Spyderco Siren Review: A Great EDC Blade On Land Or Water
I’ve seen some commentary on the Spyderco Siren folding knife that it’s a special purpose blade. I don’t think that does this knife justice. Yes, it was designed for use in and around water. But while this knife excels at that, it makes a great knife for just about any purpose for which you need a sharp cutting tool.
Spyderco Siren Made With LC200N Steel
Professional kayak fisherman Lance Clinton designed this knife. Spyderco built it with LC200N steel, an ultra-corrosion-resistant metal that has better edge retention than the H1 steel Spyderco has been using in its Salt series of knives. By the way, I’ve used some of the Salt knives with H1 steel, not only around water, but for sweaty work in general. And I love them. I wouldn’t be too quick as others have been to criticize or to dismiss those knives entirely.
The Spyderco Siren features a drop-point blade that’s 3.6 inches long with a full flat grind. The knife is 5.12 inches long when closed. It’s not a tiny knife, but it is lightweight and slim, so it’s no chore to carry it daily. It has a back lock to secure the blade when open. That lock is dependable, familiar and easy to operate. Naturally, the knife features Spyderco’s trademark round thumb hole for one-handed opening with either hand.
Coarse, No-Slip Texturing On Siren’s Handle
Aside from the LC200N steel, another feature that makes the Siren especially suited to use around water is its extremely grippy G10 handle scales. The grip texturing is very aggressive, more coarse than some would find comfortable, which is why some are quick to pigeon-hole this knife as a “special purpose” folder. But that aggressive texturing can be useful at other times, not just in the water. A non-slip grip is essential, for instance, when you’re up to your elbow in a deer carcass, removing the innards. The handle is contoured too to provide a natural finger guard.
The knife features attractive blue liners, a classy touch. So, you can take the Siren to work all day and still find it dressy enough to carry it for a night on the town. This knife is made in the U.S. as are about one third of Spyderco knives. Open the blade and you’ll see the words, “Golden Colorado, U.S.A., Earth.” The Siren would probably be useful beyond Earth too if it came to that.
Yes, Siren Would Make A Good EDC Knife
The comes with a reversible deep-pocket wire clip for tip-up carry. If I was to use this knife in a kayak or canoe, I’d put a lanyard on it to safeguard it against a possible overboard mishap. Common paracord will fit through the knife’s lanyard hole, but it’s a tight fit.
The Spyderco Manix 2 with back lock is currently atop my list for an EDC knife. But I like the Siren’s slightly narrower blade shape a bit better for some tasks, such as field-dressing game. In any case, once you put it to work, you’ll find the Siren useful for many more chores than merely taking it for a boat ride. For more information on the Spyderco Siren, go to www.Spyderco.com.
Key Features: Spyderco Siren
- Overall Length: 8.73 inches” (222mm)
- Blade Length: 3.60 inches (91mm)
- Edge Length: 3.49 inches (89mm)
- Steel: LC200N
- Closed Length: 5.12 inches (130mm)
- Weight: 3.4 ounces (96g)
- Blade Thickness: 0.125 inches (3.2mm)
- Handle: G-10
- Clip Position: Ambidextrous, tip up
- Lock Type: Back lock
- Grind: Full flat
- Origin: United States
MSRP: $240
Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and enthusiast with all things related to firearms, knives, and survival. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 35 years. His collections of outdoor humor stories are available at BriarHill Books.