Is the kitchen your favorite spot in the house? Do your family and friends immediately head towards the kitchen when they find you missing? Then, you are a certified connoisseur who deserves to have an armory of high-quality kitchen knives. With the best kitchen knives anywhere near your kitchen counter, get even more inspired to slice, dice, and chop your favorite ingredients into scrumptious meals. Spyderco kitchen knives are undoubtedly one of the best sets you should own. They have several uniquely designed cooking knives that offer aesthetics, convenience, and functionality. Start your collection with the Spyderco chef knife, and you’ll find yourself building a Spyderco arsenal in no time!
We will discuss everything you need to know about Spyderco—their history and their knives—so that when you find yourself shopping for kitchen knives online or at the shopping mall, you’ll know exactly what to get.
Spyderco has led innovations in the knife-making industry for the past 45 years. The brand is known to have introduced folding knife technology in the US. Today, pocket knives are among the top choices of any outdoorsman. It is not only handy but also satisfies various outdoor cutting needs.
The knife brand that is now well-known with several manufacturing centers in different parts of the world started from humble beginnings. They sold knives in fairs and exhibits in 1976 until they established their Colorado office in 1978.
Now, Spyderco offers a wide selection of kitchen knives and other kitchen tools. Its latest knife collection, the Murray Carter, materialized through a partnership with Murray Carter.
Murray Carter is a knifemaker whose knowledge came from his Japanese masters. The 17-year-old knife enthusiast originally went to Japan for a karate lesson but ended up in a knife workshop, getting lessons from Yasuyuki Sakemoto. Sakemoto is a bladesmith from Kushu, Japan, who trained Carter for six years, referring him to several bladesmiths to master the craft of Japanese bladesmithing.
Carter continued to create knives and has been doing so for the past 31 years. Sakemoto also named him the 17th generation of the Yoshimoto bladesmith. In the collection, Carter flaunts his expertise in Japanese-style knife making, creating knives that are both sharp and comfortable to use.
There are two collections under the Spyderco and Murray Carter partnership—Itamae Series and Wakiita Series. “Itamae” is a title given to skilled sushi chefs, which, translated in English, means “in front of the cutting board.” “Wakiita,” on the other hand, is another title given to chefs who are proficient enough to assist highly-skilled chefs. The word means “near the cutting board” in English.
Blade: The blade is made up of three layers. The Aogami Super Blue—considered the most superior among all Japanese carbon steel types—makes up the knife’s core. This ensures maximum quality and durability, allowing pristine cuts in every use.
Covering both sides of the Aogami Super Blue is SUS410 stainless steel, contributing to the knife’s resistance to corrosion and heat.
The Carter Elbow is a trademark of almost all Itamae knives. This is characterized by spine tapering as it reaches the tip of the blade.
Handle: The knife has a “wa-style” handle, deeply rooted in the Japanese Wa concept that generally means harmony and unity. The Burl G-10 handle will give you a perfect, harmonious grip on the handle with dry hands or wet. The handle is also lightweight, giving excellent comfort to users. Holding the Itamae Burl G-10 also feels like the knife is an extension of your hand and lets you cut, slice, and dice ingredients with ease.
Different Itamae Knives: The Itamae collection includes Petty, Gyuto, Bunka Bucho, Nakiri, and Funayuki knives.
Blade: Unique to Wakiita knives are blades made of CTS BD1N, nitrogen-based steel, which is durable enough to resist chipping, regardless of the ingredients you are cutting.
The edge is straight, thin, and has the Carter Elbow spine, which tapers while the spine nears the tip.
Handle: The Wakiita collection knives also have ergonomic “wa-style” handles using G-10 material. You are ensured of a solid grip no matter what you are slicing or cutting. There are plenty of G-10 types of handle benefits you can reap using Wakiita knives.
Different Wakiita Knives: The Wakiita collection comprises Bunka Bocho, Funayuki, Gyuto, Nakiri, and Petty knives.
You have seen above that the Wakiita and Itamae collections have different knives meant to help any beginners or masters in the kitchen. Each knife has its own cutting application.
The Bunka Bucho is a Spyderco chef knife. When translated in English, this means “cultural knife” as it is one of the most used types in Japanese kitchens. The Bunka Bucho may become your favorite kitchen tool if you do decide to get one for yourself. It can help you cut common ingredients in the kitchen like meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables.
If you are a lover of fish and need a knife perfectly designed for this application, the Funayuki just might be the tool you’re looking for. The word translates to “ship going” in English. A fisherman’s favorite, it can be used in draw-cutting fish and other ingredients with little to no mess because of its sharp edges. The Funayuki is not limited to fish; it is a versatile knife that can chop and cut all kinds of ingredients for your favorite meals.
Gyuto is another Spyderco chef knife hailed as the Japanese version of the traditional chef’s knife. The meaning of the word is “cow blade,” which is apt for its use—cutting beef and similar types of meat. You can also use the Gyuto for other kitchen cutting, slicing, dicing, and garnishing activities a regular chef knife can do.
Nakiri differs from the rest of the Itamae and Wakiita collection because it is the only knife that does not have the signature Carter Elbow. Nonetheless, it is at par with other Spyderco knives in terms of durability. The Naikiri, which translates to “vegetable cutter,” is generally used to push-cut vegetables.
From Japanese names, we move to a French-named knife. Petty means “small” in French, and it is another knife included in the Itamae and Wakiita collection. An equivalent to the paring knife, its small fixture is perfect for more detailed slicing, peeling, and cutting vegetables and fruits. If you are fond of creating enticing garnishes, this knife is for you.
Aside from the famous Itamae and Wakiita collections, Spyderco also has mini-paring knives, Santoku, utility knives, and bread knives with blades and handles that match the brand's high standards.
Unique to Spyderco are Counter Puppy knives, with a design inspired by a puppy’s leg, and Z-Cut knives, which look like the letter Z. You can leave a Counter Puppy on any surface standing on its own because of its design. The Z-Cut’s blade slopes downwards while the handle maintains at a higher angle. This design allows the user to have a full grip on the knife handle, while performing any cutting and slicing tasks. The Z-Cut knives are available with blunt and pointed tips.
Spyderco kitchen knives are all unique and have interesting names. Each knife has a fascinating story to tell, which can inspire any true blue kitchen aficionado. Spyderco’s imagination and innovation in creating distinctive knives make the brand a go-to for novice and master chefs alike. Shop from among the brand’s incredible assortment of kitchen knives to find out for yourself!
