We’ve been doing the Badass Knife of the Week for four and a half years. We are currently up to 235 different knives being given the honor. So how did something so iconic and essential as the Spyderco Endura get passed up for so long? We beg for your forgiveness because this badass knife is an all-time classic.

The Spyderco Endura helped usher in a new era of affordable, tactical knives made right here in the United States of America. Released in 1990 as the larger brother of the Delica (which we did feature as the 11th Badass Knife ever), the Endura is in its fourth generation and nearly a perfect knife.

The long slender VG-10 stainless steel blade is 3.75 inches and perfectly designed. The belly has a slight curve toward the point to increase versatility and strength of the point. Although the standard Endura has a saber grind, the blue Endura has a full flat ground blade. This makes the blade grind slimmer and even better at slicing.

Injection molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle scales feature Spyderco’s Bi-Directional Texturing to offer a solid grip however you hold it. Within the tough scales are skeletonized stainless steel liners. The standard version has black scales but we’re quite fond of the radiant blue Endura.

A backlock may not be the most exciting locking mechanism, but it’s one you can rely upon during tough use. A Boye dent in the backlock even makes it a bit easier to open and close with one hand.

Rounding out the knife is a four-position pocket clip.

For more info on this Badass Knife of the Week, see the product page for the Spyderco Endura.