This Spyderco folder, designed by Massad Ayoob, the well-known firearms instructor, was conceived as a self-defense folding knife. A concept I struggle with. In my view, almost any tool with an edge—or even a screwdriver—can be used similarly. The rest is largely marketing, especially in a country with a deeply rooted personal weapons culture.
Not for me.
But what if I’m wrong?
Massad Ayoob is a respected authority, LEO (law enforcement officer), firearms instructor, and writer on defensive use of force, including edged weapons. For over four decades, he has taught defensive firearms and knife programs and has frequently served as an expert witness in court cases involving such tools.
(Adapted from his bio: Backwoods Home Magazine)
He directed the Lethal Force Institute (LFI) in Concord, New Hampshire from 1981 to 2009, and now leads the Massad Ayoob Group (MAG).
So should I even be reviewing a self-defense knife when I’ve already stated elsewhere that, in my humble opinion, knife self-defense is the worst possible use of a blade?
This is less of an issue for professionals—law enforcement or military personnel—who may be forced to face knife attacks. But for civilians? Learning to defend oneself with a blade should remain an absolute last resort in a situation that likely could have been avoided through awareness and mobility.
As a design, I’ve always liked the C60, especially its ergonomics—not as a weapon, but as a cutting tool. It works exceptionally well for kitchen and general use. In fact, it was once one of my favorite “baguette openers” in the folding knife world, particularly in its serrated version.
Even knowing it was marketed with a design intent focused on deep penetration between ribs and vital organs, I’ve never been impressed by such narratives. Many everyday tools—chisels, screwdrivers, crowbars—can be used for harm. Intent matters more than geometry.
Spyderco, of course, is no stranger to this “self-defense niche”: Canis, Matriarch, Carahawk, P’Kal, Chinook, Civilian, Yojimbo…
Blast from the past.
In the 1990s, I had the opportunity to be among the first European reviewers of Master of Defense knives. Jim Watson, James Keating, Massad Ayoob, Graciela Casillas, and Michael Keating were all involved in the project.
Ayoob contributed the MoD Razorback, a fixed blade designed primarily for rapid deployment in reverse grip from a kydex sheath. He even timed his draws to demonstrate speed. I liked the concept, but it was clearly optimized for thrusting rather than cutting.
The same philosophy can be found in the C60: more oriented toward penetration than slicing, especially compared to something like the Yojimbo 2, which balances both.
The Razorback prototype is in the center, while Michael Janich’s Tempest appears at bottom right, featuring his Filipino grip concept.
On the C60 Sprint Run, Michael Janich wrote:
“From a utilitarian standpoint, the negative blade angle increases cutting power and leverage… I also strongly encourage you to consider a Schempp Bowie…”
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