Spyderco

Spyderco Scales

Spyderco, a legendary American knife brand renowned for one-hand opening, serrated edges, and innovative EDC knives, was founded in 1976 in Golden, Colorado, by Sal Glesser and his wife Gail Glesser

Sal, a self-taught inventor and lifelong tinkerer, began experimenting with knives in the early 1970s while living in a camper van. Frustrated by traditional folders requiring two hands to open, he developed the round Spyderco hole—a revolutionary thumb hole for fast, ambidextrous one-hand deployment—patented in 1981

The first Spyderco knife, the C01 Worker (1981), introduced the SpyderHole, serrations for aggressive cutting, and a clip for tip-up carry—features that became industry standards. The C02 Mariner (1982) added a hook for cutting rope/ seatbelts, cementing Spyderco's reputation for practical innovation

In 1983, Spyderco moved to Golden, Colorado, and launched the iconic Delica and Endura (1990)—lightweight, affordable folders that exploded in popularity and made Spyderco a household name among enthusiasts, military, and first responders

Key milestones include collaborations with top designers (Sal Glesser, Michael Walker, Jens Anso, Brad Southard, Mick Strider), adoption of premium steels (VG-10, S30V, S110V, Maxamet), and the Paramilitary 2 (2004)—Spyderco's bestseller and modern classic

Today, Spyderco remains family-owned, Made in USA (Golden, CO) and Japan, and synonymous with ergonomic innovation, high-performance steels, and everyday carry knives—trusted worldwide for reliability and cutting-edge design