In an industry rife with similarities and subtle nuances between products, it is refreshing to see the occasional departure from the norm. That said, different isn’t always a good thing, although it sure works for Spyderco’s Squarehead Folder.
At only 2-inches long when closed with a small 1.3-inch blade, the uniquely shaped square blade is made from high quality CMP S30V powder metallurgy stainless steel. Powdered metal is not to be confused with other powdered products like say, Tang. Powdered metal is a high-zoot process whereby all of the individual elements of a particular metal alloy are mixed in powdered form, then heated to evenly melt those elements together. It creates a metal alloy with even distribution of the various components. In the case of the Squarehead, that results in a blade with exceptional edge-holding qualities. That single-sided edge, when folded, is protected by a small raised guard within the inner edge of the handle.
The handle of the Squarehead is machined from titanium, that metal we have all come to associate with all things exotic. The most interesting feature of the knife is the locking mechanism which is machined from the same piece of metal as the handle itself. The small tongue of titanium at the center of the handle acts as the spring and the lock.
Easily opened thanks to the iconic Spyderco hole in the blade, it feels remarkably comfortable in hand. The dimensions of the Squarehead make it surprisingly easy to use unlike many small knives which are just shrunken iterations of bigger models. The main pivot of the knife is curiously solid and doesn’t yield any noticeable flex.
As one of those knife users prone to balk at the size and heft of many knives, I’ve come to really appreciate the Squarehead and find it fits perfectly in the coin pocket of my jeans. For a knife with this level of forward thinking, and made of titanium and powdered metal, the $130 asking price seems more than reasonable.
Innovation is a wonderful thing when executed properly, and Spyderco nailed it with the unique and useful Squarehead Folder.
