Spyderco Endela Wharncliffe C243FWCBK Pocket Knife Review

The Spyderco Endela is the ‘middle born child’ between the iconic Delica® 4 and Endura® 4. The signature design splits the difference to give you a perfect in-between-sized knife. This knife is well-received among outdoors people and everyday carriers.

We take a deep dive into the features of this classic style knife, rating its key elements and overall performance. We will also let you know if this knife is worth having in your collection. Additionally, we will look at the best uses for this knife.

So keep scrolling as we indulge you in a detailed review of the Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK pocket knife.

Also Available at: Spyderco, Stnicksknives, KnifeCenter

Basic Description

The Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK comes from Spyderco, a knife company that has been producing folding knives since 1981. The company has a solid reputation as a knife maker with a worldwide distribution network.

This knife sports a full-flat-ground blade made from VG-10 stainless steel with a satin finish. Spyderco added a Wharncliffe blade profile and released it in both PlainEdge™ and SpyderEdge™. The knife also has the fully accessible Trademark Round Hole™ to support an ambidextrous one-hand opening.

The handle dons injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) with skeletonized stainless steel liners and a non-slip Bi-Directional Texture™ pattern. A sturdy back lock mechanism supports the blade, and it has a four-position pocket clip.

Physical dimensions:

Overall length: 7.99 inches (203 mm)

Closed length: 4.69 inches (199 mm)

Blade length: 4.4 inches (86 mm)

Blade thickness: 118 inches (3 mm)

Weight: 3.2 ounces (91g)

Key Features

Blade Material

VG 10 stainless steel is premium steel from Japan designed by the Takefu Special Steel Company. The term VG 10 stands for V Gold 10, which means that the steel has attained Gold standards. This high-carbon steel blade is popularly used in the manufacturer of kitchen knives.

The chemical composition of VG 10 stainless steel is as follows:

• 05% Carbon. The carbon increases hardness and tensile strength. It also improves edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear. But because of the high amount, the steel is prone to brittleness.
• 50% Chromium. Any steel with a chromium composition of higher than 13% is ‘stainless.’ The chromium increases the blade's toughness countering the brittleness brought by carbon. It also increases tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance.
• 20% Molybdenum. This element helps with corrosion resistance and hardenability. Molybdenum also improves the steel’s machinability (the ease at which the steel can be cut and shaped).
• 30% Vanadium. Vanadium increases corrosion resistance, toughness, and wear resistance.
• 50% Cobalt. This element increases the hardness of the blade plus corrosion resistance. It also boosts the individual strengths of the other aspects. Additionally, it makes the steel easy to work under extreme temperatures.
• 50% Manganese. It increases the blade's hardness, abrasion resistance, strength, and hardenability.
• 03% Phosphorus. Finally, phosphorus increases the machinability and hardness of the blade. And since it is not in high amounts, you do not have to worry about a detrimental effect on corrosion or cracking.

With this chemical composition, you can expect the following properties.

• Hardness. The blade rates well in hardness thanks to the high levels of carbon, plus reinforcement from vanadium and cobalt. It is, therefore, resistant to abrasion and surface wear.
• Edge Retention. The ability of a knife to hold an edge for a long time is the ideal characteristic of a pocket knife. This blade retains an edge for a long time. You won't need sharpening for a while.
• Toughness. While it is often confused with hardness, toughness refers to the metal’s ability to absorb energy without fracturing. Irrespective of the high carbon composition, the blade has a high level of toughness thanks to the high amount of chromium.
• Corrosion resistance. The blade also scores well on corrosion resistance as many of the elements help prevent oxidation when the blade comes into contact with water. This is an excellent property for outdoor knives.
• Sharpening ability. You may, unfortunately, spend more time sharpening this knife because of the high wear resistance. The hardness makes steel harder to sharpen. You may spend a bit more time sharpening, but this is not a significant problem because it also has excellent edge retention.

VG 10 stainless steel has a Rockwell hardness (HRC) of 56 to 59, which is a sweet spot for pocket knife blades. It is not too hard to be brittle but also not too weak. The properties of VG 10 steel make it an ideal outdoor and everyday knife.

