Glossary

ABS
A black amorphous thermoplastic polymer with high impact strength.

Almite
A coating used on aluminum handles similar to anodizing. Resistant to scratching and marring, it can also be tinted to any color for visual appeal.

Alumina Ceramic
The compound used in Spyderco sharpening stones. It consists of a ceramic-bonding agent mixed with alumina particles (synthetic sapphires) that is shaped and kiln fired at temperatures in excess of 3000 degrees F.

Ambidextrous
Using both hands with equal ease. Pertaining to knives, it is a knife that can be operated equally well with both the left and right hand.

Austenite
A solid solution of carbon or of carbon and other elements in gamma iron, having a face-centered cubic lattice at all temperatures.

Austenitic Steel
A major class of alloy steel, especially stainless, composed primarily of austenite. Unlike martensitic steels, which are hardened through heat treating, austenitic steels work harden.

Balisong/Butterfly
A knife design believed to have originated in the UK and later popularized in the Philippines. Often used in the Filipino martial arts, it consists of two handles that rotate in opposite directions to completely enclose the blade or lock it in the open position.

Bolster
A piece of metal, generally nickel silver or stainless steel, that is located at one or both ends of a folding knife handle.

Boltaron®
A recycled ABS/acrylic PVS extruded alloy sheet material used for making sheaths. A moldable thermoplastic, it has excellent impact strength and is resistant to chemicals and abrasion. Similar to Kydex®.

C.Q.I.
Constant Quality Improvement-a process Spyderco applies to product design and manufacture in which changes and refinements are continually made to existing models, improving ergonomics, materials or manufacturing techniques.

Caping
The careful and detailed removal of the hide of a game animal for the purpose of taxidermy. More precisely it refers to the removal of the skin from the head, shoulders and neck.

Carbide
A hard, sharp carbon/iron material typically used in tools for the machining or drilling of steel. Spyderco uses carbide to make the glass-breaker tip of the C79 Assist model.

Choil
A small scallop or cutout between the cutting edge and the ricasso of the blade that allows the edge to be sharpened all the way to the shoulder of the ricasso.

Choil Jimping
Small grooves machined into the edge of a choil to provide added purchase, control and slip resistance.

CLIPIT®
Spyderco’s trademarked term for their line of folding knives that feature a pocket clip. A CLIPIT fan is often called a CLIPITEER.

Cobra Hood™
A machined flange or shroud positioned over the Spyderco round opening hole on the spine of a blade. It provides increased surface area and a positive purchase when opening the blade one-handed. Ideal for use with gloved hands, this feature is currently used on Spyderco’s C79 Assist rescue knife.

Cordura®
Cordura® is a family of fabrics made from yarns or fibers from INVISTA. It is used in a wide range of products, including luggage, backpacks, boots, military wear, and performance apparel because it is very durable and abrasion resistant. Spyderco uses Cordura in our SpyderPacs and in the sheath of our Warrior knife.

David Boye Dent
Custom knifemaker David Boye removed a small arc or dent of metal from the lock bar lever of his knives. This modification, adopted by Spyderco, reduces the possibility of gripping the handle hard enough to depress the lock bar and accidentally unlock the blade during use.

Detent
A minute divot or dimple machined into the tang of a folding knife blade. A ball bearing seated in the surface of the LinerLock drops into the detent hole when the knife is in the closed position to hold the knife blade closed inside the handle.

Diamond Coating
The mechanical entrapment of diamond crystals into a metal substrate. Used in the production of sharpening devices, this process is done by depositing metal, layer by layer, from a plating solution until enough material is built up around the diamond crystals to hold them in place.

DLC Coating
DLC (Diamond-like carbon) is a mixture of sp2 (graphite) & sp3 (diamond) used for coating blades and parts to make them non-reflective and increase their wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

EDC
An acronym for ‘everyday carry,’ indicating a knife that is carried and used daily.

ELU
An acronym for ‘end-line user,’ the consumer who uses Spyderco knives and sharpeners.

Embellishment
A term used to describe personalized engraving or additional ornamentation added to a knife after it is manufactured.

Emerson Opening Feature
A blade opening device invented and patented by Ernest Emerson of Emerson Knives. It consists of an integral hook protruding from the blade’s spine that catches the edge of the pocket when the knife is drawn to automatically open the blade. Licensed from Ernest Emerson, Pat. #5,878,500.

Ergonomics
An applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use to maximize safety and efficiency. Knives that are designed to be comfortable and less fatiguing to use are considered ergonomic.

Finger Choil
A cutout or scallop in the profile of a knife at the juncture of the handle and blade that provides a purchase for the finger when gripped. On non-locking SLIPIT knives, this feature also helps prevent accidental blade closure during use.

G-Clip
An adjustable thermoplastic clip affixed to fixed-blade sheaths to support a variety of carry positions on the belt, waistband, or other locations.

Handguard
A protrusion or expansion of a knife’s handle proximal to the blade that prevents the hand from sliding forward onto the edge.

