How Spyderco Crafts Its Iconic Round Hole
By Logan M. Fraser – Custom Knife Modder & Spyderco Parts Specialist, Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
This is the 16th blog of the Spyderco Knife blog series. You can check the other blogs I’ve written here: https://spydercoparts.com/blogs
Few features in the knife world are as instantly recognizable as the Spyderco Round Hole. It’s not just a branding element—it’s a mechanical innovation that transformed the way folding knives are deployed.
But how does Spyderco actually craft that iconic hole? And why is it more complex than it seems?
Let’s break it down.
Why the Round Hole Exists ⚪
Introduced in the 1980s, the Round Hole was a deliberate move away from thumb studs and nail nicks. Spyderco designed it to offer:
One-handed deployment
Ambidextrous accessibility
Smooth profile (nothing to snag on your pocket)
It quickly became the gold standard for EDC knives—so much so that Spyderco trademarked the feature.
For a deeper dive into the origin, check out Spyderco’s design history at https://spyderco.com, where they detail the innovation behind the feature.
How Spyderco Manufactures the Round Hole 🌀
Contrary to what some might think, the hole isn’t punched out with a simple die. Spyderco uses precision CNC machining to ensure:
Perfect diameter tolerance
Clean edges that won’t fray thumbs
Exact positioning relative to the blade’s pivot
Depending on the model and steel hardness, they may employ:
Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) for harder steels like Maxamet
High-speed CNC drilling for standard steels like S30V or VG-10
This ensures that even on supersteels, the hole retains a sharp edge without chipping.
Deburring and Refinement 🛌
After machining, each hole undergoes:
Deburring to remove micro-shards
Edge finishing to give the rim a slightly eased contour
Visual inspection to check for concentricity and clean symmetry
Some Golden, Colorado-produced models even get a hand touch-up if needed.
The Role of the Hole in Ergonomics ✌️
Beyond deployment, the Round Hole is key to Spyderco’s user-first design:
Serves as a tactile index point
Helps align thumb pressure during use
Ensures quick open/close cycles without thinking
It’s why even modded Spydercos keep the hole untouched—it’s a functional anchor as much as a brand signature.
Are All Round Holes the Same? ❓
No—they vary by:
Blade length
Model geometry
Intended use (rescue models sometimes feature oversized holes for gloved hands)
Smaller knives like the Dragonfly use a tighter hole, while big blades like the Military or Autonomy feature larger cutouts for high-torque use.
My Experience as a Modder 🧱
When I swap blades, tune detents, or create custom handles, I often work around the hole’s placement. On Spyderco knives, it’s perfectly positioned. That’s not by accident—their R&D process takes grip angles and thumb arcs into account during blade prototyping.
You’ll never see a factory Spyderco with a misaligned hole. That’s part of what makes their knives feel so refined.
If You’re Customizing Your Spyderco 🔧
All our aftermarket parts at https://spydercoparts.com are tested with full blade deployment in mind. That means:
No clip designs that block hole access
No hardware that shifts pivot geometry
Backspacers and scales designed to preserve deployment ergonomics
If you’re doing a build and want to maintain the smoothest open/close feel, keep hole clearance in mind—especially with thicker aftermarket scales.
Why the Hole Still Matters Today 🔄
Even with flippers, axis locks, and auto-assists on the market, the Round Hole remains:
Simple
Reliable
Elegant in execution
It’s proof that smart engineering doesn’t need to be flashy. Sometimes a well-placed hole does more than a dozen new patents.
Final Thoughts 🔪
Spyderco’s Round Hole isn’t just a symbol—it’s a carefully engineered feature crafted with precision. From CNC machines to ergonomic theory, every step of its creation plays a role in why your knife performs the way it does.
Got a question about machining, modding, or the history of Spyderco’s features? Drop it in the comments below. And let me know what you want covered in next week’s Spyderco Knife Blog Series.