Spyderco have been making historic, advanced folding knives for years. Since the 1980's the Spyderco Knife Company of Golden, Colorado, USA; have been introducing many of the things we take for granted today.

The initial introduction of the first Worker model in 1981 was literally lightyears ahead of it's time. Before the Worker all knives opened using two hands, yet here was a tool that could be easily carried - balanced on the edge of a pocket or a belt just as simply as a pen - and it could be opened and closed with just one hand, thanks to the trademark Spyder-hole. Even from the outset Spyderco knife models were very user friendly and offerred in a variety of edge styles to suit all personal tastes. Although initially all-steel affairs, it didn't take long for Spyderco to move onto more lightweight models and although they were not the first to do so the Delica and Endura models certainly pioneered the use of this type of material composition.

In 1990 Bob Terzuola and Wayne Goddard became the first custom knifemakers to work alongside Spyderco and have some of their custom designs immortalised into the Spyderco Hall of Fame. Since then the company have sought out the world's finest knifemakers and designers working with established artisans like Michael Walker and Frank Centofante whilst introducing us to new names like Jot Singh Khalsa and Eduard Bradichansky. Mr Bradichansky worked on the custom versions of the SpyderCard and Shabaria but was sadly gunned down in Israel in 1999 shortly before their release.

Milestone models like 1996's Spyderco Q-Model only serve to emphasize that this fabulous company never ceases to amaze even the most hardened knife collector and user. And even in todays' global market where the emphasis is making the cheapest possible, rather than making the best possible, they are one of only a handful of American cutlery companies that have stuck to their guns in the face of commercial fashion and have refused to sell out their traditional values by farming out manufacturing to far-eastern sweatshops to save a few bucks at the expense of their time-served American and Japanese craftsmen and women.

They have not bowed to market pressure to cut their prices and "get rich quick", and instead they have flourished and are the only knife company in the World to have promoted their products and the safe use of knives in a television marketing campaign. Add a generous R&D budget, some truly inspirational timeless designs, an unwillingness to compromise on quality, and, in my humble opinion, Spyderco are very welcome to every cent they ask for their knives. If only every cutlery manufacturer could boast the same honourable scruples.

So we thought it's about time we showcased their model production. Here we present for your collectable entertainment the definitive list of Spyderco series folding knives ...