High Alumina Ceramic
The compound used in the manufacture of Spyderco sharpening stones. It consists of a ceramic-bonding agent mixed with alumina particles (synthetic sapphires) that is shaped then kiln fired at temperatures in excess of 3000 degrees F.

Jimping
Grooves on the edge of the tang, spine, or other surface of a knife that provide texture for increased control during use.

Kick
The unsharpened portion on the underside of a knife blade adjacent to the edge. The kick prevents the edge from touching the inside of the handle when closed.

Kraton®
A high-performance elastomer manufactured by Kraton Polymers used as a synthetic replacement for rubber. Kraton provides the flexibility, high traction, and sealing abilities of natural rubber, but with increased resistance to heat, weathering, and chemicals. Kraton is used in the manufacture of knife handles to provide a comfortable, secure grip.

Kydex®
A thin thermoplastic material commonly used for firearm holsters and knife sheaths. It can be easily heat formed, yet is flexible, durable, and resistant to perspiration, chemicals, oils and solvents.

Lanyard Hole
A small hole in a knife’s handle through which a cord or lanyard may be threaded. Lanyards provide additional security during use of a knife and help prevent dropping or loss, especially around water.

Left/Right-Hand Carry
The ability of a knife clip to be attached to either side of the handle to support mirror image carry on both the left and right sides of the body.

Little Big Knife
A term coined by Spyderco to describe a small-bladed knife (generally under three inches) that is manufactured using features and materials that allow the knife to be used for strenuous cutting tasks normally only performed with larger, heavier tools.

Martensite
A solid solution of carbon in alpha-iron that is formed when steel is cooled so rapidly that the change from austenite to pearlite is suppressed; responsible for the hardness of quenched steel.

Martensitic Steel
A steel composed primarily of martensite, a crystalline structure created when the steel in subjected to a heat-treating process in which it is heated to critical temperature and rapidly cooled or quenched to harden it.

MIM
An acronym for Metal Injection Molding—a process in which a powdered metal is mixed with a binder and injected into a mold to create a detailed molded part.

MOLLE
An acronym for Modular Lightweight Loadcarrying Equipment—the current system of load-bearing equipment used by military and law enforcement personnel. It consists of a grid of nylon webbing that allows the modular attachment of pouches and other equipment to achieve customized mission-specific configurations.

Nesting
The practice of machining a recess into G-10 or other handle scale material to inlay the liners and lock mechanism. Nesting increases structural strength while reducing the overall thickness of the handle.

Phosphor Bronze Washers
Washers placed over a knife’s pivot pin between the between the scales or liners and the blade. They are made of phosphor bronze alloy, which provides a low-friction bearing surface for smooth operation.

Pommel
The knob or expansion found at the butt end of a knife handle.

Quillion
A handguard protruding from one or both sides of a knife at the juncture of the handle and blade. Its purpose is to prevent the hand from sliding forward onto the blade during use.

Scale
A slab of material used as part of a knife handle. Handles typically have two scales that are riveted, screwed or bonded to the tang of the blade.

Skeletonized Liners
Internal steel handle liners that feature a series of holes (skeletonizing) that reduces their weight while maintaining strength and rigidity.

Slip Joint
A non-locking folding knife with a blade that is held open by spring tension. Slip joint knives do not have pocket clips.

SLIPIT
Spyderco and byrd folding knives with non-locking blades that are held open via a notched joint. SLIPIT knives are equipped with pocket clips, while slip-joint knives are not.

Spine Cusp
A ridge or crest above the Spyderco Round Hole that creates a shelf for the thumb to apply pressure during use.

Spine Jimping
Small textured grooves on the spine of a blade that provide a tactile index, add purchase, and increase slip resistance.

Sprint Run™
A limited, one-time-only production of a specific knife design or variant. Production quantities of sprint runs are limited.

Spyder-Drop Opening
A one-handed opening method that involves grasping the closed blade of a folding knife near the pivot pin and swinging the handle down to open the knife. It is best accomplished with a Spyderco knife, using the Spyderco Round Hole to achieve a secure grip.

Spyderco Trademark Round Hole™
A round hole in a knife blade that is used for ambidextrous one-handed opening of the blade. In fixed-blade knives, it also serves as a forward-positioned lanyard hole.

Swedge
A beveled section on the spine of a blade that reduces weight, adds style, and provides a more acute point. Unlike a false edge, a swedge is unsharpened.

Tang
The portion of a blade that connects to the handle or serves as the foundation of the handle of a knife.

Tip-Up/Tip-Down
Terms of reference that describe the position of the blade of a closed knife when it is clipped to a pocket. The attachment of the clip to the handle of the knife determines whether it is positioned tip-up or tip-down.

Titanium
A non-ferrous metal that is lightweight, highly corrosion resistant and has a high degree of tensile strength. It is ideally suited to use in the handles, liners and other components of folding knives.