Also Available at: Spyderco, Stnicksknives, KnifeCenter

Blade Grind

A knife or blade grind is the shape of the cross-section of the blade. It is how the blade is thinned to reveal the cutting edge.

The blade grind is often overlooked, but it can change the dynamic of the blade. Learning about knife grind will help you maximize the use of the knife, and you can take care of it better.

The Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK has a full flat grind. This style is common in Spyderco knives, and this model is not the first to have this grind.

The full flat grind is simple and popular. The blade starts tapering to the edge from the spine evenly on both sides. The edge is therefore very sharp but not as durable.

The full flat blade grind makes the knife ideal for cutting, chopping, slicing, whittling, woodworking, and general use. Additionally, the full flat grind makes it easy to sharpen on a stone, so it is ideal for outdoor use.

Blade Edge

The Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK comes with either a plain edge or the trademark serrated edge of Spyderco knives. Both these edges have their advantages and shortcomings.

Plain edges have a continuous edge that makes them more versatile and popular. The unbroken edge is ideal for cutting cleanly by only applying steady pressure. It cuts cleanly with minimal resistance and can be used for several applications.

The main shortcoming of a plain edge is that they lose their edge quicker than serrated edges. But they are easier to sharpen than a serrated edge.

Serrated edges feature teeth-like markings that create a long series of small edges along a blade. It is similar to a saw’s edge. These mini edges are ideal for cutting into hard and uneven materials.

The edge is ideal for situations where steady pressure does not get the job done. An uneven angle allows serrated edges to cut into thick, squishy, and tough materials. You have a better chance of cutting a rope or tree branch with a serrated edge.

The main problem with a serrated edge is maintenance. It is much harder to sharpen because of the small teeth-like edges. However, it is also great at retaining an edge.

Overall, the best choice often relies on your needs. The plain edge offers versatility and convenience, while the serrated edge works best in survival situations.

Also Available at: Spyderco, Stnicksknives, KnifeCenter

Blade Profile

The Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK has a Wharncliffe Blade profile. This blade profile is often confused with the sheepsfoot blade. Some manufacturers struggle to make this shape because it is difficult to manufacture. However, it is worth it because the shape has a lot of advantages.

The Wharncliffe blade has a straight edge with a curved spine, and the curve extends gradually from the handle to the tip. It is also known as an invented regular blade.

The Wharncliffe blade is short, thick, and sturdy. The biggest advantage of this blade is that it has full cutting power, all the way to the point. Therefore, this shape is ideal for slicing.

The unfortunate disadvantage of this style is that it has no belly and is therefore not ideal for skinning and chopping.

However, the blade-style minimizes the possibility of an accidental puncture with the tip. So, it is ideal for everyday use, such as opening boxes and envelopes, because the point is ideal for penetration.

Knife Handle

And finally, this stylish knife has a fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle. This is a nylon-based plastic reinforced with glass fiber (injection molded). It is an affordable and rigid handle material commonly found in pocket knives.

While it is true that FRN does not have a lot of surface traction, most people see it as an advantage when carrying it around. It will not tear up your pockets. However, this also means that it might be a little slippery.

Spyderco thought of that and reinforced the handle with a non-slip Bi-Directional Texture™ pattern. This pattern gives the knife a better grip. Therefore, you can comfortably use the knife even when it is wet.

FRN handles are also very lightweight. This is ideal for EDC knives because they will not weigh down your pockets. And while it does not have the best reputation in visuals, the steel liners improve the overall look of this knife.

Best Uses For The Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK

Based on the properties and characteristics of this knife, it is safe to say that the Spyderco Endela® Wharncliffe C243FWCBK is an ideal EDC knife and outdoor adventure knife.

Its lightweight nature makes it ideal for EDC. At the same time, the blade's properties make it a good fishing or camping knife. This is the knife that can take you from opening packages at home to cutting rope during a camping trip. It is versatile, which is what you want with a pocket knife.

Also Available at: Spyderco, Stnicksknives, KnifeCenter

Final Thought

If you are looking for something that performs well in versatility, this is the knife for you. Go for the plain edge as it will give you more uses as an EDC knife.

However, the serrated edge will work better if you are more adventurous. It stays true to its ‘in-between’ nature and is a remarkable tool to have in your collection.