Spyderco’s Bulldog EDC Knife Is a Sneaky Collab with an Underrated Brand

Italian craftsmanship and a mechanism from one of the most significant knifemakers ever make this stout cutting tool special.

Closeup of Spyderco SpyNano Flash Batch knife blade

By Sean Tirman

Published March 14, 2025

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Updated March 14, 2025

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Spyderco is a knifemaking brand that needs no help from anyone. The Glesser family outfit has secured its place in the annals of EDC history.

Still, it’s usually pretty fantastic when the brand collaborates with other knifemakers. Such is the case with the upcoming Spyderco SpyNano Flash Batch.

Spyderco SpyNano Flash Batch knife on nylon case with rope — The SpyNano Flash Batch is stout but robust.

A meeting of the minds

If this stout flipper looks familiar, it might be because it’s based on the LionSteel Nano. Don’t fret: it’s not a ripoff. Lionsteel worked with Spyderco to bring this interpretation to life.

While the original and Spyderco’s versions share many similarities, they differ in just as many ways. For instance, the overall size is similar — a 6.20-inch length with a 2.57-inch blade — but the silhouette has been remixed to include Spyderco’s signature Round Hole deployment (among other changes).

[The LionSteel Nano’s] silhouette has been remixed to include Spyderco’s signature Round Hole deployment (among other changes).

Those who loved the original Nano’s flipper deployment needn’t fret; it remains. Even better, it’s still removable for those who prefer more minimalism and traditional deployments.

The knife still includes a titanium handle scale with a Reeve Integral Lock (an integrated frame lock). However, the presentation-side handle scale has been swapped for Micarta.

The changes, obvious or subtle, help the SpyNano Flash Batch stand out from its inspiration. They also keep the knife fresh for existing fans and newcomers alike.

Spyderco SpyNano Flash Batch closed on nylon — The knife has two available deployments: Spyderco’s signature Round Hole and LionSteel’s removable flipper.

Bulldog’s got bite

One of the biggest differences between this knife and the original Nano is the blade steel. Whereas the original has a MagnaCut blade, this one sees it swapped for Böhler steel.

However, it’s not Böhler M390. Instead, it’s that popular steel’s more robust evolution, M398. It shares many of its strengths with its sibling but offers better edge retention and corrosion resistance.

That does come with a big drawback: it lacks toughness and is quite brittle. Users will want to be careful not to bend it back and forth. Still, its other properties more than makeup for that, and it shouldn’t be a problem for generalist EDC usage.