Spyderco's Charisma Weighs 0.81 Ounces and Costs $97.50

There is a category of knife that exists to be carried and almost never used, and another that exists to be used and almost never noticed. Spyderco's Charisma, model C259PGY, is the second kind. It weighs 0.81 ounces, which is less than a house key, and it puts a 2.98-inch CTS-BD1N blade into a linerless fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle for $97.50.

The specification sheet is deliberately minimal: 6.80 inches overall, 3.82-inch handle, a full-flat-ground drop point in CTS-BD1N at a satin finish, a back lock with Spyderco's Boye Dent to prevent accidental closure, longitudinal grooves plus a pebbled texture molded into the FRN, a reversible deep-pocket wire clip, and a lanyard hole. The lock system listing on some retailer pages says liner lock, but the product description is unambiguous about the back lock, and the knife is linerless, so the back lock is the correct reading.

CTS-BD1N is Spyderco's nitrogen-enriched take on a mid-range stainless. It is not a supersteel, and at this weight it does not need to be: it takes a very fine edge, sharpens on almost anything, and resists corrosion well enough for a knife that lives against a sweaty pocket. The thin stock and full flat grind mean it slices far better than most sub-three-inch folders, which is the entire point of the design.

Compared with a Spyderco Delica, the Charisma is a full ounce lighter and slightly smaller, with a wire clip instead of a metal one. Compared with a Benchmade Mini Bugout, you give up Axis-lock fidget factor and gain a lower price and a better slicing geometry. Compared with a Victorinox Cadet, the Charisma is a real locking folder with a real steel for about twice the price.

Verdict: the Charisma is the best argument for a lightweight American-made folder under $100 right now. If your daily cutting is envelopes, packaging, and fruit, you will not notice it in a pocket and you will not miss a heavier knife.