Spyderco Matriarch 2 Lightweight Knife with Emerson Opener and 3.57" VG-10 Steel Reverse S Blade - SpyderEdge - C12SBK2W

Another awesome and excellent Spyderco knife, the Matriarch offers a specialized blade and cutting edge that excels for certain kinds of cutting tasks and self-defense applications. This knife is an excellent alternative to the venerable and vaunted Spyderco Civilian, and offers the clever Emerson Opener appendage on the wickedly sharp and aggressive blade.I'm a big fan of the Emerson Opener feature, as it offers a legal alternative to the mechanized switchblade, and with a practiced hand, can be deployed every bit as quickly. The Emerson Opener is the lowest tech solution imaginable, and therefore it's superlatively reliable as well. I see no downside to adding this clever feature to an already great knife.The workmanship and materials are pure Spyderco, which is to say they're first-rate! This is the eighth Spyderco knife I have purchased for myself or as a gift--I think that highly of them!As with any of the top-drawer Spyderco Knives, I would recommend that anybody considering one for purchase, go right ahead and make the buy! I cannot imagine that you'll be disappointed! And the prices and fast delivery via Amazon.com can't be beat!Note: Had this knife been offered with the black titanium carbonitride-coated blade, I would have opted for that feature as well. I do like the black blades.Supplemental 11/28/2104: In describing the virtues of this blade Vs. the Spyderco Ulize to my somewhat mesmerized wife, I used a sheet of everyday paper towel. Even with the subtlest swipe, the Matriarch's blade bites into and retrieves a tiny piece of the towel--there is no escaping this. A slightly more aggressive swipe and the blade captures and owns the shredded towel--we're talking a mere flick of the wrist. Like I said, Wicked!This aggressively curved, serrated blade is to knives, what hollow-point bullets are to firearm cartridges. Taking lessons from the "Master Engineer", we see the sharp, capturing curve of the Eagle's talon, combined with the razor-sharp serrations of the Great White's teeth. I can readily see where career fisherman, horsemen, and jumpmasters would benefit from a knife like the Matriarch; but if I were to buy this knife for such a person, I'd certainly add a quality lanyard. If you do buy this particular knife as a gift, do that little test with the paper towel and the recipient will immediately see the benefits of this amazing blade!By contrast, the latter of the aforementioned tests (a slightly more aggressive swipe) using the forward end of the blade of the Spyderco Ulize, cleanly slices through the paper towel, and draws back without capturing it. This is a completely different slicing and cutting process, though I've no doubt that a cut made into a more substantial material, past the pronounced curve in the Ulize's crazy-sharp blade would also demonstrate a capture-and-cut effect. See my review on the Spyderco Ulize...Both blades perform as described straight from the box. In both cases, the paper towel was held loosely, supported from just one end with one hand, while flicking the knives with the wrist of the opposite hand.At any rate, be careful! Take every precaution, lest you find yourself getting stitched up in the ER!Spyderco Knives are available across a wide range of styles and prices, and they make impressive, well-received gifts! I gave my oldest son an all-black Spyderco Endura for his birthday in 2013, and he still talks about the comments and compliments he receives on that knife! A visit to the OEM website will allow you to peruse the many models Spyderco offers, then check back here at Amazon for your best price and fastest delivery! Spyderco even makes classy-looking all-stainless folding knives, appropriate for the executive types, as well as cute-but-functional knives for the girly-girls on your list.Frankly, I think an EDC (Every Day Carry) pocket knife capable of slicing through a seatbelt is a good idea for any responsible adult, male or female. My wife carry's one of two Spyderco Knives daily, as does my daughter-in-law.And no, I do not work for or represent Spyderco... I've just yet to be unimpressed with a Spyderco purchase is all!RayB

Great knife.Wicked sharp and the one-handed pocket opening hook mechanism works very well once you get the hang of it. Extremely well built like all Spyderco blades I have ever purchased. The stainless blade is great for humid environments, the handle material is the usual Spyderco material with non-slip surface and fits a large hand nicely. The blade lock is sturdy and hold the blade in place. The knife is very light for a large pocket knife, extremely well built, the clip is sturdy and like all Spyderco knives the lightness of the knife is a huge selling point.Fits down into my jean pockets and I carry it whenever I am going out anyplace that I want to know I have a knife on me... including protection. It is 3 1/4" blade length along the cutting edge (serrated) so it is legal carry in jurisdictions that allow knives under 3 1/2" blade length to be conceal carried without being a "weapon."Note that this knife is not efficient for many working uses that require you to stab, pry or prod with the tip of the knife... it is not necessarily a basic utility knife for every purpose... a smaller traditional folding blade or multi-tool might work better for a pocket utility tools... this one is made for pulling the tip across and into things (slashing motions), and the design of the tip causes the knife to pull into the material being slashed/cut. It will certainly work to open boxes, cut ropes, prune small branches and other working tasks that require you to pull the knife through the material. It is extremely sharp with a very thin tip and the blade serrated all the way to the tip.As long as you realize the design limitations, this is a great knife... especially if you are interested in a personal-defense design.

The serrations on this blade are very impressive and sharp. The Emerson Wave Feature operates quite well. An excellent self defense choice.