The Spyderco Techno is a small, titanium frame lock folding knife with a 2.55″ (65 mm) blade made out of CTS-XHP. Designed in collaboration with Polish knifemaker Marcin Slysz, the Techno offers a compact and dense build that excels in certain areas and falls behind in others.
One of the first things that is noticed when handling the Techno is that it is stout. While it is generally a small knife, it is a hearty 3.6 oz. Compare this with something like the similarly sized Spyderco Dragonfly 2, which is only 1.2 oz. Although, it should be noted that these knives are clearly built in very different ways. The Dragonfly 2 is a lightweight slicer, while this is an overbuilt, small folder with a 4.5mm thick blade. In general, this works to the Techno’s benefit as it provides a definite sense of its high-quality build, which accompanies its equally sizable price. The MSRP is $329, but it can be found at various knife dealers for around $197.97.
Like each of the Slysz collaborations with Spyderco, the Techno comes out of the box at a top-notch level of fit and finish for a production knife. The titanium scales have a nice stonewash texture, which provides some detail that varies in the light and manages wear quite well. In addition, the titanium offers a decent level of grip for a smooth surface, which when combined with the overall design lends to a generally comfortable knife to hold.
One of the neat things about the Techno is the way it manages to merge round and angular design while still maintaining comfort. The edges of the handle are nicely chamfered which reduces hotspots and generally adds some additional detail. Little details like that reflect care in the design and the excellent execution of them in a production knife is great to see.
One of the more polarizing aspects of the Techno is the inclusion of the blue G-10 backspacer that partially fills the back of the knife. While it may not be for everyone, we feel that the blue complements the gray titanium and steel nicely. The texturing also fits into the palm nicely without being too aggressive.
Also present on the handle is Spyderco’s wire clip. The clip is finished to match the handle scales and is fairly low profile. Retention seems to be a weak point though as the combination of the clip’s finish with the titanium makes it slide easily. While it is easy to retrieve and lessens wear on the pocket, it can be a bit concerning particularly if the clip were to get caught on something.
Like the handle scales, the blade of the Techno is also nicely stonewashed, but this time with an almost mirror-like appearance. This treatment blends with the handle quite well and keeps visible wear minimal. It also softens the spine, jimping, and edges of the hole on the blade. The result is a blade with a sharp edge only where it matters and feels good to the hand. Although, it should be said that the traction provided by the softened jimping does not rival sharper patterns like those found on the Para Military 2, Manix 2, or Dragonfly 2. However, given the role of this knife and the value of bringing something different to the table, we see this as a strength rather than a weakness.
Blade Length - 2.55″ (65 mm)
Overall Length - 5.98″ (152 mm)
Blade Thickness - .177″ (4.5 mm)
Weight - 3.6 oz (102 g)
As our time with the Techno continues, our impressions will evolve into a full review and we will update this article with both positive and negative points as we encounter them. For now though, the Spyderco Techno brings excellent build quality and a beautiful design to the company’s little big knife line.
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