One of Spyderco’s Most Unique Knives Gets a Blacked-Out Premium Upgrade

This button lock flipper was already an outlier for the brand. Now, it might be a grail-level EDC collector’s dreamboat.

Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru Wear EDC Knife closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published May 7, 2025

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Updated May 7, 2025

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Based on Kevin Smock‘s SK23 custom design, Spyderco’s redundantly named Smock is one of the outfit’s more unusual EDC knife offerings. It doesn’t bear many (if any) hallmarks of the brand’s other knives.

That has worked to its benefit, in my opinion (I’m a sucker for quirky designs). The first time I saw the carbon fiber-handled S30V steel version, I immediately fell in love with it.

So when I tell you that the Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru-Wear version blows the original out of the water, I want you to understand the severity and seriousness of such a statement.

Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru Wear EDC Knife — The all-black finish goes beautifully with the knife’s sleek silhouette.

The desolation of Smock

The most apparent change in this limited-edition knife is its colorway. Instead of a silver blade and checkered handle, this one is completely blacked out.

However, that color swap gives a little hint as to another couple of changes. For starters, as its name suggests, the blade has been swapped for Cru-Wear — a steel sometimes credited as having the perfect balance of properties (although it does need a bit more regular care than other stainless steels).

The blade has been swapped for Cru-Wear — a steel sometimes credited as having the perfect balance of properties.

But that’s only half the story. The blade has also been finished with a TiCN (Titanium Carbo-Nitride) coating, offering even more durability, wear resistance and hardness, in addition to the black color.

To pair with that blade, the handle material has been swapped for aluminum, which is still very lightweight while remaining durable. In fact, this knife is actually slightly lighter that the original, clocking in at 3.64 ounces instead of 3.7.

On the shoulders of giants

None of those changes would have had much consequence if the base knife hadn’t already been excellent. Spoiler alert: It very much is.

The modified Wharncliffe blade is long and sturdy, offering both an excellent edge and a durable point. It also has Spyderco’s signature Round Hole manual deployment (albeit a lot smaller than usual). However, it also gets a low-profile flipper that’s effective without being snaggy.

My favorite part, however, is probably the lock. Housed in the handle’s spine, you’ll find the brand’s legendary Compression lock. However, instead of operating like a liner lock, this one is button-actuated, making it easier to operate without sacrificing its strength.

As a couple of finishing touches, it also has a reversible tip-up pocket clip, a lanyard hole and a slick pivot. Unless you’re a Spyderco purist who only wants leaf-shaped blades (like the legendary Para 3), this knife is magnificent.

Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru Wear EDC Knife in hand — At 7.92 inches, this slender knife fits nicely in the hand and pocket.

Pricing and availability

Interestingly, the Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru-Wear EDC knife is a dealer-only release, meaning you can’t buy it directly from the brand. However, you can snag it on Blade HQ for $278 (down from its $340 MSRP).

It’s important to note that this grail-worthy knife won’t stay in stock for long, even at that high price.

Spyderco Smock Sprint Run Cru-Wear

The Smock, based on a custom design from Kevin Smock, was already one of Spyderco’s most unique knives. Now, it has achieved grail status, thanks to a blade and handle material swap, granting it a combination of Cru-Wear TiCN-coated steel and black-anodized aluminum. Of course, it retains its unusual silhouette, button-actuated Compression lock and all its other exceptional quirks. This knife will definitely sell out quickly.