The Spyderco Street Beat has been in my collection for quite a while, but I recently started carrying it again as a lightweight pocket fixed blade, thanks to its effective blade size and compact overall dimensions.
With an OAL of just 7.2″ and a 3.5″ blade, it is well-sized for pocket carry when outfitted with an UltiClip Slim 3.3. It’s also very lightweight at just 3.1 oz for the knife alone and 5 oz including the sheath and UltiClip.
The knife ships with Spyderco’s proprietary G-Clip™ attachment, but I prefer the UltiClip for EDC use.
While the knife’s VG-10 steel is somewhat pedestrian by today’s super steel standards, it has good edge retention for EDC use (4.5/10) and it’s easy to sharpen (6.5/10). It’s also corrosion-resistant (7.5/10) and sufficiently tough (4/10). The 4mm thick, clip-point blade features a full-flat grind, so it is strong while still being a decent slicer.
The Japanese-made Street Beat is based on a Fred Perrin design, which means it’s designed to be useful for the full spectrum of likely and unlikely tasks that a knife may be called upon to perform. The deep index-finger choil provides a solid grip even during difficult or stressful tasks.
The included injection-molded, snap-fit polymer sheath provides rattle-free retention and the ability to draw the knife with the index finger properly positioned in the choil.
Final Thoughts
I’ve owned the Spyderco Street Beat for many years, but I only recently started carrying it regularly. I’ve really come to appreciate its handy size, light weight, and intuitive design.
I’ve become a big fan of pocket fixed blades in recent years, and the venerable Street Beat has become a regular in my rotation.
