Spyderco's First Manual Button Lock Returns in Natural Jade G-10 for $73
Spyderco's latest product reveal covered a lot of ground, but it left one knife out, and that omission is the interesting part. The Spyderco ButtonUp in Natural Jade G-10 is a Blade HQ exclusive that never appeared in the brand's own launch materials, which means the retailer is the only place you can buy it. That is a familiar pattern for Spyderco collectors, and it is also the reason this configuration could sell out before it shows up in a general catalog.
The ButtonUp matters beyond its colour because it is Spyderco's first-ever manually deployed button-lock folder. Button locks have become the default answer for anyone who wants a fidget-friendly, ambidextrous knife that closes without putting fingers in the blade path, and Spyderco arrived late to that party. The platform measures 7.625 inches overall with a 3.375-inch modified clip-point blade, a Round Hole for deployment, a reversible pocket clip, and a total weight of 2.9 ounces. Steel is 8Cr13MoV with a satin finish, which is the honest budget choice: it takes an edge easily, touches up on a stone in a minute, and will not hold that edge as long as the S35VN and MagnaCut models that dominate enthusiast conversation.
That steel choice is what keeps the price at $73, and it frames the comparison. A Para 3 in a high-end steel costs roughly double and above, and you get better edge retention and a stouter feel in return. The ButtonUp trades that away for light weight, a 3.375-inch blade in a 2.9-ounce package, and a lock that is genuinely easy to operate. For an office or travel knife the numbers line up well.
The jade G-10 handle is the last piece of the argument. Natural G-10 has become one of Spyderco and Blade HQ's signature collaborative looks, appearing across multiple exclusives, so this drop is aimed squarely at people who already own one and want the matching set. If you want a full-size button lock with a lightweight chassis, the value case is strong. If you want steel that lasts through a season of cardboard, save the money for a different model. The configuration is exclusive to one retailer, so availability, not price, is the real constraint.