this case. It means less to carry, which is important if you are hiking or cycling, for example. But then the flat-ground, wide, and long blade gives very good properties even when, for example, outdoor cooking, whether it's more advanced tasks or if it's just slicing a piece of salami for a sandwich. This knife has replaced my old Military in that area.

Equally important is the grip which in this version with the FRN in the handle and fitted with this pattern is significantly better than the original. That, in combination with the fact that the edge is drawn all the way to the handle, means that you can use some force if necessary. Something that is especially nice when the firewood for that fire for said cooking needs to be provided. The fact that the lock is unusually strong for a liner lock does not make matters worse.

Then the geometry makes the blade exceptionally good for cutting materials such as cardboard and the like. The fact that it's a Spyderco means that you don't have thumb studs and the like that can hang up in the material helps. 

I mainly consider the Spyderco Resilience Lightweight as an outdoor knife

For those who think that the steel quality does not match the other characteristics but who like the model in general, there is, as I said, an upgraded version with CPM S35VN in the blade instead. A more expensive knife for sure, but otherwise with the same dimensions. And for those who hesitate about the price for both options, the original with G10 sides can actually be found at a lower price sometimes.

To everyone else, I can only say that Spyderco with the Resilience Lightweight has improved an already good model and is thus a good choice for those looking for a large folding knife for mostly outdoor life. Yes, and should you hesitate about the size, there is always the little brother Tenacious Lightweight. 

Specifications:

Length Overall: 239 mm

Length Folded: 132mm

Weight: 125 g

Blade Length: 107 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,1 mm

Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV

Handle: FRN

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Spyderco, made in China

/ J 

* Something that I test thoroughly in throwing knives, among other things.

** This has caused me to sandpaper the surface on some models to reduce the friction somewhat. This applies, for example, to Manix 2.

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