FOG HORN October 2020

Twobirds Flying Publications

SPYDERCO NIGHTSTICK

Copyright 2020, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.


SPYDERCO NIGHTSTICK
By: Sal Palma
There are very substantive reasons why a
company like Spyderco enjoys a highly
regarded global reputation. Very talented
human capital and extraordinary design is
the milieu upon which Sal built his
company. Awards and other accolades
aside, Spyderco is the premier U.S.
manufacturer of cutlery and every bit of
that excellence is reflected in the
company’s very sexy Nightstick. It was love
at first sight when I first laid eyes on it at
the 2020 Shot Show but in the interest of
Copyright 2020, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Spyderco’s Nightstick 2020
transparency, I do have an affinity for
dagger style blades. Why is that?
The dagger has been around since man
became bipedal and throughout history
they’ve been made of just about any
material you can think of. Its stealth and
compactness has made it the preferred
weapon of assassins. The 1300s saw the
dagger become a parry weapon carried in
conjunction with a long sword. They’ve
been adorned with gold and precious gems
to reflect the social standing of their
owners. And, some were used as pry tools.
However, in 2020 we no longer fight with
swords; yet, a dagger remains one of the
most lethal defensive weapons that a well-
equipped operator can carry. Spyderco’s
Nightstick fills that role brilliantly.
The Nightstick is a Gayle Bradley design that
is as sexy as it is effective. A full tang design,
made from CPM S30V steel.
CPM S30V is martensitic1 steel that is
among the top ten knife making steels in
the world. Edge retention is excellent as is
its corrosion resistance. The Rockwell
Hardness will vary with the heat treatment
but it ranges from 58-61 HRC.
Spyderco and Gayle Bradley chose to cover
Nightstick’s full tang with smooth black G10
scales attached by heavy duty tubular
1
Martensite is a very hard form of steel crystalline
structure. It is named after German metallurgist
Adolf Martens.

rivets. . Upon close inspection the scales
reveal a subdued “mica like” look that
oozes class and great styling.
Although the knife has no hilt, Gayle
included smooth but effective finger coils to
enhance control in thrusting.
The handle has an overall length of 4.25
inches and sits in the hand quite
comfortably. Transitioning from a saber grip
to an icepick is comfortable and smooth but
if you are moderately insecure you’ll want a
grippier feel.
The blade is 4.14” in length edged only one
side with a 3.75” very sharp edge. Some
would call this a faux dagger, but look we
still have some ridiculous knife laws on the
books.
Copyright 2020, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Spyderco’s Nightstick 2020
The flat grind on this dagger is a work of art;
calling it attractive doesn’t do it justice.
The customary Spyderco hole occupies a
little bit of space just below the blade’s
spine but understanding its placement will
save you from slicing your hand. Other than
being characteristic of Spyderco, the hole’s
placement identifies the blade spine which
is not edged.
The Nightstick ships with a very nice
custom-molded Boltaron® sheath with a G-
Clip™ mount. The knife sits in the sheath
very securely and the G-Clip can be located
in a variety of planes to customize your
desired carry position.
Spyderco and Gayle Bradley have delivered
an extraordinary offering that is as
gorgeous as it is functional. The Nightstick is
an effective defensive tool coming in at a
mere 3.8 oz. but packing a 2 ton punch.
-SP
Manufacturer Specifications
 Overall Length: 8.37" (213mm)
 Blade Length: 4.14" (105mm)
 Steel: CPM S30V
 Edge Length: 3.75" (95mm)
 Weight: 3.8oz (108g)
 Blade Thickness: 0.100" (2.5mm)
Handle: G-10
 Dagger Sheath: Boltaron
 Origin: Taiwan