I remember back in the 1980s when Spyderco was all the rage with members of law enforcement. The Police model, still in production today, was a landmark design. It was slim and sleek, featuring one-handed operation that was perfect for rough situations. Many of the company’s current product lines have that Police model DNA. So, the Smock from Spyderco was a departure from the norm, and it was very well received. So much so that it inspired an exclusive DLT edition.
The Spyderco Smock DLT Exclusive Edition
At first blush, the Smock doesn’t look like a typical Spyderco design. Sure, it has the Spydie thumb hole, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s a flipper-style folder with a reverse tanto blade profile. It was designed by knife maker Kevin Smock, thus the name.
When I learned that DLT Trading had an exclusive edition of the Smock, I decided I had to check it out. DLT Trading has long been my knife distributor of choice. Friendly, highly knowledgeable staff and ridiculously fast shipping are a combination that’s hard to beat. Plus, they’re close enough that I’m able to visit them in person at least once or twice a year.
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They do a fair number of exclusive collaborations with various brands, including Bark River Knives, Work Tuff Gear, and Vehement Knives. Sometimes, it’s a model that is only available through DLT. Other times, the model is available elsewhere, but the configuration found at DLT is unique and exclusive. The latter is the case with the Smock.
The standard Smock has textured carbon fiber and G10 laminate scales and features an S30V stainless steel blade. However, the DLT exclusive edition has green canvas micarta scales and 20CV steel.
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It’s worth noting that Spyderco only produced 1,000 units of this iteration of the Smock.
Unboxing the Smock
I’ll confess right out of the gate that I’m very much the target audience for this edition of the Smock. Green canvas micarta is one of my favorite handle materials. The finish on the handle is what I would call a little raw, but I’ve also heard it referred to as soft, which is fitting.
The micarta isn’t polished. Instead, it’s left such that you can feel the canvas material. This gives the handle a wonderfully tactile feel. Over time, the color will darken with use. In addition, the pocket clip is reversible for you lefties out there.
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The opener on the Smock almost qualifies as a top flipper. The action is very smooth, thanks to the ball bearing pivot washers. Due to where the flipper is located, it’s not going to snag on anything in your pocket, which is a great design feature. Of course, you can also use the Spydie hole to open the knife.
The Smock features a button compression lock designed by Kevin Smock. When you press the button, the blade can swing shut freely. I found giving the handle a little forward nudge while releasing the lock works great to shut the knife one-handed.
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When you flip the knife open, if your thumb happens to be resting on that compression lock button, you’ll feel the lock engage. The lock-up on the Smock is about as solid as it gets, too. There is absolutely no movement at all, front to back, nor side to side.
The Reverse Tanto Blade
The 3.45-inch blade is 20CV steel. This is a stainless steel with 20% chromium and 4% vanadium. It’s known for high corrosion and wear resistance and is pretty tough stuff. The edge retention is similar to S30V.
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The Smock has a reverse tanto blade profile. I’ve also seen it referred to as a modified sheepsfoot pattern. There’s a tiny bit of jimping on the spine just ahead of the pivot point. It’s hollow ground and has a satin finish. This is definitely one of the sharpest knives I’ve ever had right out of the box.
It’s what I’d consider to be a mid-sized folder. All told, from end to end, the Smock runs just shy of eight inches. It weighs 3.7 ounces, which is pretty modest all things considered.
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Carrying the Smock for Daily Use
I’ve had the Smock for about a month now. It’s been my daily carry for most of that time. From the outset, I discovered it’s very much a fidget-friendly knife. While sitting on the phone on hold, waiting for the microwave timer to go off, or channel surfing, I found myself flipping the Smock open and closed more often than not. The action is just that smooth.
The day the Smock arrived, I happened to be making a chicken dish for dinner. I washed the knife well, then put it into service, trimming and chunking a few chicken breasts. Is a folding knife a great choice for cutting raw meat? Nope, not at all. But I was eager to put the knife to use.
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After I was done, I cleaned the knife very well. And hey, nobody died, so it all worked out okay.
As for the knife’s performance, it sliced through the chicken without any trouble at all. The reverse tanto tip was great for snipping off little bits of fat and such. The handle scales were plenty grippy, even with wet hands.
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Once the knife was clean and dry, it went into EDC service. We were helping one of our sons get ready for a cross-country camping trip, so I used the Smock to open several boxes and other packages containing gear and supplies. These included more than a few zip ties. I also sliced lengths of paracord for him to pack away for potential use.
I used it for some random whittling whilst sitting by the fire in the backyard. I’m not great with carving, but I can make sharp and pointy sticks as well as anyone else.
Putting It Through the Paces
After a few weeks of carry and use, I put the Smock through some formal testing. I started with some thick sisal rope. While the Smock didn’t exactly struggle with that medium, it took more sawing than I’d have predicted to cut through. But this is a very abrasive material, so it isn’t entirely surprising.
I then grabbed an old rubber tie-down. No sawing was needed here. Push cuts were like a hot knife through butter. I nipped off several bits with no trouble at all. A web belt met the same fate. No hesitation, no balking whatsoever. The Smock sliced through cleanly over and over.
I feel one of the advantages of a reverse tanto blade profile is the sharp but strong tip. Wanting to put that to work, I pulled out a sheet of rubber from my test materials box. I picked up a few sheets of this several years ago from American Science & Surplus. I have no idea what its original intended use was, but it’s great for knives.
Bits of rubber were flying as I used the Smock’s tip to carve off piece after piece. The only trouble was the tip being so sharp that it easily dug into the board behind the rubber, slowing me down a bit here and there.
When all was said and done, the Smock could still easily slice through paper, a testament to its edge retention.
The Spyderco Smock Checks All the Boxes
From the moment I saw this DLT-exclusive Smock, I knew I’d want one. It ticks a lot of boxes for me, from the green canvas micarta scales to the knife’s size and configuration. It’s a fun knife, especially for those who tend to use a pocket knife as much as a fidget toy as a working blade.
Given the materials and the exclusivity, the price ($232.50) is reasonable. I’d suggest snapping one up before they are all claimed. You won’t regret it.
Spyderco Smock Specs
| Overall length | 7.95 inches |
| Blade length | 3.45 inches |
| Steel | 20CV |
| Scales | Micarta |
| Weight | 3.7 ounces |
| MSRP | $232.50 |
