Spyderco Centofante 3 Review

The Spyderco Centofante 3 is not your typical design from Spyderco. It’s the third blade in the Centofante line and has a particularly unique look.

It doesn’t have a large choil at the base of the blade like other Spyderco knives, but the large finger ring is at the top of the back end of the blade is certainly noticeable. The knife itself is quality construction and is extremely sharp from first use.

With the unique design it functions well as a thin and versatile everyday carry knife. For it’s design, construction, and versatility we give this knife 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Features of the Spyderco Centofante 3

Blade – The blade is an extremely thin drop point made of VG-10 Steel. A fairly good steel alloy that has good corrosion resistance.

The blade comes extremely sharp due to the thinness and is good for cutting most thick or thin materials, prepping food or utility cutting.

The point is slightly thicker than standard drop point knives making it sturdier and better at piercing than some of its counterparts.

Handle – The handle features a lightly textured grip surface and is made of a polymer plastic of fiberglass reinforced nylon. The slight curve of the handle added to the flexible plastic and textured surface gives it a solid grip even during heavy use.

It features a flexible pocket clip that allows for tip up or tip down, right handed only carry. The handle is equally skinny along with the blade.

Deployment and Lockup – It features a back lock mechanism that holds the blade securely open. The lock is smooth and sturdy and allows the holder to feel that the knife is locked into place when opened or closed.

The knife can be easily flicked open and has a spring assisted self closing mechanism that helps lock the blade up quickly as well.

Design – The unique design of the knife makes it stand out from the crowd just based on looks alone. The large spydie hole and Spyderco spider design on the handle are a nice aesthetic touch and the modified drop point blade adds versatility.

The ribbing on the blade and handle add more comfort and function as and the choice of materials makes this nice a standout among similar knives in the category.

Blade Make, Function and Use

The blade is an extremely thin drop point made of VG-10 steel. The drop point is slightly thicker than a standard drop point giving it improved durability and better piercing.

The edge of the blade is a hollow grind with a wide cutting service. At 3 ⅛ inches it features plenty of cutting length despite being on the smaller side.

The lack of choil at the base of the blade like other Spyderco knives adds to the cutting surface of the blade.

The VG-10 steel blade is extremely sharp, the knife is able to cut through materials like aluminum with ease and is great for utility cutting and food prep as well.

The steel is easily sharpened and corrosion resistant making the knife more durable and requiring less maintenance.

Handle Design and Ergonomics

The handle of the knife is made of a plastic polymer called fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) that gives the handle surprising flexibility mixed with durability, rust and corrosion resistance.

The handle itself is slightly curved to add an ergonomic fit to the palm and features a light texturing to improve grip.

The finger ring and jimping on the back of the blade improve the grip when choking up on the knife for heavy cutting tasks and the handle is long enough at 4.5 inches to fit most hands.

The flexibility of the plastic polymer lets it tackle delicate work without damaging the blade or handle.

The pocket clip is solid construction and allows for tip up or tip down right handed carry. Some users complain that the jimping and finger ring make tip down carry difficult and awkward.

One other complaint about the handle is that it uses metal pins to hold the handle together, these pins aren’t rust proof and can wear down from use.

Deployment and Lockup

The knife deploys with a standard “spyder flick” or sling motion and features a back lock to hold the knife into position. The lock bar holds the knife securely into place when open and performing most cutting tasks. Some users report a little bit of play with the blade while open, it wasn’t enough to affect use.

It uses a spring loaded self closing feature that is quick and easy to use. The back lock also holds the knife securely closed as well.

The one issue users have with the locking mechanism is that when closing, the blade can catch the index finger and cause injury if the user is choking up on the knife. Therefore, watching finger placement is key to avoid injury while closing the knife.

Unique Design

The modifications to the blade as well as the custom design choices give the knife more utility than other thin EDC knives.

The spider logo, spydie hole, and unique curve give the knife a unique aesthetic as well.

Spyderco Centofante 3 Review – Final Thoughts

You’d be forgiven for thinking a knife this thin would underperform when used as an everyday carry knife. However, the high quality steel combined with the custom designed and razor thin blade make this knife an excellent cutting instrument.

The handle materials and design allow for a good fit in the hand and easy grip for more difficult cutting tasks. The pocket clip and jimping are useful, although the knife lacks any other additional features.

The back lock is a secure means of opening and closing of the knife and the spring assisted closing mechanism makes closing the knife a snap so long as you mind your index finger.

All in all this is an extremely thin and sharp knife that would make a great addition as an EDC or just part of a collection.